Owing an Alfa Romeo is a rite of passage for all those who believe themselves to be true die-hard gearheads. These are cars that are able to stir the soul in a way no other automobile can. Whether it's a svelte coupe with a handmade powerhouse of an engine or a more run-of-the-mill, yet great-handling car that deserves more power, Alfa Romeo constantly delivers cars packed with passion.

Yet ownership of what is one of Italy's most accessible and affordable range of intoxicating sports cars can come as a double-edged sword, a passionate roller-coaster of a relationship that is heaped with heady feelings of delight and joy off-set with sporadic worry-filled days and those occasional sleepless nights.

Considered to be forbidden fruit by many would-be owners due to the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider being deemed an illegal vehicle in the USA, the Italian beauty is not only a work of automotive art but a fantastic performance car with a sonorous V8 engine that brandishes its knife-edge of a manufacturer's reputation with pride. So, firmly planting any hint of Alfisti loyalty to one side, we give you 5 reasons why the Alfa Romeo 8C was awesome and 5 reasons why we'd never buy one.

10 It's An Alfa Romeo!

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From frumpy to fiery, underpowered to overpowered, every Alfa Romeo created possesses and creates an intoxicating driving experience. The 8C itself will deliver pride and excitement for the owner, as the thrill of driving pours in through the steering wheel with every turn. The shape and styling delivering a knock-out punch to its competitors.

9 ...It's An Alfa Romeo.

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Plagued with a reputation that is less than stellar when it comes to reliability, coupled with annoying maintenance issues, an Alfa Romeo can disappoint on levels that can destroy an owner's confidence and finances in one fell swoop, with the 8C being no exception. Whether it's a failure to start, the sudden appearance of an engine management light, or electrical gremlins, the 8C proudly lives up to its heritage.

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8 It Has An Awesome V8!

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As powerplants go, it surely ticks all the boxes, a hand-made Italian unit that displaced 4.7 liters, produces 444 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, will rev ferociously up to its red-line of 7,600 rpm and sounds truly fantastic. With the hammer down, the Alfa 8C will thunder its way to an impressive 181 mph top speed. A true Italian thoroughbred that lives up to its name and sporting history.

7 ...That Is Made By Maserati/Ferrari.

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Whilst being manufactured as a joint unit by two of Italy's most prestigious carmakers, the engine isn't particularly cheap to run, service, or maintain. It also has some notable issues that can prove costly to rectify, needing a specialist's care and attention. Difficult to work on with parts costs that look like telephone numbers, the 8C can be a wealth-draining companion.

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6 It Delivers Awesome Performance!

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Thanks to that lusty Italian V8, the Alfa Romeo 8C will rocket to 60 mph in a blistering 4.4 seconds, obliterate the quarter-mile in 12 seconds and carve its way through any twisting tarmac smothered route with poise and precision. A six-speed transaxle gearbox controlled by steering-mounted paddles allows for lightning-fast shifts of 175 milliseconds when in sport mode.

5 ....But It's Very Tricky To Master.

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All of that power and the light, delicate nature of the chassis and handling can prove to be overwhelming when in the wrong hands. The 8C lacks dynamic polish and its limits seem to be broached sooner than expected with occasionally disastrous results. In the wet, the 8C becomes a tail-happy bucking bronco, keen to swap ends with the merest twitch of an ankle.

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4 It Is Beautifully Furnished!

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Wrapped in sumptuously soft leather, the figure-hugging bucket seats clamp drivers in place as they are treated to a fantastically styled cockpit that makes every drive feel like a special event and scintillating high-performance experience. Pinned in place by the sheer acceleration on offer from the V8, the interior is a cosseting and comfortable place to spend time.

3 ...With Parts From Much Cheaper Cars.

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Yet a closer look reveals that most of the switchgear and controls have been borrowed from lesser cars, like the budget Mito supermini. The uninspiring, red digital central driver display was shared with just about all Alfa Romeos on sale at the time. Beneath the beautiful leather, some cheap, hard-touch plastics spoil the image and drastically reduce the appeal.

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2 It Has A Fantastic Manufacturer Pedigree!

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Via: Alfa Romeo

The 8C bathes in rich and fruitful motoring history, one that is full of awe-inspiring motorsport wins, truly fantastic V6-engined, road-going oddities, and joins a list of cars that just capture the imagination and become lusted after by car fanatics the world over. Instantly becoming modern classics that pass into the hall of fame as the year's pass, Alfa Romeo is, and will always be, a hitmaker when it comes to motor vehicles.

1 ...But A Dreadful Reliability Reputation.

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Along with their fantastic and legendary status for simply being cool, Alfa Romeo also retains a distinct reputation for creating less than reliable mechanicals, poor electrics that prove troublesome, and, on classic models, a prime feeding ground for tin worm. Feeling the effects of harsh depreciation, buying a brand new Alfa Romeo can result in huge loss and, in some cases, long periods of time without the car as warranty claims and corrective works are addressed.