Advice Needed (seriously)

[JeremyB]

OK, I posted something similar a while back on Mirafiori, and got mixed comments. Based on this being "FiatSpider" I think I know what my answer is gonna be. But I have to ask it anyway.

Unfortunately, I am gonna have to sell one of my fiats in the near future. But I dont know which one I should sell. I dearly love my 76 spider. I have done alot of work to it (at least based on my expierence level), and I can honestly say, it si the coolest car I've ver owned. It came from Shauns Garagmahaul, ya know its a decent car.
Sure it needs more work.... gotta cut out and weld in new meatl on a small spot on the floor, and right susp tower, needs paint, needs new interior and so on. But I say again, its th ecoolest car I've ever owned, and it beautiful (duh, its a spider).

The other car is the 79 Fiat 128. 45k original miles, very good shape. I am still having fuel supply issues, only becuase I havent had time to work on it. I am suspecting the fuel pump needs attention.Other than that, the only issues are cosmetic, and future performance upgrades. I want to paint it, lower the suspension, I have soem cool "western" wheels on hold for me.
Overall, the 128 is in much better shape than the spider.
I love em both. Teh spider is beautiful, and cool. The 128, while not so beautiful from a design perspective, is a very cool car. It is a hell of alot more fun to drive. The spider is cool to drive, where the 128 is fun as hell to drive.
I am being forced to sell one of the cars in teh near future. If necessary, I may have to sell the other down the road. Doubtful, but a possibility. The reason for sale is an important, I cannot get into it at this time, but when the time is right, trust me, the whole world is gonna know.
So, what do you all think? Which one should go?
Sorry so long, and advice is more than welcomed!

[Tappy]

my opinion is to keep the spider
first of all you keep these cars becouse its your hobby and you like to work on them seems like the spider has more chalanges for you

second what is more pleasant crusing cabrio or hatchback ? (if you like the last you can always get a hardop for the spider

i recon you can get more power out of the spider as out of the 128 so speed would be (for me) the main thing

and you have more support on the fiatspider.com site

either way you might consider selling it to a friend maybey you can buy it back later ?

[racydave]

One one hand Id love to have the 128, but it would be the hardest to replace if you could keep one. There are alot more chances to replace the Spider. Follow your heart! And if you want to sell the 128, Im in Indy, E-Mail me!

[kmead]

Put them both up for sale. The one that gets a price that you are happy with is the one that goes first.

Either car can be made into a fun driver. Including the Spider.

You will have the market tell you what it values and what needs improvement.

The Spider will be easy to replace in the future if you want another, the 128, not so easy. Good luck and sorry for the trying circumstances.

[rlux4]

It would seem to be a finacial decision, not which would you like to keep, to me. I'd do an honest market evaluation, see what each is worth, and by that see which one would better meet the need at hand. If you need "X" dollars and one of them is worth that, I'd sell that one. True, the 128 would be harder to replace later, but not impossible.
This may be a case of don't let your feelings influence a financial decision. Simply, which one meets the need.
FWIW,
Ron

[JeremyB]

Yep. Thats why Im selling the spider. I spent quite a while on the phone tonight with a friend. At the end, it was agreed upon that I need to sell the spider.
I just got finished with a long post on mirafiori, about this same topic. I'll try to spare soem of the stuff.
I am selling th espider to help offset the cost of an international adoption. We are looking at a few differnt programs and countries to adopt a child from. This usually costs around $20k. So, I've already got my duaghter. With another kid, and a wife, the spider would not be an option to go anywhere. The 128 would be just fine. So at teh end of it all, it comes down to function aver fashion.

So I need to get the spider ready to be sold. Anyoen want it? Just kidding. I will be trying to pick peoples brains here to figure out which things I should fix, or let go, also a cost.

[rlux4]

Good for you Jeremy, sounds like a wise decision. Best of luck in the adoption process.
Ron

[mbouse]

wow! posted, debated and decided all in the same day.. and I didn't get to throw my Thirty Eight Cents worth into the pot!

But i will just the same. maybe it will help cement the decision in your mind.

we buy and sell Spiders on these forums all day, every day. Good ones, fair ones, poor ones, and parts cars. once in a while the deal of the year passes around. There will be other Spiders just like these next year, and the year after. Sure, prices will go up slightly; so does inflation.

How often do coupes come and go in your area, in the price range you can deal with? how many more chances do you think will come around for you for another coupe like this, this year, next year, or in your lifetime?

I think i know you well enough, based on reading your posts, that you are not the handy-dandy mechanic with sheet metal welding skills that would be needed to complete your current Spider restoration. You'll have to either farm that out (read $$$) or spend a great deal of time learning the art of welding (read $$$). sure, like me you have some skills; but do you have what it takes to complete that Spider without incurring costs just for the lack of skills?

On the other hand, you say that the coupe is merely a cosmetic restore project. I believe you already have the skills to handle that.

if it has to be A or B, then i think you gotta let go of the Spider.

[JeremyB]

Mike, This wasn't all in one day. I've been thinking about this for a few weeks. I hesitated posting it here, becuase this is the home for the Spider... right? So I fugred most here would tell me to sell the 128. I spent several hours last weekend just standing there, lookng into my garage, at both Fiats side by side, trying to make a decision. I posted here today. A short time later, A friend caleld me who knows FIats, and my postition. Infact, he is the son of a Fiat guru, who is awsoem with Fiats!
Anyway, after talking about other things, we got on the topic of the cars. He told me just sell the spider, in a few years, pick up an old thin bumper (NOT 82) spider if ya want, and you'll come out ahead again. After discussing it, he made the decsioin easier.

As for gettign another deal on a sedan (mines not a coupe, its a 4 door), I have been contacted several tiems about people wanting to buy the 128, before I made my decision. This reenforced teh idea that, if I sell the 128, I'll NEVER get another one in this good of condition.

As far as my abilities, yes, you are again correct. I am a parts changer that is figuring how to actually FIX things. I have never welded, never yanked and rebuilt an engine, or any other type of serious stuff. Befor the spider, I had experience taking apart, and puttign back together a 65 triumph bonniville. Not rebuilding anything, just trying to get it to work, and keep it working.
I will outsource the welding. I have a connection for this that shouldnt cost that much.
Once the welding issues are addressed, I can honestly say "the only rust is a small bubble the size of a gofl ball".

[Danno]

Jeremy, I'm glad that you made the decision you made. I was totally jealous when you obtained the 128, so a small part of me thought you might want to let it go at a steal to a friend like me, lol! Keep me posted on all happenings. I don't think I want your spider, but let me know when the specifics of what you are asking have been decided upon. I've been hounding several people that I know to get into the italian car scene.

[JeremyB]

Thanks Dan. Dont worry, when the time comes, the fiat crows gets first crack at my spider. If you have a friend that is interested already, let me know.