Wish me luck?

[supplyguy]

Finally three very nice sellers responded to my email queries to their Craigslist ads. Headed to NJ Friday morning by train to look at a 1978, a 1980, and a 1981 Spider. If none of them pan out, up to Massachusetts Saturday to look at two more (one from a gentleman on this very forum!). I am hopeful (and my wife nervous) I will be driving one home to Virginia by this weekend. Printed out the fantastic buying guide to 124's from the mirafiori web site and will be drawing on all the wisdom here. Nervous. Three of my last four used car purchases were all learning experiences....the learning happening after the buying. Who knew to test the CD player when I bought my wife a used Ford, only to find six jammed busted CD's in there on the drive home? Who knew when I bought my son a used Mazda the driver's door would not lock and unlock by key - until I drove it home and tried to lock it? Who knew when I bought myself a BMW it wasn't operator error during the test drive....the cruise control really didn't work? No show stoppers, but I need a good checklist to remind me to not get so giddy I overlook the easy stuff. Mostly looking forward to this journey.

[wikkid]

Good luck! Keep us posted on the adventure.

[ga.spyder]

Good Luck!! I'm sure one of them has your name written all over it.

[georgeramos]

Best of luck! What an exciting "road trip" you are embarking on!!!

[SergeantSavage]

I agree..win or lose you are definitely off on a worthy adventure.

[jimincalif]

Good luck, and the really good news when you check out Spiders:
1. what CD player?
2. most don't lock their spiders anyway, would just lead to someone cutting the top if they want in
3. cruise control? What's that?

[JOEPROC]

The best of luck. And remember to not just kick 1 tire but all 4!

[supplyguy]

On the train headed north thinking......"The sellers all belong to this forum and know a novice is on the way!" Oh well....I trust you all!

[124JOE]

and you should

when i got mine,first thing was stop and have the oil changed and diff fluid also
stand on the brake pedal almost try to blow one
start it from cold
its up to you but try to get a FI one"biggest block"
look at the shock towers for rust
and the rear dr seat mount"under the car with a light"
and the crossmember for bends, welds or rust
the fuel filter "how new"
and a boken dr seat back
any hacking of wires
exhaust leaks
the giblio"round rubber ring on the drive shaft"
loose steering

jut things to look for
good luck to you sir

[supplyguy]

Car #1 - 1978/$3200 - After several emails and phone calls this week we agreed to meet at noon today. Drive 90 minutes north of Philly to my first stop, and no show. Get a text two hours later with an apology - thought we were meeting another day.
Car #2 - 1980 / $6000 - Seller advised yesterday he had a buyer, but I could come by and see anyway. This morning he acknowledged the deal was falling apart and he would sell to the first buyer with cash. I have a roll of cash. (Wife not thrilled about me tooling around NJ with a wad o' cash) That said, his schedule changed and he cannot meet until tomorrow. I have decided to lay up in NJ a second night so I called back to schedule tomorrow. He will be in Connecticut Saturday and suggests next week.
Car #3 - 1981 / $7500 obo dropped to $6500 obo this morning. Very nice seller and we actually meet. Very pretty car, nice interior with only blemish a cracked dash. Has a new top. Zero (to the best of my knowledge) rust underneath or in floor pans (followed all of your advice and thoroughly inspected) although two spots of surface rust on a door the size of a one Euro coin (It's an Italian car - we should adopt this unit of measurement for rust vice dime sized and quarter sized). All electronics work, including wipers and lighter (critical for iPod and cell phone!). I do see the transmission and oil pan are coated in shiny oil. The car doesn't start. Getting electricity and gas smells to high heaven. The owner, who as it turns out knows even less than me about cars, decides he should push start it. I'm thinking this isn't the problem but it's his car. I'm not watching as he lets it drift backwards down his driveway......but I look immediately when I hear the right rear fender scrape and wedge against his stone drive way post, and I hear his swearing. Too nice of a guy to have this happen to. We try unsuccessfully to push the car up the driveway away from the post. He asks me to push it away with my rental car. I do. The right rear bumper guard thing snags the post and shears off and lays at our feet. He offers to make me a deal I can't refuse now, and remembering I am in NJ I decline. I feel horrible for the guy. That said, we can now see the scrape over the wheel well, and that it removed a thin layer of bondo. I am not qualified to assess how much of this nice paint job included remedial work. We ceremonially drive the car around the block anyway with him thinking there will be no deal and me wondering just how cheap this car might go. However, he has absolutely no history on the car and has had no mechanical work done in the years he has had the car - cannot speak to timing belt, pumps, fluids, whatever. I decide I just can't take a chance. The interior is great and pretty sure the undercarriage is rust free, and maybe for you mechanically inclined guys this could be a good deal. Not for $6500 for me (less $1000 for the crash)?
Car #4 - 1978 / $3850. Who knows? Seller gave me the name of his town and said he would meet me today after 5pm, but I cannot extract key info such as when, where, or contact number. Tracked down someone by his name in this town on the internet and left a message. Sitting in a McDonalds in his town drowning my sorrows in a massive Oreo McFlurry, and posting my blues here (thanks to free wifi) and feeling a little like a stalker. Will give him another 30 minutes then I head back south. Also thinking I am a fool for making this expedition at all. Maybe I'll take this bankroll, buy lottery tickets, and hope I win big and buy one of those fully restored Spiders on eBay for $17000. Or just go make a down payment on a new Z4 and quit this silly quest. Wait until the wife hears this.

[baltobernie]

Oh man, that just sucks. Get out of Dodge while you still can. Friday afternoon on I-95? You are so screwed.

Don't forget on your next car-buying trip to carry a small magnet so you can check for Bondo in all the usual places.

We have a DC Fiats event on Sunday, "Beers and Gears". A short drive and a brewery tour. I'll ask if anybody has a car for sale.

Keep the faith.

[supplyguy]

Thanks Bernie. Actually brought a magnet....weakly attached behind wheel wells. May join you Sunday...although I feel like a poser as the only guy on this forum without a Fiat!! Holing up in Philly tonight - will watch NCAA tournament and enjoy some Yuenglings and wallow in my sorrows.....and cruise eBay for cars, of course.

[dmwhiteoak]

It's not over until the fat lady sings. I'm sorry you were ditzed by those sellers but maybe those cars were not ment to be. People never seace to amaze me. Stay safe and keep your head held high. Something will come along.

[georgeramos]

I was on here posting away for months before I bought a Spider. The group was always just as friendly and helpful. i think this fiasco will make the real purchase that much sweeter. Good job showing restraint in NJ. If you maintain that cool head you'll end up with a great car. Dont give up.

http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/2902861465.html

check out this 72 in CT. IF it really has always been garaged and only has 58,000 miles (no way to prove I guess) it is a good deal IMHO. I know the general consensus is to buy FI car best you can afford etc but the early bumper cars (with 1600 engines) are so beautiful and just as easy and fun to fiddle with. thats definitely a part of "ownership" right? If I had it to do again Id buy a 71 or 72 again.

[spidernut]

Too bad you're not out here in California. I'd sell you one of my Spiders.