Used Alfa Romeo 4C review and buying guide (2014 to 2019): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Alfa Romeo 4C should you buy?

There's only one 4C to choose between: every car sold from 2014 to 2019 has the turbocharged 1750 petrol, a dual-clutch gearbox and a carbon fibre tub. So you're picking a car on its condition and history rather than on a year or an engine, and there's no year with a known weakness to steer clear of.

Don't take that as proof it's trouble free, though. It's a rare car and little has been reported about it, but the two owner reports that do exist both involve major parts: a turbo that failed and a carbon chassis that had to be rebuilt. The one to buy has invoices showing how it's been serviced and whether it's been tracked.

Which 4C engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 1750 turbo petrol is the only engine, and it's always paired with a quick-shifting dual-clutch gearbox, so the question isn't which to pick but how this one's been treated. One owner's turbo failed at 14,000 miles when the car was just over 3 years old, and Alfa told them to pay half the cost.

That failure was blamed on shutting the engine down while the turbo was still hot. Oil left in the turbo's feed and return pipes can cook into carbon, block them and starve the bearing. After a track session, a motorway run or a long climb, let it tick over for a minute or so before you switch off.

Nothing's been reported against the gearbox. It does give a sharp, shrill beep if you change up a fraction too early, which is how it's set up rather than a sign of a fault, so try a few manual upshifts on the test drive and decide whether it'd drive you mad.

What should you check when viewing a used 4C?

Ask straight out whether the car's done track days and how it was cooled down afterwards, since hard use followed by an instant shutdown is what one owner's turbo failure was put down to. A tracked car needs either receipts for any turbo work or a convincing answer on how it was looked after.

Go over the carbon tub and the bodywork for any sign of damage or repair. One owner's car needed its carbon chassis rebuilt in full at its first annual service, and it wasn't clear whether it had been hit, so ask for the invoice for any chassis work and find out why it was done.

On the drive, find out whether you can live with the steering: it's so eager that it needs correcting constantly, and the engine doesn't sound good even when it's pulling hard. Lift the boot lid as well, because there's no strut to hold it open, and see whether the chunky steering wheel rim suits your hands.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Alfa Romeo 4C cost to run?

What do 4C owners like about them?

The 1750 turbo makes it properly quick, and the dual-clutch gearbox snaps through its changes without hesitation. It feels like a genuine Alfa sports car from behind the wheel, with no attempt to soften it for everyday comfort, and it doesn't pretend to be anything other than a hard-edged sports car.

It's a striking thing to look at, and you won't see many on the road. The carbon fibre tub underneath gives it an exotic feel, and the boot's a respectable size for a sports car this uncompromising, which comes as a pleasant surprise when you first lift the lid.

• The 1750 turbocharged engine delivers impressive performance, contributing to the car's engaging driving experience.
• The dual-clutch transmission offers quick and responsive gear changes, enhancing the sports car's dynamic feel.
• Despite its uncompromising sports car design, the Alfa Romeo 4C provides a respectable amount of boot space.
• The car features an exotic specification, including a lightweight and strong carbon fibre tub construction.
• The Alfa Romeo 4C is praised for its distinctive styling and unique presence on the road, making it a rare sight.