Spider in Iowa

[danaz]

I'm new to the group with the recent purchase of a 1979 Spider.
Here are some pix:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29301145@N08/2735928690/

I've been without a Fiat for 25 years after putting hard miles on an 850 coupe. The Spider is a definite upgrade from the 850. It has 63K one owner miles and was always garaged. The distributor pickup wire broke during the first day of driving. I fixed that with some solder (new part is on the way) and have put on 1000 miles in the last two weeks. It runs a little weak, and backfires a bit on shift and deceleration, but I'll find the answers for those minor problems. There are 2 or 3 small rust spots on outer fender edges that will need prompt attention but other than that the body is very sound. It was well rustproofed, and I have all of the service records back to 1979. It does have a recent exhaust system w/o the cat installed and is a little louder than I would expect. I wonder if change in back pressure contributes to backfiring between shifts.

So far, it's been reliable. I needed something with better mileage than my suburban, and more weatherproof that my motorcycle. I told me wife we could get the Fiat, or a used Ford Escort. She picked the Fiat. Imagine that...

[So Cal Mark]

welcome, sounds like a great buy. And you're fortunate the wife is in agreement

[mbouse]

Congratulations! you passed the #1 test. you provided pictures in your introduction post.

you now win the honors of having every question answered; regardless of the magnitude, or triviality of the subject. next year, if you behave, we will even provide some correct answers to those questions. and, during your third year hear, we will forgo the mandatory payment up front for the privilege of asking questions.

hey, your wife picked correctly, near as i can tell....great looking car!!

[jprisbe]

Hey Danaz,

Nice Spider.

Is she up for a road trip?

We (West MIchigan FLU) are hosting Fiats Up North the first wekend in October on the Lake Michigan shoreline.

We already have another Spider owner from IA and a few from IL attending the event.

We'd love to have you...

For complete details: http://flumichigan.italiancarclub.com/FUN/index.html

[rlux4]

Wow! A wife that didn't have to get talked into getting a Spider. You're a lucky man.
Welcome to the forum, good to have you aboard.
Ron

[msrmd]

Nice looking car. Doesn't look like it'll take much to get her into shape.
Hope you and your wife enjoy the ride.
Welcome

[launieg]

Beautiful looking car. Great color. Looks like you've got a keeper (both car and wife).

[JeremyB]

Looks like us Midwesterners may give the caosts a run for thier $. 3 New member sin a row, 1 Ok, 1Ar, 1 Ia!
Cool Spider, I've never seen that color. Im new to Fiats, so thats not sayin much. Isnt it cool when your wife lets ya get a toy car! We got our 76 SPider in Oct. Last month my wife let me buy a 79128! In fact, she was gonna buy it out from under me, and hide it until our anniversary next month.
I just posted this in another welcoem thread, but check out MOFLO,

http://www.moflo.org/

Its a midwest Italian car group. Mostly Fiats, couple others. Good group, cool cars. Sign up for the listserve to get emails.

[Danno]

Woohoo, welcome aboard. sorry to be late on the welcome, but I've been busy. If you ever need anything just give me a shout, I'm not TOO far from you (distances in the midwest are different than differences in more urban areas, y'all)