Porsche Cayman vs Alfa Romeo 4C

which Tires?

@ Hamcee
I agree. I'm not totally opposed to paddles, some can be quite fun(especially with high-HP cars).
But fun with a manual becomes much more essential with low-hp cars.

Yes i can agree You stay more busy with manual, and perfect, fast shifting can bring satisfaction.

im not even a manual purist and i think paddles are a lot of fun.

but manual is just another league in terms of fun, particularly when the car isnt as powerful.

in a powerful car u still have the sheer enjoyment and connection of speed.
but the slower the car, the more important a manual gets imo.

the 4c isnt slow at all but i still think it needs a manual

I drove some paddle shifters cars, and i love them, just clap them and the only thing that care You is road and revs.

if the 8c and 4c pass european emissions, then they do for sure in the USA...

i also would value the exige and cayman much higher and more fun, simply due to the fact that those have a manual.

a light and not so powerful car with automatic is simply boring. it really depends on a manual

having driven the brz with both transmissions, i can tell that manual is in a different category.

Just my opinions an feels.
Those all are great cars. Its impossible to judge them and say which is better, its just matter of personal preferences.

Ofcourse each person have its own limits. For some persons even rock hard track dedicated cars are ok. For others even comfy cars are not gentle enough.

I just feel that 4C might be more fun, beceause its closer to it limit. Cayman is very capable of performance car. It feels like it need some more power to really squize out of its possibilities.

Simplicity has its own good sides, its doesnt nee so much of an dedicated service sttion to fix some things. Its impossible to judge those cars, beceause each have its own good sides.

If i have to chose one - i would chose 4C, and that doest mean Cayman is worse at all. 4C feels to me more like playful toy with wild character, Cayman is more grown up.

...Its a better car because...It can supposedly take more Hp?....Ummm ok...

and most of the time, the Best technology, is often the most simple, And no, A Lotus isn't just for weekend track days, What you people don't understand, is there in no such thing as a NON everyday car, Its all in how YOU use it.

And if you treat the Exige as such, then you HAVE to treat the 4C the SAME way.

I think that cayman is capable of handle more HP than 4C, and IMHO that make Alfa unexpectedly a better drivers car, beceause its closer to its natural limits.

Lotus Exige is also amazing car, but... imo its too rough, too spartanish, and there is no such high technology like in Cayman and Alfa. Its very pure minimalistic old school light car.

As to the Cayman - we are talking here about very base model with no options on it, it is just 30 HP stronger with its motor, but also 400kg heavier. Its really fat compared to 4C.

Also 0-100km/h in Alfa is about 4.5s, and in caman around 5.5s.

For me the winner is 4C as a almost half tone lighter. And its still a car, A very small but a car that can be used every day, while Lotus is more for weekend track days.

@Apathy

I don't think the mark up will be that bad in the USA, If I had to guess, id say its gonna be less then $80,000, Prolly more like $60,200, I know the 8C was sold there, but will the 4C be?..Has this passed US emissions?..

@Apathy
4C's engine is an improved Giulietta Q.Verde one. More info: http://www.netcarshow.com/alfa_romeo/2014-4c/

But I think they should have elaborate the new singing V6/Boxer6 engine instead, making a 6C supercar.

The alfa is such a pretty car.
Its a shame the mark up in the us will be unbelievable.

Does anyone know more details about the turbo 4 cylinder inside? Who developed it? Is it based off of an older or existing turbo aplication? Anything?

4C for me.

I'd still pick Porsche Cayman.

Yeah, Lotus FTW! :)

IMO: Alfa 4C < Cayman S < Exige S (personal preferences and performance)

But if Alfa wants to beat Porsche and Lotus, they have to choose something more serious than 4-cyl engine.

...EXTREMELY Tough choice...Can I opt for an Exige Instead?...9no Brainer that way)

Its hard to judge those too cars so early, when there no any direct comaprasion test so far.
Also whe have not enough lap times.
Im not biased to any car.

For sure full equiped Cayman S is just better car all-around, but irs also much more expensive and its not in the same category.
But base Cayman - propably is in very similar price range as 4C and the battle should be good - for fans, no matter who will win, i feel myself as a winner.

@ Flabernat: They still do.

Yeah I'd choose the Cayman S, as long as it had a manual transmission.
I think Porsche still offers those on their cars...

It's not even close to Cayman. Cayman is to high for this cheesy 4c.