Alfa 4C - New Owner
Discussion
RSK21 said:
I am really considering one of these and have recently driven a spider which I thought was great fun. I did experience the nose happy handling and whilst I reckon i could drive around it for the type of driving I'd want to do in this car I'd like a little more certainty and therefore would be off to AlfaWorks in short order.
My concerns are two fold:
1 - I cannot quite reconcile that this is a £65k car (in Spider form at least)
2 - Previous experience has tainted my view of Alfa dealers, in short I think they are poor and frankly don't understand either high (ish) value or complicated cars.
On point one there are (in relative terms) lots of cars available in the Alfa UK system at present so I suspect if I time things right I could get a decent discount.
On point 2 what experience have owners had of the dealers ? Those I have spoken with have ranged from not interested and clueless about the product to very pleasant and clueless about the product. There is a common denominator ..........!
Dude we are still talking about a car yes? Lol. We gave £48000 for our launch eddition 6 months ago and I couldn't think of a better car instead. Still love it even more now I know how good Alfaworks are and will only go to a main dealer for warranty work. Don't over think it just buy you'll love it. My concerns are two fold:
1 - I cannot quite reconcile that this is a £65k car (in Spider form at least)
2 - Previous experience has tainted my view of Alfa dealers, in short I think they are poor and frankly don't understand either high (ish) value or complicated cars.
On point one there are (in relative terms) lots of cars available in the Alfa UK system at present so I suspect if I time things right I could get a decent discount.
On point 2 what experience have owners had of the dealers ? Those I have spoken with have ranged from not interested and clueless about the product to very pleasant and clueless about the product. There is a common denominator ..........!
Mawsleycarvalet said:
Dude we are still talking about a car yes? Lol. We gave £48000 for our launch eddition 6 months ago and I couldn't think of a better car instead. Still love it even more now I know how good Alfaworks are and will only go to a main dealer for warranty work. Don't over think it just buy you'll love it.
Which spacers did you get - Road, Intermediate, or Race?
Mawsleycarvalet said:
RSK21 said:
I am really considering one of these and have recently driven a spider which I thought was great fun. I did experience the nose happy handling and whilst I reckon i could drive around it for the type of driving I'd want to do in this car I'd like a little more certainty and therefore would be off to AlfaWorks in short order.
My concerns are two fold:
1 - I cannot quite reconcile that this is a £65k car (in Spider form at least)
2 - Previous experience has tainted my view of Alfa dealers, in short I think they are poor and frankly don't understand either high (ish) value or complicated cars.
On point one there are (in relative terms) lots of cars available in the Alfa UK system at present so I suspect if I time things right I could get a decent discount.
On point 2 what experience have owners had of the dealers ? Those I have spoken with have ranged from not interested and clueless about the product to very pleasant and clueless about the product. There is a common denominator ..........!
Dude we are still talking about a car yes? Lol. We gave £48000 for our launch eddition 6 months ago and I couldn't think of a better car instead. Still love it even more now I know how good Alfaworks are and will only go to a main dealer for warranty work. Don't over think it just buy you'll love it. My concerns are two fold:
1 - I cannot quite reconcile that this is a £65k car (in Spider form at least)
2 - Previous experience has tainted my view of Alfa dealers, in short I think they are poor and frankly don't understand either high (ish) value or complicated cars.
On point one there are (in relative terms) lots of cars available in the Alfa UK system at present so I suspect if I time things right I could get a decent discount.
On point 2 what experience have owners had of the dealers ? Those I have spoken with have ranged from not interested and clueless about the product to very pleasant and clueless about the product. There is a common denominator ..........!
The dealer comment is a good point and fortunately Alfaworks is relatively near to me.
Decisions, decisions !
The more you drive it the better it gets, I have had my LE for 12 months I love it 100% reliable I think its a keeper, so much cooler than a Porsche everyone love's it the Police have taken a shine to mine pulled twice so far.
The Parrot head unit is missable has a mind of its own, and it could do with some bigger shift paddles I think a company is working on that, the noises it make are epic its the only car I just want to keep driving.
I Really hope Alfa has turned a corner the new Giulia Quad is the only car that could tempt me everything else is just boring after a 4C.
The Parrot head unit is missable has a mind of its own, and it could do with some bigger shift paddles I think a company is working on that, the noises it make are epic its the only car I just want to keep driving.
I Really hope Alfa has turned a corner the new Giulia Quad is the only car that could tempt me everything else is just boring after a 4C.
Autorosso said:
The more you drive it the better it gets, I have had my LE for 12 months I love it 100% reliable I think its a keeper, so much cooler than a Porsche everyone love's it the Police have taken a shine to mine pulled twice so far.
The Parrot head unit is missable has a mind of its own, and it could do with some bigger shift paddles I think a company is working on that, the noises it make are epic its the only car I just want to keep driving.
I Really hope Alfa has turned a corner the new Giulia Quad is the only car that could tempt me everything else is just boring after a 4C.
Ditto!The Parrot head unit is missable has a mind of its own, and it could do with some bigger shift paddles I think a company is working on that, the noises it make are epic its the only car I just want to keep driving.
I Really hope Alfa has turned a corner the new Giulia Quad is the only car that could tempt me everything else is just boring after a 4C.
Autorosso said:
The more you drive it the better it gets, I have had my LE for 12 months I love it 100% reliable I think its a keeper, so much cooler than a Porsche everyone love's it the Police have taken a shine to mine pulled twice so far.
The Parrot head unit is missable has a mind of its own, and it could do with some bigger shift paddles I think a company is working on that, the noises it make are epic its the only car I just want to keep driving.
I Really hope Alfa has turned a corner the new Giulia Quad is the only car that could tempt me everything else is just boring after a 4C.
If everything else is boring, what makes a heavy, fully driver assisted 5 seater car, which isn't quite as good overall than it's direct competition, interesting?The Parrot head unit is missable has a mind of its own, and it could do with some bigger shift paddles I think a company is working on that, the noises it make are epic its the only car I just want to keep driving.
I Really hope Alfa has turned a corner the new Giulia Quad is the only car that could tempt me everything else is just boring after a 4C.
I mean I'd have one, I think it's beautiful and powerful and special...but it ain't the only interesting car other than a 4C
Congratulations. Beautiful cars.
I keep finding myself drawn to these, and will have to go for a test drive at some point.
I'm hoping my TVR keeps going up in value and the 4C drops a bit more to close the gap enough to be doable. I do have a small single garage though which i haven't checked the measurements of yet which could scupper any future plans.
I keep finding myself drawn to these, and will have to go for a test drive at some point.
I'm hoping my TVR keeps going up in value and the 4C drops a bit more to close the gap enough to be doable. I do have a small single garage though which i haven't checked the measurements of yet which could scupper any future plans.
Congratulations - a beautiful car in a lovely menacing colour. I'm so excited about the 4C -had my first drive of one this week and it was utterly brilliant and reminded my of an old school Ferrari feel (paddles excluded). I've been lucky enough to own some lovely cars in my time from Lotus to Ferrari to TVR to NSX and I can honestly say the 4C is more exciting than anything I have owned. It draws positive attention wherever you go. What I like about it most is that the performance is more useable on the road - don't get me wrong it could take your license from you in less than 5 seconds but you can really use the Rev range in 1st, 2nd and 3rd without breaking the sound barrier. It really has a personality too, it's loveable and enchanting yet it can still tear your face off. It's the kind of car you want to give it a name and treat it like the family adored pet! I'm getting one - sorting out finances ready to buy ASAP!
Enjoy it in good health! Will post when I have mine.
Enjoy it in good health! Will post when I have mine.
BOLOrunner said:
Congratulations - a beautiful car in a lovely menacing colour. I'm so excited about the 4C -had my first drive of one this week and it was utterly brilliant and reminded my of an old school Ferrari feel (paddles excluded). I've been lucky enough to own some lovely cars in my time from Lotus to Ferrari to TVR to NSX and I can honestly say the 4C is more exciting than anything I have owned. It draws positive attention wherever you go. What I like about it most is that the performance is more useable on the road - don't get me wrong it could take your license from you in less than 5 seconds but you can really use the Rev range in 1st, 2nd and 3rd without breaking the sound barrier. It really has a personality too, it's loveable and enchanting yet it can still tear your face off. It's the kind of car you want to give it a name and treat it like the family adored pet! I'm getting one - sorting out finances ready to buy ASAP!
Enjoy it in good health! Will post when I have mine.
Sums the car up rather well. I was in the Montana Restaurant in Modena last year, Ferrari owners will know it's probably the Ferrari restaurant in Modena , Swiss chap came up to me having found it was my 4c outside and we started chatting , he had just bought one and it in his view better than all the Ferraris he had owned in the last 23 years .Enjoy it in good health! Will post when I have mine.
The 4c is such a special car !!
Stuart J said:
Sums the car up rather well. I was in the Montana Restaurant in Modena last year, Ferrari owners will know it's probably the Ferrari restaurant in Modena , Swiss chap came up to me having found it was my 4c outside and we started chatting , he had just bought one and it in his view better than all the Ferraris he had owned in the last 23 years .
The 4c is such a special car !!
"Special" - most definitely, "exciting" - right up there but I didn't say better! My last Ferrari (360) was a better car than the 4C, but not as exciting or special. The 4C doesnt match the all round composure and outright grunt of a 360 or 430 but it makes you smile a whole lot more. 😁 The major negative for me was the way the front jumps about on poor surfaces and in mid corner any slight holes or bumps upset the balance very easily. Given the way it makes you feel though - it has to be an absolute bargain... I'm finding that with some tweaking the front end can be sorted out too..need to do more research.The 4c is such a special car !!
Btw - comparing a 4C to a Cayman (as many have done on you tube) just isn't a valid or worthwhile test. Those who criticise it for not being a daily driver are also missing the point too!
Having read a bit more through the good old interweb I still find it amazing when people say they think it's expensive for what it is.. If it had an F badge on it people would be saying £100k was a bargain!
I had the wheel arch liners off last night for a few mods and my word the quality of the tub is incredible. Fresh carbon absolutely everywhere and didnt appreciate how much of it you can see under the car. A new Exige is the same price and I'm astonished that this car is not £20k more!
I had the wheel arch liners off last night for a few mods and my word the quality of the tub is incredible. Fresh carbon absolutely everywhere and didnt appreciate how much of it you can see under the car. A new Exige is the same price and I'm astonished that this car is not £20k more!
It's gorgeous 2 seater made out of carbon.
What's the one thing that people would get upset about when spending that amount of money on a car?
IMO (and I've never driven one so I'm not upholding this view).
It's engine snobbery.
A 1.75 turbo 4?
In these days of 718s it becomes less of an issue, but I think Alfa had real issues getting people to take it seriously.
They've had to work very, very hard to instil character into it I think, exhaust noise wise.
I don't know what the alternatives are, I mean a raspy NA 6, would do the trick character wise, but would it get the stats?
What's the one thing that people would get upset about when spending that amount of money on a car?
IMO (and I've never driven one so I'm not upholding this view).
It's engine snobbery.
A 1.75 turbo 4?
In these days of 718s it becomes less of an issue, but I think Alfa had real issues getting people to take it seriously.
They've had to work very, very hard to instil character into it I think, exhaust noise wise.
I don't know what the alternatives are, I mean a raspy NA 6, would do the trick character wise, but would it get the stats?
Different kind of car I know but a BMW i8 has a 1.5l 3cyl next to the electric bits.
The 4C engine fits it's purpose, a small capacity light weight engine in a light weight car. A regular mass production NA 6cyl. apart from the fact nobody makes them anymore (even Porsche ditched theirs in the Boxster/Cayman), doesn't give any performance advantage.
Next step up would be a turbocharged or supercharged V6, like the Exige V6. Maserati has one (340 or 380hp), meaning a different performance level. But also means a lot of extra weight; apart from the engine and uprated gearbox, larger brakes, more cooling capacity, ultimately larger everything. Plus given the current transverse engine and gearbox positioning, it most probably means the longitudinal V6 won't even fit (even though there seems to be some room behind the current engine), unless Alfa extents it's wheelbase. See Exige V6, which also weighs about 200kg's more.
The 4C engine fits it's purpose, a small capacity light weight engine in a light weight car. A regular mass production NA 6cyl. apart from the fact nobody makes them anymore (even Porsche ditched theirs in the Boxster/Cayman), doesn't give any performance advantage.
Next step up would be a turbocharged or supercharged V6, like the Exige V6. Maserati has one (340 or 380hp), meaning a different performance level. But also means a lot of extra weight; apart from the engine and uprated gearbox, larger brakes, more cooling capacity, ultimately larger everything. Plus given the current transverse engine and gearbox positioning, it most probably means the longitudinal V6 won't even fit (even though there seems to be some room behind the current engine), unless Alfa extents it's wheelbase. See Exige V6, which also weighs about 200kg's more.
Edited by DeltonaS on Monday 15th August 16:06
I would have agreed before I bought one. The engine seems a little lame and would prefer a V6 / V8 NA but the 1.7 turbo shifts. And I mean it shifts!
Like you say it's the heart value of a bigger NA engine compared to the stats / emissions value of the smaller engine. In saying that I put £35 of fuel in it four weeks ago (a full tank) and it's still got over half a tank left haha
PS - it's 240bhp stock. £399+VAT will turn it into 280bhp and you can remap the gearbox as well. A more expensive map (around 1k) would appear to take it to 300bhp but ECU needs to go to the states.
Lot of speed for under a tonne in weight...
Like you say it's the heart value of a bigger NA engine compared to the stats / emissions value of the smaller engine. In saying that I put £35 of fuel in it four weeks ago (a full tank) and it's still got over half a tank left haha
PS - it's 240bhp stock. £399+VAT will turn it into 280bhp and you can remap the gearbox as well. A more expensive map (around 1k) would appear to take it to 300bhp but ECU needs to go to the states.
Lot of speed for under a tonne in weight...
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