Video of the Giulia QV on bumpy roads (French Riviera)

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Amazing chassis composure! I bet the M3 would be all over the place at this pace...

(turn on the subtitles)

[ClothSeats]

What kind of adaptive dampers does this car use?

[CanAutM3]

Funny, I drove my 2015 M4 on the bumpy back roads behind Monaco at a rather brisk pace during ED in the summer of 2014, and it sure was not "all over the place" .

[Wills2]

That's pretty impressive stuff on the bumpy roads, clearly a very good driver and nothing coming the other way so most of the road could be used.

But very good either way.

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Funny, I drove my 2015 M4 on the bumpy back roads behind Monaco at a rather brisk pace during ED in the summer of 2014, and it sure was not "all over the place" .

You have more experience than most with track driving. I don't understand how you can defend the poor damping and characters that this car has. Maybe it is because you are an instructor.

Out of the performance cars I have owned... C5 and C6 Z06, Audi TTRS, this M3 is the least stable and has the most un-composed rear-end and shock tuning out of them all.

It does not deliver confidence to drive fast on anything but butter smooth roads.

[stevehifi]

great review.. and interesting comparison to the ferrari f12. I think this car definitely has some Ferrari magic to it that makes it special...

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

You have more experience than most with track driving. I don't understand how you can defend the poor damping and characters that this car has. Maybe it is because you are an instructor.

Out of the performance cars I have owned... C5 and C6 Z06, Audi TTRS, this M3 is the least stable and has the most un-composed rear-end and shock tuning out of them all.

It does not deliver confidence to drive fast on anything but butter smooth roads.

Having owned a C5 and a C6 I quite honestly have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to rear end control/stability. Those cars were fun as hell, but death traps nonetheless. The M3s I was able to drive at an autocross event and at the M performance school felt MUCH more planted than those two cars ever did. The TTRS however is amazing.

Edit: I will say though that this is MY opinion which is subjective.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

You have more experience than most with track driving. I don't understand how you can defend the poor damping and characters that this car has. Maybe it is because you are an instructor.

Out of the performance cars I have owned... C5 and C6 Z06, Audi TTRS, this M3 is the least stable and has the most un-composed rear-end and shock tuning out of them all.

It does not deliver confidence to drive fast on anything but butter smooth roads.

It seems our opinions diverge quite significantly on this topic.

I do agree that the rebound control is a bit wobbly in Comfort mode. But in Sport and Sport+ it is pretty good. See a track video of mine below, I ride the curbs pretty aggressively at the apexes and the car remains perfectly planted. No instability at all even hitting sharp bumps mid corner. And some of those curbs are indeed pretty sharp (up to 6"+ in height).

An important point though, I avoid being at WOT when hitting the bumps. High torque combined with a LSD and weight transfered off one of the drivewheels is a receipe for quick sideways action.

[Dethsupp0rt]

I didn't think the M3 was too bad, but after taking the semi-new ride on about 30 miles of bumpy backroads recently, I will say that BMW has a lot of catching up to do.

[996ttelise]

Originally Posted by Paul-Bracq-BMW

Amazing chassis composure! I bet the M3 would be all over the place at this pace...

(turn on the subtitles)

Curious why a guy who obviously does not like or has a chip on his shoulder about new BMWs, especially higher end and M cars, wants to hang out, moderate and post videos like this having zero to do with BMWs.

Candidly, I wish the Alfa Romeo was better for purely personal, professional and selfish reasons, but it is just like everything else that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles touches . . . a POS.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Paul-Bracq-BMW

Amazing chassis composure! I bet the M3 would be all over the place at this pace...

(turn on the subtitles)

How would you know? Do you even drive a M3? Looks like you have a 30+ yr old 3 series. The F80 has a tiny bit more technology and design in it now.

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Originally Posted by 996ttelise

Curious why a guy who obviously does not like or has a chip on his shoulder about new BMWs, especially higher end and M cars, wants to hang out, moderate and post videos like this having zero to do with BMWs.

Candidly, I wish the Alfa Romeo was better for purely personal, professional and selfish reasons, but it is just like everything else that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles touches . . . a POS.

Wrong. I have been a BMW fan ever since the 70's. True I do not like the direction of the modern BMW's, especially nowadays with horrors like the GT's and new X7. I have owned others M cars such as the E30 and E46 and have driven most of the modern M's too. Based on that, I like the ride and handling of the Alpinas way better. And yes, until the CP came out the M3/M4 was not very well suited for fast driving in bumpy roads.

The video is relevant as the Giulia is the direct competitor to the M3/M4 and, maybe I need to remind you that this is the "M3/M4 versus..." forum.

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Originally Posted by jmg

How would you know? Do you even drive a M3? Looks like you have a 30+ yr old 3 series. The F80 has a tiny bit more technology and design in it now.

The e21 is our "classic" family car bought new in 1981 and my connection with BMW goes way back. I have owned all generations of 3 series until the E46 M3.

No I don't drive the F30 because I just don't like it and I have tried it when it came out. I do drive a German competitor from Stuttgart that does not need turbos to make power and does not have suspension with questionable damping.

When you are talking about design, many of us will argue that the E46 was the best M3 design and really, does more technology make a better car?

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Paul-Bracq-BMW

The e21 is our "classic" family car bought new in 1981 and my connection with BMW goes way back. I have owned all generations of 3 series until the E46 M3.

No I don't drive the F30 because I just don't like it and I have tried it when it came out. I do drive a German competitor from Stuttgart that does not need turbos to make power and does not have suspension with questionable damping.

When you are talking about design, many of us will argue that the E46 was the best M3 design and really, does more technology make a better car?

So you don't have real world experience? Is that what you are saying?

[996ttelise]

Originally Posted by Paul-Bracq-BMW

The e21 is our "classic" family car bought new in 1981 and my connection with BMW goes way back. I have owned all generations of 3 series until the E46 M3.

No I don't drive the F30 because I just don't like it and I have tried it when it came out. I do drive a German competitor from Stuttgart that does not need turbos to make power and does not have suspension with questionable damping.

When you are talking about design, many of us will argue that the E46 was the best M3 design and really, does more technology make a better car?

Uhm, I must have missed the part where they drove the M3/M4 on the same roads in that video or even discussed an M3/M4 driving on the same roads . . . nope, went back and watched again and don't see it . . . the only comparison is just your uninformed, uneducated opinion about both the F8X and that road which I doubt you have been on in any car as well to know exactly how good or bad it is.

Originally Posted by stevehifi

great review.. and interesting comparison to the ferrari f12. I think this car definitely has some Ferrari magic to it that makes it special...

Apparently just journo bs chatter to fill dead space and to kiss FCA bootie for letting him drive the car. I have had around 10 F-Cars, including actual race cars (2 Challenge cars) which this guy references along with his reference to an F12, and I recently got to put several hundred miles on the below F12.

I drove 2 different QVs and had complete free reign to drive them as I wanted and not once did I think Ferrari or an F12, not even a fleeting thought. This journo dude lost all credibility right then and there. Lol, this car does not feel, sound, drive or handle like a Ferrari and does not evoke that thought.

[Racer20]

Originally Posted by ClothSeats

What kind of adaptive dampers does this car use?

Very similar to the F80's. Made by the same company, valve-based dampers. NOT magnetorheological.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Paul-Bracq-BMW

I bet the M3 would be all over the place at this pace...

You consistently troll the F8X forums and you are a moderator?

[996ttelise]

Originally Posted by swifty

There have been many journalists who commented on the QV suspension being much better sorted than the M3s.

Everything else, when you read the QV forums makes me happy I went with the m3.

No experience with non-ZCP, but without a doubt I like the feel of the ZCP better than the 2 QVs I have driven.

I really don't put much faith in most journalists when it comes to high performance cars, unless they truly have experience in same and car control skills such as Pobst or Harris.

The sensation, ride and feel and R compounds is very different than street tires. I think the ZCP suspension is well sorted.

[mcc3456]

Originally Posted by jmg

How would you know? Do you even drive a M3? Looks like you have a 30+ yr old 3 series. The F80 has a tiny bit more technology and design in it now.

I had an F80 M3 for 2 years, bought a Quadrifoglio, drove both of the them daily Back to back for 2 months. The Alfa was a much better ride. I've since sold the M3 and have never looked back since. The QV is an amazing car, and so far has been more reliable than my M3 was. I accepted lots of little glitches/shortfalls on the M3 for the totality of what it offered, but have to say, have not experienced any compromises whatsoever on the Alfa. Real world experience speaking.