120 hp and 1000kg v 200 hp and 1600kg? Alfa Spider v Merc SL
Discussion
So, now the Orange Lancia Beta Spider has been vetoed, I have a new set of options.
1972 Alfa Spider 2000 Veloce (ie Square Tail). About 1050 kg and 120 HP more or less.
or
late 1970s/early 1980s Merc 350/420/450 SL. About 1600 kg and cica 200HP
The Alfa is very nice to look at.
The Merc will no doubt be bullet proof and feel solid as a rock.
I will only do about 6000 miles a year - summer and winter, daily driver - but mainly school run, shops, weekends out etc.
Don't 'need' a convertible, so would probably run the SL with a hard top.
I have owned a 280 CE and liked the lazy, comfiness of it.
Not sure I can be bothered with a highly strung Italian 2litre.
Thoughts?
1972 Alfa Spider 2000 Veloce (ie Square Tail). About 1050 kg and 120 HP more or less.
or
late 1970s/early 1980s Merc 350/420/450 SL. About 1600 kg and cica 200HP
The Alfa is very nice to look at.
The Merc will no doubt be bullet proof and feel solid as a rock.
I will only do about 6000 miles a year - summer and winter, daily driver - but mainly school run, shops, weekends out etc.
Don't 'need' a convertible, so would probably run the SL with a hard top.
I have owned a 280 CE and liked the lazy, comfiness of it.
Not sure I can be bothered with a highly strung Italian 2litre.
Thoughts?
Well if that is the sort of experience you are looking for.
Based on my Mk2 wife you'd need to go for the classic Merc, but then she's blond so feels she is legally entitled to a MB convertible.
How ever what she really fancies is a 300 roadster, so she can keep on dreaming (or find a richer other half).
Based on my Mk2 wife you'd need to go for the classic Merc, but then she's blond so feels she is legally entitled to a MB convertible.
How ever what she really fancies is a 300 roadster, so she can keep on dreaming (or find a richer other half).
Cheers
Off to see the 450SL later and seeing the Alfa on Thursday.
Both are cheap and pleasant cars.
No doubt each have their weak points - I expect the Alfa, though pretty, will not feel as 'solid' a the Merc - but should be more 'chuckable' and be more nimble. But I expect it won't cruise over longer distances quite as well.
The Merc has a hard top - which over winter will be of use - the Alfa doesn't.
I will trawl the Merc and Alfa specific forums too.
Off to see the 450SL later and seeing the Alfa on Thursday.
Both are cheap and pleasant cars.
No doubt each have their weak points - I expect the Alfa, though pretty, will not feel as 'solid' a the Merc - but should be more 'chuckable' and be more nimble. But I expect it won't cruise over longer distances quite as well.
The Merc has a hard top - which over winter will be of use - the Alfa doesn't.
I will trawl the Merc and Alfa specific forums too.
I wouldn't fancy living with a 40 year old convertible on an everyday basis. If you don't need a convertible what about the Alfa Spider's coupe brother?
Nice example here:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C241377
Nice example here:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C241377
mph said:
johnfm said:
I asked her.
She thinks you should have another cup of shut the f
k up!
A bit harsh, after all she did veto your previous car.She thinks you should have another cup of shut the f
k up!
The reference is to the reasonably well known posters - which I thought 2slo would have been aware of - see below.
It was tongue in cheek - as I am well aware of the wife/veto banter. In fact, I thought it was fairly amusing.
johnfm said:
I didn't include the
The reference is to the reasonably well known posters - which I thought 2slo would have been aware of - see below.
It was tongue in cheek - as I am well aware of the wife/veto banter. In fact, I thought it was fairly amusing.
Ok then, looking back I hadn't included the The reference is to the reasonably well known posters - which I thought 2slo would have been aware of - see below.
It was tongue in cheek - as I am well aware of the wife/veto banter. In fact, I thought it was fairly amusing.
either so I guess you may have taken my opening jest as an insult (which it wasn't intended to be). So lets try again. My two penneth, FWIW, on your choice of cars. I haven't owned either, but I have driven them or very close to what you are looking at. In the case of the Merc I recently drove a 500SL R107, the V8 with, IIRC, 240bhp? The car I drove had done over 160k and had obviously been well looked after (previous minor restoration I was told). The owner told me it hadn't needed anything major doing to it in the 4 years and 20k miles he'd had it. I can't think of much which would have worn it's age as well. I'm a fan of Merc sports anyway as I own a '01 SLK320 which I've had from new and again, no major issues, everything works as it did when new and I've no plans to sell it.
The Alfa. A few years back I went with a friend to look at 3 seperate Alfa spiders he was interested in. all were described as being very good or immaculate. Long story but he didn't buy any of them and all down to the same reason: rust. If I was looking at them now I'd be looking very closely at the bodywork and especially the underside and wanting to see evidence of expenditure from the owner. I do like the 70's Alfa spiders, lovely looking cars and loads of character but I personally wouldn't run one as a daily driver.
I'd take the SL every time.
Oh and you were asking about my wife? She's very well thanks, nearly reached our 30th wedding anniversary and she just lets me get on with it so far as cars are concerned
HTH
confirms what I thought - rust will be the clincher.
I think the pretty Italian car is one for the south of France or similar where it is hot and sunny most of the year.
Neither are probably really suitable as a daily - but I don't want a modern car at all, as I have had a few over the last two years and want something with character.
Cheers
I think the pretty Italian car is one for the south of France or similar where it is hot and sunny most of the year.
Neither are probably really suitable as a daily - but I don't want a modern car at all, as I have had a few over the last two years and want something with character.
Cheers
I would not buy the Alfa as an every day car. I do about 4000 miles a year in mine and probably spend about £1500 a year in keeping it running and improving it (new hood etc).
They are great cars to own but it will disolve as soon as it sees salt. Great for a summer car, really you probably couldnt get better! But even though mine only gets run in the summer there are a couple of rust spots showing up already that I am going to have to get sorted out. I have had the car 3 years.
Have a look on my profile for running costs. Buy one as a second car but please get something cheep and cheerfull for the winter months and save yourself a lot of money and hassle.
They are great cars to own but it will disolve as soon as it sees salt. Great for a summer car, really you probably couldnt get better! But even though mine only gets run in the summer there are a couple of rust spots showing up already that I am going to have to get sorted out. I have had the car 3 years.
Have a look on my profile for running costs. Buy one as a second car but please get something cheep and cheerfull for the winter months and save yourself a lot of money and hassle.
The new soft top has been the most expensive single piece to date at just over £1000 for buying and fitting.
Other expense includes stuff like, a bit of welding on the passenger side floor and inner sill, new windscreen rubber to sort a leak out (which is still leaking a little) and a new centre console bought and fitted at vast expense because the old one was manky.
Those have been the big ticket things. Other bits are just general maintenance, like brakes, and fixing the intermittent electrics. Also I had a new exhaust put on not long after I bought her.
She has left me stranded 2 times, once with the water pump failing, and once with a knackered clutch slave cylinder. Both times costing over £150 to get fixed.
All the above is detailed in the blog bit in the "my garage" section.
There is still a substantial list of things to fix/do. Main one at the moment is a rear suspension refresh, I am toying with doing this myself with the help of a couple of mates, as I cant afford another big bill for her this year. Also she is due a new coat of underseal so thats a joyous job for me when I get home and have the time. Hopefully wont find any grot...
So yeah, I wouldnt run one as a daily during the winter. You will probably get a bit damp....
Other expense includes stuff like, a bit of welding on the passenger side floor and inner sill, new windscreen rubber to sort a leak out (which is still leaking a little) and a new centre console bought and fitted at vast expense because the old one was manky.
Those have been the big ticket things. Other bits are just general maintenance, like brakes, and fixing the intermittent electrics. Also I had a new exhaust put on not long after I bought her.
She has left me stranded 2 times, once with the water pump failing, and once with a knackered clutch slave cylinder. Both times costing over £150 to get fixed.
All the above is detailed in the blog bit in the "my garage" section.
There is still a substantial list of things to fix/do. Main one at the moment is a rear suspension refresh, I am toying with doing this myself with the help of a couple of mates, as I cant afford another big bill for her this year. Also she is due a new coat of underseal so thats a joyous job for me when I get home and have the time. Hopefully wont find any grot...
So yeah, I wouldnt run one as a daily during the winter. You will probably get a bit damp....
You could go for the last edition of the classic Spider, S4 which has modern comforts but retains the old shape (albeit not quite as nice as an S2). I drove mine as a daily, parked outside, doing 10K per year for 3-4 years. No more than usual running costs. Get a good one and they're unlikely to devalue or rob you regularly. On balance though, also owning an early 90's W124 Merc I think given the choice now I would rather have the Merc. Whilst you won't get the driving experience or romanticism of the Alfa you will get comfort and much easier for long journeys, big boot, more legroom, etc.
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