RE: Alfa Romeo 4C: Review

[Gompo]

Sound very promising, it does make me wonder if some of those who've bought the launch model are expecting as Spartan a cabin etc as they're going to get? It seems as though it could be the perfect combination of Elise and Cayman for some, but I wonder if it's going to be too basic; with no Italian flair and with a few of the Elise pitfalls, for many.

Edited by Gompo on Friday 20th September 11:44

[Dan Trent]

john_r said:

I had already edited the 'not quick enough' bit out before you pressed submit...

And as for 'cheaper' or same price, then examples below (with a little negotiation on some):

Audi RS5
Audi TT RS+
BMW M3 Coupe
Corvette Z06
Lotus Evora
Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe
Porsche Cayman R

You forgot the M135i in that list...

Dan

[kambites]

john_r said:

I had already edited the 'not quick enough' bit out before you pressed submit...

And as for 'cheaper' or same price, then examples below (with a little negotiation on some):

Audi RS5
Audi TT RS+
BMW M3 Coupe
Corvette Z06
Lotus Evora
Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe
Porsche Cayman R

Of those, only the Corvette, Evora and Cayman are sports cars by my definition. Super-saloons and saloon based coupes are always going to give more bang-per-buck in a straight line than sports cars because they're based on a cheap mass-produced platform; the Corvette isn't available here and the Evora (S) and Cayman R are substantially more expensive.

[chickensoup]

Even at £50K with options it is £10K less than a mildly specced Cayman S

[kambites]

R.P.M said:

Nowhere near you say?
I make it that the 4C is wider than the FFRR with its mirrors folded, and as the Afla is probably lower than the mirrors they don't count

But of more relevance is the fact CH describes it as a snug interior and the alfa is a stonking 1/4 of a meter wider than an Elise!

The Alfa is less than 20cm wider than the Elise, as far as I can see.

ETA: The Elise is 1720 excluding mirrors, the Alfa is 1864; so about 13cm different. Even including mirrors there's (slightly) less than 25cm difference. It's still too wide for my tastes, but nowhere near a Range Rover.

Edited by kambites on Friday 20th September 11:33

[CedricN]

I think the closest Elise would be the EuropaS, like an elise but cosier, and with turbo engine

Would love to try a 4C and see if it really is a modern drivers car (still having interior). Modern(ish, havent tried the latest one) porsches for example feels like driving a cosy living room, very disconnected driving experience. (compared to old sportscars)..

[dinkel]

Stratos came to mind.

Nice one and a great write up.

NA V6 would tick all the boxes. Surely a 3 litre / 275 brake screamer would be the off the scale option. S2000 replacement indeedy.

Hoping Alfa hits the bulls eye with this 4C. A Tipo 33 Stradale it is not - look at the lights - but I am looking fwd to meet one in the flesh.

[Froomee]

john_r said:

kambites said:

john_r said:

Too expensive and not quick enough...

What sports car is quicker and cheaper?

I had already edited the 'not quick enough' bit out before you pressed submit...

And as for 'cheaper' or same price, then examples below (with a little negotiation on some):

Audi RS5 - Not a sports car
Audi TT RS+ - I'd prefer the Alfa althought these are super fast...especially tuned.
BMW M3 Coupe - Not a sports car
Corvette Z06 - I'd prefer the Alfa and LHD drive only
Lotus Evora - Can't say wihtout driving both.
Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe - Not a sports car.
Porsche Cayman R - Can't say without driving both.

The Alfa is due to come in at £45k im pretty sure most of the above are signifcantly more expensive in addition to this the residuals of the Alfa are likely to be better than any of the above due to high demand and limited volumes.

Although i prefer N/A engines and manual gearboxes i have no doubt that for relatively cheap 270-300bhp will be possible which would make the Alfa even more appealing

[kambites]

I'm not sure you'll get a huge amount more from the engine simply by increasing boost pressure. It's already running quite a lot.

[ewenm]

Impressive lack of weight, really good to see that.

[Froomee]

I was thinking something along the lines of intake (£300-£400), Intercooler (£500) (depending on space limitations), Exhaust (£1k) and remap (£500)... to meet current/future emission regulations its more than likely that the exhaust, etc are restrictive once the car is purchased there is no need to work within these restrictions

Just to add i'd prefer more power or less weight in my car but both are expensive options the only car that is cheap to tune (relatively speaking) in the list above is the TTRS...

Edited by Froomee on Friday 20th September 11:47

[braddo]

john_r said:

I had already edited the 'not quick enough' bit out before you pressed submit...

And as for 'cheaper' or same price, then examples below (with a little negotiation on some):

Audi RS5
Audi TT RS+
BMW M3 Coupe
Corvette Z06
Lotus Evora
Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe
Porsche Cayman R

Eh? The Afa will start from £45k. Are you comparing used car prices to a new car?


You don't think a 900kg mid-engined Italian sportscar provides some very welcome variety to the 'sports cars' you have listed above?

And for what it's worth, the internet's saying this car is down around 8 mins for a lap of the 'ring - nearly 996 GT3 pace - I think the 4C will smash the time of most of the cars you've listed (and will be able to do multiple laps at that pace) so I'm not sure how on earth this car can be considered not fast enough for £45k, or expensive at £45k.

[Terminator X]

"Even so, the 4C still demolishes the Cayman for steering weight and feel, but think what it might have been!"

Praise indeed!

TX.

[trackdemon]

Very pleased to read that review, sounds like Alfa have pitched the car perfectly and with the volumes they're doing residuals should be pretty good (in fact I suspect overs on early cars until supply catches up). With the styling, brand, and simply offering something different at the price point, they could have probably gotten away with a less polished product but it seems the driving experience is right up there and the few flaws are not deal breakers. It'll be interesting to see how the new Caterham / Alpine compares, as it seems this is exactly the niche they've identified - albeit chasing bigger volumes with arguably less brand value.

[kambites]

Terminator X said:

"Even so, the 4C still demolishes the Cayman for steering weight and feel, but think what it might have been!"

Praise indeed!

TX.

Not really. The new Boxster/Cayman has been broadly criticised for its steering.

[s m]

Dan Trent said:

john_r said:

I had already edited the 'not quick enough' bit out before you pressed submit...

And as for 'cheaper' or same price, then examples below (with a little negotiation on some):

Audi RS5
Audi TT RS+
BMW M3 Coupe
Corvette Z06
Lotus Evora
Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe
Porsche Cayman R

You forgot the M135i in that list...

Dan

Hopefully you'll do a comparison as soon as you have a test 4C .........

[Ali_T]

john_r said:

Sounds good. But also incomplete if that makes sense? Too expensive imho... however, they'll be worth £3.50 in 4-5 years and be an absolute used bargain!

(for people with really wide garages)

No they won't. This drives far better than the beautiful but hopeless 8C, yet those have appreciated in value spectacularly. Limiting supply should happily keep used prices buoyant for years to come......annoyingly, because I want one.

[kambites]

If I had to guess, I'd say residuals will be similar to the Elise once the initial hype has died down and the waiting lists have gone. Fairly brisk initial depreciation followed by a highish plateau probably somewhere in the £20ks then a gradual rise with inflation.

Of course I might be completely wrong.

[TA14]

Ali_T said:

Limiting supply

I don't think that AR are limiting supply. For a new manufacturing method (at least for AR) then 3500 per anum is quite a few. About half Ferrari's production for what could be called the new Dino.

[danp]

interestingly (well to me!) is that 3.5k p.a. are the numbers the elise sold in, in it's successful early years.