'79(?) Spider 2000, Unused, weathered for 4 years

[PhilaPeter]

Hello everyone! Great Forum!
I'm a young kid in college who's never had a car of his own and recently I decided to try and buy a weathered spider (79) sitting in a private parking lot not far from my home (left in running condition). I was so pleased to hear it would only cost 500$ that I forgot to ask the year of the car. however, I'm 99% sure that the owner (I am at college and unable to go home to finish the sale right now) told me it was the first 2000 model spider, so that leads me to believe its a 79. Love at First Sight.

My questions now are What are the Likely problems and or replacements I might run into with a weathered Fiat Spider?
Synromesh? What is this? Is this a fluid in the transmission?
Convertible tops? Are they gona Bankrupt me?
And Just for Shits, Does Anyone know the MPG for a Fiat Spider 2000?
lastly, Whats a paint job on a sports compact like?.. convertible top?

Peter, Soon to be a Fiat Aficionado.
Thanks in advance guys,

P.S.
If anyone wants to give an estimate on engine and parts costs for a junker, Please scare the shit out of me so I find myself a better summer job to make more money!

[mbouse]

we are very visually fixated here. we gotta see pictures before we offer an iron-clad opinion. of course, opinions on that opinion vary.

yup, you are talking a '79. Carbureted. Five speed manual tranny.

you've about to enter in VERY VERY inexpensively, which is ok if you are prepared for a summer job of restoration. Do you have someplace out of the weather to store this car while you work on bringing it back to life? if not, what will you do while the top is off, and the engine....where will you put that while you rebuild it?

i average 25/26 mpg in my '80. I did not buy mine for fuel economy reasons, so i have no idea what the '78 gets, but it should be in the same range.

with some minor body work, i recently had my car quoted for a strip and repaint at $3,200.

a nice vinyl top you can install with your buddy will run $300. are you up to learning how to wrench and maintain your own sports car? going from never owning anything to a project car is a big leap of faith in your own ability. We will be here to support you, but you are years away, two at least, from reliable transportation.

and then, these cars are very prone to rust. You'll not be able to drive it long in Philly winters. After you go thru all that restoration work, you are gonna need something else for the unpleasant days. Can you afford that as well?

[PhilaPeter]

yes, I'm really thoroughly unprepared. I will have a friend send me some pictures so that I might eb able to post them here. Well, The Convertible Top is still there, there back windshield was broken by vandals, I'm guessing it might need some kind of sealant and/or water-proofing, plus a new back windshield.

Well, let me re-iterate, I've shared several heavily used cars (Dodge caravan, Honda Civic, and a Chrysler Concorde) so i have a general understanding of the problems that arise from car ownership. But I'm definitely a newbie.
Two Years huh? This kind of discouragement is something I really need. I'm hoping that having this car will bring me a sense of responsibility and increased work ethic (I'm gonna have to really push myself to study and work). Like I said, it was love at first sight. Though I have high expectations of myself, I want to know what I'm gonna be getting myself into before I go and hand over the cash for the car at then end of April. I'M STILL FAR FROM BEING DISCOURAGED!

I see myself as being a stickler about this car. I plan to drive it primarily during the warm months, Most likely it will get covered for the winter. I share a honda civic with my father so that'll be my winter vehicle (when I'm home, which is rare, I'm in Pittsburgh most of the school year.

I will have some pictures within a few days.

Am I going to be able to drive my Fiat everyday? Is that a realistic expectation?

[mbouse]

I'M STILL FAR FROM BEING DISCOURAGED!
Am I going to be able to drive my Fiat everyday? Is that a realistic expectation?

1. by no means was i trying to discourage you. I was attempting to be fair and honest with you, as I hope you are as well with yourself. the last thing you need to do with a $500 car is be unrealistically optimistic. Will you have a running car this year? depends on what you truly start with. Can you? it is probable, depending on your budget and your ability to learn, and the skills of your buddies.
2. the parts are available to make most any rust free spider a daily driver. my 1980 will be driven this year 6 outa 7 days per week between opening day and the end of the season. half of the off days will be spent wrenching, the other off days will be for washing and waxing, or car shows.

unless that top is something special,the rear window was molded in plastic on vinyl. i have personally not seen a glass rear window, though i have been told that it can be done. if the window in this car is gone, that will require a new top.

you are not talking about a run-o-mill honda civic, or a late model abused chrysler. you are talking a 29 year old orphan antique automobile that has sat unattended for years. it certainly wasn't stored with care. there are issues you haven't thought of, and issues we could and could not predict on your behalf. if you were my kid, i would not recommend this to be your very first automobile. Not this car, and not in Philadelphia. if you revise your thinking and accept the fact that you are looking at a multi-year project car, and were willing and able to sock over $5,000 more into it over the next 2-3 years, and had a garage to work in/store full time, i'd say differently.

if you want a ready to drive, easy to maintain, inexpensive sports car, go get a '95 Miata. No disrespect intended.

[rlux4]

HI Peter, First off, welcome to the forum. Mike may sound like he's trying to discourage you from a Spider, but take what he's saying as sage advice. So many people get into a project car and pour money into it and never get it really nice before they have to give up. Either from discouragement or running out of funds. A person familiar with these cars would know what was needed and pretty much how much money and effort it would take to get it done. Going into it blind is chancy. Some people get lucky and yours wouldn't take much. BUT, like Mike said, if it wasn't stored with care, you have a pretty good idea what the previous owners attitude was.
If you go for it, know that you can count on the great members of the forum for help.
Good luck.
Ron

[greggl]

Man, you're gonna have fun I got my first Spider when I was 17... I spent every
waking moment in or under that car for the next three years and loved every second
of it!

Four 'must haves' for the 'non-sorted out' FIAT owner.. especially a first timer

-Internet access... you found this place... good there.
-AAA Plus with the 'free' towing miles
-A place to have it towed to... either home, fiat owning/working on buddie's house or Fiat repair guru (ie, your new
best friend.)
-Cel Phone to call the number on the AAA card

[Danno]

your 500 dollar fiat sounds very similar to my free fiat. In retrospect I think it was probably worth at least 500 bucks. Some days I don't think its worth a dime. When I can drive it with the top down, it's worth about a million bucks, though.

[So Cal Mark]

at least this way you will learn alot about the car before you're able to drive it. Do you plan to restore the car from the outset, or try to get it running, then assess it?

I'd suggest you look at ebay or similar site for any shop manuals you can find, and read as much as possible before getting into the restoration

[PhilaPeter]

Firstly, i want to say that the internet really is something to be marveled at... getting so much feedback in just two days really makes it noticeable. Or maybe it's just that Fiat Spider owners really love their cars. Secondly, I want to say that if things work out well and I do buy this car, I'm going to be very proud and honored to keep the legacy going (is there something happening in the Pocono's? I'd want to see the Fiat crowd and maybe get some advice there.)

Well, I'm going to be dealing with a mystery car/engine.
What are some tests or checks I can do myself (possibly before buying the car) to determine whether I can have a project car that will run this year?
Though I want a project car that I can nurse back to health and then further better (for many years to come), I still want to enjoy some of the fruits of this years labor this summer.

I'm going to cut down on the posting until I have some solid information (and photos) to give you guys. Playing the guessing game is a tease for me and it might be for youz out there.

Thanks for the input everyone!

[mdrburchette]

Good to meet you and welcome to the forum. During spring break, carefully go around the car, noting any evidence of rust. Take plenty of pictures and get a complete history from the previous owner. The people of the forum do have a great love for our little "orphans" and are more than willing to share our knowledge. Also, the Fiat forums are a great source for parts.
The 2008 Fiat Freakout would be a great place to see many of us and our cars. We share ideas, mods, help and stories. You should try to come to this event, even if it is for a day. You won't regret it! Check it out here: http://www.flu.org
Also, there are a few Fiat owners in the Philly area that can be a source of support. Many local clubs have tech days where knowledgeable people can give you hands on experience.
We'll be here when you have more info on your car. Good luck!

[gigi]

Welcome!
My experience is very similar to yours-
it went like this: Saw it, Fell in love, Adopted it.
Initially, she was VERY rough in Every respect.
Plan was to get her running safely then tackle bigger
issues. First on order, tires to get her out of the driveway,
then a new top to stop the roofleaks.
Before the new top went on, the paint & rust issues had to
be addressed since the paint ruined the rotten top.
Ever since, the list of 'wants' has been taken over by the
list of 'needs to keep running.' Any day she's in the shop, I
am grateful for rain and likewise, if it is sunny, I just cuss.
Every sunny day she is not in the shop, I lose all sense of
reason, sensibility and sanity, climb in and drive; anywhere,
everywhere!

[mbouse]

yup, if you get the car, I will be first in line to help you restore it with as much advice as i can offer. and I know that everyone else here will do the exact same thing. Look for rust in the floorboards. if you can stab a screwdriver thru the floor from the underside....be very leary.

if the shock towers are rusted out, go find another car. leave this one for someone more experienced.

with enough time, patience and money, anything else except the cancer can be repaired, replaced, or restored.

if you make it to the Pocono Inn for FFO, please look me up. I will be the one with the never-ending smile as i share the weekend with all my Fiat Friends.