15 Mar 01
The 3.0-litre's arrival in the Spider is great news for roadster fans. At 218 bhp, the engine is actually fractionally less powerful than it used to be, as its exhaust has been cleaned for the latest pollution regulations. No matter; the deficit isn't noticeable in what is a hearty, strong-performing machine, easily able to run with the more expensive Mercedes SLK 320, BMW Z3 3.0 and Audi TT 225 Roadster. Top speed is 145 mph and 0-62 acceleration a sharp 6.8 seconds, although there's a 24 mpg price for all this urge. The long-travel accelerator is well measured: every little twitch of your right toe brings an extra breath instantly into play. The engine pulls enthusiastically at all speeds, but it's tempting to rev right towards the red line simply because this is one of the finest motorised tunes in production, and the roofless Spider is the best place to hear it. A reasonably slick-shifting six-speed gearbox only adds to the act.
While German roadsters all have sophisticated electronic traction and stability controls, the Alfa has simple front-wheel drive. However, the quality of Alfa's suspension engineering means you seldom miss the electronic help. Wheelspin is rare if you drive with any sensitivity at all, and the Alfa's handling and steering are responsive, agile and full of feedback between car and driver. By the way, the V6 Spider has the same wheels and tyres as the 2.0 version, in contrast to the V6 GTV which has a bigger size. The reason for this is that harder, bigger tyres would exaggerate 'scuttle shake' in the Spider: when it goes over bumps, the dashboard and steering column quiver as the body flexes. This shake doesn't upset the handling one bit, but it does make the interior trim squeak and rattle, and makes the car feel a bit haphazardly constructed.
In V6 form, the Spider comes with an electrically operated roof and leather trim. Air-conditioning is also standard, which speeds up demisting on winter's days.
Ultimately, the Spider lacks the feeling of thoroughness that Mercedes and Audi have made their trademarks. But to drive, it's more exhilarating than either the SLK or the TT - and aren't two-seat roadsters supposed to be sports cars above all?
