Alfa Romeo 4C Spider driven

So we have the very pretty convertible version of the 4C. Like many cars with a basis of a strong carbonfibre tub, there’s little loss of rigidity caused by the loss of the roof structure, and that is very much to the Spider’s credit.

That roof comes on and off rather like that on a Lotus Elise and it’s certainly well insulated. Which is just as well, as the move from coupe to convertible has added £8,000 to the price.

That’s rather a big jump, and it’s hard to see what else Alfa have done for the money, although they say there are various tweaks they’ve made, it’s just that they’re not saying what they are. Perhaps all this makes us look at the car with slightly more of an objective view.

The seat base is too short for most drivers and the two-spoke steering wheel is very difficult to hold and rotate. And this is meant to be a driver’s car. However, everything else in the cabin works okay and the driving position is well set up for heel and toeing should you wish.

But let’s stay with that difficult steering wheel. On smooth roads or on a track day, the 4C Spider will thrill and impress. The steering is good and the 1750cc turbocharged engine gives you the sort of performance that allows the chassis to shine. It’s light, agile and a pleasure to drive. But drive it on anything other than a track or a smooth road and the steering becomes a different beast.