4C daily drivers

[Wayne95]

Hi,
I am looking for a DD to do 60 miles each way on the Mway and some twisty bits each day for about 6 months on a work contract.

Been using my Aston but the fuel (22mpg) and wear and tear in a 7 year old car is getting a bit much.

So looking for a low mileage used car that can do more miles per gallon, but still be special and not too expensive to service.

I could go boring diesel saloon, but then every day I'd find an excuse to take the Aston!

Had all flavours of Alfas and keep coming back. So is the 4c usable every day ( apart from the loud inside) , what consumption would I get and is service costs reasonable .

I figure over 6 months if should be OK, then use it as a weekend toy in contrast to the Vantage

Any advice welcome

[Stuart J]

Mpg is amazing , services annual, £900 first , second around £600. Boot is minute , handling on later ones is better, early ones are "exciting", alfaworks can make it saner for £450. . Its feckin wide, wider than your Aston so if you are having to use std car spaces and aren't "thin" it might be an issue. To drive it's incredibly rewarding . As a daily it's down to how much you are a creature comforts man. It will make your smile muscles ache . I did 16000 in mine and traded it in this week , it was an incredible car, so good I traded it for a new one . I've had so many cars but it's the first time I've ever bought the same car again . Get one and you might need a dust sheet for the Aston .

[Wayne95]

Thanks for the comments.

How does the gearbox cope with stop-start traffic. Usually run into a few motorway hold ups - good for my clutch leg in the Aston. But starting to looks bit lop sided now ..,

Should I avoid the race pack for daily use, or does the Alfa workshop mod make it ok?

[Nero77]

Gearbox is absolutely fine, used mine as DD (well when wasn't commuting) and did 12000 miles in 18 months. Only must is to get the Alfaworks exhaust, the race exhaust drone is painful.

[Stuart J]

As has been said gearbox is fine, just leave it in auto, makes traffic a breeze, only snag is gearbox can get hot due to clutches dragging. It if it does car selects neutral and gives an audible bong when it t does. On my last 4c it only did it twice in nearly 17000 miles .

Race pack gives a firmer more taught ride but still has the errant steering .

Interestingly the new one I picked up on Wednesday has tamer steering than the first one but I will still get alfaworks to work there magic as that is clearly better . If you are buying new it may be ok for you, if feels pretty good up to 3 figure speeds whereas the earlyer car was scary well before you entered naughty speeds .

You need to try one.

If you are near London try HWM in Walton on Thames, they are mainly Aston ( so you can drool ) but have an Alfa dealership, they have just taken in my old one, has 17000 miles on it but is faultless and due to the miles im sure the price will be attractive , it's also got most of the car PPF'd so is virtually unmarked and for the new owner will continue to be thus . Paint must be an issue as new 4c's come from the factory with PPF on them. It's also had the alfaworks magic on the steering and upgraded headlight bulbs . If you do ask to speak to Toby Voller. Really nice chap , knows my car well and has done a few miles in it .

If you want to chat 4c drop me a pm with a contact number and I'll happIly give you a call

Edited by Stuart J on Sunday 2nd April 17:33

[Wayne95]

Stuart J said:

As has been said gearbox is fine, just leave it in auto, makes traffic a breeze, only snag is gearbox can get hot due to clutches dragging. It if it does car selects neutral and gives an audible bong when it t does. On my last 4c it only did it twice in nearly 17000 miles .

Race pack gives a firmer more taught ride but still has the errant steering .

Interestingly the new one I picked up on Wednesday has tamer steering than the first one but I will still get alfaworks to work there magic as that is clearly better . If you are buying new it may be ok for you, if feels pretty good up to 3 figure speeds whereas the earlyer car was scary well before you entered naughty speeds .

You need to try one.

If you are near London try HWM in Walton on Thames, they are mainly Aston ( so you can drool ) but have an Alfa dealership, they have just taken in my old one, has 17000 miles on it but is faultless and due to the miles im sure the price will be attractive , it's also got most of the car PPF'd so is virtually unmarked and for the new owner will continue to be thus . Paint must be an issue as new 4c's come from the factory with PPF on them. It's also had the alfaworks magic on the steering and upgraded headlight bulbs . If you do ask to speak to Toby Voller. Really nice chap , knows my car well and has done a few miles in it .

If you want to chat 4c drop me a pm with a contact number and I'll happIly give you a call

Edited by Stuart J on Sunday 2nd April 17:33

Thanks for the help. Took a look at your old one at HWM on line. I'm away for a few weeks but hopefully will get over to take a look.

Any idea how finance companies are treating the 4C, do they give a good residual on PCP?

[Stuart J]

Wayne95 said:

Thanks for the help. Took a look at your old one at HWM on line. I'm away for a few weeks but hopefully will get over to take a look.

Any idea how finance companies are treating the 4C, do they give a good residual on PCP?

Finance you need to chat to a dealer, all I know is what I paid for mine & what I got when I sold it I was pretty happy so they must be holding up well