Alfa Romeo 4C vs Porsche Cayman on track

The new Alfa Romeo 4C might look the part, but can it beat the Porsche Cayman on a hot lap? Read the review: bit.ly/19TVI4i
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[@MikeRawGaming]

alfa Romeo you need to buy with a heart and not the head. alfa romeo is a legend.and if you have owned one in the past you'll know what i am talking about.

[@marioclara8357]

I had 5 ! Again ,on the way to an Alfa dealer.

[@DJ_MH_Remixes]

Michael Levitin I was driving my whole live Alfa Romeo, al 90s cars. Now i drive a Mazda 3 out 2004.. No car problems yet but in the end its so more fun to dive Alfa Romeo! 😎❤️😎

[@josepedrogoncalvesdossanto5210]

It's a matter of opinion... I love the alfa much more

[@calvinsteussy6894]

The Alfa has so much more personality than the Carmen! The Cayman is what every guy with $60,000 buys, but the Alfa is unique.

[@googoogoogly]

The Alfa is drop dead gorgeous (headlights aside). It just won most beautiful car of 2013 with a massive 40% of the vote. If only Porsche could make something besides repeating the 911 variations.

[@davidpeters6536]

What like a 914 or a 924, never mind the 4 seater thing or the SUV

[@MoskusMoskiferus1611]

Porsche should Continue their 928, 968, 944, and 924

[@npanic628]

Porsche should try bringing back the 2L prototypes from the 60s: 904, 906, 910

[@Trottelheimer]

Chris Harris on the 4C: "It's supple, very agile and great fun at ordinary speeds" "The front end is fantastic" "The brakes are just stellar, absolutely stellar" "The unassisted steering is lovely, really lovely" "Uhm.. uhm... uhm... Yes please! Yes please!" "The steering weights up beautifully when you're cocking about. It's lovely" "The more time I spend in the car the more I love it" etc. Did he drive the same car as Auto Express? Was it simply to much of a sports car for Auto Express? I tend to take Mr. Harris words in this case. And Chris Harris' closing comment: "Let me leave you with one thought, this car is rally special and significant because it's not a Porsche Cayman" Also worth remembering, the Cayman has been on the market and refined with several models for 9 years. The 4C is just out the door and will surely see further development. Oh, and as many have observed the 4C had a full tank, while the Cayman had an almost empty tank. The winner: Alfa Romeo 4C. And I say that without having driven it, as Chris Harris took good care of that bit :-))

[@thedebatemechannel4746]

Why do people keep saying it's in natural mode it's clearly in race mode. You can clearly see the D is highlighted and it's yellow in the background and traction control is off. That's racing.

[@nickk707]

Motor journalist get paid for to say nice things about cars even think that sometimes your being lied to

[@DamedFilms]

weird. A lot of other reviews say the steering wheel gives great feedback. And they love the brakes.

[@EidechseLP]

I thought the same. The Alfa comes without an power assisted steering. So how could it not give great Feedback ^^

[@firecrakka]

I think it is pretty safe to say this guy had his mind half made up before the test began.

[@janezick]

DamedFilms i read a top gear article about 4c written by another test driver (not clarkson or the other two), he also said that steering feel isn't as good as it should be so there is something about it :D

[@7orque]

DamedFilms Chris Harris said good things about the brakes and steering.

[@janezick]

Serenity yes i noticed...strange

[@gpdb]

Couple of things: Cayman is in reserve, practically few kilos of petrol Alfa is almost full tank, and in Neutral mode, not Dynamic nor Race mode...

[@jcbferrari]

Cayman is also a manual. Huge disadvantage!

[@thedebatemechannel4746]

The 4C is in race mode not natural.

[@AlessandroCalvio]

Alfa Romeo is not a commercial car.. is not for everyone..!!

[@aleksandr_elkov]

@@AlessandroCalvio Alfa Romeo is only for true car lovers, for the people who wants that awesome feelingul when they’re driving a masterpiece and that list can continue 🍀

[@aleksandr_elkov]

@@AlessandroCalvio But also, Alfa Romeo its the dad of Ferrari

[@justnobody5976]

I don't care if the porsche is a bertter or faster car... i still want the 4c

[@harvardford8752]

+Just Nobody it's just a matter of taste, and preference. I wouldn't buy either of these for that money. I'd buy an M2

[@Marc-ty5sz]

+Harvard Ford (Miguel) agree m2 is a good daily driver, way cheaper than both of them. but if i have to chose i will pick the alfa.

[@victor15002]

+Just Nobody My prefference is in the porsche, but still like the 4c a lot. It's a matter of taste, i respect you.

[@joshuafallet5690]

Something about the 4c makes me gravitate to it. It is beautiful to look at. the carbon monocoque and track track minded tuning mak s it cool imo. It also seems like it makes you work for the fun and I like that. Plus they are rare. I never see them.

[@pete3198]

I feel the same - in fact I'm planning to buy a new weekend car in 12-18 months and right now the #1 car on my list is the 4C, with the second preference bring probably a gen 2 Elise 111S/111R, and third choice being an ND MX-5 RF. I looked at the Boxter but unfortunately the latest model I can get on the used market for Elise / 4C money here in Australia is a 987 - and I couldn't bear the idea of buying one given how bad the interior is on that generation Boxter/Cayman. I'm not sure what's worse about that interior -the horribly ugly visual style or the cheap and nasty looking plastics (which look like they came out of a late 90s Kia/Hyundai. Not sure what happened with Porsche during that era because the 986 and 981 Boxter interiors are actally pretty nice.

[@Evilbowmaster63]

The Cayman is better.. So I'll take the Alfa.

[@appelpower1]

+Evilbowmaster63 You beat me to it. I couldn't agree more.

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

+Joseph Schatz Not a good investment choice - It's like saying I'll take the council house over a detached in a good area.

[@appelpower1]

MagicAyrtonforever If you determine your choice of sports car by how good of an investment they are, you should've spent the money on a stock investment.

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

appelpower1 No, because you can't drive one of those.. Italian cars (sadly) are money down the drain, I say sadly because they are gorgeous.. But that's about it.

[@appelpower1]

MagicAyrtonforever No, I can't. What does that have to do with any of this?

[@67claudius]

Alfa Romeo is returning to its former glory!

[@aleksandr_elkov]

The godfather of Ferrari

[@konakonak]

Ok , Porsche produces sporst cars and supercars for many years. Alfa Romeo does not. Having that in mind, the design of 4C is an achievement! Light car, little engine and he have a mini supercar. Cayman has empty fuel tank, 4C not, so would demolish the time of cayman! Alfa is a special car,very beautifull unlike the cayman,which is very boring. 4C is the choice.

[@dharamarya6369]

Cayman is "very boring?" Seriously? Do you know what would happen if this car was equipped with PDK? S? PTV? C'mon let's be a little fair.

[@konakonak]

Also, alfa is not at the ''race'' mode! they are kidding us

[@Autoexpress]

konakonak The film doesn't represent the laps we timed with 100% accuracy - we just picked the best clips over a day of filming to best represent the cars. Rest assured the timed laps were done under the same conditions!

[@spikaizautoservisa]

Well alfa always made everyday sport car... Porsche is just a car for a guy in middle age crisez

[@reanimation2000]

Auto Express No comment about the "race" mode issue..

[@CanadianCaymanRS]

I sold my 987 Cayman R for a 2016 4C coupe. Best decision I have ever made, and the first car I will keep for life. In stock form the 4C is a fast car with excellent handling. With just a little work it becomes a rocket ship on rails. Buy a Cayman if you want a sterile, surgical track tool that can be a daily driver. Buy a 4C if you want emotion, beauty and smiles with every single drive.

[@TheGreatLoco]

Keep in mind Porsche always leaves an envelope with $$$ in the glovebox for all tests.

[@TheGreatLoco]

The results are nothing short of spectacular.

[@lotuselisedude]

+TheGreatLoco ...and some extra hp too, the car you buy will not have...!

[@appelpower1]

Now do Alfa Romeo Giulia QV vs. something out of Germany with four doors.

[@alessiovigna7865]

I really can't get the point in comments like "4C is an uncomfortable daily driver" or "it needs more boot space and power steering in order to drive it daily". Is it so hard to understand that it is not a car you drive daily? (and that's the reason why comparing it to a Cayman is nonsense). Would you ever look at Jenna Jameson and think that she should have something different....because you can't introduce to your mommy? No, and that's because you know that she is not "designed" for that. So why is it so hard to understand it for a car?

[@riaangrobler6656]

How come the 4C has a full tank of fuel and the Cayman a empty one? Thats a little unfair. And why does the timer for the Porsche go away and then only come back at the end yet for the 4C its there all the time? If I use a stop watch the Porsche actually clocks closer to 1:15s for the lap? And why does the time on the 4C's digital display not correspond to the time clocked and the audio? Something seriously fishy here.

[@ThornyUke]

Alfa Romeo all the way for me! A porsche just blends in with every other everyday car but the Alfa..... well its an Alfa :-)

[@eelcovvliet]

Alhough I really like the Cayman, is seems very outdated compared to the Afla. heavy obese 1300kg of steel compared to the lightweight modern composite materials of the 4C. Good job Alfa....

[@svgitana2499]

Clearly you’ve never driven a cayman in the track, if you had you would have never written what you wrote!! 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@RealBigMan91]

4C is rule!!

[@김푸른-r1k]

개인작으로 포르쉐를 더선호합니다 알파로메오보단...저는요

[@RealBigMan91]

그럼 포르쉐 영상으로 가세요^^

[@김푸른-r1k]

+KIM훈기 아니요 ㅎ 이영상은 포르쉐 카이맨과 알파로메오 4C의 대결이기때문에 알파로메오영상이라볼수없습니다 ㅎㅎ

[@RealBigMan91]

포르쉐 영상이면, 포르쉐 영상이니까 포르쉐 이름이 먼저 올랐겠죠?? 알파로메오 4C 이름이 아니라... 그리고 포르쉐는 이제 지는 해입니다. 알파로메오처럼 부활할려면 오랜 시간이 걸릴거에요.

[@ZDY66666]

Cayman is ruler!

[@theodorosmplanas2367]

alfa amore grande!!!

[@hilariapeguero6712]

Buf,

[@angelmartinez8869]

Buf

[@TheMrKety]

Alfa 4c, the best!

[@tommyfreckmann6857]

Joseph Pae and here comes the troll.

[@AhmedAkram903]

@Ethan Pae remember, it's the 4c, cayman and elise.

[@jeremywray2443]

the alfa 4c is in a class of its own, it's special. the porche cayman is nothing compared to it

[@zeblackboi]

Yes, a whole class below the Cayman.

[@Ryansrangereport]

BINGO @@zeblackboi

[@rubenvalente]

I just can't stop watching the Alfa 4C, and i just want to stop watching the Porsche!

[@giudicif]

The only European test where a normal Cayman is fast as a 4C!!

[@fredsalfa]

Auto Express Of all the comments on the internet I have read on this test there have been a lot of accusations against Auto Express namely : 1) The 4C was not in Race/ Dynamic mode. 2) The 4C was on a full tank of fuel and the Porsche on an empty tank of fuel. 3) The times were manipulated in editing. 4) Auto Express is sponsored by or has strong connections to Porsche. 5) The 0-100k time of 4.5 secs for the Alfa and 5.5 secs for the Cayman are never mentioned or referred to. 6) The 4C is equal to the Cayman "S"s time around Nurburgring with a time of 8.04 secs and that's with Ceramic brakes on the Cayman S ! 7) So it is almost impossible for both these cars in the Auto Express test to have equal lap times. 8) All the evidence above suggests that the Alfa should be faster (and IMHO much faster than the Cayman in this test) Auto Express can you please address the above 8 points. So far I have not seen a credible reply to any of them apart from the comment that the test was "done under equal conditions" Thank you.

[@15284750]

Cayman S nurburgring time is 7:55

[@LarsAgerbk]

I refuse to believe that a car that is 400kg lighter, with similar setup and power output to it's rival, isn't faster. I cannot see how that is even posible.

[@LarsAgerbk]

ds1868 I probably saw this video with captions on. The voiceover says the Alfa has 237 horsepower but in the captions it says 270 hp. Still impressive that the porche is equally fast with that huge weight difference.

[@LarsAgerbk]

ds1868 apparently the Alfa did a 1:18.84 lap, on the Vairano Handling Course and the Porche did 1:20.52

[@nickb3968]

I wonder how much horsepower the 'sports exhaust' that was on the Cayman added....for the old Boxster S, a good exhaust added 50hp....I'm thinking that possibly skewed the results.

[@LarsAgerbk]

Nick B yes. He repeats how standard the Cayman is several times and then mentions the sports exhaust later. Maybe they drove a more powerfull car than they thought they did?

[@RoderickVoordouw]

Lars Agerbæk The sports exhaust he mentions most likely is a factory option that does not add power but at the push of a button opens a few flaps so the exhaust produces more of that lovely flat six noise.

[@OZH204]

Having driven both cars i can tell you the 981 cayman in a manual is far better in every way. I really wanted a 4c until i drove one and realised how cheap they feel and the little 4cyl sounds like its constantly struggling. The caymans flat 6 and manual gearbox is incredible.

[@shabbos-goy9407]

The Porsche is a 4 wheeled washing machine and will be all but worthless as the years roll by a la 1st Gen Boxster. The 4C will be worth well in excess of its original purchase price..

[@OZH204]

​@@shabbos-goy9407 The 981 has been going up in price each year... Especially since Porsche announced all new Caymans will be electric from 2024. 981 prices have exceeded 4C prices here in Australia... so you are wrong.

[@svgitana2499]

@@shabbos-goy9407 😂😂😂😂 you must be on drugs

[@Trades46]

Skip the MY2014 for the Alfa Romeo 4C. It took Porsche awhile before the Cayman was really sorted out, and this second generation (really a 3rd generation, as the Cayman is a hardtop Boxster) really is done well in a Germanic way. Let Alfa work out the suspension settings & fine tuning of brakes (which I highly believe they will) in another year or two and I bet the 4C will give the Cayman a run for its money.

[@simbrack1195]

The Alfa is gorgeous though, the Porsche is just German. Not that that's a particularly bad thing, just lacking the flair

[@Skare147]

Late reply, but I think that from all german manufactors Porsche is the only one with style, soul and passion!

[@thegreatgaming2200]

+Skare147 yeah I think that to but the cayman looks like shit compared to the Alfa

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

+TheGreatGaming Alfa fanboy alert!! Cayman is Gorgeous :)

[@thegreatgaming2200]

+MagicAyrtonforever just because I like a car doesn't make me a fanboy. I don't even really like alfas but the Alfa looks stunning. The Cayman has ugly lights and and ugly body imo

[@Infiniti-Benz]

Germans make the best performance cars. Italians make the sexiest cars.

[@giandarc]

4C did a super astonishing track time at the Ring. It is visible that this test driver is an English "typical" oriented man who cannot admit honestly that 4C has superb chassis, very nice sound and perfect steering. He did same time of the Cayman which absolutely a poor result cause he wasn't pushing the real limit of the 4C.

[@joshwilliams3899]

The driving experience in the Alfa was more authentic and seemed more enjoyable plus it's a better value

[@MrPhean]

Cayman had almost empty gas tank, with warning light on the dash, while Alfa was almost full, this wouldn't made a whole lot difference, but since times are identical it would make the Alfa faster given same amount fuel.

[@roleta301116]

Alfa Romeo 4C full of fuel and Porsche Cayman empty...WTF!!! I Will buy the 4C first, after that I will buy the Cayman. I own a Porsche 944 S... THE 4C can be tuned to 300 HP with 160€!!! It's more exclusive and more close to the feel of past racing mode...How can a electric steering be more precise? I do not believe it!

[@doddsalfa]

check out Chris Harris if you want really good review of the Alfa

[@tititata45]

groupie

[@q3b26]

I don't know why but his driving position really irritates me.

[@pliaskamvilo3195]

was thinking the same thing lol, he's so close to the steering wheel yet he doesn't appear to be a short man..

[@charlesbrown9082]

That's so funny you commented this because I thought the same thing watching him drive with the steering wheel so high. LOL

[@gekon087]

Winer is Alfa 4c for me :) Unique beautifull car. And dont forget turbo car is easy for modification to increase engine power :)

[@michelvigneres7033]

Soheil Ayari, a former F 3000 driver, both tested the cars at La Ferté gauché track. The Alfa 4C did 1' 58, the Porsche 2 ' 02 it gives other arguments .This test is a bit biaised, but the driver don't force the car

[@crazyeagle1976]

As you can see 4c has a full tank and it is not in the DNA "race", while the Cayman has the tank almost empty ... tips & tricks

[@TraceIrrendahl]

Everybody just cares about the hp and lap times? No, thats not what cars are about. Alfa Romeo has the feeling, the design, the looks, the traditions. The Germans are always making such boring looking and feeling cars. Stereotypical cars. Regular cars. Alfa Romeo is exotic and it's something special.

[@heinedenmark]

The 4C is just as fast around Nurburgring as Cayman S and Audi R8 V8..

[@windyrun7979]

4C is 8:04. Cayman S is 7:55

[@davidl6264]

www.carscoops.com/2013/10/alfa-4c-804-nurburgring-lap-time.html 7:55 is not official , 8:04 like 4c or r8 v8

[@orthofrancis8326]

Heine Pedersen That mostly has to do with tires they used. The 4c was run on P zero Trofeo - barely usable on streets - not recomended in the wet -UTQG 60 rating! - that's going to wear out fast. The Cayman was on Michelin Pilot sports - UTQG of 220. Put them on similar tires, and the Porsche will be faster.

[@aamvoor]

Autoexpress = autobild = german= Porsche

[@LordLauderdale]

Just a great review, thanks ! Both cars are wonderful - for weekends and track days plus to look at and capital appreciation the Alfa, for everyday driving the Porsche, amazing how the Cayman could produce the same lap-time as the Alfa despite the 400kg weight penalty - truly great engineering.

[@Dom75GR]

4C all the Way !!!!!!

[@Dom75GR]

@Joseph Pae R8 laughs in Germany, Gtr laughs in japan, ferrari laughs in italy. Whats the point of all that laughing ?

[@Dom75GR]

@Joseph Pae Here im iaughing. Is jaguar still on business ?

[@ralesdg4509]

I am not only one who thinks that this race is fixed.Alfa Romeo 4C is probably faster but he dont now to drive it good enough.

[@Silentwitness1978]

Not in Dynamic or Race mode for starters

[@alfaomega]

So the Alfa 4C has an identical time to the Porsche Cayman S with Carbon brakes on the ring (both 8:04) and you guys get the same time on track with a standard Porsche Cayman... Smells fishy... Looks to me like you just don't want the Porsche to fail.

[@danuchpas]

Totally agree with you.

[@Stephen981cs]

well, walter rohl timed the cayman S at 7:55. Is 8:04 the best recorded for the Alfa? www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/1302_2014_porsche_cayman_s_first_drive/

[@danuchpas]

Stephen Uy Oh my... same recorded to Ferrari F430 and almost the same time to my08 Nissan GT-R which is 7:54. I think the cause of Walter Röhrl skills. I hope he have a chance to do the lap for Alfa 4C.

[@alfaomega]

I'm sorry, but the time at 7:55 is not on WiKi: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgring_Nordschleife_lap_times#Timing_entities They might not have timed it correctly or something else is wrong with that time. The fastest time recorded on Wiki with the Cayman S (fitted with ceramic brakes) is 8:04 with Walter Röhrl behind the wheel.

[@Stephen981cs]

alfaomega HAHA, it doesn't matter that the 7:55 time isn't on Wiki! Do you know how Wikipedia works alfaomega? Unless there's a citation, you can't trust the info. There's no citation for that 8:04 time on wiki for the Cayman S. This website is just as reliable as Wiki: fastestlaps.com/tracks/nordschleife.html which does have the 7:55 laptime. However, I already gave you the citation from MotorTrend which is legitimate and there are many others citing 7:55 for the new Cayman S: Just as legit as motortrend: www.evo.co.uk/features/features/289843/porsche_cayman_s_2013_portugal_drive.html www.motoring.com.au/reviews/sports/porsche/cayman/porsche-cayman-s-2013-launch-review-35080 jalopnik.com/little-alfa-romeo-4c-sets-a-seriously-impressive-nurbur-1434140130 (even talks about the alfa in this link) www.9tro.com/features/new-cars/porsche-cayman-s-born-to-run I would say that the 7:55 lap time is pretty reliable. I will concede to ***** that it has a lot to do with Walte Rohl's skills. The guy is a legend.

[@mardamek]

I'm not a Porsche fan in general, but the Cayman is the exception. I've watched a few of their tests so far with Cayman against another car, and have to say that not only it looks like a better refined car to live with every day (inside and outside), but proves its worth on the track.

[@svgitana2499]

You’re absolutely correct

[@samr1321]

What a plonker! So 4C lack Cayman's sublime chassis? bet he doesn't even know what chassis is! Berk!

[@balbopilota]

I would prefer the 4C also if without the engine. Its artisanal origins put the 4C in the arts world rather than in the one of normal sports and gt cars.

[@NoDiPietroDay]

Let's be honest the difference is simple and obvious Cayman is a great series car designed for everyday use and for be produce in hundreds of thousands Alfa is a beautiful show car designed for have fun some time in the week and produced for sold a few thousand . Too different products

[@garlaf75]

"hundreds of thousands" be serious. They are not cars as a Volkswagen Polo

[@NoDiPietroDay]

Do you think Porsche don't sold "hundreds of thousands" cayman/boxters in more than 10 years ? I think they sold

[@garlaf75]

do you knowbig series production methods?

[@NoDiPietroDay]

mr if you know how many boxster /cayman porsche build since 1996 ok write here the number if you don't know and you wont go on with this discussion search it bye bye

[@garlaf75]

sure, but do you know how may Maserati and Ferrari per day Ferrari plant produce in one day? Do you know how many Fiat Punto has been produced in one day distributed in 4 plants? ...if you know the number (per day, not per year) you can test the methods and quality

[@papunag209]

On Nürburgring alfa does as good as Cayman S, so how on the earth did they score the same lap??

[@ApothecaryTerry]

The 981 Cayman S (the generation in the video) is 9 seconds quicker than the 4C on the Nurburgring.

[@JohnnyWrong]

Porsche all day, every day.

[@reanimation2000]

What if you are wrong? :P

[@JohnnyWrong]

reanimation2000 What if you are cheesy and lacking in originality?

[@CristianPetrachi]

Johnny Wrong i have porsche and i like it so much ( but this alfa 4c looks really amazing

[@milpatel83]

Johnny Wrong "Lacking in originality" - says the guy who'd take the Porsche!

[@andreaangelini5365]

la Porsche altri materiali costruttivi, anche come finiture interne ed esterne, meccanica sublime, dai ragazzi un altro pianeta,non ci sono paragoni,anche estetici, L'Alfa di suo ha il peso ridotto,e nulla piu'

[@sultanabran1]

the trick for alfa at a car review is to provide 4 cars. whilst the other 3 are getting their gearboxes recalibrated, or whatever electronic problem is being reparied, there's 1 that's sort of running.

[@giannitrevisti9332]

Hey, Angela Merkel, how are you doing?

[@sultanabran1]

Gianni Trevisti lol. not as good as silvio berlusconi. he's having more fun than me.

[@giannitrevisti9332]

Everybody is having more fun than you ;)

[@rubenvalente]

Alfa any day! He looks like he's been paid by Porsche!

[@MultiShawnt]

No doubt...

[@Eidrian111]

Have you driven one? It’s exactly as he says it is. I still bought the Alfa though.

[@memra777]

The Cayman looks are soooo boring compared to the alfa. Buy a cheap little 4 door for practicality and buy the alfa for fun.

[@maxbg]

Sounds like a paid commercial by Porsche.......

[@MrZntoup]

at 06:06, Alfa's watch shows 15:27 at 06:20, Alfa'a watch shows 15:29 (14seconds = 2mins?) at 06:34, Alfa's watch went backwards and shows 15:27 (time machine?!) and at 06:40 Alfa'a watch shows 15:29.... Welldone AutoExpress

[@danialleonardo9223]

Alfa Romeo cars just has that soul that other cars doesn't. It's unexplainable, it's a matter of good taste.

[@23294virgo]

WHAT I DID NOTICE: The start/end point for the Cayman lap's video clip is actually 4 seconds longer than the 4C lap!?! May just be editing but then why was the 4C lap video exactly 72.7 seconds long? Both great mid-engines sports cars.. as an owner of both brands, they each evoke driving excitement. Porsche always takes luggage and ride suppleness into consideration for their road cars... whereas the 4C is a weekend/track car; so melting luggage and a more jouncy, firm ride is perfectly acceptable. I really hope that Alfa can regain a footing in the USA.

[@carlitoxb110]

4c is a great idea and is very beautiful but the porsche is my choice i think its more complete and it doesnt have a real rival in its category its above all of them.

[@jasonholtkamp6483]

If you compare the 4C to its competition based on the lap times it can throw down, you're totally missing the point of the car. The car was not made to be a track weapon it was made to put a smile on your face and warm your heart

[@88xmens]

ALFA THE BEST

[@DavidW894]

The 4C was in dynamic mode...it should have won on speed. it's Nurburgring time was exactly the same as an Cayman S. With that said I think it's a bit stupid to compare them. I don't think of the 4C as Cayman's rival. It's more of an alternative. The Alfa is a car you buy if you already have another daily driver. The porsche is something you buy as a daily driver. I mean much smaller engine, spartan interior, a more limited production series...hell I could have told you which one is more practical. But take this into acount: the 4C is a very important car for Alfa. It's their first RWD since the 80s (8C isn't really Alfa's platform). It still has more room for development. The headlights can be fixed with an optional extra, although they aren't ugly at all in the flesh. They designed them that way to save more weight. The engine has more potential, and they will probably tweak it a bit. Now if they would just make a 6C.

[@somuchakiss]

the fuel tank is empty in the porsche (3:16) but is full in the alfa (6:05)

[@Malc180s]

I have 5 fingers on each hand.

[@hotake0503]

This Driver Missing Apex more than 2 times... I like to see this same competition with Better Driver..

[@atlantistire]

Alfa is a passion, Either love or not, Not for everyone, 10 years later, Alfa will be Cayman in looks

[@shahulhusman]

Id take the alfa and light weight and manual steering vs the electronic steering and added wheelbase (from 987 cayman) of the Porsche. I had a boxster spyder, didn't like driving the new 981's... boring...traded in and got an exige s

[@railb1rd]

this is actually a very good review. im impressed. keep it up Auto Express!

[@Marchettino1996]

NOT WORDS..... ALFA ROMEO FOREVER!

[@itsDanielOfc]

In Portugal the Porsche costs 68k, the Alfa costs 60k... taxes for the Alfa are cheaper compared to a BMW 320i... not to mention that the Alfa's fuel is cheaper and does better mileage. Although I miss the luxurious interiour of the Coxster but having a Porsche will make people jealous at a rural environment like the one I live...

[@XNAforyou]

I would take the Alfa for sure! Colour White, just like in the video. It just looks amazing

[@shelbyhaiketic4212]

I would do black

[@joselourenco9583]

When both cars are on screen, the Cayman somehow disappears. I cannot draw my eyes from the curves of the Alfa. It is gorgeous from every angle and I would enjoy it even when not driving!

[@KingFerrariman]

Italians make the best looking cars in terms of design and style. Germans have the best engineered cars. The Italians and Germans should make a super car together and it will completely rock.

[@SL-cp3sr]

Pagani Zonda: - Italian design and style - German engineering (Engine is a v12 AMG)

[@KingFerrariman]

Samath Lokuge Awesome, I didn't know that Zonda had a Merc/AMG engine. The old Koenig Ferrari Testarossas are also an example of German/Italian cars. The car is Italian, the aftermarket tuner is German. The Koenig version of the Testarossa is significally faster than the original one. It pushed it into F40 and Porsche 959 territory. The car is from around 1989.

[@67claudius]

It is not a coincidence that the Italian Walter de Silva is head of Volkswagen Group Design Centre.

[@richardg5301]

Ratnik Audi R8, Lamborghini engine in it. Kind of the opposite way around though lol.

[@KingFerrariman]

***** Other way around dude. Lambo has Audi R8 engine. Lambo is owned by Audi who in turn is owned by VW. Cheaper for them to share engines etc between models and brands. The Lamborghini's now have the same engine as Audi sport cars and the engine is an Audi one. More reliable German engineering I guess and great looking Italian designed car. :-)

[@future62]

Imagine that... the more fun car to drive wins the battle.

[@TheCruizer]

That four cylinder sounds tormented...

[@jrzez]

Would go 4C. Looks fantastic, attention to detail, and has charisma. Cayman is meh to me, uninspired looking like "most" porsches.

[@SparkySlow]

jrzez i like some porsche model, i think car design is pure taste

[@chrissybee18]

I can't help but feel a better driver could get a lot more from the alfa, he looked like he was struggling to keep up and the car had more to give.

[@kraenk12]

the sound and the cockpit of the alfa are such a letdown!

[@hekuran1980]

i would go for alfa it's just so sexy, porsche looks boring and slower 0-100

[@milano6962]

I go with the Alfa !!!!!!!

[@044sule]

Alfa is simply better but they don't want to say that. And off course is faster! :)

[@karacop78]

If there just is a hint of sale losses for Porsche (or Lotus more propably)...then long gone the truth...

[@williammcguire1273]

Your comment at 4:53 on the alfa's lack of power steering being a detriment to steering feel is the most unintelligent thing I have ever heard. You call yourself an auto journalist? You clearly haven't spent enough time behind the wheel of many serious performance cars, or you simply aren't paying enough attention to the experience before you blurt out such nonsense.

[@hunghuge7717]

Can't believe Alfa went to all the trouble of making a car so light and powerful then didn't bother doing the legwork to finish it off. Steering feel can't be hard to dial in with different bushes, settings, etc. The engine note? There have been tuned exhausts on most exotics for many years now - again not hard to do. Even the turbo lag. Twin turbo's or even supercharged and turbo'd engines are commonplace in loads of things - even diesels. It's shocking they could go as far as they have and screw it up on the small stuff. Do they not learn from their mistakes? They seem to keep making the same ones over and over. Great cars underneath the obvious problems so people just don't buy them.

[@cycleflight]

Good news is, all of the problems the review brought up are correctable with tuning. It sounds like the car has a heart of gold, but it needs to grow into it. If they can keep the chassis around long enough to get the dynamics dialed in, I think it'll be a truly great car. Count the 2014 as the one for the folks who like to fettle with a car to get it just how they like it, and, hopefully, 2016 and beyond as dialed in machines. Honestly it sounds like the difference between a production car and an exotic to me. Lower volumes will mean less reliability (fewer chances for problems to crop up and thus be fixed), less testing (it seems they've spent most of the budget on chassis creation, as it's mostly CF), and more uniqueness. Sometimes that's not so good. It seems like here there's at least hope for the future.

[@hunghuge7717]

cycleflight It's just frustrating to me that one of the best names in the industry can do the same thing time and time again. The feedback is plastered all over the place from other times they've messed up on the small bits. Almost all recent/ish Alfa's suffer the same way. Brilliant cars with silly issues that should never have made it onto the finished product. This is so close to being a massive hit of a car and yet still they miss some very small things which will then taint it. I bet a decent tuning house could spend a month with this and have it completely sorted. I mean look at the power, the weight, the stiffness, the style - it's got the lot and is only let down by stuff that's really easy and cheap to sort. Please, Alfa just finish it off.

[@cycleflight]

I sympathize hung huge ! At least this one won't turn into a bucket-full of rust any time soon! Can't wait to see what a good shop can make this into.

[@JohnzCarz]

The 4C headlights are a styling mistake, but lack of a manual is inexcusable. Some of us still like to row our own gears.

[@clexyk]

There had not been any Autobild test where german car lost against a car from italy france or japan. Is there a car tests channel not rooted in germany?

[@ivelinis]

this is wrong, why on Earth we have to compare at all the time a German car against any other, Alfa here is the the absolute winner, looks great, sound great, drives well, steer well, it has small but powerful engine so to keep the miles per gallons down, it has a different approach and purpose in design than the Porsche. The Porsche shouldn't be here in this test simply because it has a bigger engine and it is designed for every day use. Alfa should be compared to Lotus or cars similar to Toyota MR2, or any other similar cars. For me, this Alfa is just brilliant. And I have to admit that all Porsche Cayman are driven by the Gays in the UK and also they look ugly.....

[@ChrisDorgan]

yea they need to work on the finish of some of the interior and boost that engine by another 20 - 40 hp and then all of the things you've got to live with for "weight saving" will be worth it. But it's like they've gone to town on the weight saving and made the car an uncomfortable daily driver but not really gained a massive advantage over it's competitors. i would love a 4c but i think to pay that kind of money it's hard to justify it on looks alone when a cayman is sittin there with full leather more luggage space and a nicer engine note when nailing it.

[@ChrisDorgan]

now a stradale version... that could tip the balance :D

[@hf7188]

Chris Dorgan I agree, i think that being their first RWD car for years (excepting the 8C) , they will need to tweak many things over the next few years. Even though it's very light, i think power steering would help it as a daily car and steering recalibration as well... and i think to refine more the interior would make the car much more salable to the market, and not just car anoraks like us :D Like you said, a stradale version would make a lot of sense, if the target is the Cayman.

[@Driesking]

I do not agree, alfa wins

[@jesuschristpose896]

The Alfa is pure art, the Cayman is pure engineering, matter of taste

[@tommykable]

it's the cayman S?! the same time of the nurburgring is like 4c vs cayman S, with 3.4-litre 321bhp... beacuse if it's the cayman with no "s" i think it's a Fake test... LoL

[@targaflorio3239]

Should have said: "And the Cayman is capable, but bloody hideous to look at...and no faster than the 4C. I'll take the Alfa"

[@juanmanuelvelez6676]

alfa romeo 4c

[@wagonron]

Good track lap narration. Sweet sounds.

[@InStyleDK]

Amazed the Alfa wasnt faster

[@Stephen981cs]

After sitting in both, if I'm choosing one car, I'm going Cayman all day. Looks good but is more understated. If the Cayman had PDK it would edge the 4c in this test despite being heavier and way down in torque.

[@dave-ql2ri]

German cars are just so boring. It's hard to explain, but they just feel like you are in a moving metal box. Italian cars all the way.

[@slesperado]

You are so right! I used to have a Fiat 500 Abarth. People made fun of it, but that car was such a raw, driver's machine. Someone crashed into it and totaled it. I decided to buy an Audi TT-S roadster. Even though the Audi is a LOT faster than the Abarth, I still miss the Abarth. The Audi is very boring to drive because it has no soul. The Audi is also too refined. I'll never buy an Audi again.

[@triode1212]

I own two Boxsters and am a fan of things Porsche. But I have to disagree with the results of this review. The 981 Cayman is too refined to be fun. While I'd very much prefer a manual transmission in the 4C, the car is a hoot to drive at any speed. Yes, it takes more effort to drive than the Cayman but that is what is driving all about, it makes you work for it - that is where the fun comes from. The Cayman makes good drivers of anyone and you really have to take it up to licence losing speeds before you can feel any sense of speed. It is too clinical and boring IME/IMO for a sprint around your local set of twisty roads. The 987 while not as accomplished in performance as the 981, is closer to the 4C in driving experience. Porsche have taken away the fun factor in the 981, 718 by refining the cars too much in the attempt to appeal to a wider audience. It is also now too large to be a nimble sports car. It now feels a tad bulky.

[@cookiesforu1]

I think the guy is being honest about both cars. It seems to me a lot of people who make comments haven't really driven a sports car at the limit. Because if you had you would recognize what he is saying about handling, braking, body role and oversteer depending on what the vehicle is doing at the limit it will either give you confidence or non confidence while your at the track.

[@LILLO84]

We all knew the Porsche was gonna win because the ride is fantastic and it's practible and all that but they sure could of showed to the world how bad the Alfa would spank the Cayman on a drag race but oh well

[@shivasirons1]

Exactly same lap time in both cars?... fuel light on in Porsche, Alfa tank close to FULL.. interesting "objective" hot lap track battle by (dodgy) car magazine - note to never read Auto Express ever again

[@internetkilledthemediastar2604]

Porsche looks like a fucking foot crammed into a boot that's two sizes too small.