Very honest opinion please

[verminator]

I have a bit of a dilemma. I am going to buy a small fun roadster. The trouble is I really, really
fancy an Alfa Spider circa 02-04. I have always loved the looks and the fact that it's an Alfa. My head says AN MX5 is the only sensible soloution as this car will need to be very reiable as it will be my every day car that may well need to be doing a good daily commute. I also own an Aston and a TVR so am well aware of pub talk regarding relability issues being rubbish as the TVR has been superbly reliable for the ten yrs that I have owned it. So, what really is the truth about these cars
and would it be a stupid choice for the type of motoring that I would be asking of it? Is it really best left as a weekend car? Your honest opinions would be welcome.

[IanMorewood]

99% of the time it should be alright, the other 1% of the time it will shrug its Italian shoulders but refuse to start/stop/open the doors/windows etc.

[verminator]

Oh dear, that doesn't sound too good. Also I should metion that I intend to spend about £2.5k.
Is that enough for a decent one?

[jfdi]

Buy an Alfa then you'll have the perfect excuse to use the Aston or TVR everyday

Not quite the same era but our 147 (06) has been perfectly reliable in the 4 years we've had it. I don't count the clutch pedal wearing though it's split pin and falling to the floor as unreliability, a quick bodge and it still got me home.

[verminator]

My Cerbera is a real garage queen that doesn't come out in the wet and the Aston (V12) can drop to
9 MPG around town, so that wont be a daily drive either!!

[awooga]

I've had a 99 spider for the last 5 and a half years. I've called the rac out twice in that time and cancelled one call as the car sorted itself out - knackered sensor that stopped working when warm. No electric problems bar the aerial. 3 wheel bearings. 2 new rear wishbones. One new thermostat. Doors freeze up in the winter occasionally. Eats rear discs and pads.

Far rarer than an mx5. Lovely lovely interior. Very sticky chassis. Nice engine. Averages 30mpg. Still attracts attention. Get a good one and you're laughing kit bags.

[verminator]

Yes, but can I get a good one for £2.5k?

[galaxie5000]

Hi,

I think you asked a similar question before and I posted my opinion, for what its worth.

Here it is again below- btw, my car as mentioned below is now for sale (due to arrival of a 166 v6..) and could be had for that...(new clutch 1k ago)

Thanks!

'I have a '98 Phase 1 2.0 Spider- its a 'good' one, 58 k miles only and I am the second owner. Paid £2k

Its my daily driver and has never let me down- and with an Asso back box WHAT A NOISE! can't be a better one from a four pot.

Generally, its been a joy for the last year and I would't hesitate to recommend.

It is not ruinously expensive to run by any means, BUT re are a number of issues I have had to sort, most of which I gather are common:

-Cam belt to be changed religiously every 35k miles OR 3 years, whichever sooner. Budget £350 quid and have it done immediately if not done recently as failure could render a write off
-Check oil weekly. They use alot, and apparently normal. I change oil every 6k
-Rear screens prone to cloudng/cracking. Replaced mine- £150 from ebay suppliers
-Tracking is an issue. Laser alignment for £30 transformed steering of mine.
-Check radiator for corrosion- finest Italian steel built for the Riviera, not Blighty. Mine had rusted- £250 to replace
-Clonks from rear suspension- bushes notoriously weak. Had mine replaced with Powerflex polyurethane (£300). Neglecting this stores up expensive suspension trouble.
-Assorted old Alfa electrical gremlins- electric mirror packed up, one electric window stuck down...par for the course

In short, budeget £750 to a grand on top of the purchase price to get into the sort of condition where it is a realistic prospect as a daily driver..

For a total outlay of £3k, I now have sometbing lovely'.

[anonymous-user]

For the money you'll get as good a Spyder as you would an MX5. For me bodywork is the only real no no, I can accept dodgy electrics, dodgy engine, knackered interior, alls these things can be entirely repalced without compromising safety or originality but I can't get my head around a rusty or welded car. On that point I would have more faith in a 2.5 grand Spyder than I would a 2.5 grand MX5, have seen plenty of MX5s with rusty rear sills, like perforated. The sound and the interior design and quality of the Alfa absolutely destroys that of the MX5 too.

[Oilchange]

I had a 146 ts, that engine is fab if its looked after. I serviced it every 5k, topped up as required, revved like a motorbike and sounded glorious! Amazing little engine. ok the wishbone bushes are a bit like jelly but the whole units (wishbones/bushes) were £35 the pair...

Wish I had a Caterfield type car to drop it in now...

[dbsdave]

Go for it vermiator . Interior itself is worth it plus its a cab and its cheap. If your into those lines in the first place the the mx5 is dull in comparison, bit too boring. They dont like damp though. I still think a 60s classic cab of european origin might be less hassle if well sorted with cheaper parts and less insurance maybe ?

[RicksAlfas]

dbsdave said:

I still think a 60s classic cab of european origin might be less hassle if well sorted with cheaper parts and less insurance maybe ?

For £2,500 though? What are you going to get given the OP didn't like the sound of 99% reliability?

[verminator]

For £2,500 though? What are you going to get given the OP didn't like the sound of 99% reliability?

[/quote]



True, I am quite aware that anything other than a brand new car cant be completely reliable. It really is a case of, head says MX5 heart says Alfa.

[RicksAlfas]

You're doomed! Doomed!
First sign of rot on the MX5 and you'll wish you'd bought the Alfa.
First warning light flashes on the Alfa and you'll wish you'd bought the MX5.


Go for the Alfa. Get it out of your system. Then you'll know you've done the right thing, even if you end up not liking it. Go for one that's had it's belts and plugs done and looks cared for. Don't worry about the age of it. They're all much of a muchness from 1996 onwards. Much more important that it's had some TLC like this one for example:

http://www.alfaholics.com/2012/10/twin-spark-lusso...

[MalcQV]

I bought an '97 Alfa Spider TS a year and a half ago. It was my daily for a couple of months. I love/d the Spider so much I bought an Alfa GT 1.9 JTDm.
The Spider has needed a rear handbrake cable and I am replacing the front disc/pads/hose. I do have mine on a classic policy and it is just another toy now.
My daughter has a MK2 MX5 1.6 which was my Ex missus car from new. Again fantastic little motor. I prefer the Alfa but for no reason other than it is Italian and sounds Italian even with the 4-pot motor.

[waynedear]

13th Alfa on the way this weekend, had a spider, never had a major breakdown, buy a rubbish one and treat it bad and it will look fantastic but be rubbish, buy a good one and treat it well and it will look fantastic and go great..............most of the prats in the pub that tell you how bad they are never actually owned one..

[T350 Al]

verminator said:

I have a bit of a dilemma. I am going to buy a small fun roadster. The trouble is I really, really
fancy an Alfa Spider circa 02-04. I have always loved the looks and the fact that it's an Alfa. My head says AN MX5 is the only sensible soloution as this car will need to be very reiable as it will be my every day car that may well need to be doing a good daily commute. I also own an Aston and a TVR so am well aware of pub talk regarding relability issues being rubbish as the TVR has been superbly reliable for the ten yrs that I have owned it. So, what really is the truth about these cars
and would it be a stupid choice for the type of motoring that I would be asking of it? Is it really best left as a weekend car? Your honest opinions would be welcome.

We run both a T350 and a Brera S(previously a 147) and couldn't recommend taking the plunge more! Sod what anyone says about Alfa ownership, it's very similar to TVR ownership; go in with your eyes open and you'll be fine. You'll have the odd niggle, but as a TVR owner, you'll be used to that.

Do it, you wont regret it!

[dbsdave]

RicksAlfas said:

For £2,500 though? What are you going to get given the OP didn't like the sound of 99% reliability?

Sorry, l left the UK in 88 and still think 10 embassy cost 56p and 12p for a mars bar.

[markcurtains]

RicksAlfas said:

You're doomed! Doomed!
First sign of rot on the MX5 and you'll wish you'd bought the Alfa.
First warning light flashes on the Alfa and you'll wish you'd bought the MX5.


Go for the Alfa. Get it out of your system. Then you'll know you've done the right thing, even if you end up not liking it. Go for one that's had it's belts and plugs done and looks cared for. Don't worry about the age of it. They're all much of a muchness from 1996 onwards. Much more important that it's had some TLC like this one for example:

http://www.alfaholics.com/2012/10/twin-spark-lusso...

REALLY like that. Very nice.

[strangehighways]

Get the Alfa. In the right colour with the right wheels, I can't think of much that touches it for looks. Imagine waking up on a Summers day to this.... (sorry A lex for nicking your cars pic).