Alfa Romeo Spider V6 2002 Review

Alfa Romeo has always been an emotional brand and when it comes to sports cars, the tingling that encourages you to open your wallet usually comes from the heart, and not the head.

So when looking at a two-door sporty convertible that also carries the famed Italian maker's badge, there is every chance that the emotions will run riot and any concept of actually thinking before you lay down your $73,000, goes out the window.

At first glance, the new V6 Spider appears to have the goods to deliver a superb driving experience, sports car performance, classy Italian styling and good value, if a two-door drop top is on your shopping list.

Under the bonnet is a 3.0-litre V6 that develops 162kiloWatts of power and 270Newton-metres of torque, with the latter reaching its peak high in the rev band at 5000rpm. Translated into the driving experience, it means this engine loves to be revved, but at the same time still has a strong mid-range that according to Alfa, can send the car to 100kmh from rest in 6.8 seconds.

It delivers a superb sporty note as you wind the engine up with the most satisfying aural output defining where the engine works best. Despite driving through the front wheels – via a smooth shifting six-speed manual gearbox – there is minimal torque steer and the optional 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped with 225/45 tyres provide plenty of grip.

The clutch/accelerator pedal synchronisation does take some getting used to, though, as it only takes a light dab with the right foot and the engine is screaming through 5000 revs. The clutch, on the other hand, has a fairly long take-up point so you often find yourself either spinning away at the lights as the clutch drops or sitting still revving hell out of the engine and annoying pedestrians.

The steering is, as with most Alfas, an absolute delight. It's sharp, direct and offers the driver plenty of feedback. What it doesn't do however, is a full U-turn in anything less than a three lane road.

Suspension is obviously tuned for handling, being firm, and the car generally feels composed under most situations but as you start to push it harder, the lack of a solid a roof and the structural stiffness that brings, start to become more noticeable with the body flexing over rougher surfaces. It is not enough to really upset the handling, but it does require your attention.

Where it does have a more negative impact is in the ride quality, with suburban speed scuttle shake being fairly prominent. This makes itself felt through the seats and although it is not exactly uncomfortable, the combined effect with a few rattles and squeaks does get a bit annoying.

The interior is, like the exterior, designed with class and style and the Spider comes with a decent list of standard kit including climate control, leather, dual front airbags, CD audio, remote locking and power windows, mirrors and roof. The roof however, requires significant manual force to get it to the final lock-down position, and it proved too difficult for a number of women who tried to close the roof. Our other beef about the interior is the fact that you have to manually turn the radio off every time you get out of the car.

In terms of the competition, the Alfa goes up against Honda's S2000, BMW Z3, Audi TT and to a lesser extent Mercedes SLK and for the money, it does offer the most bang for your buck in terms of engine performance. For a similar output from its Euro cousin's you will have to come up with an extra $10,000 to $20,000. But if you were to let your head into the equation for just a moment and put the badge aside, there are probably better overall propositions that provide driving enjoyment, soft-top style and solid build.