2019 Fiat 124 Spider
Posted on 07/01/2019 3:54:49 PM PDT by C19fan
We knew pretty early in our 14-month relationship with this Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio that we weren't going to be able to make a clean break from it. This was not that kind of relationship. And it is not that kind of car. No, instead we would continue coming back to the Giulia, no matter how it betrayed us. Mostly that's because we were obligated to finish this 40,000-mile test. But we also just couldn't give up on it. Rarely have we hoped for a car in our possession to succeed more than we did for this Alfa. And rarely have we been more consistently disappointed.
(Excerpt) Read more at caranddriver.com ...
thanks for posting ... i just cancelled my order ... haha
2019 Fiat 124 Spider
In 2012 I bought a 2005 SLK 350 for just over $18,000 with 55k miles. The only problem I’ve had was a crankshaft position sensor failure, I was able to easily replace it myself in a half-hour, the part was $35.
It’s a joy to drive and I *love* the hardtop convertible. It still looks almost brand new.
Highly recommend!
FYI, most of the mechanical bits are from the Miata. Engine and body are Fiat.
depreciates so much = Out Of Warranty!
I also had an MG in the 70s - rust orange with a navy blue leather interior.
Absolutely loved it and it was soooo much fun to drive.
HOWEVER...
I was on a first name basis with the dealer service manager - the car was totally unreliable.
Sold it after 18 months to a guy that did not know how to drive a manual...and almost replaced it with a TR6. Almost...
Many cars have a “national” personality. Nimble, flexy, hands on the lap steering Italian. Bank vault doors, over engineered parts, steering as heavy as can be German. Big hands can’t fit repairs, reliable, $50k but still feels like tin Japanese.
Etc etc etc.
You grow a “partiality” to one, and despise the rest.
Ich bin rennfahrer! Zoom zoom!
I just realized something. I have a subscription to car and driver but don’t recall getting an issue in some time.
It is amazing to me how much power they are now getting out of small engines.
Not to worry, by another year it will be in the junkyard because it won’t be worth replacing a $10k part.
The Lotus Elan had a 1600cc English Ford engine, four valves per cylinder with twin overhead cams. Twin Stromberg carburetors. All good, so far. Lucas Electrics including distributor. Bad, bad, bad. Brake manifold was dodgey as were hydraulics.
But on German two lane highways, it left everyone in the dust including Type E Jag, Porsche, BMW, Corvette, Datsun 240Z, Triumph, Alfa Romeo, and Ferrari.
“Italian design, German engineering, and Japanese quality controls and reliability. “
Behold, the Datsun 240z.
Another curvy Italian.
My Uncle had a TR-4. Lots of fun to drive tho really not that fast. Don’t recall it giving him any trouble.
Affectionately known as the, “Fiata.”
I only have a few thousand miles on my Alfa, and it will remain a low mile car(toy), but I honestly have more fun driving it, than I did myE46 M3, or my 996TT. 2016 Alfa 4C Spider, its a hoot, like driving a late 80’s super car. Every time I drive it, I smile.
“It’s called a Miata.”
I’ve got a 2005 Toyota MR2 Spyder. It’s been nothing but excellent. The MGs I owned before it were fun but not good.
Buy Japanese sports cars.
Elan engine was an 8 valve twin cam based on a bored out pre-crossflow cortina 1500 engine. New supply of the engines dried up after 1967 as ford discontinued it with the introduction of the 681M series, later replaced by the 711M that is still used in formula Ford race cars
I stopped dating a girl who had one because I was always fixing the damn' thing for her. Worst electronics ever!!! So damn' difficult to work on no matter how "simple" the repair. Great car when it ran right, biggest POS when it didn't.
I’ve got a 74 midget in the garage that I’m restoring, I had one in the early 80s when they were just old cars.
Just send all your unreliable British and Italian cars to me!
The older the better.
I will change the oil regularly, clean the electrical grounds, set timing properly, and have more reliability than the modern eco-boxes with their infestation of computers.
I already have one Alfa and am building a “Special” around the mechanics of another.
Triumph GT6 and Spitfire, really want a TR3, and all my old Jags back too!
The only American car I own is getting some Jag parts added to make it better.
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