Top 10 Things To Know About The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione (2007-2009) Before Buying

The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is a compact sports car launched back in 2007. Offered in both coupe and convertible, the car had a short production run till 2009 with only 500 units produced and delivered worldwide. Among the 500 units, only 90 units made it to the US shores officially. The 8C nameplate was used for the second time since its introduction back in 1930. The Competizione has a V8 along with classy and appealing Italian styling to boast about. Being a limited edition and less-produced car, the 8C is a potential future classic and already fetches way more than its original MSRP at present.

10. Check for fuel leaks

One of the major issues that plagued the 8C was fuel leakage. Alfa Romeo did issue a recall to rectify this problem, however, you should check for the problem carefully anyway. If it goes unchecked, it can lead to a fire.

9. The 8C isn’t a great handling car

As you’d expect superb handling from an Italian sports car and that too from an iconic brand, the 8C will leave you disappointed to some extent. While the car handles fine at reasonable speeds, throwing it into corners and pushing the engine makes the car unsettled quickly.

8. Issues with ignition

Ignition failure is yet another issue that acted as an inconvenience to several owners. Right out of nowhere, the car would fail to start. In the majority of cases, the engine management light would come on as well. Do check for this issue.

7. The transmission of the 8C isn’t a smooth one

While the engine of the 8C is a spectacular one, the pairing of the transmission wasn’t executed that great. Even after driving for a few thousand miles, the transmission remains sticky, taking longer than usual to shift. As such, you might miss the instantaneous drop-a-gear-and-disappear factor.

6. ABS failures

The ABS of some models posed a problem for several owners while driving. As stated by the affected owners, the ABS of their units failed to work as expected under harsh braking conditions. Inspect the ABS of the car thoroughly by taking a test drive.

5. Check for engine overheating

The 8C Competizione is also notorious for overheating when driven in busy city traffic or at high speeds for an extended time. While these are the exact characteristics that one does not expect from a sports car, the 8C disappoints. The overheating of the motor resulted from multiple factors such as a clogged radiator, a faulty thermostat, or a faulty cooling system.

4. Check the health of the shock absorbers

Many owners of the 8C complained about the car’s shock absorbers. According to them, the shock absorbers go bad a bit too quickly than they should, resulting in poor handling and ride comfort. Do check the health of all the suspensions while buying.

3. The traction control can be overly sensitive

While the car’s ABS has a history of malfunctioning, so does the traction control as well. Several owners complained that the traction control would kick in unnecessarily, resulting in a sudden loss of power and acceleration. Check this during your test drive.

2. Check the battery health

With the battery being one of the primary components of a car, the 8C has a plaguing issue with it. The battery is known to fail and drain suddenly, leaving the owner stranded in the middle of nowhere. Moreover, if the car isn’t driven for some time, the battery also drains.

1. Check the alternator

The alternator of the car is also known for developing a snag for no reason. As a result, the electronics of the car would fail to work as expected and the battery would get depleted in the process. Do check the alternator as well.