If you consider yourself an automotive enthusiast by any means, then you know the word Ferrari and the word Corvette. One is more attainable than the other, in this instance, the Corvette. Even now, the Corvette remains one of the most affordable sports cars out there.
Ferrari, on the other hand, is a much more aspirational vehicle. While the Corvette has honed in on the performance side of it, there’s nothing like the sound of a naturally aspirated Ferrari V8 engine. The average price of a new Ferrari is between $300,000 and half a million dollars. There are some properties in the US that don’t even cost that much. There is one, however, that has the look of a Ferrari, but doesn’t cost nearly as much.
A Head-Turner Hiding In Plain Sight
Ferrari Luce Front 3/4 shot parked in front of houseFerrari
Ferrari Luce aside, there is a je ne sais quoi to the way a normal Ferrari is designed. There’s an effortlessness about the lines of it that somehow connects to form one of the most aggressive looking vehicles on the road. It comes with a dramatically low stance that is equally wide.
Pininfarina is one of the most famous car design firms, having gotten its start in the 1930s and ultimately shaping what supercars and sports cars look like today. Not only did they shape what Ferraris used to and have come to look like, but they’ve also helped design some cars by the same brand that this article is about.
Supercar Money That Makes An Exotic Car
McLaren 788HS rear shot parked in studioMcLaren
When you think of a supercar or exotic car, it is typically defined as a mid-engine vehicle with sweeping rear haunches, only two seats, and headlights that are nearly flush with the body. Often, it’s built around one of the most robust frames, even though the body might look fragile. The word “monocoque” is synonymous with an aircraft, but this two-dollar word means that the chassis is integral with the vehicle’s frame.
Often, the body panels aren’t necessarily steel; rather, they are sheet molding compounds, which are basically fiberglass-reinforced composite material that’s 20 percent lighter than steel. Carbon fiber mixed with these other expensive materials is often what makes a supercar so expensive, in tandem with the high-performance engine.
Why Most Buyers Flat Out Don’t Consider This Segment
2025 Lamborghini Temerario Porto Cervo front 3/4 shotLamborghini
If you reread that previous paragraph, then you might understand why most buyers never consider this segment. Not only do components like that feel unapproachable, but components like that also make the car extensively monetarily unapproachable. Traditional sports car buyers want something that’s a little more approachable and practical. That’s why cars like the Corvette and Toyota GR Supra are so popular.
According to Good Car Bad Car, in 2016, the sales of supercars in the US were about 480 and shrank to the dozens by 2019. But what if one car managed to use all those supercar ingredients — carbon fiber tub, mid-engine layout, Italian pedigree — and still come in under $60,000? That’s exactly what happened. And almost nobody noticed.
Built Like A Mini Supercar, Priced Like A Toy
2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata Making A TurnMazda
You don’t always have to trade form for function, and supercars prove that. Often times, the exotic appearance of these killer cars have meaning and purpose. Weight is also a huge determining factor in the performance of a vehicle. Sports cars like the Mazda Miata don’t even surpass a 200 horsepower mark. They don’t need to! The maximum weight of a Miata is 2500 pounds. Therefore, the power-to-weight ratio is ideal and propels it effectively.
A Carbon Fiber Tub You Wouldn’t Expect
McLaren 788HS front 3/4 shot parkedMcLaren
Again, the carbon fiber tub is the centerpiece of any exotic sports car. It not only houses the driver in an ultra-safe capacity, but also helps with the vehicle’s center of gravity. The car that we’re going to talk about in this article has a carbon fiber tub that only weighs about 143 pounds and is supplied by Adler Plastic. This tub is also built at an Italian facility. Carbon fiber tubs also resist corrosion and are a fraction of the weight of steel, which is why there aren’t many cars that sport them. The production of this tub began in 2013 and the entire car was assembled at Maserati’s plant in Modena, Italy.
Like a regular supercar, the engine is in front of the rear axle, making this a mid-engine and not necessarily a rear engine. This allows better power delivery and better center of gravity as well. Some notable mid-engine cars are the Audi R8 and the Acura NSX. The sports car in question has a curb weight of 1973 pounds for the European spec.
2017 Acura NSX in red parked outsideAcura
Unfortunately, the United States spec has 2,400 pounds to speak of because of bracing, airbags, and other equipment. Still, it was lighter than a Mazda Miata when it arrived in 2014. Both markets, however, still enjoy weight-saving features like aluminum suspension components, no muffler, and no power steering. The last one is a plus depending on who you ask. Finally, unlike the Mazda Miata, this car has a weight distribution of 40/60. While it may not be 50/50, it’s still remarkably close.
The Forgotten Italian Gem: Alfa Romeo 4C
2014 Alfa Romeo 4C front 3/4 shotAlfa-Romeo
The Alfa Romeo 4C was built from 2013 until 2020. The original concept was shown at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, with the US version debuting in 2014 at the New York Auto Show. America saw deliveries of these for the 2015 model year. Alfa Romeo had a brief departure from the US market in 1995, with a resounding return in 2014 marked by the 4C and later, the Guilia Stelvio.
The Alfa Romeo 4C was just an added bonus for those looking for that Italian sporting character in a package with fewer than four doors. Worldwide there was a launch edition that had 1,000 units. Even though it looked like a supercar, it had an impressive MSRP of only $69,000 for the launch edition, with the standard coupe priced between $53,000 and $58,000 after that.
A Powerful Powertrain In A Featherweight Body
Alfa Romeo 4C Spider (2015), engine closeupAlfa Romeo
The Alfa Romeo 4C features the classic Alfa Romeo front end with the inverted triangle showcasing the family crest logo. It features gorgeous, long lines that stretch from the nose to the back, featuring flying buttresses that no doubt have a functional purpose as well as form. They also feature the iconic five-spoke revolver-style wheels that you come to expect from an Alfa. Unlike a normal supercar, however, this thing was incredibly small at only 157 inches in total length.
As for the powertrain, it featured a surprisingly small turbocharged, all-aluminum 1.75-liter inline four-cylinder engine that made between 237 and 240 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It’s rear-wheel drive only and is driven through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. Impressive for a four-cylinder, it had a zero to 60 mph time of 4.2 to 4.5 seconds, easily rivaling that of a Porsche 911. It also had a top speed of 160 mph; even though it had a smaller engine, the body is extremely light, giving it unparalleled performance.
Not A Ton Of Features
Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, front of cabinAlfa Romeo
Again, depending on who you ask, no power steering might be good for weight and saving technology, but it’s not the best when it comes to daily driving. This isn’t the only feature that was stripped from the Alfa Romeo 4C. Although the exterior might look like an Italian sports car, the interior is Spartan at best. There is exposed carbon fiber with thin seats and no glove box to speak of. This is considered to be more of a driver’s car, not necessarily a luxurious coupe, even though it also came in a top-down Spider variant. Owners have noted that they either love or hate its sparse nature.
Speaking of owner feedback, reviews on KBB, of which there are 13 for the 2018 model year, give us a glimpse at what those who have lived with one think about it. Out of the 13 reviews, 98 percent say they’d recommend it, with it earning a Consumer Rating of 4.8 stars out of five. Owners also peg its reliability at 4.9 out of five, performance at 4.9, quality at 4.8, and performance at 4.9. The only zonk is on its comfort, which owners rated a 3.8 out of five, which, as discussed, is by design to preserve the analog appeal.
2017 Alfa Romeo 4C headlightAlfa Romeo
If there is one thing owners agree on, it’s that the 4C is a future collectible, with some even going as far as to say it’s the “best 20th century sports car.” One owner review sums up the consensus on the 4C quite well:
I have owned Porsches, a Corvette, a Z3, a Cobra Replica among 47 various cars & trucks. The 4C is like nothing else. You feel like you are on the track from the word go. The 4C has an incredible stance. Low to the ground, and it feels nearly as wide as it is long when you’re behind the wheel. I drive mine as a daily driver, and it’s the best therapy I could recommend. I drive it like I stole it!
Half A Corvette, Twice The Attention
The starting MSRP of a modern Stingray Corvette is around $73,000. Why compare it to the Z06 or the E-Ray, rather than the base model? Those have an asking price of between $110,000 and $120,000. The Alfa Romeo 4C has the exotic looks the Corvette can’t provide, along with carbon construction that die-hards dream of. The Italian pedigree helps in this case too. This might not be a Ferrari itself, but it is cut from the same high-end Italian cloth.
What A Clean 4C Goes For
A red 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Coupe front shot driving on a city streetAlfa Romeo
According to cars.com, the nationwide average of the Alfa Romeo 4C is astonishingly only $1,000 more than the original MSRP of around $59,600. The lowest examples can go for $45,900. These examples, however, are the higher-mileage, older versions, say from 2015.
Later models made in the 2010s and the final-year Spiders have a much steeper asking price in the low $70,000 range. The most common years that you will be able to find on sites like cars.com will be the ones from 2015 to 2018. The newer versions are often times Spiders. These weren’t made in high volume and will more than likely become a collector’s item one day.
Ownership Quirks
2014 Alfa Romeo 4C front cabinAlfa-Romeo
We’ve already gone over some of the ownership quirks, but there are a few that we have not touched on. Because of its low-to-the-ground, lightweight nature, it’s noisy. We’ve also described how impractical it is, but being a sports car, it doesn’t want you to drive it slowly. Also, good luck, taking it on any vacations, as it has a cargo capacity of, and we’re not kidding, 3.7 cubic feet. If you can accept this car for what it is and want to turn heads like a Ferrari, then this one’s for you.
Base Trim Engine
1.7L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
Base Trim Transmission
6-Speed Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
237 hp
Base Trim Torque
258 lb-ft @ 2200 rpm
Fuel Economy
24/34 MPG
Make
Alfa Romeo
Model
4C Coupe
Segment
Sports Car
Sources: Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, KBB, Cars.com
