Best production year

[surfingfreeman]

Hands down 2007 Carrera S

[surfingfreeman]

Oh wait.............sorry guys wrong forum:)

[TX82FIAT]

I've only owned a 79, 82 and 83. I know some folks that have 72-74 and I'd like to own one at some point. The stock 79 was junk. The 82 is a great car now. However, that is after i put a lot of modifications in the system. For me, the best spider I've owned was the 83. It had the imporved rack & pinion, removed the fake back seat and replaced it with a usable storage space, had the passnger side view mirror, has the center console that in my opinion has a better look and more functionality. The FI system was pretty bullet proof for some reason on that car. I owned the 83' for over 10 years only doing basic annual maintenance including two timing belt changes. In over 45K of driving she never overheated or had a brake issue or a transmission hard shift. A few electrical gremlins were put to rest very quickly. Never had to do a brown wire fix and there were a few additional relays undert the glovebox.

I never should have sold the 83'. I think Pininfarina must have taken a littel extra time building that car during the transition.

[leeputmanjr]

I've owned a '72, a '79, a 74, an '83, another '74, and two from '69.

They each have plusses and minuses.

The '69's are first generation, and it's interesting to me what they changed for the BS models in '70 - it seems that those changes were for the sake of improvement, not for smog or safety laws. I don't think anyone missed the clutch driven fan on the water pump, or the centrifigal oil filter! However, I liked the seat reclining knobs on the inboard side of the seats, I liked the foot pump for the windshield washer, and I liked the simple 'aircraft' style seatbelts. The early sidemarkers were gorgeous, but I prefered the second generation grill & badge. The early gauges were stunning, and the extra chrome accents all over the interior really 'made' the details of what was truly a '60's Italian sportscar.

I think the world was changing in the early '70's, and some of the updates were done just for the sake of staying 'modern'. The recessed black bezel gauges, & sidemarkers fit that description, as do the side marker lights. Other bits lasted a little longer.

You gotta love the foot vents (those went away in what, '78?), engine bay lights (those lasted through '71), extra trunk space (lasted through '73), simpler (and better quality!) wiring, better fit & finish, and everyone loves the early chrome bumpers.

The early cars may not have the torque of the 2L (unless you swap it in, like I did!), but the cars have a ton more 'driving feel' if you ask me. The later cars are heavier, have different cabin ergonomics, and generally just don't "feel" as simple, lightweight, and nimble as the earlier cars. You can retrofit bumpers & seats, but you'll still have a later car.

[TX82FIAT]

1979 Fiat Spider 2000 (El Bitcho)

In the signature line.