Is the Alpha Romeo 4C Worth the Money?

The car that brought the Alfa Romeo name back to the United States is the 4C, which is an impressive little alternative sports car.

The question of whether or not this car is worth the money or a good car for you to drive is going to have more to do with what you want in a car than anything else. If you’re looking for a small sports car that feels like a car from days gone by, this is the car you’ll want to drive.

How Does the 4C Feel like an Old-School Car?

The build of this little Alfa Romeo is light, it’s quick, and it’s sparse. In fact, this car is so sparse that it doesn’t have power steering, which was left out to ensure you could have a lightweight car to drive. This makes the steering heavy when you’re driving slowly. Thankfully, you’ll only drive slowly for a few minutes before you hit the accelerator and rocket this car down the road. The steering evens out at this point and gives you the feeling you want during your drive.

Thankfully, Alfa Romeo doesn’t expect you to row the gears and do without power steering. This car does have an automatic transmission which helps you with the smooth drive you’re looking for. Add the sport-tuned suspension that’s part of the 4C, and you’ve got a car that can be quick, decisive, and confident on any road. You’ll love taking this car out on a road that is open and empty, where you can hit the gas pedal and let this car loose. It might be time for a visit to the track when you have the 4C to drive and enjoy around a closed loop.

Forget Practicality with the 4C

When we’re considering the question asked in the title, you have to consider what you’re expecting out of this car. If you want the Alfa Romeo 4C to be the car you drive every day, it’s going to let you down more often than not. This car does not have many seats (only two are found in the monocoque cabin), this car has very little cargo room, especially if you have the Spider model, which is an open-air version of this car, and it is extremely low to the ground.

Not everyone will fit inside this little Alfa Romeo, which means you’re going to need to take it for a test drive before you decide to buy. While practicality is tossed out the window, if you do step inside this car and find that you fit, you’ll want to take the 4C home with you. The amazing feeling you get when driving a car that is sporty, engaged, and iconic makes you want to enjoy the experience many times over.

This Car Was Made to be Exclusive

You might be lucky enough to find a 4C that hasn’t been sold, but that’s not likely. This amazing little sports car was made to be an exclusive model that was sold and built in low numbers. The 4C doesn’t look anything like any other car in its class. This car fits in the same class as the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Toyota 86, Subaru BRZ, and Nissan 370Z. When you see the 4C, you’ll know this car looks better than any of the other models in the market.
Alfa Romeo made the 4C to be a car for purists and those that truly love to drive. For this reason, the creature comforts that we find in many of the sedans and SUVs we drive were not included in this sports car. That just might be a factor that makes it even more attractive to you.

Power, Weight, and Speed

During the final year of production, this little Alfa Romeo sports car weighed in at around 2,500 pounds to make it light and quick. The power for this car came from a 1.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 237 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. This torque number is reached at 2,200 rpm, giving you amazing acceleration as soon as you hit the gas pedal. The engine is mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission which delivers the power the right way.

If you want to go fast, the 4C can hit sixty mph in 4.1 seconds and make its way to a top speed of 160 mph.

Let the Cabin Wrap You in Sportiness

When you’ve found that you fit behind the wheel of the Alfa Romeo 4C, you’ll see a cabin that is elegant and sporty in every way. The Italian influence you’re looking for from this brand is present to give you the style you want, and a cabin that seems to wrap around you with the controls right where you need them.

What You’ll Find in this Car

The last versions of the 4C gave you some basic items that make driving better on the road. You should find power windows, air conditioning, a seven-inch gauge cluster, a four-speaker Alpine audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port. This car also has a DNA selector to give you the right driving mode for your experience on the road. These models adjust the throttle, transmission, and stability of the car. You will enjoy the benefits of a rearview camera, cruise control, and rear parking sensors if you find the final model of the 4C.

Answering the Question

While the easiest answer is to say the value of the Alfa Romeo 4C is based on how you feel about it. In reality, if you’re looking for a car that can offer you versatility and capability, the 4C is not right for you. On the other hand, if you want a sports car to add to your household as a car that you can drive on weekends and when you want to have some fun, the 4C is an excellent choice. This car could be worth the money, but only as a second car meant for driving pleasure and not a car you depend on for daily driving.