Fiat - Alfa Romeo
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jciam43
Fiat - Alfa Romeo
Have been looking into getting an Fiat Spider (1980-1985) or possibly an Alfa Romeo (1980-1990). Have owned a number of sports cars over the years, but never an Italian one. My main concern is reliability and maintenance cost. Would one be better than the other. Any big disadvantages or disadvantages for either one?
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narfire
- Posts: 3959
- Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:14 am
- Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
- Location: Naramata B.C.
Re: Fiat - Alfa Romeo
I can vouch for the Fiat spider as being easy to work on, easy to modify if you want to go that direction and plenty of parts ,used and new, available.
I have delt with Ital Motors in Edmonton , and they race the alfa's as they seem to get more power out of the engines, not to say it can't be done with the fiats.
I've noticed on some of the members id thingy, they currently have alfa's and some here have had them in the past. I believe several of the Vendors,including the moderator, Mark Allison, work on both the fiats and alfa's.
When I look at the Alfa's for sale there seems to be an underlying issue with the "2nd gear crunch" whether the car has it or has been fixed.
I have delt with Ital Motors in Edmonton , and they race the alfa's as they seem to get more power out of the engines, not to say it can't be done with the fiats.
I've noticed on some of the members id thingy, they currently have alfa's and some here have had them in the past. I believe several of the Vendors,including the moderator, Mark Allison, work on both the fiats and alfa's.
When I look at the Alfa's for sale there seems to be an underlying issue with the "2nd gear crunch" whether the car has it or has been fixed.
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
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divace73
- Posts: 1380
- Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:59 am
- Your car is a: 1980 Fiat 124 Spider Silver
- Location: Sydney, Australia
Re: Fiat - Alfa Romeo
Alfa vs Fiat has gone on for a long time (even now they are all owned by Fiat) I like some alfa's but have always loved the fiat 124 spider, hence my choice.
There has been to some the prestige mark over the plebs.
I did once drive an V6 Alfa (alfetta) GTV and it was spine tingling, but the 2nd gear syncho was alive and well.
Most Alfa's of that era have the 2nd gear syncho issue and have to be driven a certain way, the people who do drive them get use to it and think nothing of it.
I get the irks to think one of the oldest car manufactures with racing pedigree and they can't sort out a gearbox???? Just my personal opinion.
All I can say is drive both and see which one tickles you fancy, if they have been well maintined they will be reliable, if not, it's just like any other car.
There has been to some the prestige mark over the plebs.
I did once drive an V6 Alfa (alfetta) GTV and it was spine tingling, but the 2nd gear syncho was alive and well.
Most Alfa's of that era have the 2nd gear syncho issue and have to be driven a certain way, the people who do drive them get use to it and think nothing of it.
I get the irks to think one of the oldest car manufactures with racing pedigree and they can't sort out a gearbox???? Just my personal opinion.
All I can say is drive both and see which one tickles you fancy, if they have been well maintined they will be reliable, if not, it's just like any other car.
Cheers David
-=1980 silver Fiat 124 Spider=-
If you want to see pics of my car (and other random stuff) >>click here<< OR
see my >>You tube channel<<
-=1980 silver Fiat 124 Spider=-
If you want to see pics of my car (and other random stuff) >>click here<< OR
see my >>You tube channel<<
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Fi8spider
- Posts: 378
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 7:12 am
- Your car is a: 1974 Fiat 124 Spider
Re: Fiat - Alfa Romeo
Alfetta or the rear mounted 116 gear box is nothing like an Alfa Spider 105 style front mounted gear box.
The later isostatic gearboxes in the Alfetta/GTV/75/90 range were better than the earlier 116 boxes but those soft syncro rings and dog teeth still hung around from the older models even though the syncros were supposingly made from a better material, Goetz OEM if I remember correctly.
The last of the Alfa 75's in 3.0 ltr V6 was an absolute ball tearer, I'd happily own one if I had the the space.
Back to the point or question at hand.
Fiat or Alfa. Reliability boils down to good maintenance, the fact of the matter is that most folk that have owned or own either of these these flat sleek racey little cars actually drive them like race cars. Drive em' like a race car, you need to maintain them like a race car, it's really that simple.
The later isostatic gearboxes in the Alfetta/GTV/75/90 range were better than the earlier 116 boxes but those soft syncro rings and dog teeth still hung around from the older models even though the syncros were supposingly made from a better material, Goetz OEM if I remember correctly.
The last of the Alfa 75's in 3.0 ltr V6 was an absolute ball tearer, I'd happily own one if I had the the space.
Back to the point or question at hand.
Fiat or Alfa. Reliability boils down to good maintenance, the fact of the matter is that most folk that have owned or own either of these these flat sleek racey little cars actually drive them like race cars. Drive em' like a race car, you need to maintain them like a race car, it's really that simple.