Alfa 4C - "Without The Heart We Would Be Mere Machines"

Well, why didn't you just state you have bad taste in women to begin with, makes more sense now.

 

Please.... you Elise owners and Cayman keep your cars.

I'll get my Alfa just that much faster.

Ask people in the 458 section what they think of their cars "Magnificent!" "Best thing ever!" "Awesome!" "Love it".

For me... meh. A fast Camry with very little soul and even less drama -- but pretty and good to impress your friends how much money you spent on a car.

Are they wrong? No. Am I wrong? No.

Each of us has their own reason for liking what we like. This car, the 4C, is so different than what is on the road today -- good and bad -- that at least its nice to know someone in the world doesn't mind thinking out the box to make 3500 lucky people a year very happy.

The pencil pusher accountants at Porsche will be laughing that the 4c didn't put a dent in their 30,000 per year sales of the Cayman. The Alfa owners will be laughing while driving demonstrating they wanted something different -- and finally got it.

 

Well... hard to argue with that, actually, as it would explain a lot.

 

Funny thing is I am married to a cute redhead, yet we differ on cars?.
On the Alfa we could have the subjective and aobjective. After all I never heard anyone say the 288 Gto didnt go or look good, or for that matter a 250 SWB. The Alfa could eb great alla round, it just needs cooking.

 

I agree with you on the 458, yet you love paddles too which to me along with the steering is a big part of the issue with the 458.

There are any number of out the box cars, from the viper to loti. The Alfa is cool with the Cf tub and looks great, now if only the rest of it lived up to the promise. As someone here said, all the reviewers were biased to like it, hell we all love the Idea of a stiff CF tub lightweight and good looks. The Alfa from what we read, (and its based on what we read,but repeated in multiple sources) seems to somehow miss the mark. This car should handle like a lotus, no reason not to, and the motor with the lightweight build still lacks the knockout punch or sound for which italians and alfas are fameous.

As to cayman comparisons, frankly I dont get all the cayman hype, the motor while smooth never feels to have punch, and maybe under that silken bushing isolation the chassis is brilliant, but you seem too divorced from the proceedings for the car to really be alive. Its still a chick car.

The Alfa to me should be a less crude, faster, more inspirational(motor) compared to a lotus. In anumber of ways it is, and it certainly looks another league, but while the right bits are there, its yet to pull it all together fully. I think the press has been pretty clear on that, read the EVO test.

 

I love the look of the Alfa 4C, that alone is worth half of it. It reminds me of what a great design the original Dino 206/246 was, cars which were under appreciated when new but which stood the test of time and are now considered true classics with price tags to show for it.
Having said that, as I've said before, for the price of a new 4C, I'm wondering if I wouldn't consider a used Ferrari 360 which can be had for around the same price range.

 

Just factor int he 5K average yearly maintanance for the 360. But they are two very different machines, other than being italian mid engine cars and good looking, even then the Alfa takes the looks prize and the 360 the motor.

 

Where do you get 5K average yearly maintenance?


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A reminder how subjective looks are. There's no way I would consider the 4C as good looking or having anywhere near the presence of the 360. The 4c is more unique looking though, I'll give it that.

 

I would say that though the 4C is beautiful and may become a classic, the 360 is most assuredly beautiful as well, and already considered a modern classic


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A little high but depends how you drive it. I would say a budget of 5 grand to repair and maintain a 360 per year is not unreasonable.

.

 

Well it depends on the condition of the 360 and how well it's been maintained, but it could be as much as 1/3 to 1/2 that cost. Though agreeably if you're unlucky it could also be more


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Keep it over 10 years and by the time you are done, if you keep it running as it should that will be the average. In that time you will need to do shocks, bushings, clutch, 2 belt changes and any number of other while you at it itis things. Factor in also tires brake pads, hoses lines, a 15-20 Yo car has needs from time expiring items, and on top of that its a ferrari. That is not to say every year will be 5K, some will be a lot more and some a lot less.
Once these cars age, lots need doing. Of course if all you want to do is have it run so you can drive to the cuppuchino bar then it could be considerably less. But if you plan on really using it, then it needs to run shift steer and brake properly.

A frind with a 456 was running a 10K average.

 

I could care less if all the reviewers don't absolutely love the Alfa, I have never bought a car based on someone else's review. I buy what I like and rarely ever do a road test prior to buying unless it's a used vehicle. When I buy something it's because I am in love with it, someone else's opinion holds zero weight in my car buying decision.

Between the Lotus, Porsche C or Alfa I take the Alfa número uno every day of the week.

 

I guess you dont keep them very long either then.

 

That's atypical. I've put 15K miles on mine with nothing but oil and brake fluid changes in two years. Just now wearing out the first new set of tires I put on it.

A well sorted 456 - especially an M - is a very reliable car by Ferrari standards. There are plenty of other stories like mine in the 456/550/575 forum.

Cheers,

George

 

Why we love Alfa--

Ol skool can work...

Alfa Romeo GTAm Replica - Nave Caine St Eusebio 2013 Onboard - YouTube

 

Molto Bella!

Sempre Autodelta

50° Autodelta - Alfa Romeo Giulia GT/GTA/GTAm on track! - YouTube

 

I was always hoping so, because I love the look of the 456, and if I could find one that had the hard bits done would buy it in hearbeat.

One thing I remmeber, my friend had a rad leak and to get the rad out and redone plus plus while you are at it, cost 16K, and this was an M.

the reading EVO a few years back one of the editors did a long term test on aused 550 nad it was eyewatering what it cost to run.

maybe there is a specialist somwehere who knows these cars, last time I found a nice one my guy said run dont walk away.

All of which brings us back to the Alfa, a new car should be pretty reliable and easy to run.
The lotus has cost nothing other than consumables and bits for the track, and it does 2500 trak miles per year plus some street, hard to do in a ferrari or porche.

 

I hope my 575M won't cost me as much as a 10K per year average


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Great photo and video Omnivore, one of my all time favourite Alfas. Che Bella Macchina!


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Agree. Awesome videos of one of my all time favorite cars, the gtv.

 

By the way guys, the latest news/rumors are that the 4C will come to the US with:
Leather dashboard
Spider type lights (Supposedly the bi-led lights are not allowed in the US??)
Side airbags with leather doors
Extra reinforcements in the chassis (20kgs or so)
Extra strenghtening of the rest of the structure including those "beautiful" bumperettes.

NY is pretty soon I think.

Cars with US spec have already been produced and seen by Euro clients of the 4C who have visited the factory in the past 2 weeks.

It looks like they have decided to make it a little more luxurious for the US market

 

Just hope it won't be underpowered here due to the emission regs and the extra weight

 

The 4C sucks and I'm pretty sure turns you into (insert that which you or your religion frowns upon here).

Run. Run away from them and kill everyone on the current waiting list. I mean, come on, it's only fair to end the lunacy.

In no way will following this advice help me procure one of these piece of crap...proceed.



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