should i Buy Alfa Spider Veloce?

Diff car than a Boxster. Spiders are old school with cow shake and very tail happy on the wet. US cars are prob heavier and down on power so they wont bite you as much as a euro one . I had a Carb 88 Spider that i loved , will get one back as soon as possible . Very fun to drive , esp on the wet once you are aware they will spin . And the noise ...

 

If you like it... go for what you know. If you're just kicking some ideas around...

Druthers:

Spider: Pre-'75 (1+ HP per C.I.D.) Kamm Tail (More interchangability of parts than earlier Duetto)

If you're looking for post-classic Alfa Performance and bang for buck, without Spider being a prerequisite, in other words, a fairly recent hardtop - look to the Milano Verde (Milanos have kind of a funky wraparound trim, though) or 164S - not 164 or 164L - 164S. Did I mention they're handsome, too?

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BTW - that's a damn fine example of a Veloce you're considering & very good reason for this thread.

 

That's probably way overpriced for a '93 Bosch version.

Alfas are very flexy -- and very unforgiving. With practice, you can almost turn them in their own length, as it dances around corners, picking up and putting down it's tires.

Boxters are designed to make you feel like you're driving. Older Alfas require that you really do.

I keep my old Spica '79 Veloce for "refresher training". The Ferrari and EVO have enough reserve to let you get away with sloppy technique. The Alfa doesn't let you get away with anything.

 

Alfa Spiders are a lot of fun, but even in its sportiest (stock) configuration any Alfa Spider is going to give up a LOT to a Boxster in power. The Alfa is smaller and lighter, but it will still be slow compared to any current sports car. But, you can buy half a dozen or so decent Spiders for the price of a Boxster---with that extra money you can buy a lot of extra power, if you are so inclined. And, even stock, Alfas are an awful lot of fun! And, the Alfa exhaust note wins, hands down.

 

I have owned two.
Did 70K miles in 1990 stick shift, converted it to Ward and Dean suspension, really transformed the handling. Also, advance the factory emissions crap timing so as to have valves overlap to "suck" exhaust gasses out quickly..something like that, I am not a mechanic..I sold 5 sp, as I am 5'10" and seemed like not enuf room for my "private parts" when shifting..5th gear was about 3000 rpm at 80 mph..so almost an "overdrive" gear with great gas mileage but quick!

so, got 1991 Auto tranny (3spd) Spider..has 41K miles this week...is fast enuf with redline shifts if U floor it..nice sound..get exhaust straight pipe from cat back..(ie remove 2 mufflers) and it souns great without ear throbbing pains on long trips. Auto is 4000 rpm at 80 mph. Easier to eat and drink with flooring it between stoplights...to each his own. Seat can be placed further back with Auto Tranny, so more "room" in leg/groin area

I liked Spider with "VENT front windows triagular things" which OPEn and close to adjust temps...my MBZ 230 SLK did not have those, so made me sell SLK after 14K miles....also SLK hardtop took too long (14 secs?) to "fold back"..
BUT, with Spider, one throws it back at stoplight after undoing two latches, can do it still sitting in car..takes 3 to 6 secs

 

PS also did 70K miles in one Spider, 41K miles in another..got into Many BAD snow and rain storms, about 1 hr trips on I-70... since 1990...passed gals in snowstorms with FWD Hondas with good tires..

so comments about "losing control" are not founded, IMHO..just get some good tires..Michelins or Yokos are better than stock Pirellis from 1990s


Sometimes I drove em with 3 different brand tires on one car..no wrecks..

I did wreck a 2000 MBZ ML55 (costs $63K new)in thin black ice...that was 4WD SUV weighed 2 tons..still wrecked into 17 (small) trees or so..no damage to my body though..

Never wrecked any Spiders (cost $11K used to $16K new ) in over 100K miles of driving them!

PDD

 

I like the early non big bumper versions...

I think a 72 with the 1750 converted to webers would be a target if I were buying.

Pretty car and nice handling...

I'd stay away from versions with the big bumpers as they add a lot of weight at the far ends of the vehicles...and that tends to ruin handling of the car...

JMO

 

As long as its not rusty yes. Much more character than the other cars mentioned although nowhere near as fast in a straight line. I have owned a few and they are great cars. Especially 1750 models and the last 90-93 ones. Apparently there are going up invalue if you look at the last few aution results.