I may be a bad Opponaut...

"DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully" (danceswithrotors)
01/05/2014 at 06:45 • Filed to: Fiat, Miata, Project car

After years of saying "The answer is always Miata", I'm faced with a decision... I want a project car again, I have some expendable income right now, and I'm torn between two options. A 200k mile 1990 Miata for $1500, or a 70k mile 1982 Fiat 2000 Spider that has been sitting in a friend's shop for the past 20 years. (Last started: 10 years ago)

I'm leaning toward the Fiat, because I know I can get it by trading my Glock, plus a handful of cash, and it's the cooler car... On the other hand, it's a 32 year old, Italian car, which means it's beautiful when it runs, but she's like the beautiful, bad-tempered Italian supermodel that will snap, stab you in the back and empty your wallet for no reason at all.

On the other hand, the Miata is too sweet and gentle to ever lose her temper, stab me and run off with my wallet, but the risk of danger isn't there.

I think I want the Fiat, though... It's the less sensible choice, my forehead sticks up over the windshield, I know it'll break down about 10 times between the time we get it running and I get back to Nashville, 150 miles away... And, I have one sensible, reliable car in the Mazda3, right? Right?

Edit: Have a picture of the filthy, unloved Fiat in its natural habitat

DISCUSSION (25)

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 07:11

I vote Fiat, but then again I love classics.

If you can get her in good running condition the old Fiat Twincam is a pretty solid engine. Nice and revvy too. Other than that, I'm not altogether that familiar with Fiat Spiders. I'm more of an Alfa man when it comes to drop-top Italians.

What year is the Fiat, and what engine has it got? I seem to remember they came in 1.6l and 2.0l versions, although again I could be wrong.

If it helps, here's a very pretty 124 Spider:

Kinja'd!!!

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 07:13

Paradox: the Spider is more Jalop than the Miata.

Hoccy > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 07:16

Miata might be the general answer to anything, but a Fiat Spider is so much more oppo. And as you say, you already have the sensible car, so why have a sensible project car?

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
01/05/2014 at 07:23

1982 Spider, with the 2.0.

Funny you should mention Alfa, though. I'm going after the Fiat, because he won't let go of any of his Alfas, and I've already had a few Volvos, so the rest of his collection is out.

daender > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 07:53

The best answer: Fiat Spider with a Miata engine and electronics! Beautiful body, bulletproof engine with a bit more power than factory; it's basically the same strategy as the upcoming fourth-gen Miata!

Pixel > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 07:54

Buy both and put the Miata drive-train in the Spider?

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 08:01

Biggest question about the fiat would be the amount of red stuff in the fenders and rockers. But a clean spyder is a thing of beauty.

duurtlang > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 08:01

It depends on your priorities; not a care in the world weekend cruiser; Miata. Slightly challenging fun to drive weekend project; Fiat.

I'm sure you're able to get that Fiat to run somewhat reliable, but it will never be like the Miata. Depending on your priorities that can either be a good thing or a bad thing.

Makoyouidiot > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 08:10

BUY THE FIAT!
It's just like when Top Gear did the Middle East special. Jeremy was driving a Miata, James in a Z3, and Richard in a Fiat Barchetta...guess which they all wanted at the end.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits
01/05/2014 at 08:11

Solid rockers, 3 out of 4 fenders are solid. The left rear has a quarter-size spot where it's weakened, but not all the way through, so... I feel fairly confident on that one. It probably helps that it's been sitting in the same spot for a few years...

I'm thinking I'm going Fiat. It's just too cool to pass up, even if she needs help.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > duurtlang
01/05/2014 at 08:16

I'm thinking project, not cruiser. I miss wrenching, bad. It's how I kept myself sane when I was a broke student driving ancient Volvo wagons.

Clown Shoe Pilot > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 08:16

my dad had a spider. that thing was a pile of garbage.

but when it ran... oh when it ran. it was wonderful. if you can handle the emotional rollercoaster, the highs will be so much higher w/ the fiat.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > daender
01/05/2014 at 08:17

Funny you should mention the new Alfa Spider... I'm swearing up and down that, if I don't get a bout of sanity and decide to buy a house, I'll be looking to trade the Mazda3 in for the new Spider in about 3-4 years.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 08:18

He first car I bought was a 78 spyder. Still miss her sometimes. She rusted out on me. Just more damage than I could fix. Awesome cars though, and I love how simple the top is to work. Takes only seconds to drop it. Here's a link to a pretty red one. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j…

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 08:19

The Fiat is in pretty much every way a match for the Alfa. The engine is just as sweet, as is the handling, as are the looks. I'm pretty certain the only thing that separates them is the badge (which is a silly notion to be perfectly honest).

2.0l is good. Does it have those ugly big bumpers? If so, then taking them off saved about 20kg on my little X1/9.

Also, what needs doing to it?

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
01/05/2014 at 08:22

When it was last run, albeit 10 years ago, the injectors were flooding the cylinders. However, we were talking, and apparently he put a high-pressure Bosch pump on it, rather than the stock one, which combined with the bad FPR, would cause that. Bob's already hinted that I may need to run up to the shop, this morning.

Other than that, the seats are rough, it needs a top, tires and paint. Also, probably a clutch cable.

On the plus side, it comes with 15 sets of brake pads. (I'm not kidding... I wish I was kidding, but the box was under the stack of Volvo greenbooks.)

duurtlang > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 08:39

Than this should be a no-brainer; get the Fiat.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 09:40

Time to be vicious...

http://www.allisonsautomotive.com/

Feel free to hate me.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits
01/05/2014 at 09:48

Such noise

Very Italian

Much Awesome

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 11:00

Fiat

johncalvinyoung > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 11:10

Without a doubt, the Spider. Sure you'll spend lots of time looking good on the side of the road, but how good you'll look! Far prettier lines than a Miata, and you're wanting to wrench...only one answer.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 11:26

Kinja'd!!!

This is how pretty this car was to me I only took pictures of its ass at The Glen. Loove that Abarth badge.

Think of it this way, your girlfriend/SO will like it even more than the Miata- You will like it more than a Miata...Your neighbors and co workers will li...

Kinja'd!!!

Slave2anMG > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 11:56

Fiat. Because exhaust note. That is all.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 12:28

Before I clicked I was expecting a 2nd gen Corvette.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
01/05/2014 at 18:05

It certainly sounds like that'll be the most fun project, although it has the potential to be the more frustrating.

You'd wind up with a car that's a bit more special though.