A quick update on how I am getting on with the ARP4. Have done about 350 miles in it now and its beginning to loosen up a bit, as are my fillings!
The engine is very characterful but gutless at low revs, and I find that I am usually a gear lower than you might expect. I suspect a lower final drive ratio would help here, but this will be less of an issue once I start to use more of the rev range. The engine really does want to rev, and I suspect that the real fun is to be had above 5K rpm …
The steering is very meaty with decent feedback. The car feels sensitive to road camber and the steering can weight up quite alarmingly on off-camber bends. It is a car that you have to grab by the scruff of the neck and drive to get the most out of it.
My car has a lot of vibration through the steering wheel and steering wheel shake at all speeds, with a bad resonance around 70 mph. It has been back to the dealer to rebalance the front wheels which has improved things a little, but I’m still not sure it’s as it should be and it will be going back to the dealers again in a week or so for further investigation. I’d be interested to hear whether other owners are experiencing the same symptoms.
I would describe the build quality on mine as adequate rather than stunning, and I can see a few areas that I’d like to fettle and improve. I think the aluminium interior panels (which are painted) will mark up quite easily. I have added a square of black stick-on plastic (from a race number sticker) on mine on the dash under the immobiliser slot to stop the keys scratching the dash panel.
I find my left leg leans onto the transmission tunnel and the edge here is quite sharp. The storage pockets I have had made provide some cushioning but I may add some additional padding.
The car is very loud – both my wife and I had tinnitus this morning having spent a few hours in the car yesterday, and I will be wearing ear plugs when I drive the car in future. I love the noise that it makes - especially the theatrical pops and bangs on the overrun - but not enough to want to damage my hearing. It is loud!
I’ve yet to try the music system, which will need to something special to defeat the engine and road noise. Nor have I driven the car yet with the hood up so can’t yet comment on that experience.
The throttle on my car sticks on when cold but seems to sort itself out after a few miles.
I had planned to take the ARP4 to a car meeting in Bristol today but took my GT4 instead so that I could buy some earplugs before using the ARP4 again. Jumping out of the ARP4 into the GT4 was an interesting experience. Objectively the two cars are very difference and it would be unfair to compare them directly, but both are excellent in their own way and are great drivers’ cars that demand your full attention. I never expected that I would be taking the GT4 out of the garage for its civility and comfort though.
Right, the sun is shining, just need to select the right scarf/hat combo for this afternoon’s adventure …
