Is the Alfa 4C as bad as everybody says it is?
Discussion
Hi guys,
I've owned a Lotus Exige S2 Cup 240 for almost the past year and it's been utterly fabulous. I bought the car as an investment and they seem to be holding value, so I'm a pretty happy man. I use the car on random weekend drives, but also on track several times a year.
However, being a car guy through-and-through... the grass is always greener on the other drive. And browsing the classifieds, it's become clear that early Alfa 4C's are basically the same price as my 2006 Exige Cup.
I can't help but adore the looks of the thing (stupid steering wheel aside), and it's a tempting proposition to basically be able to swap my 12 year old car for something much younger, lower mileage, and with a carbon tub.
I've read the reviews and it seems a terrible idea to be honest... I was just wondering if anyone else had made this swap and thought it was worth it? Supposedly AlfaWorks can now fix the tramlining issues (by changing the front suspension caster angle) and droney exhaust for not much money...
Cheers,
Chris
I've owned a Lotus Exige S2 Cup 240 for almost the past year and it's been utterly fabulous. I bought the car as an investment and they seem to be holding value, so I'm a pretty happy man. I use the car on random weekend drives, but also on track several times a year.
However, being a car guy through-and-through... the grass is always greener on the other drive. And browsing the classifieds, it's become clear that early Alfa 4C's are basically the same price as my 2006 Exige Cup.
I can't help but adore the looks of the thing (stupid steering wheel aside), and it's a tempting proposition to basically be able to swap my 12 year old car for something much younger, lower mileage, and with a carbon tub.
I've read the reviews and it seems a terrible idea to be honest... I was just wondering if anyone else had made this swap and thought it was worth it? Supposedly AlfaWorks can now fix the tramlining issues (by changing the front suspension caster angle) and droney exhaust for not much money...
Cheers,
Chris
Was on a trackday with one and two things struck me:
1. Annoying interface between the traction control and the gear shift, so you had to use the paddles with the TC off. Minor, but slightly annoying
2. The carbon tub made insurance, especially TD insurance, horrendously expensive
Beautiful looking thing mind you.
In your shoes I'd be looking for a V6 Exige.
1. Annoying interface between the traction control and the gear shift, so you had to use the paddles with the TC off. Minor, but slightly annoying
2. The carbon tub made insurance, especially TD insurance, horrendously expensive
Beautiful looking thing mind you.
In your shoes I'd be looking for a V6 Exige.
Actus Reus said:
Was on a trackday with one and two things struck me:
1. Annoying interface between the traction control and the gear shift, so you had to use the paddles with the TC off. Minor, but slightly annoying
2. The carbon tub made insurance, especially TD insurance, horrendously expensive
Beautiful looking thing mind you.
In your shoes I'd be looking for a V6 Exige.
Thanks for the reply... I've never driven one so It's great to hear what you thought of it.1. Annoying interface between the traction control and the gear shift, so you had to use the paddles with the TC off. Minor, but slightly annoying
2. The carbon tub made insurance, especially TD insurance, horrendously expensive
Beautiful looking thing mind you.
In your shoes I'd be looking for a V6 Exige.
I hadn't thought about the difference in insurance prices. Actually the Aluminium tubs on the Elise/Exige are already quite pricey to insure, because when you crash them there's no way of checking if the glue bonds are still intact. They get written off easily as a precaution I think.
james_gt3rs said:
I had a drive in one. Long story short, managed to get in on Alfa experience day at Millbrook. Coming from a Lotus I don’t think you’d like it, laggy throttle, lifeless steering in comparison and feels very wide. And laggy gearbox too. Good noise though.
Ah man, it's such a shame isn't it... such a beautiful car. my plan was to make a project of it... alfaworks geo setup and exhaust, a remap, and maybe adjustable dampers from ohlins or nitron.
Sounds like it would be very expensive to get it on par with what I've already got. I'm bummed.
Its an amazing car! Good friend chopped his launch edition Evora in for one - Lotus spent more time being fixed than it did on road!
Got a stonking deal on the Alfa and it’s amazing, very theatrical from the fuel pump priming when you blip the central locking remote to the TFT dash coming alive and that noise!!!!! And I don’t mean to be funny but it’s a seriously quick car.
The little engine is characterful and very noisy so you may not be friends with your neighbours after a while, sit in the snug cockpit hunkered down in the road with huge great air intakes in the wing mirrors with exposed carbon tub all around you. His is pearlescent white with red leather and looks every bit exotic and cars costing far more.
I really don’t know what’s not to like??? I think it’s a beautiful car from every angle and having been lucky enough to have a drive I thought it was a great steer.
I say try one and see for yourself.
Si
Got a stonking deal on the Alfa and it’s amazing, very theatrical from the fuel pump priming when you blip the central locking remote to the TFT dash coming alive and that noise!!!!! And I don’t mean to be funny but it’s a seriously quick car.
The little engine is characterful and very noisy so you may not be friends with your neighbours after a while, sit in the snug cockpit hunkered down in the road with huge great air intakes in the wing mirrors with exposed carbon tub all around you. His is pearlescent white with red leather and looks every bit exotic and cars costing far more.
I really don’t know what’s not to like??? I think it’s a beautiful car from every angle and having been lucky enough to have a drive I thought it was a great steer.
I say try one and see for yourself.
Si
SiT said:
Its an amazing car! Good friend chopped his launch edition Evora in for one - Lotus spent more time being fixed than it did on road!
Got a stonking deal on the Alfa and it’s amazing, very theatrical from the fuel pump priming when you blip the central locking remote to the TFT dash coming alive and that noise!!!!! And I don’t mean to be funny but it’s a seriously quick car.
The little engine is characterful and very noisy so you may not be friends with your neighbours after a while, sit in the snug cockpit hunkered down in the road with huge great air intakes in the wing mirrors with exposed carbon tub all around you. His is pearlescent white with red leather and looks every bit exotic and cars costing far more.
I really don’t know what’s not to like??? I think it’s a beautiful car from every angle and having been lucky enough to have a drive I thought it was a great steer.
I say try one and see for yourself.
Si
Thanks for the input Si! I agree for the money they're at right now it's such an exotic and amazing looking little car. Got a stonking deal on the Alfa and it’s amazing, very theatrical from the fuel pump priming when you blip the central locking remote to the TFT dash coming alive and that noise!!!!! And I don’t mean to be funny but it’s a seriously quick car.
The little engine is characterful and very noisy so you may not be friends with your neighbours after a while, sit in the snug cockpit hunkered down in the road with huge great air intakes in the wing mirrors with exposed carbon tub all around you. His is pearlescent white with red leather and looks every bit exotic and cars costing far more.
I really don’t know what’s not to like??? I think it’s a beautiful car from every angle and having been lucky enough to have a drive I thought it was a great steer.
I say try one and see for yourself.
Si
What do you guys think their future values will do then? Its an alfa, and the poor reviews surely haven't done them any favours either... trying to work out if they've bottomed out yet!
There’s a 4C lease thread on the Alfa sub-forum, which might be worth looking at for ownership experiences.
One thing I picked up was a requirement for an expensive (c£1000) service of the carbon fibre tub every two years or so.
Despite this, they are very appealing cars, with great looks. However, for the same sort of money I think I’d be after a V6 Exige, one of my neighbours has one and it looks and sounds awesome.
One thing I picked up was a requirement for an expensive (c£1000) service of the carbon fibre tub every two years or so.
Despite this, they are very appealing cars, with great looks. However, for the same sort of money I think I’d be after a V6 Exige, one of my neighbours has one and it looks and sounds awesome.
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