Wednesday 19th October 2011

Spotted: 2008 Alfa Romeo 8C

Worth spending £89K for the sound-track alone?

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The vendors of this rather pretty Alfa Romeo are, predictably, familiar with high performance cars. In fact they've sold an 8C Spyder before but are far more au fait with more common exotica from Stuttgart and Modena.

But despite such broad experience their opinion of the sound produced by the 8C is that it is '...more spectacular than almost anything - certainly any Ferrari.' Bold stuff. Of course the motor itself is Ferrari-based, but crucially for those who appreciate a car's aural output the crank throws are 90 degrees apart, lending it that classic off-beat V8 burble.

In good old-fashioned Alfa style, talking to the vendors reveals that the car seems to have worked its way under the skin of its guardians in a way which others haven't. The consensus is that these are stunning machines to behold too, although reviewers consistently opine that the ride and handling is ultimately no match for its contemporaries.

This one was actually sold new and delivered to Monaco, although by the time it was shipped to the UK in November 2008 the relevant documentation shows that it had still only covered delivery miles. Since then it's done just over 28,000 miles, which is a lot for one of these even though all the servicing history is present and the car will benefit from a full check by Meridian Modena before it's next owner takes delivery. The nose has recently been repainted to rectify some stone-chips, but apart from that the car apparently is showing no signs of any wear or misuse.

The £89,995 price tag reflects the relatively high mileage, and is about as modest a figure as you could find for an 8C. So would its pleasing appearance, exclusivity, and fire-and-brimstone soundtrack be enough to make up for the fact that it probably wouldn't deliver the same driver-satisfaction of, say, a similarly priced F430?

[ktm301p]

It would have to be the 8c over a standard 430 (the scuderia would make it difficult), that car is beau-ti-ful!!

I dont think the 28k on the clock would put me off either!

[JulianCharity]

Gets my vote! Rare and beautiful, one of the best looking modern cars I can think of. Amazing engine note too!

[richard300]

Another car i wished (if i had the money to own one)that they had made with the steering wheel on the right side for this country.

If i was wealthy and needed a car for touring europe, I'd have one in a heartbeat.

[OperationAlfa]

You need to hear one in real life to appreciate.

I've been round Goodwood track in one!

Simply stunning cars.

[Guvernator]

The thing that absolutely stuns me is that the first owner bought it, even had it delivered to Monoco and then didn't even bother to drive it at all. WHY!!!???

What a crying shame. Some people really shouldn't be allowed to buy cars.

[DanDC5]

I'd take this instead to be honest

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1939345.htm

[mikey k]

I passed a yellow on one on an Alpine pass a few months back.
They look great (from all but the back ) and sound mental.
However the LHD, the interior and Alfa dealer support put me off completely. I got an Aston instead

[sinbaddio]

Guvernator said:

The thing that absolutely stuns me is that the first owner bought it, even had it delivered to Monoco and then didn't even bother to drive it at all. WHY!!!???

What a crying shame. Some people really shouldn't be allowed to buy cars.

More money than sense most likely........but as you say it is a crying shame. I would love one of these to replace my Alfa GT, just nipping to the Post Office to check last night's euro lotto

[4Lmike]

Spotted this one on the M40 a couple of months ago. iPhone snap.

Sounded awesome!

[MogulBoy]

I do like these even though I wish that Alfa would find a way to move on from the poached egg mould wheel design.

There's enough heritage coming through in the front grille to carry off the design but the wheels risk blowing it. I don't think that any of the alternative 8C OEM wheels are truly sucessful either, which is a shame IMO.

[Jgtv]

Perfect, Shame its going to take a lottery win for me to afford one any time soon, Still I would have it over pretty much anything else without having to at least double the budget.

[robsco]

The noise that comes out of these things is just mindblowing. We have one for sale, the bloody thing nearly blows the plaster off the walls when it starts.

[Xavier259]

4Lmike said:

Spotted this one on the M40 a couple of months ago. iPhone snap.

Sounded awesome!

Proper stunning action photo!

[ZOLLAR]

DanDC5 said:

I'd take this instead to be honest

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1939345.htm

Christ is that still for sale?, been up bloody ages!.

Back to the 8C saw one last year in the NEC really is a beautiful car hopefully they'll have the spyder there this year as I've not seen one.

[AV12]

>erect<

[DanDC5]

ZOLLAR said:

DanDC5 said:

I'd take this instead to be honest

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1939345.htm

Christ is that still for sale?, been up bloody ages!.

Back to the 8C saw one last year in the NEC really is a beautiful car hopefully they'll have the spyder there this year as I've not seen one.

It's showing as sold but that's the exterior/interior colour combo I like best.

[ZOLLAR]

DanDC5 said:

It's showing as sold but that's the exterior/interior colour combo I like best.

Agreed, very nice colour combo

[A Scotsman]

They are indeed a very pretty car. Pity the steering wheel is on the wrong side.

[Froomee]

The 8C is an awesome car i regularly see a pearl white drop top driving around near the city, sounds perfect especially when he puts his foot down.

I would definately own this over any ferrari or lambo that could be had for the same ££££.

[forzaminardi]

Lovely car. My first stop in the event of a lottery win!