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My neighbor bought one of these and used it as his daily driver. He is an orthodontist and has offices in Chicago and the suburbs that he commuted to. When people asked him why does he drive a car like that which should be a weekend toy and will probably appreciate in value he said it's just a car I could die tomorrow and I'm going to enjoy it driving it! He still owns it but now it's semi-retired and only driven on weekends and in good weather. It currently has 92,000 miles on it. When it was being used daily it was used in all weather including snow and did the mundane duties of a daily driver including going to the grocery store and picking up the dry cleaning.
"Drop dead gorgeous!" is how one would describe this car. It is a breath of fresh air since the legendary Jaguar E-Type. What a design. And it's an Alfa.
Just to add a word on Alfa reliability. I’ve owned my 4C Coupe for 7.5 years and not one thing has gone wrong. Even the battery is still strong. That’s in almost 50,000km. I’ve also done a few suspension mods so she’s now solid at speed over uneven roads. I’ve just done 800km over the weekend. What a special thing it is to tour in. Yes, it is possible. It’s an amazing car. Enjoying your work, James. 👍
actually "almost 50000km" :)) I hope your Alfa will be going strong for many many many years to come, but 50000km is basically nothing for a modern vehicle...
@@miskatonic6210 The point is nothing has gone wrong and that has included several track days. I’ve my 4C and it’s never failed to put a smile on my face on every drive. Never boring. Huge fun.
@@Alex11Magic I know of several 4Cs that are well over 100,000 miles but cars like this tend to have lower mileage as they are kept as sunny day weekend fun cars.
@@TML34IMO if a car was only available with Auto, then it doesn’t matter too much. Where the differential occurs is when both boxes are available - in which cases the enthusiast market will hugely favour manual examples. Besides, in 30yrs time those of us with manual driving licenses (for US viewers- if you’re in Europe you take different driving tests and have a different licence) will be elderly or deceased!
As an early owner of the 4C now for 8 years in USA spec. Full leather interior plus AC was mandatory in US spec cars. The cars always been amazing. The “wayward handling” of early cars was a combination of 3 things. Crappy extremely stiff sidewall Pirelli P zero tires and damn near every car being delivered with out of spec wheel alignment and an aggressive setup on a short wheelbase. 3 months into ownership I changed the tires to Michelin super sports 10mm wider in front and back and got an alignment and all of those complaints vanished, the tire is just as grippy as the pirelli and has better shock absorption. If the car is still too twitchy at that point, the Alfa works shims can make it less aggressive but I love it just after those 2 changes. Short-wheelbase cars with very fast lock to lock steering are very skittish when there’s alignment or tire issues. I own a 4C and an LC500, both cars are special for different reasons. But the 4C is in my heart as the car I can never give up. It’s” great but “ terrible as a daily driver/ car for commuting. It’s simply amazing in making your day feel special, I don’t think any other car within several multiples of it’s price point can make you feel as special as the 4C does. The transmission /engine combo is great, just always drive it in manual mode because the shift programming sucks in automatic. My only other complaint is the shift paddles which there are aftermarket options for. The steering (once the alignment/tire issue is fixed) is something super unique and amazing about this car, and the brakes both in performance and feel are on another level. This car teaches you weight balance; Trail braking while turning in to get more weight over the front end, something you can feel in the steering is so satisfying when done right and terrifying when you don’t 😂. It punishes bad driving techniques. Some people get unnerved when they feel the front end “go light” at speed, that’s just the car communicating with you how much front end grip you actually have and that you’ll understeer in that moment if you do. Zero Nannie’s or buffers to cover up all the mechanical activity going on around you and I love it.
I have a 2015 Launch Edition 4C I bought new. Same fixes as you....tires and very important to keep the tire pressure to no more than the recommended (door card sticker) of 29 Rear and 26 Front. Suspension with toe set to 0. A big improvement in handling feel on sweepers is to replace the bushings in the rear lower suspension bars with Uniballs. Setup this way the car is terrific handling. The car is amazingly reliable.....and compared to competitors can be much more economical to maintain although of course not in Chevy or Ford range. Biggest con is limited storage space of course....teaches you how to pack efficiently.
@@RobertKarlBerta You know what sucks about this car though....the fact that I need to spend about $4500 to have the bolts/screws retightened because of the carbon fiber monocoque.
@@jasonm.8749 Where do you live where it costs that much. Ran me under a grand here in Michigan at a dealer. And I can now get it done for even less.....Sounds like you got ripped off. Did you have other work done at the same time? For that much you should have been able to get the bolt tighteniing, cam belt, water pump, oil change, etc. service that covers everything.
I have a 4c Spider. Had it for 4 years now. It has the Alfaworks steering geo and Stage 1 ECU (280bhp) upgrade. I absolutely love this car and these modifications really are worthwhile. Ok, it’s compromised with no storage space and an under par interior ( the Alpines is glorious) but the looks and driving experience more than make up for this. As a weekend tool it’s awesome. I have previously owned lots of previous Alfa’s including the glorious SZ, and this knocks spots off them. I have also owned a 355, the 4c is as quick, and a Cayman S, I just couldn’t learn to love it. Alfaworks look after it for me, it’s not expensive to run and extremely reliable. With the impending release of the already sold out 6c at the end of August ‘23, the lineup of 4, 6 &8c will all be future classics. The 8c already is, and how often do you see a 4c in the wild. The Lotus may be a more complete driver, and the Alpine shows what can be done with proper thought given to detail, but neither have the wow factor of the 4c for me.
In the United States most of our 4Cs have leather upholstery, door cards, and dash. That is much more upscale than the stock stuff but some might prefer the stripped version. I have the Launch Edition version 2015 that I bought new. Love the car. Minor tweaks is all it needs to take to the next level just as other brands/models of cars I have owned. Better tires is #1 (those PZeros were not a good factory choice (but guess Italian tires on and Italian car was the rule). Set front toe to 0 and of course check the alignment. Some of those early examples needed an alignment from the sales floor! VERY important to not over inflate the tires as testers/reviewers are wont to do. 29# rear, 26# front or less....never over that when set cold. They are very sensitive to tire pressure adjustments. I also recommend replacing the rear lower triangle bushings with Uniballs which makes a huge difference in the feel on higher speed sweepers and on track. The engine is fine stock as is the trans. I leave it in manual mode all the time. If you want a bit more power there are various ECU upgrades available from several suppliers. The gear ratio spacing is perfect....none of the extra long gears that the P cars are saddled with. For most uses the stock brake pads are fine although some might upgrade the pads to a more track oriented version when doing lots of tracking....at the expense of brake squeal and not as good cold braking. My first ALFA was a 1969 Spider I bought new and kept for over 40 years....and would still have it if I had more garage space.
I have had 3 over the past 10 years. Every time I think I need something better, different, etc, I keep coming back. In terms of daily use; they are reliable, fun and comfortable. Plus they don’t ask much in return from space to park, fuel, and money. Added bonus, and similar to cars costing significantly more; it’s distinctive and rare.
This guy does the best reviews overall.. No gimmicks and not typical UA-camr fake laughs and giggles.. Says negatives.. And love the reg-reviews of older cars
I bought one, coming up on 2 years of ownership and still love it. Is it perfect, no but I still look back at it every time I park up and haven’t regretted a moments time with it.
Love mine and yes USA spec has leather wrapped steering wheel, dash & door cards. Took me a while to figure out why people in the UK bashed the interior so bad.
I love my 2015 4C Spider Track Exhaust and Track Suspension! I bought it for peanuts here in the US used with 46K miles during covid. It was a glorious looking vehicle and very different than anything I'd ever owned. Truth be told it required some serious "Camp David Accord" negotiations with my wife Christy 😁The testdrive was amazing. It had a problem with the clutch right off the get go. The dealership cleared the codes and pledged to take care of any issue if it occurrd again. And occur it did. Right on the 4 hour drive home. Turned out to be a clutch pak needing replacement 😢 The independent dealership took care of it completely and as a bonus the Alfa dealer where it was serviced agreed to install the timing belt and water pump for no labor charge if I delivered them the OEM parts with the car. What a deal! Over the past few years I installed a few upgrades to include the Alfa blocks and dialed it in with the 2020 Lotus Evora alignment specs. That really changed the hedge attack personality! Its such a gem to drive and track now. I also yanked the seats out and installed my own custom lumbar pads and a heat element kit. This really made a difference on my 53 year old back. Very warm and cozy now. Thank you Jay for taking the time to review the 4C again. I love watching your videos! They are informative and enjoyable. You have really been a blessing especially when we were being locked down seven ways to Sunday during covid. Keep up the good work pal!
You’re my favourite car UA-camr. No BS, nonsense or fanfare. Genuine petrol head discussion and I love it. Every new upload is an instant click. Congrats on 300K. Hope your get your hands on an LFA someday (unless you already have?) Keep it up James!
I just recently stumbeled across your channel and I got instandly hooked. Funny, interesting and very well written. Absolute fantastic videos thank you
I love the 4C. Yes it is the sports exhaust on there. Can see it on the tailpipe. Not the sportiest exhaust you could get though. That would be the titanium Akrapovic with centre pipes. Nice video.
I'm 9 months into 4C ownership. It's fitted with the race pack and I use it as my daily driver. No other car that I have owned comes close to the enjoyment of this car. I'm more used to big comfy V8's so was a bit of a shock experiencing the 4C for the first time. I'd now find it hard going back to a 'normal' car. Those that track exceptionally good handling cars would say the 4C doesn't compare but for me, who uses it as a daily, the handling for exceeds anything I've previously owned. The attention it gets (all positive) is off the charts, the mpg is amazing for the performance, parts are relatively cheap, sounds amazing from inside the cabin and....the looks!....it is a fantastic looking car! Can't see me seeling/changing this car for a very very long time.
I do not understand how anyone can say that this car is good looking. I remember hearing Clarkson say it was his favourite looking car and being completely bewildered. It's hideous. Everything else might be wonderful, I can believe that, and it sounds great apparently, but the looks... I do not understand what people are seeing that I'm missing.
Yes, we in the US got better interior parts. The Alfa 4C is gorgeous, reliable, and built in Maranello. A stage 2 ECU puts these in the mid 3s 0-60. Won’t be long and they will be out of reach. It will never be duplicated.
My first look at JayEmm. Fantastic presentation. Clear, precise, sound quality on audio well engineered. Good editing. JM witty and well versed on the subject. Best of all, he’s credible and likable! I’m binge watch more.💪
4C is already an instant classic. It is Beautiful, steering can be fixed easily (all 4C owner have done), i have a coupe’ and just 3 k are on the road now. It is the sole car on his category with carbon fibre chassis. Mine has 335 hp and 973 kg with full tanks (i have done some upgrades😎). And the Car is mega really mega. Price is growing up and will be much more when all the whashing machine will be around us. 🍀👍💪
I have no.39 and the Alfaworks geo transforms the car! As does their stage 1 ecu which sorts out the power delivery and takes it to 280hp. To date it's been the most enjoyable car I've owned and, this will upset a few, it's been the most reliable car I've run over 4 years!
I envy you. It’s my dream car to own as seriously thinking of buying one next year. The only thing that kind of stops me is the electric car revolution. How sound of a decision is to save up so much money and pay for an internal combustion engine (ICE) car in 2023 knowing that in a few years time you will be forced to sell it for an electric one? Let’s face it, even if you want to take your ICE type car to the very end of the allowed threshold to own and drive, governments (especially in places like UK, California etc) will set the regulations so much against you that the cost to run it will be prohibitive thus forcing you indirectly to probably give it away for peanuts in a scrap yard and in return her something that looks and drives like a video game console and sounds like a vacuum cleaner. So that is the only thing that keeps me from pulling the trigger. I want to drive this car for life!!!
@@R03333 you’ve got a point. Unfortunately my financial status prevents me for being so care free in such a decision. So unfortunately I have to put logic into the equation, something I wouldn’t do of my financial circumstances were different. :(
@@gpapa31 You've got literally decades of petroleum sales left yet. The new car petroleum vehicle sale ban isn't even until 2035. you've got decades on top of that.
To steal a phrase from Clarkson’s Alfa Romeo Disco Volante piece, “As a tool for making you feel special, nothing comes close”… I drove one of these (rosso competizione coupe) for two years and did 15,000miles in it - never once did it not feel like an event getting in and driving it…
The 4C is in the top 10 of my "If I could have any car I wanted" list. It's not at the top of that list but it is the only one that I might actually be able to get one day.
Why, just out of interest? To me it's one of the ugliest cars Alfa have ever made, a stumpy little thing. So I've never understood the appeal. I can understand the appeal of the 8C which is a genuinly stunning piece of design, but this car...I really don't get it.
Owned a US 4C Coupé car for 3 years with the same exhaust (there is no silencer); it's exactly as described here. It makes dirty, naughty sounds all the time, and the whole experience is as visceral and raw as you can hope for in a modern car. The transmission is as responsive as you'll ever need it to be on public roads, with the DNA selector on Dynamic mode. With how slow it is, Normal mode is just there for boring long distance drives if one would ever do such a thing with this car. I don't see the 4C as a competitor to the Elise and Exige--it's a much more spacious car than those, and if you have a taller frame like myself the Lotus won't be very useable. My hot take is that the direct comparisons don't really matter when you drive it because the 4C is such an occasion, even holding its own against the better-known "exotic cars." Understandably, having the full leather interior option makes a significant difference in the ambience. 4Cs are not as affordable as they were at the bottom of the depreciation curve, but 100% recommended if you can afford one. I noted that the suspension was very nervous on straight roads, but in my experience fresh tyres fix some of that and of course, the Alfaworks parts will make it even better.
Can someone define a perfect "CAR" , whenever Alfa Romeo is mentioned the descriptive imperfect rears it head and the goes to reinforce this negative image of the brand, the 4C is a modern technical automotive achievement, beautiful, lightweight, agile, and punches well above it's price point. Only the Alpine is in the same ball-park and that does not have a carbon fiber monocoque.😊
Have always had an interest in these, coupe version, and after watching many reviews, yours being the most informational and non biased reviews in my book, i finally decided to take the plunge! Bought my one owner mandraperla, Akropovic, carbon fiber roof, and black leather spec and after having bought it online and over the phone, had it shipped 3000 miles, i still can't wipe the smile from my face! Thank you for your take on one of my favorites! Ps...found out a week after ownership, my girl has the eurocompulsion stage 2 tune! Supposedly bringing it up to 312bhp...thought it see ed way peppier than the example i test drove a couple months prior.....either way.....yummy!
I’m a racer, and I’ve worked in automotive all of my life. The only area I actually agree with you on is re: the looks. I have the use of one at the moment, and it’s a very special car, I adore it. Super-light, efficient, reliable, very well built - it’s a 246 Dino for the modern generation. I wouldn’t take a car like this to a ‘dealer’ - though you could - it’s completely missing the point. It’s for specialists. Who cares about the boot space. I’m just glad Alfa Romeo made it ❤
As good as the review of the Alfa is, the introduction is priceless. George Carlin and many other comedians, alive and dead are grinning ear to ear. Thanks for making my day!
I own a launch edition. It’s absolutely stunning, reliable and very exciting. It’s had a stage 1 tune and a cold air intake and is around 315bhp. It’s always admired and I’m always asked if people can take a photo. When I took it to a caffeine and machine meet I was the only 4c and yet there was roughy a million Porsches 😂 dare to be different
I think you’ve slightly missed the point - I have had the use of a 2016 for the past ten months, I adore it. Alfa Romeo had to use parts from the bin to build the cabin - because ALL THE MONEY went into the tub, you cannot do a carbon tub for £60k - it’s a bargain. Recasting the block in aluminium … ? 💰 I’m a racer, I look at things differently. For me it’s stunning, brilliant to drive. Oh, and yes: Alfaworks are excellent 👌
I was a car journalist when this came out. Most colleagues had already driven the coupé when the Spider was introduced, so I was asked to go to the press launch of that. I remember how everybody was complaining that the suspension was too stiff and too wayward to make this a nice car, and then with the Spider the Italians introduced an optional Race chassis. I drove all three chassis options (normal, Sport and Race) and, surprisingly (but oh so typically Alfa Romeo), the Race Chassis was by no slim margin the most comfortable one, and the one I would advise to get if you're thinking about getting a 4C. Then again, I can attest to how terrible the dealer network is (and I'm in Belgium, so the issue is not limited to the UK) and I think you'll probably get better service by choosing a Lotus or - much overlooked - a Vauxhall Speedster.
James, I have a 2015 (USA). I agree with your review. It’s quirky and fun, BUT I’m glad I have other cars to enjoy too. Of all my cars, this one gets the most attention.
Lovely car, good to see that you now rather like it. Perhaps you will do the same with a later Giulietta, they are really good cars. I’ve had a 150bhp Multi-air for nearly 5 years from new and with the only expenses being tyres and annual service it has been very reliable and is fun to drive especially when you shove it into Dynamic for safe overtaking. Go on James, swallow your pride and learn to love the Giulietta as well !
Did own the 8C and the 4C. The 8C had a flat battery every two weeks, the 4C was twitchy like hell and sometimes frightened the s... out of me. Definitely no daily drivers but great fun toys.
The used value of these in Australia never went below retail by more than 5% and now they are well over at around 30-40% above the original price. A good, fun investment!
I think Jay is the guy at a party you do not know, you start up a conversation and 5 minutes in you say to yourself "lets get outa here". Jay cheer up, just a smidge.
May I make a suggestion? The mic placed near the exhaust tip doesn’t sound anything like the real exhaust. The sound from in cabin and drive by shots gives us a much more realistic idea of what the car will sound like in real life. It tends to make the exhaust of all cars sound much worse than it really is.
Timing could not have been any more coincidental. Just come back from the Alfa Romeo Owners Club National Alfa day event where a friend was persuading me to buy one. Imagine the irony to get home and see this video!!!
At the time I first test drove a 4C, I had just gotten my MR2 Spyder rescue project to a drivable state. After seeing the rubbed-off labels on the switches and breaking nearly all my bones going over a rail crossing right outside the dealership lot, I was very happy to return to my MR2. I can see a 4C as fun, exciting car for a few glorious minutes, but I can't possibly imagine the pain of actually living with one.
Can't disagree more. The 4C was designed as a serious drivers car.... not a cushmobile. I use mine and even with the stiffer race suspension it is fine. Perhaps on the B roads of the UK it might be a harsher ride....but our streets here in Michigan, USA are far from pristine smooth roads. I have had a few cars that were far more jarring. Rubbed off labels on switches.....not sure what that would be....not any I see in my car or other 4Cs..
@@RobertKarlBerta seems to endemic to most Stellantis products over here. Nothing against them, we have an Abarth 500 that we enjoy very much, but the owners just don't seem to take care of their cars very well. This last winter, I thought about taking another look at 4Cs. One at the dealer was unavailable for "urgent" servicing and the other was parked in the showroom, but two lug nuts were missing from the front driver side wheel, all the studs were corroding. And this was at an Alfa Romeo dealer.
I would struggle with choosing between the Elise and the Alpine, but if i'm buying a car for more than weekend fun, i think i'll go with the Alpine. I love everything, besides the drivetrain, about that car.
Jay I had the same experience when i tried to test drive a 4c. They told me that I can test drive it when I buy one. I went to lotus and they let me take it for a 30 min drive and that's how I ended up buying my lotus.
I rented one of these for a weekend for my 1 year anniversary and it brought such a smile to my face. I don't think I'd want to own one unless I had quite an extensive collection already, but the thing was a riot. Like a happy little bumblebee. My biggest gripe was actually the seats. Quite uncomfortable and also not terribly supportive. I am not a racing driver so didn't have the limit handling complaints of the hotshoes, but below the limit it was quite a lot of fun. The steering as you'd imagine though doesn't make parking maneuvers super easy.
Loved the look of the 4c for many years, having owned many a variant of Alfa Romeo over the years it definately a car on my radar IF I ever sold my Maserati Granturismo, that or a Guilla QV. In fact the car before the GT was a Alfa Giulietta Cloverleaf which was rempapped and did go very well indeed. Great video as ever Mr Emm. Runs to autotrader to check out prices of 4C's :-)
It's an epic sports car and with the minor modification to the front caster, the handling is less track oriented. (Without the mod, it's like driving a 911 GT3 or GT3RS on the road.) Reliable too, I know of a few at 80,000 miles and more with nothing more than routine maintenance.
Great review! I have No10 of the Anniversary edition, also in madreperla white and it’s a night and day difference to the Spider I took out at launch, now that it’s running with Alfaworks geo, tune and on Michelin tyres. Fabulous, engaging drive, sounds great with its Quicksilver exhaust and always receives positive attention due to its achingly good looks. Future classic for sure!
"receives positive attention due to its achingly good looks" I don't want to be unkind to something you obviously treasure, but to me it's one of the outright ugliest sportscars of this century. I have never understood the praise it gets in that department.
I just finished uploading my first drive of an alfa romeo (diesel, Stelvio) and that was life changing. I can only imagine how this would look and feel like in real life. Awesome review as always good sir 😊
in the mid 2000s, a lotus exige was 60-70k. Now, if you can find an untracked, unwrecked, unmodified version..... You'll spend 200k and they made 11,000 of them.... plus 36000 Elises that shared the same platform. They made 9000 4Cs.... only about 2500 of which were Spiders. Take a guess at what they'll be worth in 10 years.
Great comments on the 4C. Really appreciate your insights. I know you have a slight interest in Vantages 2006 onwards. Love to know your comments on 7speed manuals, especially as only 350 produced.
I desperately want to get my hands on either an Elise or an A110, I've been leaning towards the latter because I could conceivably do road trips in it, but at the same time I want the top to come off... The good news is, I can't really afford either at the moment so I can kick that decision a little further down the road
@@Rob-oi9mf hahaha the 4C is intriguing, especially because the top _does_ come off, but the prospect of an Alfa is a tad scary and as has been mentioned, work needs to be done to the car for the steering and dynamics otherwise to make sense, which are good out the box on both the A110 and the Elise. That interior is also a war crime, somehow they managed to make it worse than the Elise which is... Impressive.
@@Rob-oi9mf Not to say I have great faith in the Renault made Alpine, certainly heard of a fair number of problems with those. I'd have some fair level of confidence in the overall drivetrain though. My friend's Giulietta engine had eaten itself by 80k miles. There's all manner of Clios ragged to within an inch of their life still going way over 100k. My K20 FN2 is still going after nearly 250k miles!
@@Razyre The tweaks aren't necessary for the 4C and frankly just better tires, correct tire presure, and a good alignment is all you need. I don't get all the praise of an Elise or Exige. They have plenty of warts also and a few tweaks is always a good idea on them just as on any car. My neighbor had an Exige and put tons of $$$ into it getting it right....but in the end he traded it for a 4C with an equal number of upgrades. He says it is a superior car to the Exige. And the stock interior is low budget but most cars sold in the US were the upgrade version with leather dash, door cards, and upholstery. I love the instrument display....it gives all the information you need quickly and doesn't require tons of dash space for giant displays and instruments.
Great car, great review. I always thought the MC20 was supposed to have been a Ferrari (Dino), with the Roma originally a Maserati? Check the Alfieri and you'll see why
I had a 4C as a daily driver. On October 5th of this year a semi merged into my lane and bumped me across 3 highway lanes into the center divider. Surprisingly no other car ran into me but my car was totaled. I miss it everyday. I LOVED to drive it any chance I had. I am still dealing with the Semi's car insurance to get the issue with my 4C resolved. RIP 396 of 500 LE.
The same problem with the dealerships in Germany too. After many bad stories and experiences with Alfa Dealerships… I think that the dealerships are the biggest problem for Alfa since 2005 … they don’t make new customers. No matter if they sell good , cheap or beautiful cars the customer service is bad.
I have a 4C coupe. It by far is the most rigid and solid car I have ever owned. Getting in and closing the door is like closing a bank vault door. I know what you mean about cowl shake. That is always an issue with a convertible....not so on the 4C spider or coupe. There is a real reason why a carbon fiber tube is so prized in a race car or super car. That tub was Sergio's gift to us 4C owners.
@@RobertKarlBerta I've owned several convertibles from various makes over the years, and the 4C is the only one with no discernible cowl shake. A brilliant design, really.
@@davidturgeon2087 Same for me. The carbon fiber tub on the spider and coupe (my own car) makes for a bank vault like rigidity. That is why CF tubs are so highly thought of. I have had a race car with aluminum tub and even it wasn't flex free. CF is stronger than aluminum while also being lighter than aluminum. Are you on the 4C Forum..... highly recommended. I am one of the 4 Super Moderators world wide on it.
I just did a write-up of the 4C on my Instagram. I'm excited to see how these cars depreciate in the market as the years go one. In my opinion, they're fantastic. But they need two things. The first being a check over of the alignment, and the second being a SCARA73 aftermarket steering wheel and paddles. I HATE that wheel so much, but the SCARA unit solves that (but does delete your airbag).
I don't own a 4C, but i do own a 159 TBi, and let me tell you that little engine punches way above it's weight. Very good engine although it can be at times sensible but has good tuning potential.
Bought a brand new 156 twin spark when they came out. The list of faults was two A4 pages long, including terrible paint, grease marks on headlining and lights staying on and doors not locking. Had a maddive flat spot on acceleration too.
Interesting video James. The tide has changed substancially over the last few years. The fish are swimming in all different illogical directions. There is probably more life in other cars now. Just like the the 4C with the Fiat Barchetta heating controls. As for my choice of the cars mentioned? Well, I am 6'5" and slim. The Lotus is out then. A caterham long would do. What could I fit into? My Barchetta fits. Just. That is my tarmac terrier of choice for now. Scoff ye not until you have driven mine. All could become clear.......... Bw and many thanks J. Mike.
I love the fact that there are companies finishing off Alfa's work. It's such a furture classic, just needs a bit of fettling for UK roads. Love the Alpines obsession with weight, shame Caterham hadn't the funds to stay on the project. Well, and Lotus is Lotus, ACBC's ethos still shines through. 😊
I put a low mile JDM Honda K20A2 into a mint condition '89 MR2 along with a 6 spd manual from an Acura RSX Type S. Virtually unbreakable 222 hp on the dyno to the rear wheels, manual quick ratio steering, a glorious original shift box, coilovers front and rear, 16" wheels, and slotted carbon brakes. Seems to pretty much match the specs of this beautiful 4C, and it's an absolute demon at the track.
Had the luck to drive a 4C on a track, it's incredible. So much fun, and honestly didn't miss a manual gearbox that much. And the sound of the turbo spooling just behind your years it's something to remember
I can assure you, it would be worse with a manual box. You need both hands on the wheel. It dumps power quite aggressively, has a short wheelbase and the unassisted steering is more hyper than an ADHD Cocker Spaniel. I love it. With a bit of suspension tweaking it comes alive. Replacing the stock crap Pirellis with Michelin PS Cup2s also takes it up a notch.
Absolutely. I saw a beautiful matte grey Alpine in my local town a while ago and it looked supremely aggressive and elegant. I do not understand the praise for the 4C's looks at all. I think it's outright ugly.
@@thesprawl2361 While I admire the Alpine for a good looking car, it's a rather boring design compared to the 4C. With its design overseen by the former head of Pininfarina, it's no wonder the 4C is a looker.
This. I had a choice of the Elise and Exige, while they operate very well, it also matters about appearance, up close very interesting but when seen driving on public roads, how it moves, I was very disappointed in that they looked, too much like a toy car, so tiny and out of proportion and didn't meet expectations, it changed by viewpoint. The 4C has none of these disappointments and that's what so strange because they have similar dimensions but the designer and final decision avoided the pitfall. I haven't been disappointed nor have to say things that are fussy and dainty. My driving experience has been awesome and met expectations.
The 4c was meant to relaunch the Alfa brand at a time Fiat was struggling financially, as a result compromises were made, still it is engaging and a piece of art to look at
Compromises are made in EVERY production vehicle. Compromises are part and parcel of every design project; an "unlimited budget" is an oxymoron. The 4C is designed and constructed to a very high quality, as any owner will attest. Hand assembled cars are a rarity these days.
brother-ln-law has one, I have driven it. They are a nice car to drive. And they look stunning. Here in Oz the asking price has gone up considerably. If you got one about 3 year ago you could now get about 50% more. I would go for the Elise without the blower and not the K-series engine.
The “ problem “ with modern Alfa Romeo dealers , is they don’t feel specialised enough. Since Alfa Romeo started to mainstream their sales orientation, manufacturing diesels and the like , anybody took them on. I remember in the 1970s owning an Alfa was something very special indeed, the dealers themselves lived and breathed , Alfa Romeo . It felt like it didn’t matter whether other cars were better value, or if anybody thought certain German marques were considered better built, you were buying an ALFA ! They were at the time far more expensive than some mainstream motor cars , you bought one then if you wanted a change , you bought another, just a different model.
There is a company in Austria called AVL. They have an Alfa 4C thats tuned to 470hp and the car can keep up with a LaFerrari until 160kmh. They also went through over 35000km without any major issue on the engine.
I had a 156, and loved it, yes it broke down only 9k miles on took it back to get a GT instead, lost a terrible load of money, went to Volvo, got a C30 se, and more money for the 156.And, still have Volvos from then 2007, ahem, and have never broken down.
I bought a new c8 corvette having never test driven one. I test drove 4C at Amelia Island concours. Steering seemed fine. But, and I was just telling my son yesterday you can’t pull back on both paddles and put it into neutral to rev engine. Most other paddle shift cars you can, including my new Corvette.
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Hope you can do an 8C one day JM.
Same here 🤦♂️
I’m 6’4” Jay. Would I fit in it?
My neighbor bought one of these and used it as his daily driver.
He is an orthodontist and has offices in Chicago and the suburbs that he commuted to.
When people asked him why does he drive a car like that which should be a weekend toy and will probably appreciate in value he said it's just a car I could die tomorrow and I'm going to enjoy it driving it!
He still owns it but now it's semi-retired and only driven on weekends and in good weather. It currently has 92,000 miles on it.
When it was being used daily it was used in all weather including snow and did the mundane duties of a daily driver including going to the grocery store and picking up the dry cleaning.
That's nice. I've got nothing but respect for people who drive the cars they love on the daily.
In my younger years, I used my S1 elise as a daily.. No issues at all, drove it 500 miles a the weekend.
Well done.
Totally agree and that is why no regrets for putting 78000 km on my 2011 GT500
"That's a nice car, why don't you drive it less?"
"Drop dead gorgeous!" is how one would describe this car. It is a breath of fresh air since the legendary Jaguar E-Type. What a design. And it's an Alfa.
Same class as Jaguar E-Type? That rolling sex appeal❤️
Just to add a word on Alfa reliability. I’ve owned my 4C Coupe for 7.5 years and not one thing has gone wrong. Even the battery is still strong. That’s in almost 50,000km. I’ve also done a few suspension mods so she’s now solid at speed over uneven roads. I’ve just done 800km over the weekend. What a special thing it is to tour in. Yes, it is possible. It’s an amazing car. Enjoying your work, James. 👍
50000 km😂
actually "almost 50000km" :)) I hope your Alfa will be going strong for many many many years to come, but 50000km is basically nothing for a modern vehicle...
@@miskatonic6210 The point is nothing has gone wrong and that has included several track days. I’ve my 4C and it’s never failed to put a smile on my face on every drive. Never boring. Huge fun.
@@Alex11Magic I know of several 4Cs that are well over 100,000 miles but cars like this tend to have lower mileage as they are kept as sunny day weekend fun cars.
I kind of hope that the 4c doesn't become a classic, simply because I really really want one and I'll never be able to afford one if it does 😅.
My feelings exactly
Same here ! I don't mind the dct
No manual = no classic.
@@TML34IMO if a car was only available with Auto, then it doesn’t matter too much. Where the differential occurs is when both boxes are available - in which cases the enthusiast market will hugely favour manual examples. Besides, in 30yrs time those of us with manual driving licenses (for US viewers- if you’re in Europe you take different driving tests and have a different licence) will be elderly or deceased!
Too late.
As an early owner of the 4C now for 8 years in USA spec. Full leather interior plus AC was mandatory in US spec cars. The cars always been amazing. The “wayward handling” of early cars was a combination of 3 things. Crappy extremely stiff sidewall Pirelli P zero tires and damn near every car being delivered with out of spec wheel alignment and an aggressive setup on a short wheelbase. 3 months into ownership I changed the tires to Michelin super sports 10mm wider in front and back and got an alignment and all of those complaints vanished, the tire is just as grippy as the pirelli and has better shock absorption. If the car is still too twitchy at that point, the Alfa works shims can make it less aggressive but I love it just after those 2 changes. Short-wheelbase cars with very fast lock to lock steering are very skittish when there’s alignment or tire issues. I own a 4C and an LC500, both cars are special for different reasons. But the 4C is in my heart as the car I can never give up. It’s” great but “ terrible as a daily driver/ car for commuting. It’s simply amazing in making your day feel special, I don’t think any other car within several multiples of it’s price point can make you feel as special as the 4C does. The transmission /engine combo is great, just always drive it in manual mode because the shift programming sucks in automatic. My only other complaint is the shift paddles which there are aftermarket options for. The steering (once the alignment/tire issue is fixed) is something super unique and amazing about this car, and the brakes both in performance and feel are on another level. This car teaches you weight balance; Trail braking while turning in to get more weight over the front end, something you can feel in the steering is so satisfying when done right and terrifying when you don’t 😂. It punishes bad driving techniques. Some people get unnerved when they feel the front end “go light” at speed, that’s just the car communicating with you how much front end grip you actually have and that you’ll understeer in that moment if you do. Zero Nannie’s or buffers to cover up all the mechanical activity going on around you and I love it.
I happen to own a 4C and LC500 as well. I bet there are very few people in the world that own both of these cars like we do. :)
When I changed to Michelin sport cups I agree all the twitchiness disappeared.
I have a 2015 Launch Edition 4C I bought new. Same fixes as you....tires and very important to keep the tire pressure to no more than the recommended (door card sticker) of 29 Rear and 26 Front. Suspension with toe set to 0. A big improvement in handling feel on sweepers is to replace the bushings in the rear lower suspension bars with Uniballs. Setup this way the car is terrific handling. The car is amazingly reliable.....and compared to competitors can be much more economical to maintain although of course not in Chevy or Ford range. Biggest con is limited storage space of course....teaches you how to pack efficiently.
@@RobertKarlBerta You know what sucks about this car though....the fact that I need to spend about $4500 to have the bolts/screws retightened because of the carbon fiber monocoque.
@@jasonm.8749 Where do you live where it costs that much. Ran me under a grand here in Michigan at a dealer. And I can now get it done for even less.....Sounds like you got ripped off. Did you have other work done at the same time? For that much you should have been able to get the bolt tighteniing, cam belt, water pump, oil change, etc. service that covers everything.
I have a 4c Spider. Had it for 4 years now. It has the Alfaworks steering geo and Stage 1 ECU (280bhp) upgrade. I absolutely love this car and these modifications really are worthwhile. Ok, it’s compromised with no storage space and an under par interior ( the Alpines is glorious) but the looks and driving experience more than make up for this. As a weekend tool it’s awesome. I have previously owned lots of previous Alfa’s including the glorious SZ, and this knocks spots off them. I have also owned a 355, the 4c is as quick, and a Cayman S, I just couldn’t learn to love it. Alfaworks look after it for me, it’s not expensive to run and extremely reliable. With the impending release of the already sold out 6c at the end of August ‘23, the lineup of 4, 6 &8c will all be future classics. The 8c already is, and how often do you see a 4c in the wild. The Lotus may be a more complete driver, and the Alpine shows what can be done with proper thought given to detail, but neither have the wow factor of the 4c for me.
In the United States most of our 4Cs have leather upholstery, door cards, and dash. That is much more upscale than the stock stuff but some might prefer the stripped version. I have the Launch Edition version 2015 that I bought new. Love the car. Minor tweaks is all it needs to take to the next level just as other brands/models of cars I have owned. Better tires is #1 (those PZeros were not a good factory choice (but guess Italian tires on and Italian car was the rule). Set front toe to 0 and of course check the alignment. Some of those early examples needed an alignment from the sales floor! VERY important to not over inflate the tires as testers/reviewers are wont to do. 29# rear, 26# front or less....never over that when set cold. They are very sensitive to tire pressure adjustments. I also recommend replacing the rear lower triangle bushings with Uniballs which makes a huge difference in the feel on higher speed sweepers and on track. The engine is fine stock as is the trans. I leave it in manual mode all the time. If you want a bit more power there are various ECU upgrades available from several suppliers. The gear ratio spacing is perfect....none of the extra long gears that the P cars are saddled with. For most uses the stock brake pads are fine although some might upgrade the pads to a more track oriented version when doing lots of tracking....at the expense of brake squeal and not as good cold braking. My first ALFA was a 1969 Spider I bought new and kept for over 40 years....and would still have it if I had more garage space.
Thanks
When it came out I thought to myself I'll buy one after 10 years. Red one with the carbon headlights. Well, 10 years later I still can't afford it.
I have had 3 over the past 10 years. Every time I think I need something better, different, etc, I keep coming back. In terms of daily use; they are reliable, fun and comfortable. Plus they don’t ask much in return from space to park, fuel, and money. Added bonus, and similar to cars costing significantly more; it’s distinctive and rare.
7:57 - Well the HVAC control actually dates back to the 1995 Punto (Tipo 176).
A bit different symbols, identical switches.
This guy does the best reviews overall.. No gimmicks and not typical UA-camr fake laughs and giggles.. Says negatives.. And love the reg-reviews of older cars
He is an absolute pratt and clearly doesn't know anything about cars
I bought one, coming up on 2 years of ownership and still love it. Is it perfect, no but I still look back at it every time I park up and haven’t regretted a moments time with it.
For what it is, that's to say a true sports car, it's pretty much perfect, i/m/h/o.
Love mine and yes USA spec has leather wrapped steering wheel, dash & door cards. Took me a while to figure out why people in the UK bashed the interior so bad.
because they to much influenced by top gear. if top gear says its bad people regurgitate it
JayEmm your videos are so good and entertaining- congrats on your success, and thanks for the hard work and great, funky content!
I love my 2015 4C Spider Track Exhaust and Track Suspension! I bought it for peanuts here in the US used with 46K miles during covid. It was a glorious looking vehicle and very different than anything I'd ever owned. Truth be told it required some serious "Camp David Accord" negotiations with my wife Christy 😁The testdrive was amazing. It had a problem with the clutch right off the get go. The dealership cleared the codes and pledged to take care of any issue if it occurrd again. And occur it did. Right on the 4 hour drive home. Turned out to be a clutch pak needing replacement 😢 The independent dealership took care of it completely and as a bonus the Alfa dealer where it was serviced agreed to install the timing belt and water pump for no labor charge if I delivered them the OEM parts with the car. What a deal! Over the past few years I installed a few upgrades to include the Alfa blocks and dialed it in with the 2020 Lotus Evora alignment specs. That really changed the hedge attack personality! Its such a gem to drive and track now. I also yanked the seats out and installed my own custom lumbar pads and a heat element kit. This really made a difference on my 53 year old back. Very warm and cozy now. Thank you Jay for taking the time to review the 4C again. I love watching your videos! They are informative and enjoyable. You have really been a blessing especially when we were being locked down seven ways to Sunday during covid. Keep up the good work pal!
You’re my favourite car UA-camr. No BS, nonsense or fanfare. Genuine petrol head discussion and I love it. Every new upload is an instant click. Congrats on 300K. Hope your get your hands on an LFA someday (unless you already have?) Keep it up James!
I just recently stumbeled across your channel and I got instandly hooked.
Funny, interesting and very well written. Absolute fantastic videos thank you
I love the 4C.
Yes it is the sports exhaust on there.
Can see it on the tailpipe.
Not the sportiest exhaust you could get though.
That would be the titanium Akrapovic with centre pipes.
Nice video.
I'm 9 months into 4C ownership. It's fitted with the race pack and I use it as my daily driver. No other car that I have owned comes close to the enjoyment of this car. I'm more used to big comfy V8's so was a bit of a shock experiencing the 4C for the first time. I'd now find it hard going back to a 'normal' car. Those that track exceptionally good handling cars would say the 4C doesn't compare but for me, who uses it as a daily, the handling for exceeds anything I've previously owned. The attention it gets (all positive) is off the charts, the mpg is amazing for the performance, parts are relatively cheap, sounds amazing from inside the cabin and....the looks!....it is a fantastic looking car! Can't see me seeling/changing this car for a very very long time.
I do not understand how anyone can say that this car is good looking. I remember hearing Clarkson say it was his favourite looking car and being completely bewildered. It's hideous.
Everything else might be wonderful, I can believe that, and it sounds great apparently, but the looks... I do not understand what people are seeing that I'm missing.
@@thesprawl2361 The looks of this car was the first and only reason I chose to want to own it!🤤💯❤️
@@junemoonchild69 Did you end up getting it?
@@thesprawl2361 Maybe you need glasses? Just asking.
@@davidturgeon2087 Contacts actually
Yes, we in the US got better interior parts. The Alfa 4C is gorgeous, reliable, and built in Maranello. A stage 2 ECU puts these in the mid 3s 0-60. Won’t be long and they will be out of reach. It will never be duplicated.
My first look at JayEmm. Fantastic presentation. Clear, precise, sound quality on audio well engineered. Good editing. JM witty and well versed on the subject. Best of all, he’s credible and likable! I’m binge watch more.💪
Proud owner, the car is amazing.
4C is already an instant classic. It is Beautiful, steering can be fixed easily (all 4C owner have done), i have a coupe’ and just 3 k are on the road now. It is the sole car on his category with carbon fibre chassis. Mine has 335 hp and 973 kg with full tanks (i have done some upgrades😎). And the Car is mega really mega. Price is growing up and will be much more when all the whashing machine will be around us. 🍀👍💪
I loved this Alfa from the moment i first saw it on TG . Utterly beautiful . ❤
I have no.39 and the Alfaworks geo transforms the car! As does their stage 1 ecu which sorts out the power delivery and takes it to 280hp.
To date it's been the most enjoyable car I've owned and, this will upset a few, it's been the most reliable car I've run over 4 years!
I envy you. It’s my dream car to own as seriously thinking of buying one next year. The only thing that kind of stops me is the electric car revolution. How sound of a decision is to save up so much money and pay for an internal combustion engine (ICE) car in 2023 knowing that in a few years time you will be forced to sell it for an electric one?
Let’s face it, even if you want to take your ICE type car to the very end of the allowed threshold to own and drive, governments (especially in places like UK, California etc) will set the regulations so much against you that the cost to run it will be prohibitive thus forcing you indirectly to probably give it away for peanuts in a scrap yard and in return her something that looks and drives like a video game console and sounds like a vacuum cleaner. So that is the only thing that keeps me from pulling the trigger. I want to drive this car for life!!!
@@gpapa31 In your thought process you have 2 options, drive the car you want for some time, or never drive it. I know what I'd choose.
@@R03333 you’ve got a point. Unfortunately my financial status prevents me for being so care free in such a decision. So unfortunately I have to put logic into the equation, something I wouldn’t do of my financial circumstances were different. :(
@@gpapa31 You've got literally decades of petroleum sales left yet. The new car petroleum vehicle sale ban isn't even until 2035. you've got decades on top of that.
To steal a phrase from Clarkson’s Alfa Romeo Disco Volante piece, “As a tool for making you feel special, nothing comes close”… I drove one of these (rosso competizione coupe) for two years and did 15,000miles in it - never once did it not feel like an event getting in and driving it…
A 4C with 'Alfa Works' makeover is on my bucket list...
The 4C is in the top 10 of my "If I could have any car I wanted" list. It's not at the top of that list but it is the only one that I might actually be able to get one day.
Why, just out of interest? To me it's one of the ugliest cars Alfa have ever made, a stumpy little thing. So I've never understood the appeal. I can understand the appeal of the 8C which is a genuinly stunning piece of design, but this car...I really don't get it.
On that list, the 8C is way up for me
Owned a US 4C Coupé car for 3 years with the same exhaust (there is no silencer); it's exactly as described here. It makes dirty, naughty sounds all the time, and the whole experience is as visceral and raw as you can hope for in a modern car. The transmission is as responsive as you'll ever need it to be on public roads, with the DNA selector on Dynamic mode. With how slow it is, Normal mode is just there for boring long distance drives if one would ever do such a thing with this car.
I don't see the 4C as a competitor to the Elise and Exige--it's a much more spacious car than those, and if you have a taller frame like myself the Lotus won't be very useable. My hot take is that the direct comparisons don't really matter when you drive it because the 4C is such an occasion, even holding its own against the better-known "exotic cars." Understandably, having the full leather interior option makes a significant difference in the ambience.
4Cs are not as affordable as they were at the bottom of the depreciation curve, but 100% recommended if you can afford one. I noted that the suspension was very nervous on straight roads, but in my experience fresh tyres fix some of that and of course, the Alfaworks parts will make it even better.
Can someone define a perfect "CAR" , whenever Alfa Romeo is mentioned the descriptive imperfect rears it head and the goes to reinforce this negative image of the brand, the 4C is a modern technical automotive achievement, beautiful, lightweight, agile, and punches well above it's price point. Only the Alpine is in the same ball-park and that does not have a carbon fiber monocoque.😊
Have always had an interest in these, coupe version, and after watching many reviews, yours being the most informational and non biased reviews in my book, i finally decided to take the plunge! Bought my one owner mandraperla, Akropovic, carbon fiber roof, and black leather spec and after having bought it online and over the phone, had it shipped 3000 miles, i still can't wipe the smile from my face! Thank you for your take on one of my favorites! Ps...found out a week after ownership, my girl has the eurocompulsion stage 2 tune! Supposedly bringing it up to 312bhp...thought it see ed way peppier than the example i test drove a couple months prior.....either way.....yummy!
I’m a racer, and I’ve worked in automotive all of my life. The only area I actually agree with you on is re: the looks. I have the use of one at the moment, and it’s a very special car, I adore it. Super-light, efficient, reliable, very well built - it’s a 246 Dino for the modern generation. I wouldn’t take a car like this to a ‘dealer’ - though you could - it’s completely missing the point. It’s for specialists. Who cares about the boot space. I’m just glad Alfa Romeo made it ❤
As good as the review of the Alfa is, the introduction is priceless. George Carlin and many other comedians, alive and dead are grinning ear to ear. Thanks for making my day!
I love this car, I got a red 4C spider . Cheap to maintain and run.
I own a launch edition. It’s absolutely stunning, reliable and very exciting. It’s had a stage 1 tune and a cold air intake and is around 315bhp. It’s always admired and I’m always asked if people can take a photo. When I took it to a caffeine and machine meet I was the only 4c and yet there was roughy a million Porsches 😂 dare to be different
I think you’ve slightly missed the point - I have had the use of a 2016 for the past ten months, I adore it. Alfa Romeo had to use parts from the bin to build the cabin - because ALL THE MONEY went into the tub, you cannot do a carbon tub for £60k - it’s a bargain. Recasting the block in aluminium … ? 💰 I’m a racer, I look at things differently. For me it’s stunning, brilliant to drive. Oh, and yes: Alfaworks are excellent 👌
I was a car journalist when this came out.
Most colleagues had already driven the coupé when the Spider was introduced, so I was asked to go to the press launch of that.
I remember how everybody was complaining that the suspension was too stiff and too wayward to make this a nice car, and then with the Spider the Italians introduced an optional Race chassis.
I drove all three chassis options (normal, Sport and Race) and, surprisingly (but oh so typically Alfa Romeo), the Race Chassis was by no slim margin the most comfortable one, and the one I would advise to get if you're thinking about getting a 4C.
Then again, I can attest to how terrible the dealer network is (and I'm in Belgium, so the issue is not limited to the UK) and I think you'll probably get better service by choosing a Lotus or - much overlooked - a Vauxhall Speedster.
James, I have a 2015 (USA). I agree with your review. It’s quirky and fun, BUT I’m glad I have other cars to enjoy too. Of all my cars, this one gets the most attention.
A mate got one the waiting list, took bleedin' ages. He loved and hated in equal measure that blinking thing. Hey ho, he's still got it today.
Lovely car, good to see that you now rather like it. Perhaps you will do the same with a later Giulietta, they are really good cars. I’ve had a 150bhp Multi-air for nearly 5 years from new and with the only expenses being tyres and annual service it has been very reliable and is fun to drive especially when you shove it into Dynamic for safe overtaking. Go on James, swallow your pride and learn to love the Giulietta as well !
Did own the 8C and the 4C. The 8C had a flat battery every two weeks, the 4C was twitchy like hell and sometimes frightened the s... out of me. Definitely no daily drivers but great fun toys.
The used value of these in Australia never went below retail by more than 5% and now they are well over at around 30-40% above the original price. A good, fun investment!
I think Jay is the guy at a party you do not know, you start up a conversation and 5 minutes in you say to yourself "lets get outa here". Jay cheer up, just a smidge.
May I make a suggestion? The mic placed near the exhaust tip doesn’t sound anything like the real exhaust. The sound from in cabin and drive by shots gives us a much more realistic idea of what the car will sound like in real life. It tends to make the exhaust of all cars sound much worse than it really is.
Will never be able to own one but really cool to see someone drive one.
Nice vid.
Saw one of these on the Nurburgring last week. It looked very quick.
Timing could not have been any more coincidental. Just come back from the Alfa Romeo Owners Club National Alfa day event where a friend was persuading me to buy one.
Imagine the irony to get home and see this video!!!
At the time I first test drove a 4C, I had just gotten my MR2 Spyder rescue project to a drivable state. After seeing the rubbed-off labels on the switches and breaking nearly all my bones going over a rail crossing right outside the dealership lot, I was very happy to return to my MR2. I can see a 4C as fun, exciting car for a few glorious minutes, but I can't possibly imagine the pain of actually living with one.
Can't disagree more. The 4C was designed as a serious drivers car.... not a cushmobile. I use mine and even with the stiffer race suspension it is fine. Perhaps on the B roads of the UK it might be a harsher ride....but our streets here in Michigan, USA are far from pristine smooth roads. I have had a few cars that were far more jarring. Rubbed off labels on switches.....not sure what that would be....not any I see in my car or other 4Cs..
@@RobertKarlBerta seems to endemic to most Stellantis products over here. Nothing against them, we have an Abarth 500 that we enjoy very much, but the owners just don't seem to take care of their cars very well.
This last winter, I thought about taking another look at 4Cs. One at the dealer was unavailable for "urgent" servicing and the other was parked in the showroom, but two lug nuts were missing from the front driver side wheel, all the studs were corroding. And this was at an Alfa Romeo dealer.
I would struggle with choosing between the Elise and the Alpine, but if i'm buying a car for more than weekend fun, i think i'll go with the Alpine. I love everything, besides the drivetrain, about that car.
Beautiful looking car. This was a serious consideration for my next weekend car. I’m going the F-Type route, but this was enticing as well
Spooky. I was just looking up your previous 4C videos last night, and another came out!
I got one. 2017 4C Spider. I love it.
One of the best sounding 4 cylinder engines along with the Abarth 500 1.4 they sound amazing for a 4 pot
Jay I had the same experience when i tried to test drive a 4c. They told me that I can test drive it when I buy one. I went to lotus and they let me take it for a 30 min drive and that's how I ended up buying my lotus.
Congrats on 300K!
I rented one of these for a weekend for my 1 year anniversary and it brought such a smile to my face. I don't think I'd want to own one unless I had quite an extensive collection already, but the thing was a riot. Like a happy little bumblebee. My biggest gripe was actually the seats. Quite uncomfortable and also not terribly supportive. I am not a racing driver so didn't have the limit handling complaints of the hotshoes, but below the limit it was quite a lot of fun. The steering as you'd imagine though doesn't make parking maneuvers super easy.
Loved the look of the 4c for many years, having owned many a variant of Alfa Romeo over the years it definately a car on my radar IF I ever sold my Maserati Granturismo, that or a Guilla QV. In fact the car before the GT was a Alfa Giulietta Cloverleaf which was rempapped and did go very well indeed. Great video as ever Mr Emm. Runs to autotrader to check out prices of 4C's :-)
It's an epic sports car and with the minor modification to the front caster, the handling is less track oriented. (Without the mod, it's like driving a 911 GT3 or GT3RS on the road.) Reliable too, I know of a few at 80,000 miles and more with nothing more than routine maintenance.
Great review! I have No10 of the Anniversary edition, also in madreperla white and it’s a night and day difference to the Spider I took out at launch, now that it’s running with Alfaworks geo, tune and on Michelin tyres. Fabulous, engaging drive, sounds great with its Quicksilver exhaust and always receives positive attention due to its achingly good looks. Future classic for sure!
"receives positive attention due to its achingly good looks"
I don't want to be unkind to something you obviously treasure, but to me it's one of the outright ugliest sportscars of this century. I have never understood the praise it gets in that department.
@@thesprawl2361 I think you are decidedly in the minority opinion.
@@davidturgeon2087 So what?
Which would I own? As an Alfisti it would have to be a 4C! I believe photographs dont show just how great they look!
I just finished uploading my first drive of an alfa romeo (diesel, Stelvio) and that was life changing. I can only imagine how this would look and feel like in real life. Awesome review as always good sir 😊
in the mid 2000s, a lotus exige was 60-70k. Now, if you can find an untracked, unwrecked, unmodified version..... You'll spend 200k
and they made 11,000 of them.... plus 36000 Elises that shared the same platform.
They made 9000 4Cs.... only about 2500 of which were Spiders. Take a guess at what they'll be worth in 10 years.
Great comments on the 4C. Really appreciate your insights. I know you have a slight interest in Vantages 2006 onwards. Love to know your comments on 7speed manuals, especially as only 350 produced.
I've yet to try one, always on the hunt though
Well done James, 300k and another super watchable vid. You are a talent!
Drove this in Gran Turismo and it’s driving dynamics are so unique. Now I want one.
I desperately want to get my hands on either an Elise or an A110, I've been leaning towards the latter because I could conceivably do road trips in it, but at the same time I want the top to come off... The good news is, I can't really afford either at the moment so I can kick that decision a little further down the road
Thanks for sharing that, but this is about the 4C.😂
@@Rob-oi9mf hahaha the 4C is intriguing, especially because the top _does_ come off, but the prospect of an Alfa is a tad scary and as has been mentioned, work needs to be done to the car for the steering and dynamics otherwise to make sense, which are good out the box on both the A110 and the Elise. That interior is also a war crime, somehow they managed to make it worse than the Elise which is... Impressive.
@@Razyre Sounds like you should definately stay away from all things Alfa,best to leave it to us crazy Alfisti🤣
@@Rob-oi9mf Not to say I have great faith in the Renault made Alpine, certainly heard of a fair number of problems with those. I'd have some fair level of confidence in the overall drivetrain though.
My friend's Giulietta engine had eaten itself by 80k miles. There's all manner of Clios ragged to within an inch of their life still going way over 100k. My K20 FN2 is still going after nearly 250k miles!
@@Razyre The tweaks aren't necessary for the 4C and frankly just better tires, correct tire presure, and a good alignment is all you need. I don't get all the praise of an Elise or Exige. They have plenty of warts also and a few tweaks is always a good idea on them just as on any car. My neighbor had an Exige and put tons of $$$ into it getting it right....but in the end he traded it for a 4C with an equal number of upgrades. He says it is a superior car to the Exige. And the stock interior is low budget but most cars sold in the US were the upgrade version with leather dash, door cards, and upholstery. I love the instrument display....it gives all the information you need quickly and doesn't require tons of dash space for giant displays and instruments.
Great car, great review. I always thought the MC20 was supposed to have been a Ferrari (Dino), with the Roma originally a Maserati? Check the Alfieri and you'll see why
MC20 was originally intended to be the Alfa 6C, and indeed the Roma as Maserati. Then management decided differently
I had a 4C as a daily driver. On October 5th of this year a semi merged into my lane and bumped me across 3 highway lanes into the center divider. Surprisingly no other car ran into me but my car was totaled. I miss it everyday. I LOVED to drive it any chance I had. I am still dealing with the Semi's car insurance to get the issue with my 4C resolved. RIP 396 of 500 LE.
Sad to hear of your loss. Hopefully, the insurance payout will get into another 4C.
The same problem with the dealerships in Germany too.
After many bad stories and experiences with Alfa Dealerships… I think that the dealerships are the biggest problem for Alfa since 2005 … they don’t make new customers. No matter if they sell good , cheap or beautiful cars the customer service is bad.
In Canada I’ve only seen fully leathered interiors including leather door panels and full carbon halo, never new they came with plastic
Interiors
The basic fabric interiors are very rare in North America market. Most were fully outfitted including AC, theft alarm, cruise control package.
Gorgeous GreatButt 😂😅😂
I love the look 👀 and I would drive one. Especially knowing the suspension can be sorted very easily. 🎉
It’s a great little car but it’s a long time away, if it’s ever going to be a future collectible
nice vid. true in the us the 4c where heavier, health and safety stuff (extra airbags etc)
Looks just about right now! Same with the Evora/Emira that they didn't do it like this originally! Thanks J! 🙏🙏
No mention of scuttle shake/rigidity of chassis. Assume the carbon tub sorted it? Another great video. Thanks JM.
I have a 4C coupe. It by far is the most rigid and solid car I have ever owned. Getting in and closing the door is like closing a bank vault door. I know what you mean about cowl shake. That is always an issue with a convertible....not so on the 4C spider or coupe. There is a real reason why a carbon fiber tube is so prized in a race car or super car. That tub was Sergio's gift to us 4C owners.
@@RobertKarlBerta I've owned several convertibles from various makes over the years, and the 4C is the only one with no discernible cowl shake. A brilliant design, really.
@@davidturgeon2087 Same for me. The carbon fiber tub on the spider and coupe (my own car) makes for a bank vault like rigidity. That is why CF tubs are so highly thought of. I have had a race car with aluminum tub and even it wasn't flex free. CF is stronger than aluminum while also being lighter than aluminum. Are you on the 4C Forum..... highly recommended. I am one of the 4 Super Moderators world wide on it.
I just did a write-up of the 4C on my Instagram. I'm excited to see how these cars depreciate in the market as the years go one. In my opinion, they're fantastic. But they need two things. The first being a check over of the alignment, and the second being a SCARA73 aftermarket steering wheel and paddles. I HATE that wheel so much, but the SCARA unit solves that (but does delete your airbag).
whats the link to your insta
I don't own a 4C, but i do own a 159 TBi, and let me tell you that little engine punches way above it's weight. Very good engine although it can be at times sensible but has good tuning potential.
Bought a brand new 156 twin spark when they came out. The list of faults was two A4 pages long, including terrible paint, grease marks on headlining and lights staying on and doors not locking.
Had a maddive flat spot on acceleration too.
The 4c literally just popped into my head yesterday for this very reason.
Interesting video James. The tide has changed substancially over the last few years. The fish are swimming in all different illogical directions. There is probably more life in other cars now. Just like the the 4C with the Fiat Barchetta heating controls. As for my choice of the cars mentioned? Well, I am 6'5" and slim. The Lotus is out then. A caterham long would do. What could I fit into? My Barchetta fits. Just. That is my tarmac terrier of choice for now. Scoff ye not until you have driven mine. All could become clear.......... Bw and many thanks J. Mike.
Always enjoy your videos; whichever the car.
I think you could have any of those 3 and it wouldn't matter. They are all interesting cars
I love the fact that there are companies finishing off Alfa's work. It's such a furture classic, just needs a bit of fettling for UK roads. Love the Alpines obsession with weight, shame Caterham hadn't the funds to stay on the project. Well, and Lotus is Lotus, ACBC's ethos still shines through. 😊
I put a low mile JDM Honda K20A2 into a mint condition '89 MR2 along with a 6 spd manual from an Acura RSX Type S. Virtually unbreakable 222 hp on the dyno to the rear wheels, manual quick ratio steering, a glorious original shift box, coilovers front and rear, 16" wheels, and slotted carbon brakes. Seems to pretty much match the specs of this beautiful 4C, and it's an absolute demon at the track.
If they did them with a manual gearbox I would say they could be classed as special. The 4C has always seemed like it's missing something.
it missed everything - it’s trash
@@carlosandleonnot everything is trash they nailed the looks and carbon tub
Had the luck to drive a 4C on a track, it's incredible. So much fun, and honestly didn't miss a manual gearbox that much. And the sound of the turbo spooling just behind your years it's something to remember
@@BRAINFxck10Carlos has never been near one……
I can assure you, it would be worse with a manual box. You need both hands on the wheel. It dumps power quite aggressively, has a short wheelbase and the unassisted steering is more hyper than an ADHD Cocker Spaniel. I love it. With a bit of suspension tweaking it comes alive. Replacing the stock crap Pirellis with Michelin PS Cup2s also takes it up a notch.
My choice would be the Alpine, i much prefer its looks too. Wish it was available in North America!
Absolutely. I saw a beautiful matte grey Alpine in my local town a while ago and it looked supremely aggressive and elegant. I do not understand the praise for the 4C's looks at all. I think it's outright ugly.
@@thesprawl2361 While I admire the Alpine for a good looking car, it's a rather boring design compared to the 4C. With its design overseen by the former head of Pininfarina, it's no wonder the 4C is a looker.
@@davidturgeon2087 Give me boring over stumpy and odd
This. I had a choice of the Elise and Exige, while they operate very well, it also matters about appearance, up close very interesting but when seen driving on public roads, how it moves, I was very disappointed in that they looked, too much like a toy car, so tiny and out of proportion and didn't meet expectations, it changed by viewpoint. The 4C has none of these disappointments and that's what so strange because they have similar dimensions but the designer and final decision avoided the pitfall. I haven't been disappointed nor have to say things that are fussy and dainty. My driving experience has been awesome and met expectations.
The 4c was meant to relaunch the Alfa brand at a time Fiat was struggling financially, as a result compromises were made, still it is engaging and a piece of art to look at
Compromises are made in EVERY production vehicle. Compromises are part and parcel of every design project; an "unlimited budget" is an oxymoron. The 4C is designed and constructed to a very high quality, as any owner will attest. Hand assembled cars are a rarity these days.
How long was the 4c on sale for. I’ve actually entirely forgotten about her.
brother-ln-law has one, I have driven it. They are a nice car to drive. And they look stunning. Here in Oz the asking price has gone up considerably. If you got one about 3 year ago you could now get about 50% more. I would go for the Elise without the blower and not the K-series engine.
Definitely better with the glass headlights
I'd have the 4c all day long. Is it just me, or does this one sound pretty damn good?
Sounds like a off tuned tractor. Cringe
The “ problem “ with modern Alfa Romeo dealers , is they don’t feel specialised enough. Since Alfa Romeo started to mainstream their sales orientation, manufacturing diesels and the like , anybody took them on. I remember in the 1970s owning an Alfa was something very special indeed, the dealers themselves lived and breathed , Alfa Romeo . It felt like it didn’t matter whether other cars were better value, or if anybody thought certain German marques were considered better built, you were buying an ALFA ! They were at the time far more expensive than some mainstream motor cars , you bought one then if you wanted a change , you bought another, just a different model.
There is a company in Austria called AVL. They have an Alfa 4C thats tuned to 470hp and the car can keep up with a LaFerrari until 160kmh. They also went through over 35000km without any major issue on the engine.
I had my name down for one of these. Just before I was to put down a deposit, Porsche announced the 981 Boxster Spyder. My deposit went to Porsche :)
Congratulations on the 300 k. Your videos and content are maturing nicely. 😊 Well be calling you Shmeayemm before you know it.
Last time I looked prices were still very strong, not that there is a cat in hells chance of me ever owning one but that doesn't stop me looking 😂
I had a 156, and loved it, yes it broke down only 9k miles on took it back to get a GT instead, lost a terrible load of money, went to Volvo, got a C30 se, and more money for the 156.And, still have Volvos from then 2007, ahem, and have never broken down.
I bought a new c8 corvette having never test driven one. I test drove 4C at Amelia Island concours. Steering seemed fine. But, and I was just telling my son yesterday you can’t pull back on both paddles and put it into neutral to rev engine. Most other paddle shift cars you can, including my new Corvette.
Just use the 4C's handy dandy button marked "N" and rev away, if that's your thing.
I've had several cars, that tried to kill me. I miss all of them.
In the aesthetic department this one destroys the Alpine, there is no contest