Alfa 4C UK price - 45k

[Wattie]

Seems to me that we're all looking at this the wrong way.

It was extremely unlikely that Alfa would hit the market with a Porsche beater. The current Boxters/Caymans are lets face it the benchmark and are arguably better ( value/ handling) etc than a car that's been seen as a benchmark for 25 years ie the 911.
People who buy Alfas(Maseratis) do so to be different. We appreciate that they are not seen as the best.....but they are different with a unique character that stands out. For example, the new Ghibli will probably not be the driving machine of the BMW5 series but it will have individuality and exclusiveness that the BMW does not.

The 4C will not be seen as the best.....never would have been in reality but it will be a competent, well built, rare machine that some will criticise and others envy. the 8c was not a ground breaking car but for those who have been lucky to see and hear one on the road it stood out like dogs plums!

Ownership of a 4cwill be possibly more problematic than a Porsche ( tho mine were always unreliable) especially as its a new car which will have glitches but it will stand you out from the crowd and I would suggest attract more attention than the opposition. Given that on normal roads you'll probably never test it's limits I would suggest that it won't disappoint and will provide enormous pleasure.

Something will always be better, faster, more responsive etc etc but that isn't why we buy cars.......for some of us it's emotive and how they make you feel! A new 4c will tick those boxes and provide enormous pleasure.

Cheers Wattie

 

[bigbob]

Understand what you say. Let's face it for £80-90k there are other cars with more to offer than what I have!

 

[Andyk]

I get that Wattie and I for one have had many Alfas for the reasons above...but.....the Lafa has been good value against the competition...this one puts it slam bang in the thick of it price wise with its competition and so it needs to be very competative with performance, quality, etc to compete...

 

[Wattie]

Yeah it ain't all about being the best.....exclusiveness and uniqueness is important to some.

I'll bet if a cayman, Boxter and 4c are parked up the 4c would draw the crowd....and be more intriguing.

Same with the QP, new car but is it the best???? nah, in fact the old one is far sexier and I'd guarantee 90% of those on here would rather have the old one. I would.......probably even over a Ghibli I suspect when I drive it.....you can't put a price on how something makes you feel.

So in my opinion, the 4c will be good, not the best but it will excite and fascinate in ways the others can't......and that will make it special in its own way and enough for many to take the plunge. If or when I see one I'll be very envious of the chap or chapess driving it.

One thing I found with the maserati/Alfa brand is the respect they draw from others. Other Alfa Owners will often wave as they drive past, the Maserati gained looks of admiration and was undoubtably seen as something special......a car with unique class,

Same cannot be said of Porsche ownership.....cars were compared, mines a turbo, yours isn't etc etc....and they're ten a penny.

Rant over.
Cheers Wattie

 

[conaero]

The problem is I have been buying Alfas for decades and accept 'the being different' thing.

Alfas have never been reliable but I was once told that "with an Alfa, you pay for the engine and you get the rest thrown in for free"...no truer a word spoken.

My issue is with the 4C, and the current crop of Alfas, the engines are not characterful and for me that is where the problem lies....its all about the way they make you feel when you bung them in to a sweeping bend at 100mph!

They still have the Arese V6 factory in place with all the machining there but they refuse to use the engine and for me that is criminal. Ok it would need some work to get it to Euro 4 but I am sure the could also use it as is, being a limited production car.

 

[Andyk]

Matt, spot on.......The current engines and jusy not 'exotic' enough.....If thats the right word....but sure ou know what I mean.

 

[Wattie]

Agreed on the engines.....maserati V6!!!

But it's the new greener future.

On reliability, our Alfa has covered 40k miles since we bought it and other than a burst door handle has never let us down. Sure, we get the odd flashing light or bleep bleep now and again but it has to date rectified itself.

In my experience, better than my Porsches......and Maserati.

I'd have another one in an instant.....but not in black as it doesn't self clean!

Cheers Wattie

 

[CatmanV2]

Matt, spot on.......The current engines and jusy not 'exotic' enough.....If thats the right word....but sure ou know what I mean.

Exactly why I'm here!
FWIW I've been let down by Alfas 5 times in 30 years. One blown fuse on the wipers, one bad connection to a fuel pump, one odd electrical fault on the just rebuilt Giulietta, one stuck starter solenoid (I knew it was going, but couldn't see the point given it was going for the rebuild) and a (stone) holed radiator.

I think that's pretty good going.

C

 

[dem maser]

All about engines with alfas....says it all that out of the current alfa i would go for diesels

 

[conaero]

Great Alfa engines:
60/70's twin cam (never driven one)
80's Boxer flat four (never driven one)
90's twin spark
90's Arese v6
00's 1.9 Jtdm
00's 2.4 JTD

Souless engines:
00's JTS
00's V6 twin Phaser (Holden)
00's 4cyl turbo (never driven one)

So from that, every modern engine Alfa made up until mid 00's was a peach.
Every engine they made from then on has lost that feel.

Did I miss any?

 

[Andyk]

I have had a few 2L Twin Sparks...Loved that engine in my 155 and GTV...Light so handled better than the 3L cars......I do fully inderstand that smaller turbo engines are the future but that doesn't mean that Alfa have to make souless lumps.......The other issue with the Alfa engines is that they are never as powerful or wuick as the opposition.....This was a problem even back in the 80's and 90's but because of the passion and character of the engines it never really mattered but now that that has gone from the engines I think it is an issue......Saying that the 4C is a bloody quick car but then it should be for the price.

 

[CatmanV2]

Great Alfa engines:
60/70's twin cam (never driven one)
80's Boxer flat four (never driven one)

Did I miss any?

Yes the 12v V6 was, for me anyway, way more character than the 24v. It's what I have in my Giulietta.

When they're back on the road, Matt, I can sort you for a drive in a boxer four, as long as we don't tell Mrs Catman

C

 

[conaero]

Oh yes please Kitty!

I take it the 8v 80's V6 is still the Arese engine yes?

 

[CatmanV2]

Oh yes please Kitty!

I take it the 8v 80's V6 is still the Arese engine yes?

De nada. yes it's the same engine, single cam. It just feels *very* different.

C

 

[dem maser]

I drove the flat four....loved it....im trying to get my uncle to give me his car as its just sitting in his garage in cyprus

 

[TridentTested]

Yes the 12v V6 was, for me anyway, way more character than the 24v.

Agreed. The 12 valve, particularly in 2.5L form, was pure Devon double cream.

 

[conaero]

I take it you have driven the 24 valve, I know cars were lighter back then how are they so different?

 

[mjheathcote]

The quad cam boxer in my old 33P4 with straight through Autodelta exhaust was fantastic!
Liked the twin spark in my old 146ti too.

 

[CatmanV2]

I take it you have driven the 24 valve, I know cars were lighter back then how are they so different?

I have the 3l 12v in the Giulietta, and have owned a 2.5 166, a 2.5 156 and a 3.2 GT. Somehow the melody of the 12v and the sense if connection grabbed the soul in a way that the 24 valves just didn't. They were, however , probably better engines in better cars but it's not all about peer is it
C

 

[conaero]

I have the 3l 12v in the Giulietta, and have owned a 2.5 166, a 2.5 156 and a 3.2 GT. Somehow the melody of the 12v and the sense if connection grabbed the soul in a way that the 24 valves just didn't. They were, however , probably better engines in better cars but it's not all about peer is it
C

Ok understood!