| Author |
Message |
jeff ryerson (Atheyg)
Member
Username: Atheyg
Post Number: 383
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 8:19 am: | |
Thanks Mike,Don, and DGS for the replies great info.
Jeff |
DGS (Dgs)
Member
Username: Dgs
Post Number: 265
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 4:10 am: | |
The driving position is classic "Italian" (semi-reclined, arms straight out). The shifter has a very long throw, by today's standards.
Alfa Spiders are not easy to drive well. It's a front engine/transmission, solid rear axle. It's well implemented, but the basic car design dates back to the age of biplanes. Tires are narrow with a high aspect. The frame is very flexy.
That being said, if you know what you're doing, you can practically rotate the car in its own length, playing the steering against the throttle. It dances around turns, picking up and putting down its wheels.
I keep mine around for spring, because it points out any bad habits I might have fallen into in cars with more reserve capabilities. If you don't watch your line through turns you might still get away with it, but the Alfa will let you know you got it wrong by a few chirps from the tires and a queasy feeling through the seat of your pants.
Get it way wrong, and you can take an improptu tour of the local shrubbery.
It's quite a driving experience, but it's not exactly for the SUV generation.
Values are higher on the older or euro carbed cars. The older "boattails" are more highly valued, but have smaller displacement.
Opinions are mixed on the Spica injected cars. Properly adjusted, the Spica cars don't have a lot of horses, but the torque is pretty flat across the RPM range. Improperly adjusted, the injection pump tends to eat itself.
The carbed cars have more power, but in a relatively peaky distribution. They also have the fun of keeping multiple carbs tuned.
At first glance, the '80s on EFI cars might appear simplest for maintenance. But those are also down on power, and the '80s also saw the introduction of early variable timing cams -- which weren't very reliable. (Avoid the early '80s.) Also, '80s era Bosch injection systems were lacking in internal diagnostics. But then, Spica and Carbed systems also lack diagnostics -- but there are fewer sensors to go wrong on the non-EFI cars.
It will be hard to find a car with the original dual points ignition intact. Many have been equipped with aftermarket electronic ignition systems, some better than others. The original ignition system used Golden Lodge surface discharge spark plugs (available by mail order today). Many shops substitute Bosch plugs -- but I find that the Platinum plugs don't work well with the original breaker points ignition, especially if the car is set a bit rich.
The original top was canvas. The good replacement tops are, too. Be careful how you drop the top, because it can rub wear spots on the folds as the car bounces along the road.
In general, by today's standards, Alfas aren't the hottest performer on the street, but they're more fun than cars with "point and shoot" capacity. They can be a hoot to drive, but they demand attention from the driver. |
Dom Vitarella (Dom)
Member
Username: Dom
Post Number: 397
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 1:08 pm: | |
Check out
http://spiderfaq.home.att.net/
Also check out www.digest.net
Dom |
Michael Zaic (Mikez_nj)
Junior Member
Username: Mikez_nj
Post Number: 71
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 12:31 pm: | |
I just got a 78 Spider that's been sitting for a while. I took it to an Alfa mechanic near me and I'm still waiting for it, while he gets it in decent mechanical condition. I had posted in this forum when I was considering it, and got a lot of help from the links and references in the following thread:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/364/280715.html?1058382351
FYI - I love the looks of everything up to the model following mine. Personally, if you can find one in decent shape or for the right price, I'd go for a pre-ugly-back type Spider. |
jeff ryerson (Atheyg)
Member
Username: Atheyg
Post Number: 380
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 10:36 am: | |
My g/f is considering one, any tips on good years, how do they handle/performance etc?
Thanks |
|