Anyone driven an Alfa 4C?

[Ducman]

I'm finding myself not interested in the driving enjoyment provided by any new cars including Porsches. They're all so sterile. I can't go to the track everyday and even at the track once you get over the initial wow factor of modern horsepower...kinda bland.

I'll hope to always have a vintage hot rod 911 but I struggle to find anything in addition, newer, that is interesting to drive on a country road.

What about the 4C? On paper it's got some interesting similarities to old 911: weight, weight balance, size, unassisted steering....plus the Italians left in that org surely put some quirks into the thing. That can be a good thing in my book.

Anyone drive one? Have one?

[R K T]

A friend got one of the first ones. If you are over 5'10" you won't be comfortable!

Made for short Italians......

[gchappel]

I saw a red 4c at a car show last weekend.
Looks much better in person than in the reviews I have seen.
IMHO it is a stunningly good looking car. It has been a long time since anything turned my head as much as my 85 carrera- the 4c did.
Pretty tight interior, but I'm 5'10" and did fit comfortably.
The lack of a stick shift and true manual tranny is my main disappointment.
I did not get to drive her- yet.
Gary

[afterburn 549]

They are Kool looking and i hope more reliable then the past.
But hay i said that about fiat.......(they do not deserve a capitol F. Well they do...but... )
I hate being right all the time.

[Crowbob]

Man O' Man!
Great car.

Tons of…

Never mind.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Very cool cars, but shocking that a back to basics driver's car would not have a manual transmission. The reviews of the automatic have been pretty poor to boot.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by Ducman

I'm finding myself not interested in the driving enjoyment provided by any new cars including Porsches. They're all so sterile. I can't go to the track everyday and even at the track once you get over the initial wow factor of modern horsepower...kinda bland.

I was reading in the Nov issue of Road & Track that the high end car makers are coming to realize this. The cars are so powerful with such incredibly high limits that the fun and "emotion" is being designed out of them. I would agree.

There are still a small handful,( Miata, BRZ) but some of us would love an Alfa 4C (born in Europe) type of car - no manual tranny though.

[enzo1]

[Ducman]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Very cool cars, but shocking that a back to basics driver's car would not have a manual transmission. The reviews of the automatic have been pretty poor to boot.

Yes, I passed over this car at first because of the tranny thing and what seemed like some compromises in brakes and suspension hardware....but then the whole thought of maybe it is these quirks that might make it actually different and more fun hit me.

However quite a sum to pay for quirks.

Also not sure why the 4C appeals to me and the lotus Elise never really did.

[enzo1]

for...

[afterburn 549]

I think they are describing the boost characteristics like the early 930 was famous for ?

[aschen]

I think they look fantastic, but an exige seems like a better and much cheaper option to me

[onewhippedpuppy]

I have to agree with the others, an Exige or Elise seems like a better choice. They also may actually be more reliable as well, which is a bit shocking to say about a Lotus. The Evora is also a very nice car, my neighbor has one and it is fantastic.

[sc_rufctr]

Long story but I drove one in Singapore last month.

Great fun drivers car much like an early Miata. It brought back some good memories of the earlier Alfas but the interior did feel bit flimsy or cheap.
The dash for instance just flexes if you push on it. The seats look good but the support is minimal and there's not a lot of room inside.

[Steve Carlton]

[enzo1]

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Long story but I drove one in Singapore last month.

Great fun drivers car much like an early Miata. It brought back some good memories of the earlier Alfas but the interior did feel bit flimsy or cheap.
The dash for instance just flexes if you push on it. The seats look good but the support is minimal and there's not a lot of room inside.

Cool, they kept in the Alfa character!

I miss the days of the 1984 GTV-6. One of the best POS 'eva' edition.

[sc_rufctr]

The 1984 GTV-6 was a brilliant car but the engine had reliability issues.

The paint and trim were a joke but that didn't stop people buying them and I'm sure the cars came with rust from new.

I knew of an owner in the 80s who's car dropped a valve after less than 30,000km. Long story short he ended up replacing the engine with another one from a wreck and then immediately sold it.
At one point it was difficult to find an insurance company that would cover the car. Apparently they were often stolen and never recovered and there was always a healthy supply of slightly used parts.

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

Long story but I drove one in Singapore last month.

Great fun drivers car much like an early Miata. It brought back some good memories of the earlier Alfas but the interior did feel bit flimsy or cheap.
The dash for instance just flexes if you push on it. The seats look good but the support is minimal and there's not a lot of room inside.

Friend picked his up 30 minutes ago. SC, the point of this car is 'light", so I'd forgive it quirks like that. Flex doesn't mean unsuitable or weak. Im more concerned to read about vague handling when pushing on....

And this- Euro spec the car goes about 890kg, the local cars are coming in over 1000kg because of ADR requirements for extra intrusion bars.

[sc_rufctr]

Don't get me wrong Stuart. It's a great car but it's not the right car for me.

I must be getting old because I'm actually considering an early R-R Corniche hardtop as an addition to the stable. lol