Can I Really Own a Spider...........

[supplyguy]

........if I cannot do all (or any!) of the maintenance and repairs you all have so tremendously catalogued and seem to enjoy? I love these cars and had hoped to buy one, but realistically I do not have the time or talent to do work on them myself. Is it possible to drop $5000-$7000 for a driver, actually drive it weekly, not get stranded/towed weekly, with maintenance done by a reasonably competent garage here in Northern Virginia? I know this might be heresy for true auto enthusiasts who can turn wrenches, but I haven't worked on a car in almost 30 years and I'm really overwhelmed by how detailed and thorough you all are with diagnostics and repairs. Welcome candid thoughts.

[azygoustoyou]

I think you could get a good car for cheaper than that. You really should plan on changing all the rubber like hoses, flex joint, belts and other items that should be maintained. A lot of break downs occur due to the lack of maintenance.
If you plan on driving these cars as an everyday car, you will have to keep it maintained.

[CajunMike]

I think if you have worked on cars before even 30 years ago you should do fine with a spider. Most of the stuff that happens to a spider is not inside of the engine. You should be able to handle all the periodic maintenance and with a little help should be able to do more advanced things like setting engine timing. Leave the internal engine repairs like head gaskets or valve/ camshaft to experienced mechanics.

This is how I kept a spider as a daily driver for almost 10 years. Stranded a few times, yes, but most were simple things that could have been prevented or diagnosed much more quickly with a discussion forum. Stuff that used to take weeks of diagnosis can be solved in minutes on a forum. Get a good manual, start with a mechanically sound car and have a competent mechanic as back up. You should be able to enjoy a spider.

[MIGHTY 8]

Hello,

Years and years ago, I had my car serviced by the people at London Auto in NVa. They were an all around classic car shop, and they did good work on my car.

http://www.londonautoservices.com/

I would very much encourage you to go ahead with your spider ownership. Like most have said here, lack of proper preventative maintanence is usually the main problem one has with these (any, for that matter) cars.

Although it sounds like a no-brainer, I would definitely recommend a SOLID car to begin with. I say that because I've noticed that are quite a lot of junk ones out there on the market. So keep an eye out!

Happy hunting!

[rlux4]

After owning my car for about four years and driving it over 25,000 miles I'm convinced that the reputation for unreliability is undeserved. I was stranded once, but it turned out to be a simple fix that could have happened on any car. A little gasket in the cooling system failed and because it didn't leak I couldn't find the problem until I'd towed it home and had time to go through it. Well, I shouldn't say it could have happened on any car, it wouldn't have happened on an air cooled engine.
The thing to do is get one that's in good shape and go through it to get it to factory specs: ignition timing, valve timing, valve clearances and so forth. If the previous owner doesn't know when the rubber components were changed, change them too. Once you've done that you should have a car that wouldn't require any more maintenance than any older one.
You'd love owning one of these, it's just special to hop in and drive beautiful roadster.
Ron

[DUCeditor]

I've owned a `77 Spider for 23 years. It is not a "daily" driver, but a weekend/vacation fun car. I've done a lot of non-mechanical restoration work myself (recovering the seats, making a new wood dash, etc.), but only the most basic mechanical chores.

The car "stranded" me twice over those years. Once for a failed fuel pump the other for a failed ignition capacitor. The later, a two dollar part that even I could replace, was the more difficult to fix because it was much harder to diagnose.

Over the years I have had the front end rebuilt twice, the brakes serviced and finally, last year, rebuilt, and the cam belt replaced several times. I am on my 2nd top, 2nd exhaust system and probably fifth set of tires. Oh, and I recently replaced the gas tank.

I'd call that reasonable and even reliable service.

My wife bought the car for me in `88 for $3400. It is the best $3400 we ever spent. There is NO car I'd rather own -- well, at least none that I'd ever be able to justify purchasing.

-Don

[baltobernie]

There are more Spiders on the road in your area than any other place in the country except SoCal. DC Fiats has over 100 members, many willing to provide advice, salvage parts, and even repairs. London Auto has worked on many members cars and have sponsored Tech Day(s) at their shop.

Having said that, any unrestored 30-year-old car can leave you stranded. That's just part of the cost (and excitement!) of ownership. But a sound Spider, properly maintained, is a great weekend treat.

[wikkid]

Also, some more general perspective: I don't believe many here use their spiders as their sole daily driver. That's partially a reflection on practicality (weather, etc), and also how we feel about our special, "vintage" cars. But there is also the reality that they are at least 25 years old.

Having said that, you should do it if the car "speaks" to you. They are like my Buell motorcycles: not the fastest, smoothest, newest bikes out there, but they are under my skin, and I love them. Same for these awesome Italian roadsters.

[supplyguy]

Many thanks for the helpful responses. I'm comfortable I should continue pursuing a Fiat.....and the day after I posted my query I spotted a beautiful red Spider on the Capital Beltway in Virginia (MD tags), top down, and gentleman driving that looked more content than I did in my newer convertible. It was an omen. Sorry if I left the impression I NEVER expect to be stranded - hell, I've had new cars that up and quit for no good reason. I expect to drive a Fiat the way I do my BMW 330i.....whenever the weather allows for a top down commute. Sometimes three times a week - sometimes not for a week...and rarely in winter. I have an older SUV I count on as my daily driver. The sole remaining obstacle to buying a Spider is that I have a deal with my wife that I can only have two cars.....must unload the BMW before I can buy the Spider, and that's turning out to be much harder than I thought. Anyway - thanks again for the encouragement - it mattered.

[2ndwind]

Is your wife allowed to have 2 cars too? Give her the BMW.

[DUCeditor]

The sole remaining obstacle to buying a Spider is t... that I can only have two cars.....must unload the BMW before I can buy the Spider.

Ah, I missed the fact that you were under 18 and need permission. Hmmm..... I suppose that could change the calculation.

-nod

[supplyguy]

Good Fiat Spiders are far more plentiful than good wives. And they are far cheaper than ex-wives. I have time to get this right.

[2ndwind]

Brilliant response!

[baltobernie]

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[AndyS]

Fiat , Porsche, MG, Mercedes, it doesn't matter. any car from the 70's is not going to be super reliable at this point. what you can do to up the odds is to perform meticulous mechanical maintenance on the cars ,by taking the time to carefully look for potential trouble spots instead of waiting for them to manifest (looking for worn parts, leaks, scary looking wiring, etc) updating to a new electronic distributor helps, so does a brand new carb on the carburated cars, and all new brake hydraulic parts (calipers, master cylinder). I love to get my car on a lift once and a while to really look at everything underneath.

I have owned Fiats for over 20 years, and taken them on out of town tours, to the race track, and to the mountains. I maintain the heck out of my cars, and they have treated me well. stuff has gone wrong numerous times of course, and the other thing i learned is there are some parts for the cars that are now not very good, and it takes some effort to buy the right parts. went through 3 crap water pumps in 5 years before i found a high quality Italian made Fispa pump that cost twice as much. that has been going strong for 10 years now. "rebuilt" stuff for the cars can be a mixed bag as well. had a few rebuild starters that were weak, and finally got a good one last time out. rebuild brake calipers are notorious.