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March 21, 2002.
Not as rare as the Q4, of course, and I'll tell you why.
Having driven many flavors of the much-loved (and sometimes loathed) FWD 164's, from the base models through a variety of "L" models, and my own LS, I was not prepared for the sensory impact the Q4 would have on me. There was nothing different when starting it up, adjusting my seat and mirrors, and backing it out of its parking spot. It's just like any 164. Once you get going, the little differences start to creep into your senses.
The first thing I noticed was how quiet it was. You can clearly hear an engine whirring away in the engine bay but it was not obtrusive. The engine note seems similar to my own 24-valve motor except that mine seemed closer to me in proximity when compared to Leo's Q4. It's almost like my 155V6, only throatier and more mean-sounding.
The second thing I noticed was how short the gearchange throws were. The six-speeder in the Q4 is made by Getrag, versus the ZF 5-speed unit in my 164LS. What was really apparent in the gearbox department was how short the ratios were! At time of writing, I don't know what the exact ratios are, and if the final drive is the same as my LS or the 164S but those six cogs were fairly close together. I'd go so far as to say the 6th gear in the Q4 is equivalent to my LS' 5th. This meant that it made short business of getting up to speed. Some of you may think; "with short gears, wouldn't it be sort of a nervous beast?" Well, this was the third thing I noticed. The slightly heavier-feeling flywheel (I still have to prove this to myself), made the engine very tractable and smooth even though the gear ratios Alfa picked were shorter.
This 164 had the point-and-squirt nature of my 155 in a package that is substantially larger.
So what does it feel when you add the above, and the venerable 230 horsepower Alfa V6? Magic in motion. I swear, this is one of the funnest Alfa I have driven in a long time.
After only driving the car a few blocks, I could already tell the chassis had the potential. It was not overly stiff, and with the suspension on Auto the ride was perfectly docile. But crank it up a notch and the car wakes up, responding to your whim with a determination that is purely German. This was no Italian bang-up job; it was too accurate and too surefooted. It dispatched corners with such simplicity and aplomb, that I wondered if it was built by Alfa at all. But it could never be German. The engine sings and rasps with such melody that no choir from Bavaria or Stuttgart could (or would) match. Alfa Romeo engines that I have been exposed to have always had great sounds and this was the one quality the Q4 possessed that made it an Alfa. In other words, it was the perfect combination of power and agility.
I didn't get to drive it far, and before long we had arrived at our destination. But I knew what was going on underneath and the only thought that floated through my mind after that was "this car is nicer than mine."
After dinner, April took the helm and proceeded to make a similar judgement on the Q4. "It's better balanced," she says, "it doesn't feel nose heavy and the chassis responds faster." And it does. Taking a stock LS and pitting it against a stock Q4 is like comparing a run-of-the-mill BMW 5-series against its M-Powered sibling, the M5. They are VERY different cars whose only similarity is the badge on their noses, and they share the same silhouette. Such was our impression of the Q4.
The 164Q4 is certainly a blast to drive, and we're envious of those who have a chance to own and drive one. Given their limited numbers, most of us will never see one in their garages. If you do get the chance to drive one, drive it nicely and take the time to get to know it. You will be well rewarded.
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Then there's the all-wheel drive system. Gone is the feeling that all the weight is up front. The car is a better balanced beast with the rear diff, half shafts, and beefier suspension components. Put two midsize midwestern gentlement in the back seat of your 164 and that's a good approximation on how much weight you were carrying behind you. The only difference is the Q4 provided traction and acceleration with its weight gain, while the two midwestern gentlemen would most probably not add much else than their girth and appetite for steak dinners.
One final thing that April noted was how precise the steering was. It was both lighter yet not over-assisted as in the nose-heavy FWD cars. This may have something to do with the torque delivery being split by four instead of the two front wheels.