Alfa Romeo Spider vs BMW 2002 — European Roadsters of the Classic Era

Choose the Alfa Romeo Spider for the most visceral Italian sports car experience available at an entry price under $25,000. The twin-cam inline-four — in 1300, 1600, 1750, and 2000 versions depending on year — produces a sound and throttle response unlike any German or Japanese engine of the era. Pininfarina's bodywork is timeless; the Kamm-tail Duetto (1966-1969) is considered one of the most beautiful Italian designs of the 20th century. Ownership rewards mechanical engagement: the car communicates every road input, rewards smooth driving, and punishes inattention in ways that make you a better driver.

Choose the BMW 2002 for greater reliability, more accessible maintenance, and the car that established BMW's driver-focused brand in America. Where the Alfa is passionate and occasionally fragile, the BMW is precise and dependable. The 2002's M10 engine is one of the more robust European four-cylinders of its era — easy to tune, easy to source parts for, and tolerant of extended service intervals in a way that Alfa twins are not. The 2002tii (Kugelfischer fuel injection) adds performance without sacrificing the 2002's fundamental dependability.