Hello all! Young engineer living in Western MD, been into cars on and off for a decent portion of my life. Recently I've been looking locally and found a 1977 Fiat 124 spider for sale, and it got my interest. Just thought I'd ask and see what all advice y'all might have for a prospective owner (things to look for, what maintenance is necessary, etc).
I'm also looking at other, newer sports cars (Miata). I'd love to hear your thoughts on something like that vs the more classic cars, and maybe why y'all like these 124s so much.
I'm happy to be here, look forward to being a part of the forum!
New Member from Western Maryland
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JohnRingo
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2020 10:28 pm
- Your car is a: 2012 Honda
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baltobernie
- Patron 2020
- Posts: 3466
- Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:00 pm
- Your car is a: 1973 Spider [sold]
- Location: Baltimore, MD
Re: New Member from Western Maryland
Hello and Welcome!
Here are two dated, but useful, articles that you should read before adopting a Spider:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/articl ... 124-spider
https://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/buyspid.html
Then Search this forum for "front shock tower rust" and "crossmember".
You're located in a rugged area (Fun Fact: Maryland has mountains taller than any in PA). A vintage Spider will be working very hard on I-68! They do have 4-wheel disc brakes, so you shouldn't have any problems there. Also, the cabin heater is quite powerful for a car of this vintage. I guess the biggest drawback to owning a vintage Anycar in a rural area is the question of maintenance. The Internet can only take you so far; at some point all of us have had to "seek professional help"
If this will be your only car, I'd hesitate to recommend a vintage Spider, regardless of where you live.
The Miata is pretty much a bulletproof little car. What's your budget, both acquisition and ongoing? A $5k Miata will get you a lot more car than a vintage $5k Spider.
I've had a wonderful time with my '73. Met a lot of great people online, in clubs, and at events. After 13 years of ownership, I sold it yesterday. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience owning, restoring and driving it everywhere from the Jersey Shore to Pacific Coast Highway.
You'll just have to decide if owning a vintage Spider is right for your circumstances in 2021. In bocca al lupo! If you pick the Fiat, you'll find a lot of nice folks here.
Here are two dated, but useful, articles that you should read before adopting a Spider:
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/articl ... 124-spider
https://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/buyspid.html
Then Search this forum for "front shock tower rust" and "crossmember".
You're located in a rugged area (Fun Fact: Maryland has mountains taller than any in PA). A vintage Spider will be working very hard on I-68! They do have 4-wheel disc brakes, so you shouldn't have any problems there. Also, the cabin heater is quite powerful for a car of this vintage. I guess the biggest drawback to owning a vintage Anycar in a rural area is the question of maintenance. The Internet can only take you so far; at some point all of us have had to "seek professional help"
If this will be your only car, I'd hesitate to recommend a vintage Spider, regardless of where you live.The Miata is pretty much a bulletproof little car. What's your budget, both acquisition and ongoing? A $5k Miata will get you a lot more car than a vintage $5k Spider.
I've had a wonderful time with my '73. Met a lot of great people online, in clubs, and at events. After 13 years of ownership, I sold it yesterday. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience owning, restoring and driving it everywhere from the Jersey Shore to Pacific Coast Highway.
You'll just have to decide if owning a vintage Spider is right for your circumstances in 2021. In bocca al lupo! If you pick the Fiat, you'll find a lot of nice folks here.