70s/80s Spider for Cruising

Hello all,

I have posted a similar question on the Brera/GTV/Spider section but I am looking to get another car for long distances after having sold my 166 V6. However this one can be a little less practical and certainly a whole heap more fun. I have a little VW at home now that is for the practical stuff, runs to the tip, town driving etc...

So I was wondering what the late 70s/80s Spiders ars like for cruising? I live and work in Yeovil and most of my close friends and family live a good way from me up north so I would ideally like to get something that is refined on a motorway. However I am dying to get a convertible and also can not get rid of my want for another Alfa. My main concern is that on a motorway the older car would be a little loud and therefore be of no benefit than my Polo (which is geared very short and is quite loud around 70mph). I want a comfortable place to be for hours on ends on the dull M5, but not at the cost of getting a dull car I cant throw the roof back in and have a fun drive out on a Sunday to a country pub for {ie and Chips!

I am looking to buy when we get into the autumn / winter months to get a good deal and be ready for the spring next year. Is there anything to really look out for on these as opposed to other alfas? What else should I be careful to check? Know there are a lot of helpful guides out there, but is there a list of definate dos and donts someone could give me?

Cheers, Kieran

I think you're asking for quite a lot from an old car, perhaps you should be looking at the later S4 cars from the 90s which will probably be a bit more refined. You may also want to consider getting a hardtop but it will still be tough to reduce wind noise.

I was thinking as much. I suppose I could always try a couple should they gturn up when I heat up the search for my next car. I do like the S4, but much prefer the lines of the older ones.

I've got a '70 1750 Spider in good nik with a good and tight top.
As it has no problem keeping up with motorways speeds (70-100 mph) it makes a lot of noise, especially wind, and gets tiresome on long yourneys (done Munich - Copenhagen twice)
It much more fun and at home on A and B roads.
When ever I am doing a long journey, putting lots of miles behind, I'll take my 156, or, making a holyday, put the Spider on the autotrain from Hamburg to where the fun roads starts in the alps.
Erik

Classics magazine currently have a feature on buying Spiders. It doesn't go into great detail, but it may give some pointers. Ignore the gaff about changing the cambelt though, or you may be in your garage a long time trying to find it!
Don't you find it rather annoying when reading some magazine articles and finding that they tend to just gloss over the bits that we all want to know about by adding a comment along the lines of 'they suffer from the usual tinworm in the normal places'. As if our cars rot........!
On a slightly more serious note, I've had two spiders now, and if I had the choice between buying a tatty one with a good engine or a good solid one with mechanical problems, I'd go for the good body every time.

Spider S4 for long journeys..... hmmmmm .... maybe

I love my S4... and TBH for long trips it's got a 5 speed box but it's a car of the 90's based on a design of the 60's.... so it's not your modern effortless armchair with aircon .. but you can cover amazing distances quite comfortably....



The car just rolls along at 70 to 80 and with the hood up it's not a bad cruiser... with the hood down it's an absolutely fabulous drive on those twisty roads that always lead to a really nice Pub.

Go and find someone who's willing to let you take one for a reasonably long test drive... be critical... and......










and......












....










go and buy one...... you only live once