Learn me about Alfa Romeo Spiders

[notfarnow]

Recent & upcoming work on our house has put a 911 well out of reach for a couple years. I had been gunning for a nice "driver" quality SC for ~10-12k (something like this) but it's just not gonna happen just now.

Hard part is, I spend more time in a car now than I ever have, and as the weather's been getting better I am really yearning for something fun to drive. I did ~35k miles last year in my business car (e300d), about 30% was with clients. A lot of my day is just driving around to appointments, picking stuff up, etc etc. My e300d is GREAT when I have to drive clients around, but I'd really like something fun to drive the rest of the time.

I've been looking at sports cars for <4k, and the most common are MGs and Alfas. I've owned an MGB and as much as I love them, I know I couldn't drive one daily. They are too uncomfortable and the ride is horrible.

Alfas are interesting though. Looking on Ebay and Alfabb.com I notice that you can get a solid, driver quality spider for ~3-4k. I've even seen some well-sorted cars in need of cosmetics for ~2k. They are substancially better to drive than an (IMO), and have a much more fun engine & transmission... plus there is a good market for them up here; a good clean spider is 9+k in these parts.

From what I can tell, parts aren't too expensive and they seem pretty straightforward to work on. Even the typical 2nd gear crunch can be DIY'd for <$500.

What do I need to know about these things? What problems should I look for, what years should be avoided, what do I not know that I should know?

A few examples:
For Sale 1985 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce for sale/trade - Alfa Romeo Bulletin Board & Forums

For Sale 1987 spider graduate - Alfa Romeo Bulletin Board & Forums

Alfa Romeo : Spider: eBay Motors (item 260617831277 end time Jun-17-10 13:00:53 PDT)

Alfa Romeo : Spider: eBay Motors (item 180519275900 end time Jun-18-10 11:27:03 PDT)

What say you, PPOT?

[masraum]

Hmm, I say that if you want a fun to drive, reliable sports car that has a huge aftermarket following for <$4k, maybe you should consider a miata.

[GH85Carrera]

I have never heard of a reliable inexpensive Italian car. I don’t think they exist.

[notfarnow]

True, dat... I should look at those too, although a Miata doesn't have the same appeal to me that an Alfa does. I'd really like a classic. Reliability isn't a HUGE factor, really. I'd be glad to spend the winter sorting out a car, and I would still have the Benz for DD duty.

I will look at the here vs there price of Miatas though. If I can realistically buy a good one for <4k on the west coast then sell it locally for 8+, then it's worth considering.

[Christien]

My dad has a 77 alfa spyder. My mom bought it for him for his 50th birthday - that was 15 years ago and I'll bet he's put 10k km on it at best, though he has been driving it more this summer. I think it's a fun car to drive, though it's not the most comfortable ride, it shifts lousy and it's not even slightly fast. It's been decent for maintenance - I think it's been in the shop a few times over the first few years but not much lately. I know it had an electrical issue that kept draining the battery, and there was a fuel injection issue a couple years ago. But it was also bought as a partially restored car, for $10k (and that was in 95).

[notfarnow]

Just a quick look shows a LOT of Miatas available within a day's drive for <5k, so I don't think I'd go that route. I'd really want to buy something that I can make a few $$ on up here.

If I could buy a car like the ones I posted above, I could get a west coast vacation (Route 1?) with Mrs Notfarnow, a great roadtrip home with my pa, and then spend the winter cleaning it up, tweaking and debugging. Drive it all summer till I sell it for ~9k, which is a pretty good price for a sorted Alfa around here.

[Laneco]

4K is not out of range for a solid running normally aspirated 944. Won't be a lovely car, but you can get an entirely decent driver in that price range.

Older 3 series BMW as well. Something in the 5-6K frequently buys a 928 (2 valve). Fine driving machines.

angela

[notfarnow]

Originally Posted by Laneco

4K is not out of range for a solid running normally aspirated 944. Won't be a lovely car, but you can get an entirely decent driver in that price range.

Older 3 series BMW as well.

angela

Not sure I'd get the same enjoyment out of a 944 or 3 series BMW. Looking for top-down motoring. Plus, same issue as with the Miata... too many available around here for ~5k. I want to take advantage of the California VS east coast Canada price differences. Only other similar moneymaker is an MGB, but I don't really want one. 911s are great that way too, but if I buy one it'll be to keep it

[Embraer]

My dad has an '86 Spider Veloce that he picked up for a few grand. Fun car, the driving position is kind of fun (I'm Italian, so the short legs/long arms works for me), and the engine sounds great. I love Alfa engines.

You're mechanically inclined, so the DIY wouldn't be an issue. Easy car to work on. Like all Italian cars, they really need to be driven. If these cars sit, they die quickly.

[Tobra]

If you get an Alfa, keep the jumper cables handy
they are pretty though

[kanadary]

what about a 914 then? there are decent ones for about 4k. atleast they look decent in the pictures on the web.

[speeder]

You're asking advice from a pool of people with close to zilch Alfa knowledge. At least from what I see above. Alfas are fantastic cars, at least as strong as any Porsche. This is coming from a Porsche fanatic.

They have issues but the issues pale in comparison to the ones with any series of Porsche. There are also years to avoid and specific things to look for, (and at), on a PPI. As with any older car, the 3 most important factors are condition,condition and condition. Accident/rust free, well-maintained w/ records by a shop that specializes in the cars, (no different from Porsche, Mercedes, etc.), the smallest number of previous owners possible, etc., etc...

In general, the years '75-'82 are the least desirable and least valuable both mechanically and cosmetically. They are the *mid-year 911s* of Alfa Spiders. They are slow and (relatively) ugly. There is no reason to even look at them considering the low cost of a mint mid-'80s car. All 1983 and newer cars are Bosch FI and run great plus are quick if in good shape/tune. 100% reliable if maintained. There is nothing stronger than an Alfa, not even a Porsche. There is no marque in the world with a more storied racing history. Not Porsche, not Ferrari, no one.

[GG Allin]

As a general rule I not only avoid Italian cars, but English ones too.

[Embraer]

...too bad. missing out on some great iron

[speeder]

Alfas have their issues and weak points, Porsches have more of them. BMWs will decompose back into base metal if abused and neglected the way that most older Alfa Spiders in the U.S. have been. The problem is a combination of the fact that they do not have a big enough following in the U.S. and their low cost which causes most of them to wind-up in the hands of people who treat them like a pack of smokes. Look at the more valuable Alfa models, (GTVs, etc.), they are mechanically identical to Spiders and most all are in 100% maintained condition and running like an open sore.

An Alfa is one of the very, very few cars that can be taken to the track and thrashed in stock condition without breaking in half. Porsche is another. BMW is definitely not.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

I've been looking at sports cars for <4k...

Perhaps you need a Fiat! LINK

[stomachmonkey]

Always liked the Alfa Spider. Cool little cars.

Had an Italian car once, FIAT 124, it had Italian problems. It always ran, just never right.

Had a Triumph as well, it was anything but.

Still enjoyed them.

If anything you'll learn how to problem solve.

[notfarnow]

Thanks Dennis, that's how I've felt about Alfas too. People harp about them being unreliable, but any 20+ yr old $3000 car is going to be unreliable if it's been neglected.

Cashflyer: I really like the Fiat 124s, but the resale thing kills them for me. I'd just be breaking even, so I don't think I'd bother.

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

If anything you'll learn how to problem solve.

I owned a LeCar ("Sport"edition with the *big* 1.4l engine) for 7 years. That car taught me about problem solving. I fixed that thing using everything from a bike pedal to a bottle of pi$$. No kidding.

[speeder]

Fiats and Alfas are both Italian. That's where (most of) the similarities end. Like comparing a Porsche 911 to an old Audi 100 of the same era.

[1990C4S]

a) Do you not get Top Gear out there?

b) No doubt you have a plan to tow the car back?