Challenge: What cheap car is most like the Alfa 4C?

"Nick Has an Exocet" (nickallain) 10/24/2016 at 23:49 • Filed to: None

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I love the Alfa 4C. As far as I can remember, the only thing like it is the Lotus Elise. So what out there is the bargain version of the 4C? Or better yet, what bargain car has the POTENTIAL to be most like the 4C? Do used cars count? You bet your ass they do.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Nick Has an Exocet 10/24/2016 at 23:51

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I think I’d have to take the Lotus over the Alfa.

Nick Has an Exocet > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 10/24/2016 at 23:53

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Me too. It’s also about the same price for a good one ;)

SVTyler > Nick Has an Exocet 10/24/2016 at 23:55

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So you’re wondering about a simple, cheap, lightweight, well-balanced, mid-engined, turbocharged sports car?

not for canada - australian in disguise > Nick Has an Exocet 10/24/2016 at 23:55

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Duh.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > SVTyler 10/24/2016 at 23:58

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as an MR2 turbo owner I’d argue the 3rd gen is closest to the Alfa,

smaller, lighter, stiffer, better suspension. Just needs more power.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Nick Has an Exocet 10/24/2016 at 23:58

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IDK but I think I’m gonna get the vanity plate “B4C” for my Alfa Spider.

derf > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 00:00

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I’m sure someone must have made an ill-proportioned pseudo Alfa body kit by now that can be inflicted on some poor old Fiero.

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 00:01

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Yeah it’s a boxster but they’re cheap

Almost cheap enough to hoon through a corn field.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 00:07

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Toyota MR2.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 00:10

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Mid engined? Composite? Unassisted steering?

Bam!

InFierority Complex > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 00:32

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One of the most fun cars ever built.

Nick Has an Exocet > InFierority Complex 10/25/2016 at 00:40

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A friend’s dad had one of these. It never moved as long as I can remember. That used to kill me. Weren’t they incredibly underpowered though?

InFierority Complex > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 00:47

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It’s the personification of the “slow car fast” ethos. So, yes.

F40LM > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 00:57

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AW11!
Don’t get that Fiat garabage

Tapas > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 02:03

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Yes, a heavily used or salvaged 4C! - with no structural or critical damage, of course :)

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > InFierority Complex 10/25/2016 at 02:17

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This. All the this.

Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 02:36

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There are ways to fix that. Uno Turbo motor drops right in, there are off the shelf kits for various Honda mills, and if you’re really keen, people have been known to jam Alfa V6s in there

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 02:57

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The 4C is pretty high on the looks-to-price ratio. It’s a candidate for my next car, whenever that happens.

The Elise and the Cayman are the most direct comparisons, used examples of both can be quite affordable.

TGRIP > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 04:19

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I did read your blurb, and regardless there is NOTHING that comes close to matching it (on a budget) like the Series 1 Elise

It even looks like the 4C in a way no other car comes close to, not even the 8C...

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > InFierority Complex 10/25/2016 at 05:44

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Seconded. Especially with a swap from an Uno Turbo...

VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 10/25/2016 at 05:56

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Typical Toyota never putting the 2ZZ into these. Like no turbos on GT86baru.

I’d still like to see what a beams red top SW20 MR2 and a 2ZZ spyder, both n/a, would be like to drive, in good shape, next to the Alfa 4C, not expecting them to be as good, just wonder how each feels. The original SC AW11 was really fun when I tried one once.

Master Cylinder > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 06:43

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There are loads of small, lightweight sports cars out there, but mostly they are old and slow. (Not that that is a bad thing, I drive an old slow sports car myself)

Probably the closest you can get on a budget is an MR2 - small, light, mid-engined. And you can make them pretty fast, too, if you have the budget.

Or maybe a Fiero with an engine swap?

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. 10/25/2016 at 07:17

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ehh the Alfa’s are turbo and around 180kw, so I wouldn’t be comparing anything less than a stripped out turbo 2zzw30 to one. With a bit of work you could probably get them with a 100lbs of eachother I reckon.

Or alternatively a 2GR SW20 to make up the weight disadvantage with more power.

nerd_racing > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 07:25

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Aw11 MR2

VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 10/25/2016 at 09:14

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All valid point, just not sure if the boosted versions of the Toyotas would be as fun, but 2GR would be another option to build a poor mans Evora lol.

Thomas Donohue > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 09:48

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The Cayman would be the best direct comparison, but they aren’t cheap.

Alfa 4C: Mid-engine, 2475 lb, 237 HP (US Spec)

‘00 Boxster 2.7: Mid engine, 2775 lb, 217 HP

Rip out the sound-deadening material, spare tire (the Alfa doesn’t have these anyway), get a new muffler,some lightweight seats, and remove the electric motors for the roof. That will get you to about 2650 lbs.

Not bad considering you can’t throw a rock without hitting a 2.7 Box for under $8,000. Add $4k for needed repairs/maintenance/updates and you’ve got a $12,000 4C. (Boxster S had 250HP if you really want the 4C’s power/weight ratio.)

CaptDale - is secretly British > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 12:57

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Elise

4C

The Elise will cost you half as much and has a proper manual. Buy an Elise

CaptDale - is secretly British > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/25/2016 at 12:58

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Or just buy a Z06

Nick Has an Exocet > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/25/2016 at 13:18

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Z06 is interesting. Certainly a different car than an Elise but that is a ton of car for that money.

Nick Has an Exocet > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/25/2016 at 13:20

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You can get a 4C with under 10k miles out the door for about $47-50k from what I’ve read on the 4C buyer forums - especially in the Bay Area where people have been buying them thinking it was like their Porsche and immediately traded it back because it was too loud and hard.

I like that the Elise has a real manual - but that’s not as big a factor for me. I love DCTs just as much.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 14:15

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MEH, a dtc is neat if it is a full manual dtc. Is the 4C?

CaptDale - is secretly British > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 14:16

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Especially the C5 Z06. They are really hitting their bottom. I am personally going to wait a few years to see the C6 Z06 drop some more so I can build a C6.R

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. 10/25/2016 at 18:31

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boost makes everything better.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Nick Has an Exocet 10/25/2016 at 19:45

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I’m sort of partial to mine. Remember you said, “potential.”

I really want a red 4C with the smaller wheels, non-race exhaust, and the tobacco interior to sit in the garage next to my Fiero. Now, aside from the price I can’t afford (yet), my problem is that there seems to be literally no one who orders them that way. Everyone gets the race exhaust. Everyone gets the bigger wheels and suspension. Everyone gets the black interior (or a very few red). It’s going to be impossible for me to find that used.

Nick Has an Exocet > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/25/2016 at 22:36

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What do you consider a “full manual dct”?

CaptDale - is secretly British > Nick Has an Exocet 10/26/2016 at 11:00

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Eww, I hate that guy.

By manual DCT you have to change the gears with the paddles and there is no automatic setting for it to change gears without your input. 

Nick Has an Exocet > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/26/2016 at 12:32

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You’re a strange person ;)

CaptDale - is secretly British > Nick Has an Exocet 10/26/2016 at 12:54

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Well I definatley prefer to be strange and interesting than “normal” and boring.

But why?

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Nick Has an Exocet 11/15/2016 at 09:11

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MR2 turbo:

http://www.mr2.com/forums/threads/108562-1991-MR2-TURBO