Am I crazy, oppo?

"Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car" (pilot-and-car-guy) 08/26/2015 at 23:01 • Filed to: None

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I want this more than I can say.

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aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/26/2015 at 23:19

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This is the most stable generation of spiders and it looks pretty straight and seems to be priced accordingly. The biggest issues with these is small nit-picky issues with the FI system (which is a really common bosh L-tronic system) and maybe transmission synchro issues on the higher mileage ones and maybe rusty floors but this one looks too clean for that .

EmbraceTheRasp > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/27/2015 at 00:03

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You are crazy. You should not do this thing.

There. I did my duty.

These are wonderful-to-drive-horrible-to-depend-on cars. If you want a DD, buy a Miata. Pick a generation. It doesn’t matter. Any of them will be better handling, faster, and more reliable. However, none of them will be maddeningly/wonderfully Italian. So you won’t be able to tick that “I owned an Alfa and it was wonderful/horrible every day” box.

I would say that it’s a lot of money for a (at this point not nearly as good as a Miata) tick-of-a-box, but decide early that you don’t care about such things. Soon you’ll be priced out of even these experiences. For questions on this, ask anyone who had the chance to buy a pre 996 911 for under 12K and now knows they’ll never own an air-cooled model because the 996 ruined the party for everyone by being water-cooled (and a pinless grenade with fried-egg headlamps)

Wait, which side was I arguing again? It’s tough being a car guy.

I want another shot at that turbo-look 930 Carrera, but I didn’t make the same mistake on the E46 M3. (Even though I bought a convertible and all the issues with owning one in the NE)

Edit: PS- my wife is Italian. And she’s looking good for 20yrs+ of dealing with my idiosyncrasies (Scotch/Irish heritage means a nervous system powered by Lucas and Glenfiddich, whichever is least likely to fire at any given time)

stuttgartobsessed > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/27/2015 at 00:09

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DO IT!

I had a 76 and I loved it. so much fun to drive.

is it your DD?

DO A PPI! with a respectable Alfa mechanic.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/27/2015 at 07:21

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L-jetronic Spiders are pretty solid little cars. The later Motronic & VVT ones were faster and had nicer interiors but got electrically complex and buggy, earlier carb’d (or SPICA’d) ones are a little more “Italian”, in the sense that you better know what you’re doing and cary a few things extra beyond what’s in the factory toolkit... But these Graduates with L-Jetronic are full of off-the-shelf BOSCH parts where they should be and solid, simple Italian fun everywhere else. A Miata may be (barely) faster, and ultimately more reliable and cheaper to repair when it does break, but I think the Spider is more comfortable and relaxed on a long road trip, and its not UN reliable, just LESS reliable than a Miata. They also have EXCELLENT heaters, which is not something I would say about the NA Miata... That’s a reasonable price if everything is in good nick. That little engine, if well maintained, is good for a very long time, and the rest of the car is simple and easy to work on (as long as it’s not rusty). Got the money? Got the hankering? Do it. Fun will be yours!

RacinBob > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/27/2015 at 08:20

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I own a ‘73. Sure buy it, it’s a great summer, sunny day car. It’s your chance to own a legend, and a far advanced car for it’s day. It will open doors for you. But don’t get rid of your everyday car though. It’s 40 years old. If you drive it daily, especially in winter, it will just wear out.

Something that I am doing right now is changing my ‘73’s master cyl, clutch master and slave. The clutch master O ring basically turned to dust, I figured I might as well do the rest at the same time. Rock Auto has great deals on the parts. All Italian.

No griping about the reliability, remember it’s a 40 year old car. Rubber parts weren’t intended to last forever.

By the way, if the present owner appears not to have the funds to properly maintain it, you may want to move on and avoid the costs of his deferred spending......

The picture is of the year 15 years ago that I owned 3 Alfa’s. It was shortly before I sold off my original ‘75 Alfetta, my ‘69 Berlina to pay for my ‘73 Spider. All great cars.

wkiernan > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/27/2015 at 10:09

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You are perfectly sane.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > EmbraceTheRasp 08/27/2015 at 11:14

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That was a long and interesting post. :)

I know it won’t be a solid car, it won’t be a DD, and I can’t afford it. I have a nasty habit of trying to find alfa’s for sale. I REALLY want to own one. My grandparents/uncle/dad all loved all of their alfas.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 08/27/2015 at 11:15

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I really wish I had the money. I got my car for $500 and about $800 in to repairing it. I have a nasty habit of trying to find alfa’s for sale. I REALLY want to own one. My grandparents/uncle/dad all loved all of their alfas.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > stuttgartobsessed 08/27/2015 at 11:16

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I really wish I could. I REALLY want to own one. My grandparents/uncle/dad all loved all of their alfas. My DD is a $500 B14 sentra that I’ve sunk $800 in to repairing. Not fun. All I can afford at the moment.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > wkiernan 08/27/2015 at 11:16

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Good to know.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > RacinBob 08/27/2015 at 11:17

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I’m super jealous of your alfa history.

I have a nasty habit of trying to find alfa’s for sale. I REALLY want to own one. My grandparents/uncle/dad all loved all of their alfas.

I unfortunately can’t afford an alfa (or any second car) right now. Some day though, some day.

EmbraceTheRasp > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/27/2015 at 11:24

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That was a long and interesting post. :)

You should wait till I get started! I forgot to check, are Alfas Sicilian? Because you should never try to match wits with a Sicilian when DEATH!!! is on the line!

Haha, hahaha, ha, HAAHAHAAA... Dropsdead

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > EmbraceTheRasp 08/27/2015 at 11:26

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I love you forever now. :)

Princes Bride quotes tell me all I need to know about who you are.

“I would hate to kill you.” “I would hate to die.”

RacinBob > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/27/2015 at 14:00

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About the only comment I can pass on is people tend to drive way to nice of cars. If you are a car guy or gal, a tru Jalop, I would maximize my money with something over 150,000 miles so I can have my toys. Cheap is a RSX-S, or a ‘02 Si, or used Z car or all options. You can drive all day on cars less than $7,000.

I got out of school in ‘79. My first new car was ‘07 Si. I did a lot of racing with the car payments that I didn’t make!

stuttgartobsessed > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/27/2015 at 16:20

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In the end I had a $900 Mazda 626 as a second car, which I should have kept along with the Alfa, as I’d still have the Alfa if that were the case....

I say if you have a reliable DD, and the time, patience, and space to work ont he Alfa yourself or with friends, then go for it. But if you’re planning on paying a mechanic or Alfa shop to do the work, let me tell you, it’s EXPENSIVE.

stuttgartobsessed > RacinBob 08/27/2015 at 16:23

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Hey! You helped me out w/ some great advice via AlfaBB (or maybe it was on here) when I had my Alfa Spider.

Thanks! Have a nice TZ-1 from Monterey for your awesomeness!

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > stuttgartobsessed 08/27/2015 at 19:27

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I know. I have tools, a lift, all that. I’m really lucky. I just don’t have the money.

RacinBob > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/27/2015 at 19:49

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Of the maintenance items for an Alfa, the calipers tend to get tight. When you take it on a test drive, check the rotors afterwards to see if any are unusually hot. Don’t burn yourself but if there is a hot rotor its probably time to put a rebuild in. I changed one, and then two and I replaces the rest. Another place is look at the fluid. My clutch fluid was black, now I realize the seal or o ring was coming apart. And, if you are changing the calipers or master cyl or clutch and slave, make sure you change the rubber lines too. Parts for alfa’s are reasonable on rock auto, buy what you need.

stuttgartobsessed > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 08/28/2015 at 02:41

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I feel you. If I had had the tools, space, etc I’d still have mine AND a few thousand dollars to spend on more and better parts for it/food for me. Oh well. You know what they say Alfa stands for...