Alfa Romeo Spider : CAUGHT IN THE WEB

June Neary checks out Alfa's Spider

Whenever I think of Italy, I think of passion, pizza, pasta, Pisa and Pininfarina. Which is actually quite fitting, because the Alfa Romeo Spider is a car designed with passion by Pininfarina for those who like stylish roadsters. From their point of view, if there's power and loads of it, a glorious engine note and a fold-away hood, you're halfway there. Throw in the sensual Alfa styling and a beautifully-trimmed interior and you have something that really looks like fun to cruise around in. It appeals to me already. The Spider is aiming itself at Audi TT and Mercedes SLK convertible buyers, but it beats both of these cars on price. With the summer beckoning at the time of my test, it seemed like the right moment to fold the hood down and get to grips with Alfa's stylish drop-top.

Let's get one thing straight - you won't buy the Spider as your only car unless you're an ambitious thirty-something with no fixed plans on marriage or offspring. If it were anything other than a two-seater with laughable luggage space, it wouldn't be the roadster that it is. From one perspective at least, the car begins with a head start. Women who enjoy driving will love this car - and that's important. By the year 2010, so the statisticians tell us, there will be as many women drivers on Britain's roads as men. Current thinking suggests them to be more open-minded, more fashion-orientated and less badge conscious, so they are liable to love the Spider with its funky styling, luxurious leather interior and drop-top desirability.

The Alfa Spider is a fun drive. Granted, the chassis didn't feel as rigid as Teutonic contemporaries and the controls weren't as obvious as they might be, but that couldn't detract from the ambience of the cabin. Despite the new design, it still doesn't appear quite cutting edge but there's an elegance to it that's deliciously appealing. The red carpet contrasting with the blue interior on my test car was classic and timeless. The Spider's interior retains the by now almost obligatory Alfa sense of occasion. With plenty of metallic finishes to lift the fascia and driver-oriented instruments, the design also makes a nod or two to tradition. How many other cars still retain an oil temperature gauge? The Spider has and it's a welcome touch. There's a voguish starter button and minor controls on the steering wheel. With plenty of adjustment in both the seat and the steering column, even taller drivers will easily find a comfortable driving position. On the road, the 2.2 JTS engine I tried feels gutsy at low revs, but Alfa Romeo driving isn't about chugging about with the needle barely registering above tickover. Instead, the needle should be zinging up to the redline, the engine filling the cabin with all manner of yowls, crackles and fizzes. Here the JTS is a little disappointing, doing sterling work in the midrange but lacking a little charisma when really given the treatment. With a fair amount of weight to haul about, that may not be surprising, but if that's a problem, you could always stretch to the pricier 3.2-litre V6 version or even the 2.4-litre JTDM diesel. The electrically operated fabric roof is quite an installation, the five-layer system insulating the cabin from wind and road noise while also offering excellent thermal insulation properties - so often a bugbear of convertible cars. The soft top's additional electric motors and chassis bracing adds around 60kg to the kerb weight of an equivalent Alfa Brera coupe but when the focus isn't on ultimate dynamics, this isn't so much of an issue. The penalty for enjoying the fresh air is the removal of the rear seats you'd find on the Brera coupe that this car is based upon. Still, these vestigial items were really only any good for slinging a bag onto. Practicality isn't a Spider strong point, the boot holding a rather mean 235 litres although the roof doesn't impinge on that capacity when folded down. On the plus side, there are some cubbies instead of rear seats that keep your belongings safe and sound.

It's clear that Alfa holds a big advantage over its German competitors on price. Priced from £25,920, the 2.2-litre JTS Spider is several thousand pounds cheaper than its equivalent German rivals. And, for your hard earned money, you know that you are buying something of high quality and durability. Alfa Romeo predicts that the 2.2-litre JTS variant I tried will take 60 per cent of UK sales and it's not hard to see why. The 185bhp engine returns a decent 30mpg fuel figure and emissions aren't unreasonable at 221g/km. If you're not all about cornering a car on its door handles, then this makes a very interesting choice. There is also the choice of a manual or Q-tronic gearbox.

For sheer driving passion, definitely. But life isn't always about passion. Since my husband doesn't drive, this would be the only car in the household and there is no way that I could get all the shopping in there. On second thoughts, maybe I should have the groceries delivered.

Wednesday August 6