Drove an Alfa Romeo 4C...

Are these a similar value stateside? Here in South Africa 308's are almost double a new 4C. Would you buy new or used?

 

I considered trading my 308 for a 4c but instead traded a Porsche 997 for it. The 4c sits happily next to the 308. When it's cool and I can take the top off, 308 gets driven. Warmer and AC needed, it's the 4c.
When I need groceries I take the Xterra.

 

I love the 4c. It's fun at rational speeds. I don't do track days and found my 997 boring unless I was pushing it at non legal speeds. The 4c is fun and fast enough for 2 lane back roads at speeds that won't get you arrested. It is loud and has no trunk room but more than makes up for it in personality and the sense of occasion you get when you drive it.

I have 1500 mikes on it and just a dealer visit for oil/filter.

I took it on a Ferrariclub drive and had no difficulty keeping up with the group on the twisties.

I think it is a modern take on the 398/Dino and in someways think it is the Dino that Ferrari won't/can't build.

 

I've driven the 4C Spider version and think you guys are spot on with the Dino/308 modern reincarnation. It's a wonderful car. The 4C is faster than my 355F1 Spider, but I do actually prefer the often maligned early Ferrari paddle over the 4C paddle. I think the take up of the clutch from standstill on my Ferrari is more intuitive. Perhaps that's just a matter of comfort with the 4C over time as I didn't find the system on the 4C problematic per se, but different and requiring a different touch. I can say that driving the 4C left me conflicted, trying to decide which of my cars to sell to buy the precious. I think it's important to note that the 4C is depreciating, while the 308 is appreciating. I think I am going to wait awhile and buy a excellent condition depreciated spider in a few years. But I cannot imagine ditching my 308 for it. 355 maybe. Couple of old Alfa Spiders probably. Y

 

I agree it is definitely different than the F1 system...not better or worse, just different. Although the 4c is depreciating it does have a warranty, so that counts...

 

I have owned a 246 dinogt, a carb 308 gtb, a 4valve 308gtsi, an 430 spider, a 458 coupe, and a 458 spider.

Now I own an Alfa 4c. I'm guessing I have the most experience to be a judge.

The 4c is truly a retro car in philosophy but not reality. It's a glimpse of what a Dino might be today if they made them all these years. It's lack of a manual box shows its modern edge. But I question really how good this massively boosted car would be with a stick. I think turbo lag would really hurt it without the speed shifting.

It is fun, fast, and reliable. Yearly maintenance is a paltry $220. It gets 35+mpg on the highway.

It's simple, fast enough for city streets, safe, and attractive. There's nothing on this car that can rust.

It's not a replacement for a classic car. But in today's world of wannabe sports cars, this is the real deal.

And that's why I like it. It's honesty in a sea of lies. So I have no plans in getting rid of mine.

 

I don't own a 4C or a 308 but I've been wanting a 308 for a long time and now circumstances have come to a point where I can actually afford one. But as someone who has owned Alfas for the past 40 years I decided to try out a 4C. I do like it, I like it very much, but I'm still torn because I really love the classic looks and sounds of a 308. I'm an old gearehead who enjoys regularly exfoliating his knuckles working on Italian cars so part of the appeal of a 308 is having it in my garage and fuutzing with it.

I'm just now beginning to look seriously and don't have a solid grasp on the current market. I'd be searching for a decent 308 for around $50k. I don't want a show car, I don't want an investment. I don't mind a bit of patina, normal wear and tear. I also don't mind if it isn't the most powerful or fastest model. I'm an accomplished mechanic, able to do pretty much anything up to and including minor machine shop work and I enjoy doing it. This would be a car I would drive purely for the enjoyment of driving it.

A 4C could fit most of that bill but I might get bored with nothing to wrench on and tinker with.

So do you guys think I could find a 308 that would suit me?

 

I guess a good question to ask is:

If you buy a 1/2 year old 4c..Will it depreciate more than the maintenance cost of an equivalently interesting car to drive?



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Sorry...not feelin' it. Looks like a hunchback Miata...IMHO

 

Make sure you do your research on the 4C. I like them a lot but they definitely have some draw backs. It's an ordeal just to add washer fluid. There are many quirks and some owners have complaints. I would make darn sure you do a LOT of research then if you still want it great. Make sure you know what you are getting into. Coming from a Ferrari it may make the issues seem small. Coming from a Lotus I could deal with most issues other than the dual clutch auto. They are a blast to drive, but ownership is not for me.

 

Henry - I already got my 308, bought an '83 QV back in November. I love it, it was the right decision for me.

 

Some owners expect these to be daily drivers. In Ferrari language I would say the experience is more scud like than f12 like. And like a lightweight special there are compromises made in exchange for weight saving. For many my guess is it is just a little too hardcore compared to the typical modern sports car driving experience .

In fact many of the things people have complained about are actually what makes the car special. IE lots of effort to steer when not moving. To me the lack of power steering is a feature! Also, though, I am one who does not miss the "gizmos" and I think they wouldn't suit this car. If this car was Alfa's attempt to replicate a Porsche boxster I would be completely uninterested although they would probably sell more of them.

I have said this before but if anyone is at all considering the car and wants a very special raw driving experience do yourself a favor and drive one. They are sitting on dealership lots so really not so hard to get ahold of them for a quick drive.





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I find myself wondering how much money Alfa are losing on each car.

A hand laid-up carbon-fibre tub on a car of that relatively low cost is unique and in that respect appears to represent a bit of a bargain. Most of the car is one big permanently bonded structure so dont crash it!

The car surely must have taken some styling cues from the Lotus Evora 400 as its so similar.

 

I'd take a look at the Cayman GT4, if it were my money.

 

Which makes me wonder what insurance rates are like on "fiber" cars like the 4c or Lotus.
You can't just pound out dents in a material that shatters.

Do the insurance rates reflect the more costly repairs?

Given the abuse my EVO has gotten in parking lots in the last 3 years, I probably wouldn't consider a fiber car for daily use.

 

Ok I feel the urge to chime in. I'm not an F-Car owner...at least not yet, though I grew up in a household of Italian cars from Ferrari to Lambos. I have owned a 2014 981 Cayman S since the end of 2013. I've got quite a few miles (27k) on it now, a lot of backroad drives and some taking it to work and such.

In December of 2015 I test drove an Alfa 4C. While I like the Cayman my heart still longs for the Italian car. The right thing for me might be an F360...altho in reality land for cost, drivability, and modern amenities a GT4 is probably still the right answer.

Anyhow there was something visceral that the Alfa 4C has. You can't quite put it into words. Every article or video review always talks about it. But like one of the previous posters said you have to test drive it yourself. I still can't wipe the memory of that quick drive from my mind. I often come back to it and think ... what if I trade in the Porsche for it.

For me the drawbacks were the interior quality, steering wheel location/thickness, and biggest no manual transmission. I just really want a 6MT. I talked with other previous owners some of whom swayed me away saying things like it's not really well designed, oil drain plug is right over cross beam below car and oil splatters when changing, etc..etc... But there is no question it's a blast to drive. Honestly if there was a manual gearbox I might have actually made the switch. Looks aside the car is pretty unique.

The best comment I think was from one of the motor trend review guys or something who said it is a perfect "5th car". I think that sums it up well. If I could afford it in addition to the Cayman I would.

I wrote up my thoughts on my blog after I had test driven it...if you want more complete notes you can read them here:

michael comet - cars, dogs, photos and musings: Alfa 4C Test Drive vs Porsche 981 Cayman S

Enjoy!

 

I think you are right. I have a 4c and am fortunate that it actually is my '5th' car. I think it's more like a motorcycle than a car in terms of its actual use. If my wife and I are taking a long weekend we'll take the Boxster. But I drove my 4c this weekend and hopped into my boxster later to do some errands and the 4c made the boxster seem big, heavy and ponderous. What I like it is combines the necessary compromises to comfort/daily use that vintage exotics have with modern technology. I think modern exotics are too big and more GT than sports.

 

I like the 4c because it's just bonkers. I drove it last week for a few days after a month off of traveling. After squeezing in it, just one blast up the freeway onramp and darting in and out of traffic made me realize why it's so unique and special.

We will never see another car like it built again. It's the end of the line of car makers doing something completely outrageous for performance types like us at a price that isn't crushing.

Its not without it's problems. But, true sports cars are supposed to have problems. We used to call them "quirks" but in the age of Lexus where everything is perfect, "quirks" are no longer allowed.

You either "get" the 4c or you don't. You can't convince someone to like it. If you like it, you're born that way.