So what’s special about the MiTo GTA? It’s not exactly our main customer fodder, I’d be the first to admit, but if you look closely, and especially if you’ve had the chance to drive the ordinary MiTo (particularly the 1.4 Turbo) you’d know that the GTA is a car to be taken seriously.

We’ve seen no real change in interest in our normal high-end car enquiries (and if your credit is squeaky clean finance is still very achievable) but what we have noticed is an increase in enquiries for small but powerful cars. It would seem that many who can afford high-end stuff are still buying, but are looking for something less visible, but still fun, to use as a daily drive. Where once an Audi RS6 would have fulfilled this need (and still does) we are finding that cars like the MINI JCW are yielding some real interest.

But why settle for a common as muck MINI when you can have a proper Alfa? And make no mistake, the Alfa Romeo MiTo is a real Alfa, and the GTA is a really, really real Alfa! From its glorious lines, hugely reminiscent of the achingly beautiful Alfa 8C Competitzione, to its frankly astonishing output of 240bhp from a tiny 1.7 engine, the MiTo GTA is the perfect choice for an everyday drive.

The GTA also gets some serious suspension sorting and underbody aerodynamic tweaks which should make it much more fun to drive than the already fun MiTo. Lots of use of aluminium and carbon fibre (although it’s debatable how much of that will carry over to the production car) keep the weight down and the fun factor up.

Times are changing, and we need to change with them. But if the only sacrifice to be made is to use a MiTo GTA as an everyday drive, instead of an RS6 Avant, and save well over £50,000 in to the bargain, then I think it’s a sacrifice I can live with. I bet you could too.

The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Roadster is the car every Alfa fan has dreamed the company would make. First shown as a concept car back in 2003, the car is now a reality. This is a Ferrari bashing Alfa – it’s Show and Go. What more could you ask for? Well, more than a handful being made would be a help. As would any left for sale!

Long sold out, at least as a hardtop, Alfa are now offering the Roadster version from late 2008 / early 2009. And we’ve got one up for grabs, which considering there are only going to be a handful built is no mean feat!

So what’s the Competitzione got on offer? And is it really an Alfa? Two good questions, which actually aren’t that easy to answer. The first is easier – it offers a great deal. A 4.7 V8 is a good starting point. As is 450bhp. But more important is the absolutely gorgeous carbon fibre body. This is, finally, an Alfa to lust after. A paddle-shift gearbox (there is no manual or fully auto option available) gives good control and it will hit 60mph in around 4 seconds. Yes please! But is it an Alfa?

In many ways this is actually a Maserati. Many of the components are direct, or modified, existing Maserati items. And if you need a service you’ll be getting it done at the local Maserati dealer, not the Alfa one. And the car is actually being bolted together by Fiat. So it’s not a pure Alfa, it’s a bit of a mongrel. But I don’t care. It is gorgeous! It’s got an Alfa badge and it looks every inch an Alfa Romeo. How could you not want one?

So yes, we have an Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Spider / Roadster for sale. But not for long!