"webmonkees" (kayoteq-of-the-forest)
05/11/2014 at 01:06 • Filed to: Nice Price Or Crack Pipe
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"webmonkees" (kayoteq-of-the-forest)
05/11/2014 at 01:06 • Filed to: Nice Price Or Crack Pipe | 1
| 11 |
1977 Fiat w/new top and rebuilt engine.
"It will need some cosmetics as with any car this old. It needs a new ignition switch assembly, as P/O lost keys, and assembly was destroyed so it could be steered.
It is about $80 online, and keys can be made by locksmith. After YOU get the afore mentioned items installed, the Fiat should be ready to drive, but sold as is.
If you want a spring project to enjoy the sun in, this might be it. Cash talks, but no tire kickers, just bring a way to haul it and cash."
All Motor Is Best Motor
> webmonkees
05/11/2014 at 01:11 |
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If it's 80 bucks to fix the ignition why the hell didn't they just do it already and make the car more appealing to buyers?
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webmonkees
> All Motor Is Best Motor
05/11/2014 at 01:15 |
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"Engine noise disturbs the neighbors, so I didn't bother." Agreed.
Was test driving a car, "It's the wheel bearings, it's a $30 part.
Well. I mean, some folks spend $100 to have their car detailed before selling, why not get a grease monkey to put the bearing in.
evil2win
> webmonkees
05/11/2014 at 01:39 |
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if all he says is true it's not a bad price. How long has it been since it was driven? I'd want to hot- wire it and take it for a test drive. Not all that hard to do on this car. I bought an 81 spider with a rebuilt engine and transmission that had a shock tower break loose for just $600. After I rewelded the tower, and replaced the ball joints I drove it for five years, fixed a few misc. problems, then sold it for $2000.
Ducky
> All Motor Is Best Motor
05/11/2014 at 02:00 |
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you think tony would just go around like that, telling lies on the internet?
Jeff-God-of-Biscuits
> webmonkees
05/11/2014 at 02:01 |
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That one looks scary... You can see the ripples in the rear quarter, and around the fender, and since they were so careful masking for the new paint, you can be sure that level attention carried through everywhere else as well. I also wonder how long it hasn't had an air cleaner. 400-500 tops,
DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
> webmonkees
05/11/2014 at 06:03 |
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I'd buy it, if I didn't have a Spider, already. I like the CS1 cars a lot, and I'm incredibly fond of red on a Spider, especially.
That being said, it will need more work than the seller claims. I only say this, because I own one, and you /will/ find new and interesting things to break. For one, I would bet anything that it won't go into 2nd gear. Every Spider I've ever seen with the stock transmission won't go into 2nd, so budget time and money for a 131 transmission swap.
Replace the whole ignition switch assembly. It's all one piece, it's $120 and it takes less than 10 minutes to do. (Unless you get a NOS OEM one, in which case it's $450 and takes less than 10 minutes.) If the seller knew anything about the car, he'd also realize the doors and ignition are separate keys.
The clutch cable will need to be done, because it's an old Fiat and it'll break the clutch cable. It's a bigger pain in the ass to do on the side of the road, at least.
Put the headlights on a relay after replacing the ignition switch. Otherwise, you'll burn up the delicate, "high" quality contacts in the switch that are woefully undersized.
The convertible top operation is a thing of beauty. Don't operate it while the car is sitting still, or you'll be looking up at the beautiful top, wondering why the hell the seatback just collapsed.
If you require a radio while driving a Fiat Spider, give up. The engine sings a beautiful song, all on its own.
The stock exhaust is too quiet on Spiders. Fix this.
The floors look solid, so that's a good sign. Even if it has a shitty repaint, as long as the rot isn't bad, it's worth it.
Speaking of the door locks, while I'm thinking of it. Don't lock the doors. One of the two locks will inevitably rust itself solid anyway, and I'd rather leave the door unlocked and not risk the convertible top getting cut. Statistically speaking, it's cheaper to replace the contents of the car than it is the top. The trunk lock is marginally better, because it, at least, requires a screwdriver to open it.
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webmonkees
> DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
05/11/2014 at 09:31 |
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"If you require a radio while driving a Fiat Spider, give up. The engine sings a beautiful song, all on its own." +1
That's a proper evaluation. When it comes down to it, the core. At speed. The trick is all the efforts it takes to get there.
All the proper traps outlined, solutions, warnings. No cliche's needed, this is what happens. Forewarned: It's a Tinkermobile.
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DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
> DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
05/11/2014 at 13:09 |
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*er, don't operate the top while sitting in the car. It's /almost/ doable, but you'll break the seatback and that's a pain in the ass to repair.
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DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
> webmonkees
05/11/2014 at 13:20 |
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I will say this about, at least, my Spider... It is an absolutely wonderful car, when it's working. Easily the most fun car I've ever driven, and this includes the NA, NB and NC Miatas, as well as the Toyota MR-S and my old RX-7.
The only thing I can think of that is more grin-inducing would be either an X1/9 or an old Alfa of some sort. However, with the Alfa, you'll be having what Clarkson calls a "crisis", every time you press the accelerator. Fortunately, you won't need pants, as the ladies cannot resist an Alfa twin-cam.
Other drawbacks to old Fiat ownership: You can't do /anything/ quickly in it. Visit the store, spend 20 minutes talking about the car to a random passerby.
Drive it to work, spend 20 minutes in the parking lot, talking about the car.
Get fuel, spend 20 minutes talking about the car...
Go to STEAMfest in Huntsville, spend 20 minutes talking about the car when you get there, and another 20 minutes when you're getting ready to leave.
Stop at a traffic light, spend the duration talking about the car.
Park in front of your apartment, spend 20 minutes talking about the car...
Go to the FIAT dealership, spend an hour convincing the 20-something salesdroids that Fiat did send cars to the US before the current 500.
Despite the pain, and the suffering, I love my old Spider. Everyone should own an old Italian car at some point; it gives you a new appreciation for the beauty of the automobile.
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webmonkees
> evil2win
05/11/2014 at 13:37 |
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Plus, with my dad as an example, that mid-life something-to-go-to-tennis runabout MG.
Couldn't drive it, too young. Older self agrees, would probably have put it in a ditch.
Anyway, clueless about the mechanisms, he finds somebody to work on it. Eventually giving up on the idea. What academeic or socially acceptable thing should I have done to have him sign it over, I wonder. Sigh.
So you will end up with population of little sporty cars that have little things wrong with them that breaks the patience. Off it goes to the classifieds.
That's the flaw of the Miata. It doesn't have that thing that makes a frustrated person sell it for $200 and be glad it's gone.
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evil2win
> webmonkees
05/11/2014 at 15:02 |
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If y0u're going to own an old Italian car and be happy with it you need to know how to fix it yourself, or have money to burn. You also need a back-up car for the days it breaks so you're not stranded. MY DD is a 73 Fiat 124 spider. If you get all the problems of age and wear fixed, then keep up on the maintenance they are fun dependable cars. As dependable as a 40 year old car can be.