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With its latest Spider convertible, Alfa has spun in lots of style
and luxury, but the drive isn’t as stirring as expected, writes Byron
Mathioudakis.
Didn’t Dustin Hoffman drive an Alfa Spider in The Graduate?
He sure did. And even though Alfa had been building sexy convertibles
for many years prior, it was the 1967 film that launched both their
careers internationally.
Well, the convertible does have movie star looks.
It certainly does, from that shark-like nose to its pert tail, this is
nothing short of an Italian supermodel, and the most elegant ragtop you
can buy this side of an Aston Martin.
Is it nice inside too?
We’d say it is beautifully tailored – like a fine Italian suit. The
leather trim is lovely, the fit and finish surprisingly good, and the
overall ambience inviting.
There are no qualms about the driving position either, since the chunky
little steering wheel adjusts in two directions, freeing up the view of
the evocatively styled instruments.
Like most Alfas, the dash offers ample ventilation from a clutch of
circular outlets, fingertip reach for all controls, and an assortment
of storage places.
Erecting the electric fabric roof is easy, and turns the Spider from
a comfortable and spacious two-seater sun-seeker into a cocooning coupe
that neither rain nor hail could penetrate, as we discovered.
We also appreciated the sizeable boot (for a convertible), as well
as the space immediately behind the seats that can hold softer luggage
for a last-minute dirty weekend away.
And the lack of the faddish metal folding roof means the boot is
also big enough for everyday use, adding a welcome level of
practicality to those Sophia Loren looks.
Excellent. But is it as hot to drive?
This depends on your attitude.
If you’re expecting a racy sports car then look elsewhere, because the
2.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine – though amply powerful and
impressively smooth – must haul a heavy body around, and so needs a
heavy right foot to hustle it along from launch.
On the move, though, it certainly is quick enough, and is aided by a
slick six-speed manual gearbox that is far preferable to the optional
and jerky Selespeed clutchless manual.
And while the Alfa lacks the dynamic sharpness of a BMW, it steers
accurately, corners sweetly, rides better than most (although bumpy
roads do make the body shimmer a little), and won’t become a handful in
a sudden manoeuvre.
So, on a whole, this is best seen as a laidback cruiser with lots of
refinement, safety and stability built in. But it won’t set your pulse
racing.
So would you buy one?
We never grew tired looking at or sitting inside it with the roof down,
soaking in the lovely mechanical sounds. As an alternative to a base
model BMW Z4 or Mercedes SLK, the Alfa makes sense, particularly as it
costs considerably less.
But there is no denying we would be altogether much happier if this
car went harder and steered and handled more like a balanced sports
car.
Still, driving a Spider didn’t hold Dustin back, and it probably won’t hold you back either!
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