Alpha Romeo

[Scullywoo]

Does anybody rate Alpha Romeo Spiders? Looking at buying one, about 3 or 4 years old. Interested in hearing advice whether it would be a good buy or NOT!! Thanks.

[Jay70]

Hi Scullywoo.  I hear the Spider suffers from terrible scuttle shake which spoils the driving experience.  This (if you dont already know) is where the body twists and shakes over bumps as the rigidity of the chassis has reduced due to the abscence of a roof.  I do hear the GTV (Tin Top model) is a cracking car though and handles really well.  I would love one of these myself. 

[Impret-Sir]

Not sure if you mean one of the original Alfa spiders, (like in "The Graduate",) or a GTV spider. The former is a classic bit of kit, lots of class but not really an every day car. The later ones had a ghastly body kit fitted that ruined the simple clean looks.

The GTV is a beautiful car, but sadly its an old school Alfa, cramped and not very well built, (exept at the very end) and the spider is, as Jay sayes, prone to a lot of flex in the chassis. The lovely 3.0ltV6 engine is a joy to use, and even to look at!  The boot space is a bad joke, and the rear seats are virtually unusable. 6.5 0-60 is pretty respectable, but they are also pretty thirsty, plus group 19 insurance on the V6 will be expensive.

[Sharrazan]

Have got one - love it to bits - best car I have owned, and I have owned lots of cars. Real fun to drive. Will buy another given half a chance, if I can afford it - now 59, going to sell mine and hopefully buy another for my retirement in Spain.