| Author | Message | ||
| Jonathan Brown (Jbsz06)
New member Username: Jbsz06 Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2003 |
Sorry about posting Lancia photo..I'm new to the forum and didn't realize the threads at the bottom of the page are the earliest.. Here's the post I was responding too..[b]Rodney Haas (Icars) Karting Username: Icars Post Number: 224 Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 6:00 pm: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you are looking for inexpensive get a 85 PinanFarina Spider (FIAT) rock solid half the price of a ALFA to work on. That being said I have thought about looking for an early 90s ALFA Spider. I just like the looks better. It will be less expensive than the Ferrari, but much more than a FIAT Spider or Scorpion... [/b] Please excuse me. Thanks for the fyi! | ||
| Ralph Koslin (Ralfabco)
Intermediate Member Username: Ralfabco Post Number: 1004 Registered: 3-2002 |
Look at that girl on the Alfa GT coupe. Only Italian Women look like that. There are plenty of them in Milan like that. They also dress HOT while they work during the week. | ||
| Rodney Haas (Icars)
Member Username: Icars Post Number: 474 Registered: 3-2002 |
Jonathan not that I disagree with you, but this an an ALFA thread, unless of course your Scorpion was ALFA powered like the one in the UK. Again I don't disagree with you. I owned three Scropions and a Lancia Zagato in the past. | ||
| Jonathan Brown (Jbsz06)
New member Username: Jbsz06 Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2003 |
Heres a photo of my first true sports car! [img]http://www.fototime.com/421B5678C440AA1/standard.jpg[/img] Turbocharged, alcohol water injected, forged pistions, nimonic sodium filled valves, BWA rims and koni shocks! Owned that car for more than a decade! :lol: sometimes it broke just sitting in the garage! At the time it was a very cool sports car.. | ||
| SGT (Staceman)
New member Username: Staceman Post Number: 40 Registered: 9-2003 |
Allenatore try linking to this site and cruise the events. Good luck. http://www.barchetta.cc/All.Ferraris/All.Ferraris.html | ||
| R L Oldano (Allenatore)
New member Username: Allenatore Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2003 |
Staceman: I guess I am just not hitting the right car shows; that or the shows here in the US just don't have the intestinal fortitude for this level of booth babe. A friend is attending the Tokyo show and indicated he would get some shots of anything Alfa. If he comes up with something interesting, I'll get him to post here. | ||
| SGT (Staceman)
New member Username: Staceman Post Number: 38 Registered: 9-2003 |
They're from the Geneva Show & Paris Salon. Here's another treat . . .  | ||
| R L Oldano (Allenatore)
New member Username: Allenatore Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2003 |
Staceman: Which show are your images from and when were they shot? Alfa definitely is improving on the options available with their new models. | ||
| SGT (Staceman)
New member Username: Staceman Post Number: 31 Registered: 9-2003 |
Seriously though one of my first sports cars was a '75 Spyder. Loved everything about and still yearn to own one again. Maybe I'll buy one for my sons! (Good excuse) | ||
| SGT (Staceman)
New member Username: Staceman Post Number: 30 Registered: 9-2003 |
Did someone mention Alfa's?    | ||
| luciano favero (Ontogenetic1007)
New member Username: Ontogenetic1007 Post Number: 43 Registered: 11-2002 |
>Alfa spiders are flat cool looking. attract more attention than Ferrari's, particularly from women (of all ages) >[Spider] handles like crap on the wet ( thats the fun part ) . No kidding, ultra trivial to spin it. With regards to reliability the Alfa's have been the most reliable cars I've owned. Purchased a 91 after a several months search for an excellent 74-76 ended in frustration. Test drove a Giulietta (nice car Vince) at the time which was definitely more interesting than the 91 Spider, and Ferrari's in general. In fact when I purchased the Ferrari I was specifically looking for what the 76 Spider had delivered. It was close but ... 91 Spider.  | ||
| R L Oldano (Allenatore)
New member Username: Allenatore Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2003 |
Having recently sold my '95 164 Q, I can attest tot he "fun" factor of Alfas. I'm still in between cars, but if Alfa comes back to the States, I will be first in line here in the SF Bay Area. The Q variant was just as unique, if not more so, than a number of Ferrari models; only 75 of the '95 were imported into the US. My wife never understood my enthusiasm until one early Sunday morning ride over to Half Moon Bay via La Honda and Highway 84. When we got to the Coast she asked "Why didn't this car squeal its tires like everyother car we passed?" I don't think the explanation sank in, at any time in the five years I owned it. The "Fun" factor; pegged out in the red zone. | ||
| Jack Habits (Ferraristuff)
Intermediate Member Username: Ferraristuff Post Number: 1122 Registered: 4-2003 |
Vince, the fact that the tool trolley is in front of the Alfa suggests that it is usually used for the TR... ;-) Jack | ||
| vince porto (Vince)
New member Username: Vince Post Number: 15 Registered: 3-2002 |
My teeny tiny garage.... Truth be known, the Alfa 'fun factor' (59 Giulietta) is WAY higher than the TR. These ALfa are what excited Enzo on to create Ferrari. The 2000 Spider from Heritage Classics will be a bit more difficult for parts sourcing than the Giulietta or the like. It appears pretty nice though - quite impressive - bella figura. If only I had a three car garage :-( Rgds, Vince  | ||
| Thomas I (Wax)
Member Username: Wax Post Number: 352 Registered: 7-2003 |
Window-shopped this one tonight. Pics don't do it justice. | ||
| Rodney Haas (Icars)
Member Username: Icars Post Number: 412 Registered: 3-2002 |
Sam, Yep your FIAT Ferrari comparison is right on. I was having a little handling issue with my 81 Spider, took it in need to replace left tie rod end and did the right just because. Including labor it was $77. On the other hand took the Ferrari in for a couple of fairly minor items including intermittent radio. Turned out their was a fried wire ... $370 later.. Same mechanic, just more expensive parts and little Ferrari quirks.. Rodney | ||
| Sam Germana (Sjmst)
New member Username: Sjmst Post Number: 46 Registered: 7-2003 |
I have had 3 Alfa Romeo 164's over the last 11 years. They are great cars. Just took a 94 from NY to NC with the entire family. Didn't even use any oil. You of course either have to work on it yourself or have a mechanic you trust. I also have a Fiat Spider. Great car too. They are cheap to buy, and relatively cheap to run. Oh, and nothing costs as much as a Ferrari. The Alfa and Fiat are dirt cheap compared to Ferrari. There are no $4,000 tuneups, just for starters, and parts prices are sane. | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 469 Registered: 11-2002 |
Thanks Jack, Something to think about if the price of petrol goes through the roof. I would rather be driving an LPG'ed Alfa than not driving an Alfa at all  Pete | ||
| Jack Habits (Ferraristuff)
Member Username: Ferraristuff Post Number: 752 Registered: 4-2003 |
Just for fun because I like the picture. Jack  | ||
| Jack Habits (Ferraristuff)
Member Username: Ferraristuff Post Number: 748 Registered: 4-2003 |
Hi PSK, The Alfa engines handle LPG extremely well as they are standard equipped with hardened valve seats. LPG contains no lead or lead-replacements (to cushing the valves on the seats) so on cast iron heads you might have to replace the seats with hardened ones. As you mention, LPG is a lot "drier" but I have never had any issues with that. I do remember my mom running a BMW 316 on LPG in the late 1970's and that the accelerator cable needed oiling every 5,000 kms or so or it would get stuck. I have never heard of any "inside the engine lubrication" problems caused by the LPG but I guess a lot could depend on how the oil companies "mix the lpg / CNG". I could believe that the "mixture" is different overhere than on other continents. Wear on the engine is not better or worse than on gasoline. Tank placement, bulk and weight are an issue although, when full, the tank weighs less than an average teenager. The Alfa Berlina (see photo below) is known for their sagging rear ends and the LPG tank doesn't make that any better of course. I uprated the rear springs to slightly longer (to compensate for "sagging") + progressively wound + slightly harder (to compensate for the extra weight). The picture shows the car with those rear springs + LPG tank. Jack | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 462 Registered: 11-2002 |
Jack, How do you find the engine handles the LPG?, any wear issues. From my old experience in NZ (it was popular a while ago) the engines run a lot drier and thus can have lubrication issues ... actually that might be when running on CNG. If I had a American v8 powered classic I would seriously think about it, but tank location is a biggy ... as they are heavy and can really affect handling. Pete | ||
| '75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Advanced Member Username: Peter Post Number: 2741 Registered: 12-2000 |
Jack, I can't find the specifics on allowable Propane emissions. Anyways, here's the website of the agency that handles testing here in B.C.: http://www.aircare.ca/ FWIW, several of my co-workers drive propane trucks and they have to have them tested. | ||
| Jack Habits (Ferraristuff)
Member Username: Ferraristuff Post Number: 427 Registered: 4-2003 |
Matt, when done well, the decrease in power is less than 10% on carb-ed engines. With the right chip in an ECU/injected engine, you can actually get more out of the engine on LPG than on gasoline, mainly because of the "knock resistance" of LPG so you can use more advance on the ignition. Jack | ||
| Matt Bradley (Ghostridr)
New member Username: Ghostridr Post Number: 41 Registered: 12-2002 |
Why in the hell would you want to convert a Pantera to propane powered--so Geo Storm's can pass you? | ||
| Jack Habits (Ferraristuff)
Member Username: Ferraristuff Post Number: 389 Registered: 4-2003 |
>>>As for the sniffer tests, they have a special test for propane vehicles. More sensitive and picks out other gases... Mmm.... would you have any details on that? Makes me curious... Jack | ||
| '75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Advanced Member Username: Peter Post Number: 2733 Registered: 12-2000 |
Where in a Pantera? Several in every conceivable location!  Bye-bye trunk! As for the sniffer tests, they have a special test for propane vehicles. More sensitive and picks out other gases... | ||
| Jack Habits (Ferraristuff)
Member Username: Ferraristuff Post Number: 385 Registered: 4-2003 |
Peter, I think it would be no problem to pass the sniffer test on LPG as the emissions are MUCH lower (hardly, if any at all, HC's; CO is regulated on the installation etc.). Only problem I see with a Pantera is where to put the LPG tank. In the trusty old Alfa and the Fiat it's no problem (they both have a 65 Liter, or some 16 gallon, tank in the booth but where could you put it in the Pantera? Jack | ||
| '75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Advanced Member Username: Peter Post Number: 2725 Registered: 12-2000 |
Tell me about it Jack. Propane is an excellent alternative. What pisses me off even more is propane vehicles here must go through emissions testing too! I had ideas of getting a Pantera and converting it to LPG (off-the-shelf parts are avaliable for the Ford motor. Not as common as Chevy stuff, but the kits are out there). But when I discovered LPG cars are still subjected to the sniffer tests, I dropped that idea quickly. What incentive is there to convert when you have blockades like that??? | ||
| Jack Habits (Ferraristuff)
Member Username: Ferraristuff Post Number: 358 Registered: 4-2003 |
Peter, I guess that with your gas prices the conversion is hardly tempting from a financial point of view. The most basic conversion here costs around US$ 1500 with the most modern one around double that (LPI or LPG injection systems). I don't understand that the car industry still makes gasoline engines where LPG engine are so MUCH cleaner in emissions. Jack | ||
| '75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Advanced Member Username: Peter Post Number: 2720 Registered: 12-2000 |
Jack, thanks for clearing that up. As for: "...Difficult to get in the rest of the world...", yes and no. Yes, its not a popular choice amongst personal transport (mostly commercial vehicles). No, there are thousands of wells being capped all over here in B.C. and Alberta - the greedy f---ing oil companies want to control supply. Bastards... | ||
| Jack Habits (Ferraristuff)
Member Username: Ferraristuff Post Number: 340 Registered: 4-2003 |
Peter, LPG Liquified Petroleum Gas Available at almost all gasstations in Holland, some in Belgium, most in france (at least on the highways) and VERY common in Italy. Difficult to get in the rest of the world. Where our gasoline costs around US$ 4.75 a gallon, LPG is only around US$ 1.70 a gallon but you have the cost of the conversion + on cars younger than 25 years it doubles the road tax + somewhat less power + 10% higher consumption. Jack | ||
| '75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Advanced Member Username: Peter Post Number: 2717 Registered: 12-2000 |
Jack, "Autogas" (propane)? | ||
| Jack Habits (Ferraristuff)
Member Username: Ferraristuff Post Number: 333 Registered: 4-2003 |
This is my daily runner now... 1968 Berlina 1750 Has done some 300,000 KMs of which 250,000 on its first engine. Now have a blueprinted and slightly tweaked 2000 engine in it. It is bi-fuel (gasoline / autogas). Went to the Monaco GP with it last year and you can cruise on the Autobahn at 100 - 110 MPH all day long if you want. Reliability? Well, it IS a 35 year old car by now so the weirdest things happen like a bonnet cable that snaps etc but when maintained properly, they are a BLAST! The technology is of course the same as in the Spiders. Jack  | ||
| Joel Belser (Driver)
New member Username: Driver Post Number: 35 Registered: 9-2002 |
I, too, have both a Ferrari and an Alfa. My Alfa is a '63 spyder, that used to be my E Production race car. I blew up my race engine just as the SCCA rules changed...making my car a dinosaur. I replaced the engine with a stock 1750, bolted on the 45DCOE's and the header, replaced the race windscreen with a slightly larger one made of Lexan, the headlights, horn, and Thrush muffler, and now have a pretty cool streetable funmobile. I have owned this car for the last 30 years in this configuration. Easier to drive and more fun (at lower speeds) than the Ferrari. Alfa is second to none in automotive history. | ||
| Bob Harris (Autobob)
New member Username: Autobob Post Number: 7 Registered: 1-2003 |
Thank you Rob Lay, Internet Explorer works for the photo upload.     | ||
| Bob Harris (Autobob)
New member Username: Autobob Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2003 |
I purchased my first 1750 round tail Alfa Spider in 1974 in Kansas. I spent the next three years rebuilding the car as the first owner had been very insensitive to it. No matter what the mood or stress of the day, all I have to do is sit in the Recaro and fire up the blueprinted 1750. The sound of the Weber�s and Borla exhaust! With the Veloce cams and lightened flywheel the response is immediate and so smooth. Any troubles of the day just melt away. I now find myself with three 1750 round tails two red, one white. The white is my lovely wife�s daily driver. I also own an 87� Alfa Quadrifoglio Spider. The Quad has 32,000 original miles on it. I have just performed the 30,000 miles service, new Dunlop 9,000�s, Robbins Stay fast top, it has the cool hardtop with side windows. Hella lamps, Shankle headers, Borla exhaust and so forth. I need to thin out my car stable and will sell the Quad. If you are interested, I want $15,000, contact me off line and I can send you more info and pictures. I will try to include a photo of my spider invested shop and some on the Quad. | ||
| Ken Ross (Kdross)
Member Username: Kdross Post Number: 290 Registered: 2-2002 |
I have beening using my 1990 Alfa Spider (last year of the series 3 cars) as a daily driver for 3 years here in NJ. The car is the best car I have ever owned, and I sold my E36 BMW to buy it! The Alfa Spider gets more attention than my 308QV and the girls love it! It is the only car that I have seen girls yell out "nice car". Too bad I did not know this when I was in high school. I purchased my car with 12K miles and it now has 31K miles. No problems to date, but I spent about $4K when I purchased it to have it serviced properly. The service may have been over kill, but the car was in storage and I wanted all of the hoses, gaskets, fluids, etc replaced. The $4K also included new alfa 15" wheels and 4 new tires. They are very easy and cheap to maintain once you are current on the service. Just be careful of rust and do a PPI. Good luck. | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 286 Registered: 11-2002 |
It is a miff (sp?) that Alfa Romeos are unreliable. They are way more reliable than a F308, or probably any Ferrari, but they are Italian so the electrics can be dodgy. We have to remember that the same engine, gearbox and diff, etc. were used on the saloon models, and many Mums are still going shopping every day ... and I bet they do not open the bonnet to go oooh, look at that twin cam motor and those carbs. Thus maintained as per the manual, and not abused when cold and these things keep on chugging. I have worked in my university days at a car repair garage which specialised in Alfa Romeos, and was surprised by how many NORMAL people owned these cars, and how many people use and run them as NORMAL cars. The trim falls apart and the body will rust, but the mechanicals of the cars are the finest quality, and very rebuildable ... Alfa Romeo has a wonderful history and hertiage, right up there with, if not surpassing Ferrari. Infact before WW2 they were the Ferrari ... but the books did not balance so moved into more mainstream cars. Pete | ||
| Rodney Haas (Icars)
Junior Member Username: Icars Post Number: 224 Registered: 3-2002 |
If you are looking for inexpensive get a 85 PinanFarina Spider (FIAT) rock solid half the price of a ALFA to work on. That being said I have thought about looking for an early 90s ALFA Spider. I just like the looks better. It will be less expensive than the Ferrari, but much more than a FIAT Spider or Scorpion... | ||
| Andrew Menasce (Amenasce)
Member Username: Amenasce Post Number: 747 Registered: 10-2001 |
Are they any good ? they are awesome ! I have one , a 1988 and i love it ! SOunds so good , goes pretty fast ( Not Fcar fast , i know ) , handles like crap on the wet ( thats the fun part ) . Reliable ? Hmmm , only if well serviced , then yes. My car has 60 000 miles and everything is original bar the ventilator which broke after an encounter with a stone. Parts are expensive IMO , ( front bumper : 1000$ ). About their value , well i bought my car in 1998 with 40 000 miles for around 8000 $ , and if i want to sell it now i will most likely sell it for this ammount.All in all , the car is GREAT FUN , great experience , people on the street love it , they smile at me , talk to me about it etc.. Get one ! | ||
| Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
Member Username: Jordan747_400 Post Number: 597 Registered: 12-2002 |
From what I've heard, the later spiders (90s) are the best and are very reliable. Parts are pretty cheap and easy to find and they can be pretty easy to maintian. As far as holding their value, I think prices for the older spiders are pretty much bottomed out but I occasionally see some later models in excellent condition going for 10-19k --but i think those were garage queens more than anything. Have you looked at any Fiat Spiders? I like their looks over the Alfa's but Ive heard that they aren't as carefree to own as an Alfa. | ||
| Collin Hays (Chaysintexas)
Junior Member Username: Chaysintexas Post Number: 60 Registered: 4-2002 |
I already have a 308 and am not parting with it, but those darn Alfa spiders are flat cool looking. Are they any good? More or less reliable than a 308? More expensive or less to work on? How do they hold their value (say a mid '80's car). What do you look for when shopping for one? |