The Alfa Romeo 4C marked a momentous return to form for Alfa Romeo in two ways, and it was not only the first Alfa Romeo to be sold in the US for decades but also the first rear-wheel-drive car from the Marque in over 30 years.

Simply beautiful and a class above its stablemates, the 4C stands out as an affordable supercar and includes all the compromises you would expect from a hardcore Ferrari; mid-engine, carbon fiber tub construction, no interior frills, not even power steering.

This is a real purist’s car, and from the outside, it's simply artwork. However, since this "Baby-Supercar" is now eight years old, you might be wondering what it will cost you to buy an early one. The answer is quite astounding.

Something Quite Special

2015 Alfa Romeo 4C US-Spec
Via: Carbuzz

There is no other way to put it, and the 4C is beautiful. Honestly, at the original asking price of £45,000 ($62,000), you couldn't be in a better-looking vehicle. Similarly priced competitors such as the Porsche Cayman and Lotus Elise are great-looking sports cars, but this is just a cut above.

Alfa 4C LE Interior
Via: Car Body Design

The 4C's excellent curvy Italian lines ensure you do not mistake this vehicle for the competition. Seriously, just look at it, it's like a Ferrari, and a Maserati had a love child. It stands out from the crowd and really elicits that wow factor cruising through towns.

Also, while the interior is rather sparse, it still manages to look futuristic nearly a decade later, thanks to a colourful digital screen, unique steering wheel, and purposeful seats. It comes as no surprise that the 4C is offering up something truly unique though, Alfas are always known for being a bit special.

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Punching Well Above Its Weight

4C vs Elise
Via: 4C Forums

Whilst not the powerplant you would expect in a divine Italian best, this four cylinder "1750 TBI" unit robbed from the Giulietta Cloverleaf hot hatch is small but mighty. Fettled for mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive application and mated to a snappy twin-clutch flappy paddle gearbox, this rorty Italian thoroughbred makes 240 BHP and 258 lb-ft of torque. If you really want, you can tune the 4C as well, turning it into a real monster!

Figures like this may not sound like much, but understand that this pocket rocket weighs just 900 kgs. That’s a ridiculous power to weight ratio, which is not too dissimilar to its bigger brother, the Giulia Quadrifoglio.

With a 0-60 time of just 4.5 seconds, a top speed of 160mph, and insane stopping distances due to the 305mm Brembo front brakes, the 4C can keep up and stop with the best of them. One other desirable feature of the 4C is great economy due to the engine choice in comparison to larger competitors, 30 mpg (Imp) is easily achievable.

Are you after a supercar you can run on a budget? That 1750 TBI can't even be faulted for sounding boring with its tiny turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Just take a listen to this! It sounds like it belongs in some sort of race series! It's not really a surprise, though, Alfa Romeo is known for their great engines.

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We Need To Talk About That Chassis

Alfa 4C Carbon Tub Chassis
Via: Wordpress

Alfa really went to town on this chassis, using a carbon-fiber tub and aluminum subframes to create a lightweight and rigid masterpiece. Seriously, the entire chassis weighs just 107kg when bolted together! Even the outer panels are composite, another weight saving of over 20% in comparison to a conventional steel body.

These techniques are unheard of outside of the supercar stratosphere, so the 4C truly is one of a kind and very capable when it comes to road holding.

These technologies create the potential to drive this car exceptionally fast. However, this is a sharpened tool, and the driver needs to be just as capable as the 4C itself. With no power steering, an unfortunate tramlining side effect whenever a bump in the road is detected, and a mid-mounted engine, this car will take no prisoners demanding a certain level of respect.

Get That Wallet Ready

US Spec 4C
Via: GTspirit

One other commonality the 4C shares with Italian supercars is residuals, these cars just do not depreciate like a normal car. If you purchased a new Corolla and sold it three years later, you would be lucky to get half of your money back, but on the other side of the coin, in the UK you can’t even touch a 4C for under £37,000 ($51,000). In the US, it's slightly better, with early examples starting around $45,000, but that’s still around 3/4 of the original asking price!

Maintenance costs will be a blend of reasonable and expensive due to the fairly conventional and dependable engine used and the exotic craftsmanship that has gone into the vehicle design, so money-conscious owners expecting supercar maintenance costs will be happy, and those used to driving a family hatchback might not feel the same.

Buying one of these cars is like investing in a Rolex watch, look after it and deal with all the pitfalls along the way and you will almost certainly get your money back... and maybe more!

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