Learn me, Alfa Romeo Spider

Tell me more about owning a Alfa Romeo Spider. How do they drive, handle? Anything you have to add.

Six things to watch out for - rust, rust, unsympathetic previous owners that bequeath you a maintenance headache, rust, second gear syncro gone AWOL and people who manage to wear out the engine in under 20k miles because they couldn't be bothered to warm up the approx 2 gal of oil in the engine.

Did I also mention that they suffer a little from rust?

I just want to say one word to you - just one word.

Plastics.

I don't care who you is,that there is funny TJ .

A new injection pump is expensive, so keep that in mind if you are looking at one with spica fuel injection.

also, you need to work on your upper body strength as the arms out driving position will wear you out.

Overall, great cars fun to drive. I have owned over 5 spiders, but finally was tired of making my own speed parts.

The answer is miata

What speed parts did you have to make? Swaybars, brake upgrades, stiffer springs (including ones with adjustable perches), bigger wheels, headers, DCOE carb conversions and im sure some other stuff are readily available.

Speed parts are pretty easy to get- Centerline out of Colorado and International in Virgina have some good parts available. For vintage racing, it's a different level of stuff to do. Kelly kind of takes things to a different level. Need to get him out to the Salt Flats one day.

What year are we talking about?

The funny thing about SPICA- a performance pump with match set of cams is cheaper than a Weber conversion. And as far as I'm concerned, better to drive- I've driven both, and far prefer the SPICA. Weber has the sound, in spades, but SPICA is a very good system. If it needs rebuilt, the performace pump is only like $150 more than a rebuilt pump, the cams were a good deal (at least the ones Wes Ingram sold me), and I've not really touched it for over a decade of beating the crap out of it.

There are some cheaper alternatives for the suspension- the front and rear springs are a common circle track size, so instead of $400 for a set (or more), you can get them for $50/spring at the right circle track shop. Or cheaper on e-bay/flea markets.

The biggest of the big probems by a WIDE margin is rust. Rockers, fenders, etc. Engines have problems due to poor POs. But they are very easy to rebuild.

Bear in mind, it's no Miata. Not even close. BUT, and this is a big But (at least on me), they are not slow pokes. If you'll recall, a Spider took FTD at the Challenge once (man, I never get tired pointing that out).

Eric

All good info guys. I am looking at a '79, but it is out of state. I have allways liked them. Looking for a small convertable, somthing other than a Miata.

This is me talking out of an orifice since I've never owned either, but is the Fiat 124 series convertible a little easier to deal with with slightly better ergos? The Alfa is very pretty but the Fiat isn't exactly bad to look at either.

Other than the mechanical fuel injection (which isnt bad, but you could esaily spend $600+ fixing things if parts are worn out, the fiat isnt really any better, just different. I have sat in both, and the alfa is alot more comfortable to me. Of course, my only car is a milano, so im used to italian cars.

Check out Alfabb.com for more info.