q4 or not?

any opinions - thinking of a sportwagon 2.4jtdm TI Q4 on a 07 (take some of the depreciation sting out)

drove one when they first came out

driven a lusso 2wd as well

quite different sensation - not sure which felt better to be honest.

will be getting it remapped so thinking 4x4 may be better in the long run

any opinions - especially interested in anyone with a 2wd remapped to see if the torque gets a tad too much for it?

Which car are we talking about here? 159? If so I didn't realise they did Q4 on anything other than 3.2

There is a 2.4 Q4 as well, I ignored it as its a bit slower than the FWD version.

Must be better off roundabouts in the wet though!

unbelievable in the wet! power out of greasy corners like a rocket - much more grip than my old integrale and as much torque! shame the extra 350kg deadens it a bit.... but then again i'd struggle getting the family buggy etc in a grale....

anyone else on here got a q4?

The grip & handling is very good

it's not a awd system to play with... very restrictive and even with asr/vdc off it still manages to grip too much to have fun with it.
in other words, if you're looking for safety in wet or winter go for it. otherwise fwd will be just fine.
but that's my (a bit disappointed) opinion

The 3.2 will oversteer if provoked with VDC off.

it's not about oversteering... it's about having fun with it, or being safe whichever you chose
also the 2.4 will spin the wheels with asr/vdc off, more than the 3.2 - tested.

Check out the CO2 emissions too, I believe the Q4 emissions are rather higher putting you further up in Gordons new tax brackets

Originally Posted by keeps54

Check out the CO2 emissions too, I believe the Q4 emissions are rather higher putting you further up in Gordons new tax brackets

£210 - i can live with that ;-)

the rwd thing..... - not talking power oversteer - far too grippy and not enough power for that sort of thing - its more the feel and balance i like with the q4

is it just me but the SW feels more alive than the saloon? i'd have anticipated the opposite...?

Not too many Q4 159 2.4s around actually. The CO2 emissions do make a difference to company drivers as well as the extra RFL.

I'd like to drive one actually, just to compare the real world differences - especially in TI form with the sports suspension etc.

Whats the power split between front and back ie does it have a front bias and is it full-time 4wd or only when grip is needed

I would be interested to try one too. The JTD torque can be a bit tiresome at times through the front wheels only.

Hunter - the Q4 is permanent AWD and is biased to the rear normally but can send the power wherever it wants!

I've copied and pasted this:

"The ‘Alfa Q4’ system

The Alfa 159 also adopts an evolved version of the permanent 4x4 system with three differentials (with a Torsen C self-locking unit at the centre). The heart of this design is the ‘Alfa Romeo Q4 four-wheel drive’ system, which splits torque constantly and dynamically between the four wheels, reaching the highest levels of active safety and sportiness. The Torsen C self-locking differential sends drive torque 57% to the rear wheels and 43% to the front. The system also guarantees excellent traction in all grip conditions by automatically checking any slipping.

The torque split between the front and rear axles is modulated constantly by the Torsen C central differential on the basis of grip.

This feature harnesses sportiness to enhance active safety. Modulation is mechanical, continuous and gradual, to enhance the perception of optimal, enjoyable, easy driving. There are no gaps in the torque delivery. Where grip is concerned, the behaviour adapts gradually and smoothly to changing road conditions. This ‘mechanical’ control is backed up by electronic stability control, which boosts performance and safety margins, in line with the Alfa Romeo philosophy.

The car is the state of the art in technical terms and offers important advantages:

• Q4 permanent four-wheel drive with a Torsen C self-locking differential makes for better roadholding, entertaining driving and smooth responses. Other technological archetypes with electronically controlled joints do not achieve the optimal balance between understeer and oversteer or the smoothness that are innate in the Alfa 159, and translate into superb active safety.

• The torque split in favour of the rear axle makes driving even more entertaining, because the car is even easier to handle, without detracting in any way from stability during sudden lane changes on the motorway, or other emergency manoeuvres.

• The possibility of travelling safely when grip is poor without having to use electronics to split torque, enhancing the enjoyment of driving.

We could say that the Alfa 159 Sportwagon Q4 interprets four-wheel drive from the Alfa Romeo point of view: it is basically a ‘mechanical’ system enhanced by cutting-edge electronic technology to guarantee maximum comfort and entertainment, combined with superb performance and absolute safety."

I've also found that it can split the power between (72/28) and (22/78) front/rear.

Very interesting Rick. Thanks for that Consider myself a little wiser this afternoon

No probs. It does sound interesting doesn't it? A lot of my journeys are up hill and down dale with a lot of pulling out of tricky uphill junctions. It would be good to have the extra traction. Might give the front tyres a bit longer life as well!