Spider 916 - a dark and tormenting tale
Discussion
What an excellent thread - just sat & read the lot!
Interesting re the plastidip - will look into that as I have some winter wheels that could do with a refresh so as not to look too scabby.
Did you find out who has the 4C that you parked next to, or was there a "stop stalking me!" note left on your screen?
Interesting re the plastidip - will look into that as I have some winter wheels that could do with a refresh so as not to look too scabby.
Did you find out who has the 4C that you parked next to, or was there a "stop stalking me!" note left on your screen?
Excellent thread mate - I've just read the whole thing even though I'm supposed to be working! I am afflicted in a similar way to you - it's just a constant quest to get the car to a mythical and (probably unattainable) state of factory fresh perfection......
My car is very similar to yours but a V6 and so I have more understeer and rubbish fuel consumption to add to the list of negative points (which I ignore.)
The truth is that certain cars DO get under your skin if you are a petrolhead and especially an Italian petrolhead. My first car was a Lancia Beta Coupe - a very pretty and characterful car which LITERALLY fell in half after I had owned it for 18 months. Russian steel was not very good in the '70's it seems.
The Spider is a different kettle of plastic and is vastly better built than those rusty & unreliable Italian cars of my youth.
I now have three cars, including a new BMW and the Spider is the one that I long to get out of the garage the most, even though British weather means it is under cover for 6 months of the year, except for sunny days like today. (It's outside in the car park as we speak.)
Keep up the good work and above all - ENJOY!
My car is very similar to yours but a V6 and so I have more understeer and rubbish fuel consumption to add to the list of negative points (which I ignore.)
The truth is that certain cars DO get under your skin if you are a petrolhead and especially an Italian petrolhead. My first car was a Lancia Beta Coupe - a very pretty and characterful car which LITERALLY fell in half after I had owned it for 18 months. Russian steel was not very good in the '70's it seems.
The Spider is a different kettle of plastic and is vastly better built than those rusty & unreliable Italian cars of my youth.
I now have three cars, including a new BMW and the Spider is the one that I long to get out of the garage the most, even though British weather means it is under cover for 6 months of the year, except for sunny days like today. (It's outside in the car park as we speak.)
Keep up the good work and above all - ENJOY!
430 hp V8 eh?? You'll probably spend more in fuel driving that, than you were planning to spend on the Spider! I owned a couple of Maserati 4200's as daily drivers - a Spyder and a coupe (before Children I might add...) and I averaged about 13 mpg in those! Almost £3 grand for a new electro-hydraulic clutch once too.... The Alfa is a cheap toy compared to those running costs.
I think the differences in our stories stems from the attitude of the previous owners: I bought mine from a wealthy car nut with TWO classic Ferrari's, a Lexus SUV and a BMW M5 in his driveway. He had spent more than the book value of the Alfa on upgrades and maintenance during the 12 months he had owned it and I drove away with a thick folder of receipts from an Alfa specialist, so I was fairly confident it didn't need anything. So far, all I've done to the car is attend to some minor interior cosmetics, top up the oil, wash & wax it and enjoy driving it! Oil cooler is looking tired though, so that's a Springtime job to budget for.
Road tax seems pretty expensive in the Nederlands? Mine only costs 165 per year here.
I think the differences in our stories stems from the attitude of the previous owners: I bought mine from a wealthy car nut with TWO classic Ferrari's, a Lexus SUV and a BMW M5 in his driveway. He had spent more than the book value of the Alfa on upgrades and maintenance during the 12 months he had owned it and I drove away with a thick folder of receipts from an Alfa specialist, so I was fairly confident it didn't need anything. So far, all I've done to the car is attend to some minor interior cosmetics, top up the oil, wash & wax it and enjoy driving it! Oil cooler is looking tired though, so that's a Springtime job to budget for.
Road tax seems pretty expensive in the Nederlands? Mine only costs 165 per year here.
Ouch. Seems pretty steep - over here it's an older car so gets around the higher co2 output penalty. I've read some other owners talking about rust issues but I thought the cars were all galvanised at the factory? Does that only keep tinworm at bay for a certain time?
Oh yes - could I ask where you got your engine bay stainless bolt kit from? You said Ebay but I can't find any when I look. Cheers Chris
Oh yes - could I ask where you got your engine bay stainless bolt kit from? You said Ebay but I can't find any when I look. Cheers Chris
kapiteinlangzaam said:
Alfa is in the garage today/tomorrow.
Last time I drove it, after a 'spirited' get away it started making all sorts of evil noises from the drivetrain.
I suspect one (or more) CV joints have given up the will to live.
Once its back (when I can bring myself to write it) its going up for sale.... Im going to ask an honest price for it, but whether it will sell is anyones guess.....
Interesting times for the Alfa ahead!
Ah, sad times. After all you've spent on it is it not worth mothballing it if you're not going it use it for a while? Presumably it's used value is pretty low...?Last time I drove it, after a 'spirited' get away it started making all sorts of evil noises from the drivetrain.
I suspect one (or more) CV joints have given up the will to live.
Once its back (when I can bring myself to write it) its going up for sale.... Im going to ask an honest price for it, but whether it will sell is anyones guess.....
Interesting times for the Alfa ahead!
That makes me sad. Yours has always looked great and coined the phrase that's now used to extract the urine 'you can imagine how much that little lot cost!'. Why now are you deciding to sell? I'm sure you've many €, blood, sweat, and tears. I am sure with a Mustang on the way its duties as a fun car will be redundant, but sad all the same. It was enjoying to see the thread title and see what's happened this time, whether it be good or bad.
kapiteinlangzaam said:
Spider has been back in the garage this week.
New rad and thermostat fitted. 6 hours work to get the old rad out and back in again!! Apparently every single bolt was rusted to buggery
That meant a €300 labour bill 
Its now officially for sale here in NL.
Asking €8k, will take €6k I suppose. Otherwise it can stay put. Will see how it pans out.
The Mustang should now be here in June (4 months early!) which is putting a bit of an extra stretch on the car money pot... I could therefore quite do with the Spider finding a new home!
that's absolutely crazy, you must have cherished her with multiples of over 6k over the yearsNew rad and thermostat fitted. 6 hours work to get the old rad out and back in again!! Apparently every single bolt was rusted to buggery
That meant a €300 labour bill Its now officially for sale here in NL.
Asking €8k, will take €6k I suppose. Otherwise it can stay put. Will see how it pans out.
The Mustang should now be here in June (4 months early!) which is putting a bit of an extra stretch on the car money pot... I could therefore quite do with the Spider finding a new home!
good luck with the sale though
kapiteinlangzaam said:
Spider has been back in the garage this week.
New rad and thermostat fitted. 6 hours work to get the old rad out and back in again!! Apparently every single bolt was rusted to buggery That meant a €300 labour bill
Its now officially for sale here in NL.
Asking €8k, will take €6k I suppose. Otherwise it can stay put. Will see how it pans out.
The Mustang should now be here in June (4 months early!) which is putting a bit of an extra stretch on the car money pot... I could therefore quite do with the Spider finding a new home!
No offence and all that, but isnt 8K for a twinspark spider rather expensive?New rad and thermostat fitted. 6 hours work to get the old rad out and back in again!! Apparently every single bolt was rusted to buggery
That meant a €300 labour bill Its now officially for sale here in NL.
Asking €8k, will take €6k I suppose. Otherwise it can stay put. Will see how it pans out.
The Mustang should now be here in June (4 months early!) which is putting a bit of an extra stretch on the car money pot... I could therefore quite do with the Spider finding a new home!
Ill admit i havent read the whole thread so im not entirely up to speed on how well maintained it is, but 8K should get you several neat V6 models which are more desirable no?
kapiteinlangzaam said:
Vitorio said:
kapiteinlangzaam said:
Spider has been back in the garage this week.
New rad and thermostat fitted. 6 hours work to get the old rad out and back in again!! Apparently every single bolt was rusted to buggery That meant a €300 labour bill
Its now officially for sale here in NL.
Asking €8k, will take €6k I suppose. Otherwise it can stay put. Will see how it pans out.
The Mustang should now be here in June (4 months early!) which is putting a bit of an extra stretch on the car money pot... I could therefore quite do with the Spider finding a new home!
No offence and all that, but isnt 8K for a twinspark spider rather expensive?New rad and thermostat fitted. 6 hours work to get the old rad out and back in again!! Apparently every single bolt was rusted to buggery
That meant a €300 labour bill Its now officially for sale here in NL.
Asking €8k, will take €6k I suppose. Otherwise it can stay put. Will see how it pans out.
The Mustang should now be here in June (4 months early!) which is putting a bit of an extra stretch on the car money pot... I could therefore quite do with the Spider finding a new home!
Ill admit i havent read the whole thread so im not entirely up to speed on how well maintained it is, but 8K should get you several neat V6 models which are more desirable no?
And yes, you need to read the entire thread
kapiteinlangzaam said:
Yes, its on the expensive side.
And yes, you need to read the entire thread
Spotted in on the alfaclub forum for sale... i will read the entire thread when i have the time!And yes, you need to read the entire thread
5potTurbo said:
Vitorio, this Spider, summed up in 2 words: "Trigger's broom" !
Lol, googled that one, good laughGassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff