Check out my new service loaner!

Jm_ · Dec 9, 2018

Sandwich said:
Check out my new service loaner!

No really, this car was a service loaner prior to me picking it up. I got it for about $20k off sticker, and it's virtually flawless, so I'm not complaining. In the first week, the infotainment randomly restarted 6 times and the sunroof developed a rattle. I had the software updated which took care of the infotainment and the sunroof I fixed by pressing the little thingee up and down a few times. It's been great since.

The car is an absolute joy to drive. Traction is incredible, especially coming from the american pig dog rav4, which couldn't accelerate from a stop sign without spinning a tire. This thing just moves. Handling is impeccable, I can launch it around a corner without thinking about it. It's quick, but not insanely so. When it's go time, it goes, and unlike an electric car, it keeps going, rather than falling flat on its face after the start. It's beautiful inside and it's pretty quiet too. My big complaint at this point is that the engine note is kind of a trombone-like blaaaaaaat and not remotely sonorous. Would be nice to have something more "exuberant" to listen to on my twisty roads, but hey it's still super fun to drive.

Will probably grab a roof rack soon. No trailer hitches exist besides a euro style hitch, and those don't have square receivers to fit a bike rack (plus they need to have the bumper taken off to fit). Maybe a spoiler, then some summer wheels to compliment the "lusso" wheels for winter.

You should check and see if these guys have any plans to develop a hitch for it. I had one and it was outstanding.
http://execuhitch.com/tow-hitches/

jdcamb · Dec 9, 2018

How does it Jump? Any Railroad crossings nearby?

Jm_ · Dec 9, 2018

Sandwich said:
This is what they make. I would be willing to pay to have it installed, but I don't see a square receiver adapter anywhere

https://eper.parts.fiat.com/mp_resources/attachments/7A/50903630_gancio_giulia.pdf

I’d do it, you can get a shop to cut off the ball and weld a 1.25 receiver on it. That’s basically the the same setup as my BMW, except the plug-in is that goofy ball. I installed mine myself.

StiHacka · Dec 9, 2018

Sandwich said:
This is what they make. I would be willing to pay to have it installed, but I don't see a square receiver adapter anywhere

https://eper.parts.fiat.com/mp_resources/attachments/7A/50903630_gancio_giulia.pdf

Oh you should totally get one of those.

slyfink · Dec 10, 2018

johnbryanpeters said:
It ain't going to be a camper, it's going to be a cargo van.

does a pick-up count?

jonKranked · Dec 10, 2018

Sandwich said:
Check out my new service loaner!

No really, this car was a service loaner prior to me picking it up. I got it for about $20k off sticker, and it's virtually flawless, so I'm not complaining. In the first week, the infotainment randomly restarted 6 times and the sunroof developed a rattle. I had the software updated which took care of the infotainment and the sunroof I fixed by pressing the little thingee up and down a few times. It's been great since.

The car is an absolute joy to drive. Traction is incredible, especially coming from the american pig dog rav4, which couldn't accelerate from a stop sign without spinning a tire. This thing just moves. Handling is impeccable, I can launch it around a corner without thinking about it. It's quick, but not insanely so. When it's go time, it goes, and unlike an electric car, it keeps going, rather than falling flat on its face after the start. It's beautiful inside and it's pretty quiet too. My big complaint at this point is that the engine note is kind of a trombone-like blaaaaaaat and not remotely sonorous. Would be nice to have something more "exuberant" to listen to on my twisty roads, but hey it's still super fun to drive.

Will probably grab a roof rack soon. No trailer hitches exist besides a euro style hitch, and those don't have square receivers to fit a bike rack (plus they need to have the bumper taken off to fit). Maybe a spoiler, then some summer wheels to compliment the "lusso" wheels for winter.

if you wanna spend some money you could get a custom hitch for it. i had to go psuedo custom to get one with a 2" receiver for my impreza. any good custom trailer / hitch place could do it for you.

slyfink · Dec 10, 2018

Sandwich said:
Check out my new service loaner!

Will probably grab a roof rack soon. No trailer hitches exist besides a euro style hitch, and those don't have square receivers to fit a bike rack (plus they need to have the bumper taken off to fit). Maybe a spoiler, then some summer wheels to compliment the "lusso" wheels for winter.

Congratulations! looks nice.

re the rack, my buddy with a Leaf welded a rack that attaches to the hitch mounts on the vehicle frame, and has two bars that extend out the back. He then mounted his 1up roof rack to those bars. I'm pretty sure any roof trays would work. I'm not quite sure how the bars come out, but I think they are some sort of quick release.

if interested, I can ask him about it, and snap some pics. I think he did it this way because he moves the bike racks between three of his vehicles: a VW camper van with the same two bars off the back, and a motorcycle trailer that he can mount the 1up to...

CBJ · Dec 10, 2018

At first I thought it was a BMW. Looks great though!

Jm_ · Dec 10, 2018

Sandwich said:
Thanks dudes! I am interested to see what comes out of the woodwork in the next years. The Stelvio (SUV thing) shares much of its architecture with the giulia- that car seems to have plenty of hitches available for it, so I suppose I should crawl underneath my car to see if it's similar underneath. The euro hitch requires removal of the bumper and a swap of the bumper support. The stelvio appears to attach underneath to threaded ports.

I wholly subscribe to the "hitch is better" mentality, but I will probably never take more than a single bike with this car, so a roof rack isn't as painful, and it's only $240 plus whatever a tray costs (220?). I'm hopeful that a better hitch solution will become available in time.

Also, curbed two of my rims on the way home on friday, plus damaged a tire (I think superficially). Hooray for not understanding how wide your car is!

Yeah, but you are adding drag on top of the car that will cost you all the time, then lifting your bike up on top the crap that falls from it will screw up the paint, and you greatly increase the chances of slipping and dragging a pedal or something on top of the car. IME, just not worth it. Those euro-hitches are relatively easy to install, I did it myself, and all you'd need to do is have a shop cut off the ball attachment and weld a 1.25 on there. IMO, that would be simple and it wouldn't affect the resale or anything else. It's a solid setup.

Pesqueeb · Dec 10, 2018

slyfink said:
does a pick-up count?

Saw them at the LA auto show. For the price you can get yourself two cargo vans.

CBJ · Dec 10, 2018

The Euro style ball thing leaves me with some shitty Euro bike racks with mounting options for the bikes that look like they were designed in the 90s and with 90s plastic production quality :banghead:

hi

I could have gotten a slick swing out hitch for the Volvo for only 2000 USD.

Jm_ · Dec 10, 2018

Sandwich said:
yeah, I'm not stoked on a $1000 hitch that needs $500 in installation, plus custom work for a 2" receiver. I'm confident that something will come along in time (or can be custom done, as people with quadroformagios have done), but I'm not keen on the bumper hitch.

Keep your eye on Curt and etrailer, a solution will likely pop up like you say and it couldn't hurt to ask. My execuhitch was $400 (discount for bike rack-only version) and I got it shipped for cheap to my hotel in OK, then took it with me as my checked luggage back here. There were some good body panel resources for the 4-series so I was able to figure out how to remove everything pretty easily. $1000 just for the receiver is ludicrous. But it's Italian. Get used to it.

johnbryanpeters · Dec 10, 2018

slyfink said:
does a pick-up count?

No. I think that most pickups have become idiotic station wagons for fat people.

jonKranked · Dec 10, 2018

Sandwich said:
yeah, I'm not stoked on a $1000 hitch that needs $500 in installation, plus custom work for a 2" receiver. I'm confident that something will come along in time (or can be custom done, as people with quadroformagios have done), but I'm not keen on the bumper hitch.

Yea but you just said you saved twenty grand on the purchase price

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

eric strt6 · Dec 10, 2018

my Mercedes came with an 1 1/4" hitch. I wasn't about to spend $$ to put in a 2" hitch. For around $20 I picked up a Reece 1 1/4 to 2" hitch adapter for my bike rack

Toshi · Dec 10, 2018

Sandwich said:
yeah, I'm not stoked on a $1000 hitch that needs $500 in installation, plus custom work for a 2" receiver. I'm confident that something will come along in time (or can be custom done, as people with quadroformagios have done), but I'm not keen on the bumper hitch.

My XC40’s hitch was $700+ installed... at a discount. I feel your pain.

I wasn’t going to touch installation as it, like Jm’s apparently, required bumper cover removal.

Jm_ · Dec 10, 2018

Thing about a 2" on most of those cars is that if you actually load a 4 bike carrier on there with bikes, you are over the tongue weight anyway. 2 bikes is the practical limit.

Toshi · Dec 10, 2018

Jm_ said:
Thing about a 2" on most of those cars is that if you actually load a 4 bike carrier on there with bikes, you are over the tongue weight anyway. 2 bikes is the practical limit.

Many of these vehicles are rated to tow 2000 kg+ in Europe. 10% tongue weight based off of that nicely covers a Thule 4 bike set up and 4 reasonable bikes.

Jm_ · Dec 10, 2018

Toshi said:
Many of these vehicles are rated to tow 2000 kg+ in Europe. 10% tongue weight based off of that nicely covers a Thule 4 bike set up and 4 reasonable bikes.

2000+kg? I've looked at these as well and that's not what I saw for compact euro sedans. Usually like 1500lbs or so, nothing huge. I don't think that adding a bunch of weight on a lever not supported by wheels like a trailer is a good idea.

Toshi · Dec 10, 2018

Jm_ said:
2000+kg? I've looked at these as well and that's not what I saw for compact euro sedans. Usually like 1500lbs or so, nothing huge. I don't think that adding a bunch of weight on a lever not supported by wheels like a trailer is a good idea.

http://www.towingcapacity.co.uk/car-make-model/bmw/bmw-4-series/

Jm_ · Dec 11, 2018

Toshi said:
http://www.towingcapacity.co.uk/car-make-model/bmw/bmw-4-series/

Well, that's not 2000+kg, I'm not aware of what BMW says for europe, but I doubt it's all that much. Those numbers seem extremely unrealistic, 3300lbs with a 4 door 2.0, the cars barely weigh that much. Doesn't add up IMO.

jonKranked · Dec 11, 2018

Jm_ said:
Well, that's not 2000+kg, I'm not aware of what BMW says for europe, but I doubt it's all that much. Those numbers seem extremely unrealistic, 3300lbs with a 4 door 2.0, the cars barely weigh that much. Doesn't add up IMO.

but toshi read it on the internet. it's a good idea. just like leasing a car from a dealer in another state.

Toshi · Dec 11, 2018

That link was exactly for what BMW says for Europe (ok, the UK). I skimmed it and saw up to 1800 kg listed for a 4 Series, which is what you have, right, Jm_? I think this backs up my assertions well, +/- 10%.

iRider · Dec 11, 2018

Just check the list here (sorry, in German):

http://www.mit-pferden-reisen.de/files/ADAC_Anhaengelasten/ADAC2014/ADAC_Anh__nge__und_Dachlasten_07.2014.pdf

"Anhängelast (gebremst)" gives you the towing load for a trailer with brake
"Anhängelast (ungebremst)" gives you the towing load for a trailer without brake

All cars above 1800 kg:

http://www.mit-pferden-reisen.de/files/ADAC_Anhaengelasten/ADAC2014/TO28205.doc___ADAC_Anh__nge__und_Dachlasten_07.2014_Teil_II_ab_1800kg.pdf

Toshi · Dec 11, 2018

Note that I'm not saying that towing 1800 kg with a 4 series is a good idea, trailer brakes or not. I'm just arguing that the tongue weight inherent in such a rated load means that a 4 bike hitch rack should be a-ok.

iRider · Dec 11, 2018

Toshi said:
Note that I'm not saying that towing 1800 kg with a 4 series is a good idea, trailer brakes or not. I'm just arguing that the tongue weight inherent in such a rated load means that a 4 bike hitch rack should be a-ok.

My post was meant to support your claims. :thumb:

Especially when seeing that the weights you are allowed to put on the car roofs (Dachlast) is in most cases close to being challenged with 4 bikes.

JustMtnB44 · Dec 11, 2018

Sandwich said:
Check out my new service loaner!

Will probably grab a roof rack soon. No trailer hitches exist besides a euro style hitch, and those don't have square receivers to fit a bike rack (plus they need to have the bumper taken off to fit). Maybe a spoiler, then some summer wheels to compliment the "lusso" wheels for winter.

Congrats, glad to hear it's fun to drive. I'm not digging the wheels though.
Check with these guys for a hitch, maybe they have one in the works. https://stealthhitches.com/

eric strt6 said:
my Mercedes came with an 1 1/4" hitch. I wasn't about to spend $$ to put in a 2" hitch. For around $20 I picked up a Reece 1 1/4 to 2" hitch adapter for my bike rack

Ah, the ol' danger adapter makes an appearance.

Jm_ said:
Thing about a 2" on most of those cars is that if you actually load a 4 bike carrier on there with bikes, you are over the tongue weight anyway. 2 bikes is the practical limit.

True.

Toshi said:
Note that I'm not saying that towing 1800 kg with a 4 series is a good idea, trailer brakes or not. I'm just arguing that the tongue weight inherent in such a rated load means that a 4 bike hitch rack should be a-ok.

Your assumptions are incorrect. In Europe trailers are built differently with the tongue weight being lower so that smaller cars can tow them. Usually the tongue weight rating is 4-5% of gross trailer weight instead of 10% like in the US. Also a 4 bike rack applies the load much further away from the hitch than a trailer does, so the extra lever arm length also decreases the weight capacity.

Toshi · Dec 11, 2018

Heh. I was wondering if someone was going to bring up the Euro tongue weight bit. Fine, fine.

I'm still going to put a hitch rack on the back of a 911 if I ever get one.

Jm_ · Dec 11, 2018

Toshi said:
Heh. I was wondering if someone was going to bring up the Euro tongue weight bit. Fine, fine.

I'm still going to put a hitch rack on the back of a 911 if I ever get one.

Moar rear weight bias!

jdcamb · Dec 11, 2018

Jm_ said:
Yeah, but you are adding drag on top of the car that will cost you all the time, then lifting your bike up on top the crap that falls from it will screw up the paint, and you greatly increase the chances of slipping and dragging a pedal or something on top of the car. IME, just not worth it. Those euro-hitches are relatively easy to install, I did it myself, and all you'd need to do is have a shop cut off the ball attachment and weld a 1.25 on there. IMO, that would be simple and it wouldn't affect the resale or anything else. It's a solid setup.View attachment 131860 View attachment 131861

Did Jimmydean do that to your car?

stevew · Dec 11, 2018

eric strt6 said:
my Mercedes came with an 1 1/4" hitch. I wasn't about to spend $$ to put in a 2" hitch. For around $20 I picked up a Reece 1 1/4 to 2" hitch adapter for my bike rack

View attachment 131871

ummmm.....no.....never....

johnbryanpeters · Dec 12, 2018

Sandwich said:
I agree on the wheels, I am hoping to get a separate set of Summer tires on 5 hole wheels, bright or black, and keep these wheels as winter beaters.

That being said, this car looks remarkably better in person than in photos. I didn't want chrome nor lusso wheels, but they look spectacular in person. I would consider blacking out the chrome trim and getting black wheels to make it sport esque, or just keep the brightwork and get silver wheels.

Just make sure they're crabon.

4xBoy · Dec 12, 2018

I would make sure to get run flats.

canadmos · Dec 12, 2018

Toshi said:
My XC40’s hitch was $700+ installed... at a discount. I feel your pain.

I wasn’t going to touch installation as it, like Jm’s apparently, required bumper cover removal.

My WRX was similar. The large diameter exhaust meant that the normal mounting holes on the under side for a normal aftermarket hitch receiver was virtually impossible to install.

Luckily a fellow STi owner pointed out that the Forester bumper bars with built in receivers will bolt right up to 2008-2014ish wtx/sti's. This required removal of the bumper cover, the original crumpled steel bumper and some carpet in the interior. Those OEM Forester bumper bars crazy expensive. But in the end it was worth it, the install was super clean and the receiver itself was about as hidden as it gets.

/coolstorybro

Check out my new service loaner!

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