Advice needed

mminskey · Post by **mminskey** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 7:54 am

I am currently looking at an 81 spider. I had the owner send me pics of the car and would like to have someone review the pics and provide me there opinion.

There is some bubbling around the crossmember and I remember reading somewhere that if there is an issue in that area walk away.

Just need some advice.

Please email me at mminskey@hotmail.com and I will forward the pics. Or visit the following link

http://community.webshots.com/myphotos? ... ity=KddbtQ

Thank you for you help and I hope to soon be a member of the club.

Mark

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:09 am

Can't comment on your bubbling situation.

I will say that digital cameras are great. They can be set up to show just exactly what the photographer wants to be shown. The pictures can be enhanced, or slightly un-enhanced (is that a word?) to the photographer's advantage.

Physcially, how far away is the car from you? How disappointed are you gonna be if you've been lured to believe to see something, or not see something?

Owning a Spider is about driving......get some driving in NOW, and go look at the vehicle in person. Take a look at the post in this forum under DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS SITE - bEWARE OF EBAY MIKE -

I am not saying that every seller is a crackpot, or lies, or is otherwise deceitful. I am saying that this is a buyer beware market. Only you will protect you. We can only advise based on what we see or read (all of which is biased).

I'd love to see the pics, my email address is attached to the button below.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:23 am

bubbling would indicate rust, is it in the unibody where the x-member mounts? The common problem is cracking where the x-member mounts to the unibody. Cracks can be welded, rust could be a bigger problem depending how extensive it is

mminskey · Post by **mminskey** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:14 am

Here is a link to see the pics at webshots:

http://community.webshots.com/myphotos? ... ity=KddbtQ

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 3:26 pm

boy, if that's typical of the underside of east coast cars I'm happy to be in rust-free Calif! I don't like the looks of the first photo, the crossmember looks to be crooked in the unibody. Hard to say if it's already torn the captive nut out or not

mminskey · Post by **mminskey** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:57 pm

Thank you for your input. I am pretty new at this, so would you recommend that I continue the search. Can the crossmember be replaced?

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:59 pm

crossmembers can be replaced, it's not too difficult. But what worries me is that the unibody is the problem where the crossmember mounts. Cracks can be welded or repaired with plates, but if rust has damaged that area then the repair will be much more complicated (and expensive). I'd like to see pictures of both sides of the unibody where the crossmember mounts.
I suppose if you can get the car cheap enough it might be worthwhile

mminskey · Post by **mminskey** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 7:36 am

I want to say thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. I have decided to pass on the vehicle and continue my search.

engineerted · Post by **engineerted** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 11:35 am

It looks a lot better than my car before the repaires! Yes it can be fixed. Do you have a welder? What does the rest of the car look like? How are the inner rockers? The real story is comes after you remove the x-member and see whats left. All I can say is if the price is right go for It!

Ted

mminskey · Post by **mminskey** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:16 pm

The price is 5000. The rest of the undercarriage is pretty clean and the car is in good condition. I don't have a welder, yet.

I am currently looking for a car that I can drive and enjoy and then restore. It is my understanding that for $5000 I should be able to get an extremely nice car.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:08 pm

for $5k you should be able to get an excellent car

mbouse · Post by **mbouse** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:53 pm

thanks for the affirmation, Mark.

A superior Fiat Spider should have no questions surrounding its structural integrity. That same Spider should have a completely re-done interior, and a quality paint job.

And, should sell for around $5k. If you are paying that much, and aren't getting the above, you are paying too much, and are buying on impulse.

Take your time, do some homework. there will be plenty of spiders around next year too.

Gerard Del Monte · Post by **Gerard Del Monte** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 10:02 pm

What Mike Bouse said. The car that you described isn't worth ANYTHING near the asking price. Glad you walked.

Advice needed

Advice needed

Pics Provided

Do you recommend that I continue my search?

Thanks

Do you have a Mig Welder?

Thanks