Should I buy a Fiat with zero real mechanical experience?

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
03/11/2014 at 15:16 • Filed to: None

I feel like this would only end in tears

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DISCUSSION (48)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:17

tears or zeros in your bank account.

those are your options.

there is no other outcome.

highmodulus > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:20

All the unreliability of an Alfa with none of the charm- pass.

Jayhawk Jake > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/11/2014 at 15:20

It's a tempting prospect, but I think I'll hold out for an NA miata.

For Sweden > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:20

As long as you have a dependable daily driver, it will just be an expensive hobby.

duurtlang > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:23

It must be fun to drive and easy to wrench on. If you want a vehicle to teach yourself how to wrench it could be worth it. If you just want a fun classic, pick something else.

Brian Silvestro > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:24

I'm trying very hard to get an Alfa, and I don't have any mechanical experience (or a nice Chevy as a back up car). But still, I want it.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:24

Engine has been re-done and that interior looks great! I would say NP, but owning a foreign car can have hug hassles if you have issues.

Jayhawk Jake > duurtlang
03/11/2014 at 15:25

I want a Miata. Preferably one that won't break down every 500 miles.

evil2win > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:25

I have been driving one of these for years. Only do it if you have a back up car to drive when it's broken, and you'll learn to wrench.

The Swedish Bandit > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:26

Well, gotta start somewhere anyways...

Jayhawk Jake > For Sweden
03/11/2014 at 15:28

I have too many of those already...

Jayhawk Jake > highmodulus
03/11/2014 at 15:28

My thought as well. I'll keep twiddling thumbs until a nice Miata turns up

duurtlang > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:29

A properly maintained Fiat certainly won't break down every 500 miles, but it will still require more work than a Miata. If you're only buying it for the driving experience you're better off with a Miata.

Jayhawk Jake > Brian Silvestro
03/11/2014 at 15:32

I almost want to buy it now then sell it in a month or two. Just to have the experience for a while.

Brian Silvestro > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:33

I mean, fuck it why not if you can sell it for the same price you bought it for?

highmodulus > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:34

Good call, the Miata is such an absurdly good value used it is hard to beat them. Although BMW Z3s are getting pretty cheap too. . .

Slave2anMG > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:36

If you don't have a friend or somebody who's a Fiat veteran to go look at it with you and then give advice, no. Besides that, I see something that sets off all my alarm bells - the chrome rocker covers. They're almost invariably there to hide rust. Otherwise I don't a see a lot of jackleg wiring under the hood and do see a downdraft carb...maybe a Weber. But on the other hand...it's fairly cheap. But the rocker panels scare the hell out of me.

Jayhawk Jake > Brian Silvestro
03/11/2014 at 15:39

Exactly! It'd be like a Top Gear challenge: buy it, drive it on some journey, sell it later. What's the worst that could happen?

Jayhawk Jake > highmodulus
03/11/2014 at 15:40

I have my heart set on an NA Miata. Love the little buggers, pop up headlights, and I figure if I call myself a jalop/opponaut I have to have one eventually.

highmodulus > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:41

Good taste! The pop-up headup versions are best.

Jayhawk Jake > Slave2anMG
03/11/2014 at 15:41

That's a good point about the rocker panels.

I was just browsing CL, not really planning on buying anything right now. This seemed interesting enough to share.

Brian Silvestro > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:45

Well the engine could fail spontaneously, and you'd be out $2500.

Jayhawk Jake > Brian Silvestro
03/11/2014 at 15:46

That's fair. Guess I'll pass

Brian Silvestro > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:47

I just realized how irrational I'm being with my potential Alfa purchase...

Fuck it, I want an Alfa.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 15:56

Personally, I would encourage holding out for a muscle car.

ptak appreciates old racecars > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 16:08

Yes.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 16:13

That depends. Working on cars is enjoyable, for me certainly. You won't need to do nearly as much as most people would lead you to believe. Especially ones that have never owned anything like it.

If you're looking for a car that will be a hoot to drive, looks great and will teach you how to work on a car then this is perfect.

If you're looking for a car you can drive hard, bring home wet and expect it to work perfectly after 10 consecutive days of that treatment, this is not the car for you.

Jayhawk Jake > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/11/2014 at 16:26

I want a small convertible though...

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 16:32

or awesome learning experiences, .... and possible empty pockets.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 16:34

1963 Mercury Comet, it was considered a Compact Car at the time after all...

Kinja'd!!!

Jayhawk Jake > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/11/2014 at 16:37

Purty

Roberto G. > Slave2anMG
03/11/2014 at 16:40

Ditto.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 16:41

See, small convertible, and a classic Mercury!

stuttgartobsessed > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/11/2014 at 17:02

So true.

stuttgartobsessed > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 17:05

I bought an Alfa with ZERO mechanical skill. My morning was spent replacing a blown out headlight bulb. It took me 3 hours and I lost a screw. Thank god for electrical tape. Now I need to find out where I can find a weird little clip thingy (I broke it) so that the light doesn't fall out as I'm driving. Anyway, You will end up soending lots of $$$ but It'll be an adventure and a lot of fun and all your friends will make fun of you and yell at you when they lean just exactly how much you actually spent.

stuttgartobsessed > Brian Silvestro
03/11/2014 at 17:05

Welcome to my life.

Brian Silvestro > stuttgartobsessed
03/11/2014 at 17:06

Is classic car ownership anything like this?

Kinja'd!!!

stuttgartobsessed > stuttgartobsessed
03/11/2014 at 17:06

I've spent just about what mine's worth. But its fun! Though I do recommend having another car to drive when it doesn't work.

stuttgartobsessed > Brian Silvestro
03/11/2014 at 17:45

In that its cute and cuddly and loveable and everyone wants one until its not and they don't? Yes. Yes it is.

stuttgartobsessed > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/11/2014 at 17:48

I agree with this. It's really not that bad (with an Alfa at least) and the reputation is far worse than it actually is. Well, not in my case because I bought one in bad mechanical shape. But once you fix things they tend to stay fixed for a while. And most problems with Alfas are electronic. Or so I'm lead to believe.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > stuttgartobsessed
03/11/2014 at 17:59

Precisely. People used to daily drive these back in the day, and prior to the mid-70s and the industrial unrest that was rife then, Alfas and Fiats were pretty solidly built. Fix their foibles, or buy one that's already had them fixed, and you'll be happy. So long as you remember that cars in general back then required more maintenance to keep them ticking over.

When was the last time you heard 'grease the suspension nipple on the ball-joint every 10k miles' for a modern car?

stuttgartobsessed > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/11/2014 at 18:11

I DD mine. I love driving it but I'm starting to feel bad about it. Especially cause I street park it. And it gets rained on. A Lot. So I'm a bit worried about major rust starting and I really need to give it a new paint job. yay me...

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > stuttgartobsessed
03/11/2014 at 18:15

I wouldn't worry too much. Cars are to be used. It's a lot sadder seeing a car that's been holed up in a garage after 20k miles and rotting thereafter, than see a weather-beaten car still being used for daily driving.

If it starts getting a bit rusty, buy another beater to drive while it gets a proper resto (or you do one yourself). Either that or sell it on to someone who will and move on to another gorgeous machine :)

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > Brian Silvestro
03/11/2014 at 18:52

why not if you can sell it for the same price you bought it for?

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WHY DOES THIS COMMENT NOT HAVE MORE STARS???

Brian Silvestro > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
03/11/2014 at 18:58

BECAUSE NO ONE READS THINGS

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > Brian Silvestro
03/11/2014 at 19:07

That's all right; the caps lock will help.

stuttgartobsessed > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/11/2014 at 20:52

Oh I know. Plus I love the look on peoples faces when I'm driving with the top down and the sky is really dark but not raining yet.

johncalvinyoung > Jayhawk Jake
03/11/2014 at 23:32

I have slightly more than zero mechanical experience (but only slightly) and I was stewing over the $1200 MGB that was floating around Craigslist and mentioned on here a couple weeks ago. So tempting...and yet, likely, such a bad idea (at least right now).

P.S. On no real knowledge of Fiats, just appreciation for small green roadsters, that one looks lovely, wish it was closer to me!