Want to buy S4 spider

Dear all,
My girlfriend is thinking of getting an S4 Spider.
We went and had a look at this one the other day:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C07067

It has 39,000 miles and had an engine rebuild 4 years ago and a gearbox rebuild 6 years ago.

It has a good history up until 2002 when the owner stopped getting the history stamped and has no receipts. Odd because he very carefully kept the history up until that point (he's had the car 8 years). He says it's been regularly serviced since then and seems very honest. He wants £6500 for it.

It seemed in very good condition, but we'd like to have it inspected. Any suggestions for a specialist near Bury St. Edmunds?

What do people think of it? It was the third one we'd driven and the best so far. Just worried about the work it's had done - is that a good thing, or would we be better off with one that hasn't needed that work? That said all 3 we've seen have had some pretty major rebuilding done.....!!!

TIA

She looks absolutely stunning.
About the major meck. rebuilds, '93 is the latest production year of the model, but it's 12 years old. With that mileage it probably mostly done short journeys so it's not unusual with an engine rebuilt. The gear boxes are weark if not used gently so the synchos (especially 2nd.) goes quickly.
I'm in Denmark so I don't know were to go for an inspection. If you join the Alfa Awners Club, they will be albe to direct you to a specialist.
Lood luck with it or finding another.
Erik

She looks beautiful, mine has 136,000K on it and has had the head gasket done. Seems like a fair price, I paid much more for mine here in Canada.

she looks a peach....well worth spending a wee bit extra on a good one - by the time you bring an average one up to scratch you'll have spent the same

Looks can be deceptive I'm afraid, I was taken in and put in an offer of £6k subject to inspection,
the heater matrix apparently causing a problem, however this became worse with coolant not circulating in the engine which requires a rebuild. The car has also had crash damage on the right hand side with a poor respray. New clocks would make missing history useful.
All that glistens is not gold

The 'Nord' engine is usually a pretty reliable engine and that it needed a rebuild is not common. It can mean the owner has not been careful with the spider.

The gearbox rebuild is not unusual. The synchromesh of second gear is very weak and needs replacement from time to time.

No history after 2002 does not sound good. What is he hiding? My advice: take the spider to a real specialist to judge. Otherwise: walk away from it.

This S4 was used in the comedy series 'Absolutely Fabulous'. The car is no longer advertised so I guess it's now sold.

Below is a clip of the show featuring this car.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9UBlgISwjHY

Originally Posted by SpiderS4

This S4 was used in the comedy series 'Absolutely Fabulous'. The car is no longer advertised so I guess it's now sold.

Below is a clip of the show featuring this car.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9UBlgISwjHY