Alfa Romeo 4C Spider – That One Time I Was a Cool Husband & Dad

“Driving an Italian sports car is like wearing a Rolex. You could be shopping at the dollar store wearing sweat pants and a worn out t-shirt, but when people notice the bling on your wrist— you’re immediately the baddest dude around.”

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider – That One Time I Was a Cool Husband & Dad

I sat inside the stunning carbon fiber cockpit of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider as I pondered about what kind of story I’d write about it. After all, we’d previously tested powerful sports cars, but none quite as purpose-built and hardcore as the 4C, which scraps “luxuries” such as power steering, carpeting, sound insulation and other creature comforts for the sake of lightness and speed. Oh, and in case you didn’t realize it by now, it only seats two, and its tiny trunk is merely big enough for a small carry-on suitcase, or its own removable top. One or the other, not both.

Instead of focusing on everything the 4C Spider doesn’t have, or how hard it can be to parallel park without power steering, or how difficult it is to get in and out of it, I’d like to focus on how it makes one feel, because after all; that’s what these highly unpractical cars are all about. Whether you’re an adult, kid, male or female, the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider will tickle your innermost emotions. It’ll make you smile like a five year old whom just got the biggest ice cream cone imaginable, or to put it into my own words, it made me feel like I was driving a much more expensive Maserati or Ferrari. It’s a baby supercar through-and-through.

While I spent as much time driving this Italian beauty as I could during my five day test, it was Missi that often snatched the keys while I wasn’t looking. Needless to say, there was something about the 4C that Missi, a non gear-head also loved. As she said to me “It’s so unpractical, but it sounds so amazing and it heightens your senses while driving.” Seeing her behind the wheel made me even more attracted to her.

When it comes to the kids, let’s face it, Josephine (4 years old) absolutely adores cars, and she happened to be vacationing with family in Michigan when the car first arrived, so she missed our first couple of days with it, but the very first thing she said upon arrival was: “Let me see the car!” She quickly became intoxicated with the sound and the quirky interior that amused her so much. She simply refused to get out of it. On the other hand, our soon to be teenager who constantly pretends to be unimpressed with anything from space shuttles to unicorns, fell victim to the Alfa’s charm, though it took her a bit to show it.

She quickly started asking if we could drop her off at her friend’s house in it, if we could drive her to youth group in it, if we could go grab some froyo at night and cruise around. She was a kind and non-hormonal girl for a few days, and I can only thank our $74,995 Italian rocket for that.

 

Google 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider and you’ll come across vital stats like, its 4 cylinder turbocharged engine that pumps out 237 horsepower, its 2,465 pound curb weight, its 6 speed dual clutch automatic transmission, and many more visceral facts… Yet, my goal is to share the experience, and not the facts; and boy, what an experience…

I surely didn’t lose an weight while I had the 4C Spider, I didn’t become any smarter, richer or even better looking (surprising, I know). But the joy that driving a pure and overwhelmingly-attractive Italian convertible sports car brought into our lives will forever be remembered. That doesn’t sound too shallow, does it?

Editor’s note: Before you consider sending me hate-mail regarding my little one’s seating position, car seat, or seat belt placement, know that most photos were taken on a private and closed airport runway.

2015 Alfa Romeo 4C

• Starts at: $55,900
• Price as tested: $74,995

Photos via: [Matthieu Picard & Sean Grove]