Alfa as a 'keep' car
Discussion
I have an Elise but frankly, as beautiful and as much fun as it is, it is totally impracticable even as a weekend car. I get it out on high days and holidays between April and September and last year did about 1200 miles, because all I can do in it is tear around the countryside within 30 miles of home, as using it for days out with a wife and 2 small dogs is out of the question. Although it is a company car I can't use it for that either because it can't carry the few small boxes I need to take with me (in fact any boxes).
Now to the point. In a previous life I always had an Alfa (boat tailed spider briefly, Guielletta) or Lancia (Delta, Montecarlo and Fulvia) and of late a Fiat 128p before I was tempted by Volvo , Audi and now Mercedes as the day car. I was thinking that I could sell the Elise (£10,000) put a few grand to it and buy something nice and Italian as the weekend car to polish and keep. I would be looking to keep it garaged, but don't want something that spends the few precious months I have to drive in the garage or for which parts are not readily available.
I had thought about a nice Fulvia HF or a older Alfa spider but thought reliabity might be an issue if it spent winters sleeping in the garage.
Suggestions?
A lot of the body parts are being remanufactured now even the windscreen. Tricky bits are the headlights and suspension units. Most of the driveline is based on the 75 so no big problem. Even so an SZ/RZ as a daily driver is probably not toopractical. Certainly luggage space is pretty non existent, although I did go on a two week holiday to the South of France. It was quite a challenge for my partner to travel light!!
Phil
Phil
Keep the Elise and buy a cheap 145/146/156 for a bit of practicality. There are plenty in Autotrader for less than £2K.
If its a weekend car that can get some bags in & the golf clubs then a GTV (you could probably still keep the Elise, too, at the prices of some of them). If its an out an out Classic that you want, that will be tremendous to drive & will probably retain its value then I lust after an SZ.
If its a weekend car that can get some bags in & the golf clubs then a GTV (you could probably still keep the Elise, too, at the prices of some of them). If its an out an out Classic that you want, that will be tremendous to drive & will probably retain its value then I lust after an SZ.
Edited by andy97 on Sunday 11th March 08:52
Just echoing what's been said, I think the SZ/RZ is the obvious one. Some parts are getting tricky - I've got a spare set of lights, but I've only seen repro windscreens for the SZ, and the RZ's is slightly different. Because the body is plastic, it shouldn't be impossible to get new parts moulded if they're unobtainable.
Other than that the GTAs would be a good bet, or maybe a GTV Cup, or even a Montreal, although that's getting back to the problem of scarce parts.
Other than that the GTAs would be a good bet, or maybe a GTV Cup, or even a Montreal, although that's getting back to the problem of scarce parts.
andy97 said:
Keep the Elise and buy a cheap 145/146/156 for a bit of practicality. There are plenty in Autotrader for less than £2K.
If its a weekend car that can get some bags in & the golf clubs then a GTV (you could probably still keep the Elise, too, at the prices of some of them). If its an out an out Classic that you want, that will be tremendous to drive & will probably retain its value then I lust after an SZ.
If its a weekend car that can get some bags in & the golf clubs then a GTV (you could probably still keep the Elise, too, at the prices of some of them). If its an out an out Classic that you want, that will be tremendous to drive & will probably retain its value then I lust after an SZ.
Edited by andy97 on Sunday 11th March 08:52
I have a daily car: Merc B series. I was thinking perhaps of a spider again.
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