Not everyone has been totally convinced by
Alfa's 4C
so far. Here's my perspective: a mid-engined, 895kg carbon-tubbed car with an Alfa badge - what's not to like?
Maybe the 4C is indeed the "most sought-after car of 2014" (as one advertiser describes it). Not only does it have that shiny-new-button halo, it's got a drool factor that's been sadly lacking in Alfas for a whole generation.
Most sought after car of 2014?
So once again, what's not to like? There is one thing: the wait. The first RHD 4Cs finally arrived in June this year, many months after they were supposed to. I've spoken to several deposit placers who simply lost patience and dropped off the waiting list (which currently stands at nine months, according to my man at Alfa).
If you just can't wait for a 4C, though, the first nearly-new ones are already on the market - no fewer than 11 in the PistonHeads classifieds, in fact. That's a surprise given the extremely low number of cars present in the UK right now.
Launch out of control?
So what'll you pay? Top whack for a zero-mileage 4C is £60,950. Given the 4C's £45K entry price, that might seem like a stiff £16K mark-up but this Launch Edition (which most currently for sale are) cost its owner £52K, so actually the premium is a slightly less headline-hogging £9K. If you don't mind a few miles on your 4C, this 700-mile LaunchEdition comes in as the UK's cheapest 4C at £55,995.
Just 60 Launch Edition cars were delivered to UK customers, so it's always going to be a rarity. Is the LE really so desirable, though? I'm not so sure. Most of its special tweaks are available on regular 4Cs, like carbon fibre trim, bi-LED headlights, racing exhaust and uprated suspension.
Nice clear pic to adverise your £60K car...
And now the first 'regular' 4Cs are arriving in the UK. Only 200 will make it here over the next 12 months. That's a tiny number, likely to be bolstered by the confirmation of
4CSpider
production - with many UK 4C owners already registering their interest in upgrading.
To race or not to race?
The 4C coupe's base price may be £45K, but Alfa GB says owners are in fact typically spending £55K after options. So what are the best goodies to have? The most obvious tick-box for PHers is the Racing Pack. For £3,000 you get uprated suspension with a rear anti-roll bar and uprated front ARB, twin-pipe exhaust, 18-/19-inch five-hole alloys with 205/40 ZR18 and 235/35 ZR19 'racing' tyres and a sports leather steering wheel.
A word of warning though: the Racing Pack can make the 4C feel pretty extreme on UK roads. The exhaust is very loud (although interchangeable with the standard set-up) and the larger wheels and hard suspension don't like bumps very much.
Rosso Comp should be a great colour for £2K
Find a 4C painted in sensational Rosso Competizione and you'll pay a premium, too. A £2,100 option, though that is a lot less than exactly the same shade on Alfa's 8C - no less than £20,000! This
Rosso Comp 4C
with just 364 miles on the clock is priced at £58,995.
And this 64-plate standard 4C with delivery miles is up for £57,500. I've specced up its extras: leather (£1,200), five-hole alloys (£1,200), bi-LED lights with carbon surrounds (£1,750), red calipers (£360), spoiler (£700), Racing exhaust (£450), carbon instrument panel (£300), cruise (£260), parking sensors (£420), cup holders (£25) and floor mats (£90). That makes it a £51,755 car new, so the mark-up is £6K. With probably fewer than 100 cars on UK soil at present, I reckon that's going to be the premium on a 4C for quite some time yet.