Four-pot convertible perfection | Six of the Best
Finding great sports cars with six or eight cylinders is easy - what about just four?
Alfa Romeo 4C, 2017, 700 miles, £62,980
Anyone who says four-cylinder convertibles can’t be glamorous sports cars obviously hasn’t heard of the Alfa Romeo 4C. Supercar styling and carbon construction ensured a hype around a new Alfa Romeo in 2013 that the brand hadn’t enjoyed for years - maybe decades. The boosty little 1.75 turbo, as had powered Giuliettas and 159s, made short work of the 4C’s sub-tonne kerbweight, whooshing and gargling its way through the DCT’s ratios like some kind of rally refugee. Perfect, the 4C was not - memorable, it most certainly was. Tweaks for the Spider meant it was generally regarded as the better 4C to drive, and there’s all sorts of aftermarket assistance around to bring the best from an exotic platform. You’ll pay for the privilege of this one being basically box-fresh, but there aren’t many other cars quite as dramatic as a 4C. And basically none with four cylinders.
Audi TT S, 2018, 22k, £24,995
Never the purest or most raw of sports cars (there are plenty of those coming, fret not), the TT perhaps appeals more than it ever has with production having ceased. It isn’t just a case of wanting what you had when it’s gone, either: try and find a new Audi that’s better designed, better built, and with a smarter interior than this one. Exactly. While the five-cylinder RS will always hold considerable emotional pull, the 2.0-litre S shouldn’t be ignored; much about it is carried over from the Mk7 Golf R of the time, a car that continues to be lauded for its AWD ability. A more stylish soft top Golf is selling the TT short, but you see the point - the bones are good. This one’s on very modest mileage, and will come with a Haldex service before sale. Don’t be surprised to like it more than you’d think.
Porsche 718 Boxster GTS, 2018, 80k, PH Auctions
Does the much-maligned Porsche 718 Boxster deserve a place on a list of great four-cylinder sports cars? Well, yes, actually. See, the 2.0- and 2.5-litre flat fours weren’t hot hatch hand-me-downs (sorry, Audi), but bespoke Porsche engines that revved and responded unlike any other comparable unit. The sound might not have been very inspiring, but it wasn’t fair to totally dismiss the turbos because of that. The additional torque worked a treat for testing the fine chassis, too. This auction car is a GTS, the most potent of them all with 365hp, and benefits from a recent service. There’s an MOT to see you through the summer as well. With higher miles than most already, the next owner needn’t concern themselves with anything but enjoying their Porsche to the fullest. Shouldn’t be too hard…
Honda S2000, 2006, 26k, £21,990
There aren’t many engines that become as famous as, if not even more loved, than the cars they power. It’s an even smaller list that can claim just four cylinders - and Honda has most of them. B18, K20, H22… gobbledygook to most, magic to those in the know. The S2000 is perhaps the purest modern vision of Honda’s four-cylinder ambition, that 9,000rpm F20C powering a dedicated rear-drive roadster rather than an adapted hatch or saloon. Thus values have soared of late, as engines like this become the preserve of super exotics. While even the most ardent of fans will concede the S2000 isn’t the greatest sports car in the world to drive, it isn’t hard to see the appeal. You can pay more than the £22k this Suzuka Blue one is for sale at, or you can pay less, but in every single one the S2000’s 2.0-litre USP promises to be as intoxicating as ever.
Lotus Elise 135R, 2004, 27k, £26,995
Probably the best exponent of the four-cylinder sports cars that’s ever existed. Think about it: throughout the Elise’s quarter of a century, there wasn’t a four pot that didn’t suit it. Modestly powered or manic K Series, 1.6 or 1.8-litre Toyota, supercharged or 8,500rpm (or both!), all were pretty much perfect powerplants for the Lotus Type 111. Because its joy was its lightness, so keeping capacity and cylinder count low perfectly complemented that approach. This 135R spiced up the S2 early in its life with a ported and polished head and an ECU fettle; its spectacular circuit credentials (not to mention its sheer prettiness) has kept it very desirable since. Never will so little power have seemed so right.
Mazda MX-5 BBR Super 200, 2015, 23k, PH Auctions
Yes, it’s another BBR MX-5. Another BBR MX-5 from PH auctions, too, though we make no apology for featuring this one. Purely as an MX-5, it’s a Soul Red stunner, owned by the seller since new in 2015 and with 10 main dealer services to support its modest 23,000 miles. But it gets onto this list courtesy of the Super 200 upgrade, which brings an ever so slightly flat (at least in original 160hp tune) engine to life with spicy cams, ECU fettling, a new exhaust from manifold to tip and a cold air intake. As the name suggests, it means another 25 per cent added to the standard output, and creates a brilliant four-cylinder sports car - helped here by better brakes, Tein suspension and upgraded ARBs. An ideal car to explore further tuning options with, or to enjoy as is.
... oh and Z4 3.0i or si over any S2000!!!Porsche for me from this lot.
Porsche for me from this lot.
It’s subjective, of course, but I don't like four-seat convertibles in general. The exceptions are from RR, Aston Martin, and Bentley as well as perhaps the A217 S65 AMG.
It s subjective, of course, but I don't like four-seat convertibles in general. The exceptions are from RR, Aston Martin, and Bentley as well as perhaps the A217 S65 AMG.
Elise for me from that list.
Such issues as there are seem solvable with mods and geometry changes.
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