Category: Convertibles 
Price Range: £26,895 to £32,395
Great looks, stable handling, high level of kit.
Limited dealer network, high running costs, offset driving position.
A great looking addition to the Alfa range - but just make sure you find a decent dealer.
The Spider feels very surefooted on the road - the 3.2 Q4 especially, although it's not a light car weighing in between 1530 -1710kg depending on version. By comparison, the 3.2-litre Audi TT Roadster weighs under 1500kg.
The seating position is slightly offset to the right in relation to the pedals, and to get a good view of the trio of sunken dials in the centre console, you have to tilt your head uncomfortably to the right. The seat and steering do adjust in all the directions you'd need, however, so you can just about get comfortable.
Standard-fit stability and traction control systems put paid to any understeer or wheelspin, but are little troubled in the Q4 3.2 as the mechanical grip on offer from the 4WD system is more than enough for most situations.
The six-speed manual 'box is nicely weighted and can be thrown between the gears with ease. We've yet to sample the QTronic automatic paddle-shift gearbox, but we'd expect it to be better than the jerky Selespeed auto 'box offered on Alfas of old.
None of the engines really shine; even the 3.2 V6 feels bogged down by the weight of the Spider. With 260bhp and 237lb-ft of torque at 4500rpm available, you would hope for a quick acceleration time. 7.0seconds is the official figure, but it feels outpaced against lighter competition such as the Audi TT.
The 2.2 JTS has 185bhp and 170lb-ft of torque at 4500rpm and manages a 0-62mph time of 8.8seconds and a top speed of 138mph. At launch, the 2.4 JTDm diesel has 200bhp and 295lb-ft of torque at 2000rpm; quoted figures are 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 142mph, but this model's going to get a power hike of 10bhp by summer 2007, so it may be worth waiting.
