Thursday 3rd October 2013

Alfa Romeo 8C Spider: Spotted

The most desirable convertible in the PH Classifieds? Maybe...

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There exist a few unwritten rules when selecting Spotted candidates. Rare is a good start, fast usually helps, and of course the car has to be interesting enough to get everyone talking about it. But above all, given they are chosen from a secondhand car classifieds site, it should be, erm, used.

Do we really need a caption here?

But rules are there to be manipulated, right? So here's a new car, unregistered and with 50 delivery miles on the odo.

And what a car. Given the 4C has catapulted Alfa back into the PH consciousness, featuring an Alfa right now is particularly apposite. We were wary of discussing the 8C Competizione knowing that it wasn't quite the car its styling promised; the 4C's stunning dynamic ability almost seems like an unofficial apology for not delivering the goods beforehand.

The 8C Spider though, is a rather different proposition. We all know soft-tops aren't about ultimate handling thrills (dedicated roadsters notwithstanding) but the 8C Spider turned that adage on its head by being a more enjoyable driver's car than the coupe. Indeed, we found a review stating that the Spider was a 'more complete, friendly and capable drivers' car than its coupe sibling'.

The anti-LHD brigade will be up in arms!

To our eyes, it's an ever so slightly prettier thing than the Competizione too. Maybe. This one would probably be improved by a black roof, but that's being picky.

Almost as soon as it was announced, the 35 8C Spiders we were allocated were provisionally sold by Alfa UK. We don't know why this particular car remained unsold, but it does present one hell of an opportunity to anybody in the fortunate position to be spending over £150K on a car.

As an added incentive, there's even a discount off list price. Yep, at £169,995, this particular Spider is for sale at £4K less than the original £174,000 list price back in 2010. Given 8C coupes are still £140,000, the Spider will surely be a safe investment too.

Can we have a black hood please?

The 8C is most likely one of those cars where nothing else will suffice. However, in the name of thoroughness, we would like to direct you towards just a couple of alternatives. The Aston V12Vantage Roadster is the nearest rival on visual and aural drama; it will probably be more enjoyable to drive also, and it may avoid truly savage depreciation given only 101 were produced. The Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster is a glorious thing, but it lacks some exclusivity against those two. And for something really left-field, how about a BMW Z8?

Considering objectively superior rivals (and a Z8) would probably go right out the window on seeing the 8C though. Rare, beautiful and exciting, we can't imagine too many more coming up for sale soon. And if it's beyond your means, join us and simply ogle the pics...

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ALFA ROMEO 8C SPIDER
Engine: 4,691cc V8
Transmission: Six-speed automated manual, rear-wheel drive limited-slip differential
Power (hp): 450@7,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 354@4,750rpm
MPG: 17.9 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 377g/km
First registered: It isn't yet!
Recorded mileage: 50
Price new: £174,000
Yours for: £169,995

See the original advert here

[Source: evo.co.uk]

[Uncle John]

Whhooops!! Just had an accident.....

[PHuzzy]

Have one of these... O

[JamesD1]

absolutley gorgeous. definatley my lottery win car!.
for now she will remain a dream.

[insideimsmiling]

Has to be the best looking modern Alfa there is. And I would keep the red roof.

[kambites]

insideimsmiling said:

Has to be the best looking modern Alfa there is. And I would keep the red roof.

I think it's probably the best looking modern car there is.

[clarki]

Never understood the fuss tbh??!!

And what is it with alfas and the worst headlight designs on the planet atm - their current crop of cars just look silly, that designer must be on borrowed time.

[Harry H]

clarki said:

Never understood the fuss tbh??!!

Totally agree. If I had £170k burning a hole in my back pocket it'd be way down the list. Looks like a £50k car to me

[Boydie88]

This car will be sold on Saturday if my numbers come in on this new lotto.

The best looking car of all time imo.

[BalhamBadger]

This one is lost on me, the design is really nothing special.

[OutOfSync]

Good looking car and - dons tin hat - I like the lights. Not sure it's what I'd spend my £150k on though.

Think the Z8 would be where my money would go if I was going for a cruiser instead of a "driver's" car.

[epom]

The side profile is superb

[Podie]

Gorgeous things. I know there are probably better cars for the money, but it's just

Saw one near St Albans a few years back, giving it the beans - sounded glorious too.

[QuattroDave]

Ha that's just down the road from me in Lyndhurst. Last time I was there they had a Maserati MC Stradale in white on the forecourt. The only kind of window shopping I can condone!

[WRW]

I saw a white one when I was in Italy last week, there was a mini Italian super car meet going on in the town we were staying in. All the car were parked up and left open for us to look around (including an Enzo with FXX body kit!)

It is very nice but parked next to a number of different Ferraris it just didn't look that special, plus the interior looked worse in the flesh than in pics. Not terrible at all just not as good.

[EggsBenedict]

One of the only modern cars that can be described as 'beautiful'. Bloody lovely that is.

Agree on the red roof. Trouble with body-coloured roofs is that they never properly match the body, and red is the worst for that.

[Alexcog]

Love the car, the exterior design has grown on me every year and I think it looks classy. However... the interior to me just doesnt look good (and it may just be me) and id want more class/design if I were to spend that much on a car. On another note Id like to add that the z8 personally does absolutely nothing for me. The proportions just dont look right to me. Just to be controversial im going to say its a glorified overpriced Z4.

[Luca Brasi]

That Maserati V8 does give one of the best sounds I ever heard from a modern road car, want!

[Andy75]

Sexual metal. I need some kleenex

[torres del paine]

When they make a cracking car I'll be interested... 4C might address that.

Alfa does not deserve the kudos it gets IMO.

[British Beef]

Overrated in the looks department and massively over inflated in the price department.

I would go for the Aston V12 any day of the week, looks, sounds and drives better (in my unbiased opinion)!!

I ve seen a few in the metal, in white it is very disappointing - definately looks better in red and much better in coupe form.