These days, the number of new cars sold by manufacturers that truly ticks the heart strings of enthusiasts is increasingly small. Yes, I know, the Corvette exists as does the Camaro, but those are pure muscle cars – and there’s a very specific type of buyer who wants one. The sport compact market has been quite limited for years, and the prices on what used to be the cheap and cheerful category have ballooned; enjoy paying north of $40K for a lightly used Civic Type R. The Alfa Romeo 4C is one of the last sports car that was borderline exotic yet reasonably attainable, and these days, examples like this 2016 model with just 8,000 miles here on Hagerty seem like a smart buy.
You can already see where this market is going just by checking out recent auction sales. 4Cs with under 20,000 miles (or less) are selling deep into the $80,000-$90,000 range, and sometimes eclipsing $100,000. That doesn’t happen with cars that aren’t going to keep appreciating, close to 10 years after their introduction. Oddly, the bottom end of the 4C market is much different, and cars with 30,000 – 50,000 miles sell for a bargain basement price compared to the low mileage survivors. You can get into a 4C for the upper 30s depending on mileage and colors.
Like everything Alfa, it’s a wild assortment of parts. Read any forum posts about daily driving a 4C and you’re sure to burst into a grin. The drone of the straight-pipe exhaust, the racetrack-approved suspension, the hard plastics everywhere, the jerky transmission that struggles to corral the whiz-bang turbocharged engine that refuses to calm down – it’s a recipe for a good time, depending on what your ideal sports car experience should look like. The interior makes you feel like every day is a track day, and that’s sort of the point. If that’s not your jam, then just don’t buy a 4C.
A 237-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder provides the go joice, and the 4C can rip to 60 in a tick over 4 seconds. That’s seriously quick for any car, and especially for an automatic 4-banger. The 4C is rough around the edges, but Alfa has always been known for making a few sacrifices in the interest of an epic driving experience. Personally, I feel like these cars are way undervalued for the driver-quality example, and I think many of us will regret not buying one when we had the chance. Given the low miles, I suspect this one will sell for a bunch when the auction closes. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Araknid78 for the find.
Cars with over 5k miles, and even then , struggle to get mid 50’s. A well kept Launch Edition with 8k miles just sold for $49k on BaT. The “ask” market got thrown out of whack about four months ago when the last numbered Tributo Spider with only 157 miles total sold for close to $200k. Overnight prices shot up by 15-20k but few sell and those that do appear to have sold at deeply discounted prices from the ask. The active market for these cars (potential buyers) is very very thin.
It could be a good deal if it closes below $50k but at the numbers suggested in the write up absolutely not.
All this is IMHO as someone whose been looking to buy for the last year
Location: Los Angeles County, California
I have owned 3 Alfa’s, two Spiders, and a 164S. I loved all of them. When the new Alfa’s hit the street, I went and took a look. I would have driven the 4C, but it had no stick. The bean counters have basically ruined our society, and certainly the auto industry. Not many affordable, even with a little stretch, performance rides.
Like Mark, when these came to the US , I planned to buy one. I was horrified to learn that it could not be had with a stick. No stick, no deal!
Love this car, but I don’t think I could contort myself to get inside. The seats look non adjustable too. Be interesting to see what it goes for.
Well, there was a Mosler Consulier LX with under 8000 miles on B.aT. within the past Month that didn’t make reserve and the owner took $35,000.
My guess (backed up by an Epoch Times noting the mean rental cost is $51,000/year) is that the economy is far too tight for the majority of the population to buy a car, unless you’re going to use it every day. That’s a tough pill to swallow.
Alfa had a chance to separate itself from other luxury so called sports car, No Stick? Please, don’t disrespect the nameplate. I was shocked to see the only stick, the hand brake!
When y’all’s old folks learn to paddle shift…….WHOOOOO HOOOOOO
Ended at 35.1K.
Reserve Not Met.
30 bids.