Roadster Salon

[speedracer]

I don't know. My two cents having owned three Spiders. We know what these cars are. We know the pleasure of owning one as well as many of the shortcomings. I'm sure roadster salon does great work brining these cars back to life. However, at some point in ownership you are going to have to get your hands dirty on something that is not working. IMHO, the 20K plus price tag buys you piece of mind for a few years of ownership and then you are right back to the same place as the rest of us. If you want to buy the car and run it for a couple years then sell it, that may be economical to spend all the money up front.

I have to agree with this post.

As much as I love Spiders, I cannot see spending 20K or more for one, unless I'm going to keep it as a collector or show car. It might retain some decent value if it stays mint. To use it as a commuter though, or gig car as the OP states, I think it loses a lot of value pretty quickly. Either way though, there were so many Spiders built, that they will likely never be worth that much.

No doubt though, the Salon seems to build them right. Love to see some pics!

[Guitarguy]

Yes many Fiats built... most rusted away or hacked. However not that many '83 - 85 Pinifarinas. (maybe 5000 total) Even those are mostly rusted away. How many "western states" low mile un-rusted ones left? If so many, why do none come up for auction? We see a few MG's at every single auction, every year. With Ferrari DNA... Lampredi engines and Pininfarina design... these are the real sleepers on an otherwise very hot market. I'll take the heat and say 20K for a car without needs seems cheap. If anyone has a car equal to what Roadster Salon presents for lots less let me know.. I might be a buyer. A restored MGA sold this weekend for just under $40K Last year a 66 Fiat Spider sold at RM for $46K. Will they be daily drivers? No. Can you have 1-2K miles a year of fun with out ruining it's value... maybe. Did my Honda mini van also loose money this year... yup. Lots.
I saw this happen in the vintage guitar market and the vintage Ferrari market. Prices rose despite the lifelong fans wishes otherwise. I don't mind driving a well sorted vintage Spider and loosing a bit... but will the market also creep up in the next few years and balance that loss out? I think it's quite possible. Either way I'm having fun.
Photos? How can I post photos? I'm just not smart enough to figure it out on this sight. Any help?

[speedracer]

Yes many Fiats built... most rusted away or hacked. However not that many '83 - 85 Pinifarinas. (maybe 5000 total) Even those are mostly rusted away. How many "western states" low mile un-rusted ones left? If so many, why do none come up for auction? We see a few MG's at every single auction, every year. With Ferrari DNA... Lampredi engines and Pininfarina design... these are the real sleepers on an otherwise very hot market. I'll take the heat and say 20K for a car without needs seems cheap. If anyone has a car equal to what Roadster Salon presents for lots less let me know.. I might be a buyer. A restored MGA sold this weekend for just under $40K Last year a 66 Fiat Spider sold at RM for $46K. Will they be daily drivers? No. Can you have 1-2K miles a year of fun with out ruining it's value... maybe. Did my Honda mini van also loose money this year... yup. Lots.
I saw this happen in the vintage guitar market and the vintage Ferrari market. Prices rose despite the lifelong fans wishes otherwise. I don't mind driving a well sorted vintage Spider and loosing a bit... but will the market also creep up in the next few years and balance that loss out? I think it's quite possible. Either way I'm having fun.
Photos? How can I post photos? I'm just not smart enough to figure it out on this sight. Any help?

Having fun is what it's all about, so need to take any heat, as none is being given. Sounds to me as though you've thought the process out and your comfortable, so all is good. No doubt, the spiders from Salon are very nice!

I hope your right about Spider pricing going up, although the mass production of this car makes me believe there isn't much room on the upside. I never bought mine with profit making in mind, but it sure would be nice to drive something that is gaining value, respect and notoriety.

As for pics, go to the FAQ section and go to the question, "Can I post images?" That will help, but you will need to post from something like Photobucket...

[81SPIDERMATT]

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4295107166.html

[baltobernie]

Beautiful car.

[phaetn]

Everybody has different price points and is willing to pay a different fee for the same service or commodity -- that's the nature of a (largely) free market: value is entirely subjective. One person will pay for $20k for a rightly sorted car and think that has value, another cannot imagine paying more than $1500 and thinks that by finding it in a barn they're getting it on the cheap and are adding value through their own resto efforts.

I know both sides. I once poured over $6k into a little 150cc 1978 Vespa. Craziness. But a lot of fun, too, and it went like snot.

The way I look at it, we'll never get our money back out of these cars, but the process of fixing/upgrading them is part of the fun, and it's still transportation (when they're working). There's always a cost for fun and transportation.

I think what unites us here is a love for these old cars, whatever it is that we paid for them. Prices may be climbing, for sure, but then people will move on to something else.

That Denver Craigslist car looks great: while a modern Spider, there's old-school technique there: actual white paper over the license plates, and not a photo-shop touch up. Now that is authenticity.

Cheers,
phaetn

[TX82FIAT]

My commnets were not judgemental in nature. I agree that commodities have different values for different consumers. The Roadster Salon Cars are premium cars from what I can see. I guess if i add up parts and time over the last few years on this latest project I'd be suprised at just how much was spent. In the end, I hope I can maintain and hold on to this car for the next 30 years. It's kinda like gettng married. Anyone can do it, but it takes work and commitment to last.

[speedracer]

It's kinda like gettng married. Anyone can do it, but it takes work and commitment to last.

And money, lots of money!

[BEEK]

at 20-25k a copy, i might have to start restoring spiders to sell again

[ga.spyder]

I know of a couple Spiders that have been restored completely by the owners.Even not figuring their own labor,I know they have both spent close to 20K.Both cars are as nice as any from Roadster Salon. Will they get their money back if they sold them? Very doubtful,but it is a labor of love.

[Guitarguy]

It's really all about the fun. Making money on cars is rare unless it's top of the market cars.
Not to belabor the point but... The cars at Roadster have "matching hides" leather, and the attention to detail has to be seen. It's hard to compare but I've never yet seen a car that looks as good on the inside. The mechanic they use is very experienced and instills confidence.. That has value! To guys like me that have no time other than changing light bulbs and tightening screws i don't mind paying paying for experience. I've heard they have a new web sight up Feb 1st with new photos.

That Craigs list car in Denver is beautiful, two owners from new, about 400 miles a year. Minty. All factory original!
So i bought it....... yup. I got it bad.
Will I drive it much? No. Will I drive my RS car? yes. Am I crazy? ....... aren't we all kinda.

[BEEK]

sounds like guitarguy works for roadster salon, he just made a great advertisement for them

[Guitarguy]

Nope. not a shill. All started with some customer asking about them, who is pondering using them. I own 2 cars from them so I'm speaking from experience. Andy's Spiders too. My point there is value putting 20K into a car thought of as a $10K car. And that this site has been about dealing with issues on these cars not value. But soon value is an issue.
The vintage car market is heating up. Spiders are the underdogs.... so far. Home restorations VS getting it done professionally. I'm voting for the easy way.

[RRoller123]

I think that eventually the reality of how good these little cars are will catch up and overtake the reputation problem, and they will rise in price. It seems we are seeing it somewhat already, even in a bad overall market. To each his own, if I had the dough, I would buy one from RS, and also buy a project like the one I have now, and enjoy both.

[Guitarguy]

Right, The market on American cars is still not very hot. But forgien cars? Fo-getta-bout it. These Fiats are not "thee worst" made cars. And it's relative, ask the 30 year old Ferrari owner what he pays his mechanic a year.
People forgive their Jag E - type for draining the check book because it's a sexy car. For the same money as a level 2 E-type you could buy a Roadster Salon "Spider Corsa" thats been rebuilt and have money left over for 2 more Spiders to "futz with" and drive.
These Spiders are sexy like Verna Lisi, everyone wants to stop and talk to you so they can look at your car. As most Enzo era Ferraris are now double from 3 years ago, those same buyers are looking around for something cheaper. These cars are the obvious sleepers.
I'm curious, does anyone think a '66 spider is worse made car than a same year Mustang?

My green 1980 is on the RS web site now. When you click on Available Models: Spider Classico. Thats my car. Not shilling but showing off photo. My girl named it "Olive" but it's Smoke Grey.