2001 Alfa Romeo Spider
Discussion
A few months back I started looking for something to liven up my 120 mile per day commute. The roads I drive are a good mix of Motorway, country lanes and city and my '06 Volvo V70 is working well - for 3k, even in post pandemic used car price boom there's few cars as suited to do big miles in comfort while not being ridiculous costs to run.
Anything I bought was going to be alongside my V70 which opened up possibilities of whatever I chose being impractical and/or small. My budget was around 4k and I wanted something manual, well sorted handling and a convertible - I do really enjoy the open top experience in a car.
With these preferences, I naturally started with the MX-5. I'm 6ft 4 so not the smallest and while I could fit in the (soft top) NC MX-5s, it was very snug. Too snug to use with the roof up without making the journey fairly miserable. So I expanded my search, to Z4s, S2000s, SLKs, TTs and Boxsters. 4k budget looking at these isn't ideal but certainly doable (not the S2000 though)
On my commute, I kept seeing a an Alfa Spider from late 2000's (the one based on the Brera) and thought I'd love one but the prices would likely be way out my league. Not so. A quick search through Autotrader had some of the Brera based spiders around 4k upwards, but even better were the GTV based spiders which went from 2k up.
I tried one based in London with a dealer, which looked great but only had 1 page of service history from 2015, 1 key and a non opening boot - not ideal. The second one was much better; a RHD car bought in Germany, spent majority of its early life in France and then came to live in the UK from 2012 onwards. The previous owner said he had bought it from an Alfa trader who broke cars for parts - he was due to break this one but thought it was in too good condition to break.
It had good service history including the cam belt done recently and a respray in 2018 (Red often fading on older cars) but does have a few issues - the main one being the electric roof goes up (most of the way) but not down. You can do this manually and some forum browsing suggests this is resolvable. My only other concern was with the fact its an old Alfa - jokes and reputation aside, part availability is pretty hit and miss and I didn't want to be stuck with a car that couldn't be repaired.
However, a little red Italian convertible is something I wasn't going to pass by on, especially for £3500. That point is especially pertinent in the current market - there's a fifth gear from 2013 showing that good Alfa GTVs go from around 3k and it seems ten years on the market hasn't moved much (v6 cars aside)
Here it is on collection day;
I picked it up at the start of March (right before a blast of snow hit the country) and with temperatures hovering around 0 degrees - not ideal roof down weather. My first journey home all seemed to be fine, and I've managed to do a week of commuting in it too.
Some initial thoughts on the car;
1. The twin spark engine is great; 4 cylinders and with just enough power for the car's weight (1380 kg) it seems to embrace being revved out. Sounds good too and you can feel through the wheel and pedals as it gets to the higher rev range
2. The handling of the car seems well sorted; mine does need some alignment work but even so it has a warm/hot hatch feel and seems pretty rigid too, especially as its not a dedicated roadster
3. The ride is impressive; better on some roads than my Volvo and feels very compliant on broken surfaces
4. For a relatively small car, the cabin is a decent size with a good luggage shelf behind the seats. Especially useful as the boot is small and oddly shaped.
5. Gearshift isn't great; it's perfectly workable but fairly long throw. Only a 5 speed too, and the gears themselves are fairly long but does mean motorway running doesn't have the engine buzzing away.
1 week into ownership and I'm working out a schedule for the work on points (including giving the car a good detail). I've even managed a drive home on back roads with the roof down where it felt very special. I'll keep you posted about what I do going forward and have a European road trip planned later in the year which will hopefully be a time to let the Alfa shine even more.
Anything I bought was going to be alongside my V70 which opened up possibilities of whatever I chose being impractical and/or small. My budget was around 4k and I wanted something manual, well sorted handling and a convertible - I do really enjoy the open top experience in a car.
With these preferences, I naturally started with the MX-5. I'm 6ft 4 so not the smallest and while I could fit in the (soft top) NC MX-5s, it was very snug. Too snug to use with the roof up without making the journey fairly miserable. So I expanded my search, to Z4s, S2000s, SLKs, TTs and Boxsters. 4k budget looking at these isn't ideal but certainly doable (not the S2000 though)
On my commute, I kept seeing a an Alfa Spider from late 2000's (the one based on the Brera) and thought I'd love one but the prices would likely be way out my league. Not so. A quick search through Autotrader had some of the Brera based spiders around 4k upwards, but even better were the GTV based spiders which went from 2k up.
I tried one based in London with a dealer, which looked great but only had 1 page of service history from 2015, 1 key and a non opening boot - not ideal. The second one was much better; a RHD car bought in Germany, spent majority of its early life in France and then came to live in the UK from 2012 onwards. The previous owner said he had bought it from an Alfa trader who broke cars for parts - he was due to break this one but thought it was in too good condition to break.
It had good service history including the cam belt done recently and a respray in 2018 (Red often fading on older cars) but does have a few issues - the main one being the electric roof goes up (most of the way) but not down. You can do this manually and some forum browsing suggests this is resolvable. My only other concern was with the fact its an old Alfa - jokes and reputation aside, part availability is pretty hit and miss and I didn't want to be stuck with a car that couldn't be repaired.
However, a little red Italian convertible is something I wasn't going to pass by on, especially for £3500. That point is especially pertinent in the current market - there's a fifth gear from 2013 showing that good Alfa GTVs go from around 3k and it seems ten years on the market hasn't moved much (v6 cars aside)
Here it is on collection day;
I picked it up at the start of March (right before a blast of snow hit the country) and with temperatures hovering around 0 degrees - not ideal roof down weather. My first journey home all seemed to be fine, and I've managed to do a week of commuting in it too.
Some initial thoughts on the car;
1. The twin spark engine is great; 4 cylinders and with just enough power for the car's weight (1380 kg) it seems to embrace being revved out. Sounds good too and you can feel through the wheel and pedals as it gets to the higher rev range
2. The handling of the car seems well sorted; mine does need some alignment work but even so it has a warm/hot hatch feel and seems pretty rigid too, especially as its not a dedicated roadster
3. The ride is impressive; better on some roads than my Volvo and feels very compliant on broken surfaces
4. For a relatively small car, the cabin is a decent size with a good luggage shelf behind the seats. Especially useful as the boot is small and oddly shaped.
5. Gearshift isn't great; it's perfectly workable but fairly long throw. Only a 5 speed too, and the gears themselves are fairly long but does mean motorway running doesn't have the engine buzzing away.
1 week into ownership and I'm working out a schedule for the work on points (including giving the car a good detail). I've even managed a drive home on back roads with the roof down where it felt very special. I'll keep you posted about what I do going forward and have a European road trip planned later in the year which will hopefully be a time to let the Alfa shine even more.
I owned one of these wonderful cars for 6 years.
For about half of those I drove it everywhere and everyday come rain or shine until it became my high days and holidays car.
Unfortunately a change in circumstances and lack of space meant I had to begrudgingly part with it. It was brilliant to drive, it wasn't particularly quick but it had character by the bucketload and the steering was so darty and quick. It was a
Nero Metallico with tan leather.
Cambelt and variator need doing every 3-5 years and 36,000 miles which gets expensive and they can use oil but if you keep them topped up and service them properly they're pretty tough. The rear suspension can wear out which stops them handling how they should. Mine didn't suffer from rust like every other Alfa has done from that period but one or two I looked at had. Rear callipers can stick on and handbrake cables seemed to need replacing every service for some reason.
If I'd had the space I'd still have it. Loved it
For about half of those I drove it everywhere and everyday come rain or shine until it became my high days and holidays car.
Unfortunately a change in circumstances and lack of space meant I had to begrudgingly part with it. It was brilliant to drive, it wasn't particularly quick but it had character by the bucketload and the steering was so darty and quick. It was a
Nero Metallico with tan leather.
Cambelt and variator need doing every 3-5 years and 36,000 miles which gets expensive and they can use oil but if you keep them topped up and service them properly they're pretty tough. The rear suspension can wear out which stops them handling how they should. Mine didn't suffer from rust like every other Alfa has done from that period but one or two I looked at had. Rear callipers can stick on and handbrake cables seemed to need replacing every service for some reason.
If I'd had the space I'd still have it. Loved it
The roofs on these have various switches and sensors that can go wrong or decide not to work for no particular reason and then fix themselves. I stuck my roof down a few hours from home and it got stuck with the rear hatch popped up. No matter what I tried that b@stard wasn't gonna work. I ended up just driving it home like that and when I got home as if by magic it had fixed itself.
There's a reset procedure online, try that. It might fix it if you're lucky...
There's a reset procedure online, try that. It might fix it if you're lucky...
CarlosSainz100 said:
I owned one of these wonderful cars for 6 years.
For about half of those I drove it everywhere and everyday come rain or shine until it became my high days and holidays car.
Unfortunately a change in circumstances and lack of space meant I had to begrudgingly part with it. It was brilliant to drive, it wasn't particularly quick but it had character by the bucketload and the steering was so darty and quick. It was a
Nero Metallico with tan leather.
Cambelt and variator need doing every 3-5 years and 36,000 miles which gets expensive and they can use oil but if you keep them topped up and service them properly they're pretty tough. The rear suspension can wear out which stops them handling how they should. Mine didn't suffer from rust like every other Alfa has done from that period but one or two I looked at had. Rear callipers can stick on and handbrake cables seemed to need replacing every service for some reason.
If I'd had the space I'd still have it. Loved it
Sounds like you had a good one, it’s my intention to use mine as a daily, not someone to buy a car to “save” or hide away. Totally agree with you on the handling, even with the FF layout it feels well sorted.For about half of those I drove it everywhere and everyday come rain or shine until it became my high days and holidays car.
Unfortunately a change in circumstances and lack of space meant I had to begrudgingly part with it. It was brilliant to drive, it wasn't particularly quick but it had character by the bucketload and the steering was so darty and quick. It was a
Nero Metallico with tan leather.
Cambelt and variator need doing every 3-5 years and 36,000 miles which gets expensive and they can use oil but if you keep them topped up and service them properly they're pretty tough. The rear suspension can wear out which stops them handling how they should. Mine didn't suffer from rust like every other Alfa has done from that period but one or two I looked at had. Rear callipers can stick on and handbrake cables seemed to need replacing every service for some reason.
If I'd had the space I'd still have it. Loved it
I had 2 of these and 6 gtv's, I quite like them.
I kept a block of wood in the roof motor compartment, when the roof misbehaved a quick whack on the motor sorted it.
It was a 50% split between all my twinsparks on 'uses oil'.
Cambelts 3 years, 36k, variators when needed, when they do start to tap/rattle it can still be driven, I had success rebuilding them with the repair kit, I made a removal tool from and old focus bonnet hinge.
Alternators are a PITA...
Keep your eye on the rear springpans, wiper motors can have a mind of their own.
.
Just enjoy.
I kept a block of wood in the roof motor compartment, when the roof misbehaved a quick whack on the motor sorted it.
It was a 50% split between all my twinsparks on 'uses oil'.
Cambelts 3 years, 36k, variators when needed, when they do start to tap/rattle it can still be driven, I had success rebuilding them with the repair kit, I made a removal tool from and old focus bonnet hinge.
Alternators are a PITA...
Keep your eye on the rear springpans, wiper motors can have a mind of their own.
.
Just enjoy.
waynedear said:
I had 2 of these and 6 gtv's, I quite like them.
I kept a block of wood in the roof motor compartment, when the roof misbehaved a quick whack on the motor sorted it.
It was a 50% split between all my twinsparks on 'uses oil'.
Cambelts 3 years, 36k, variators when needed, when they do start to tap/rattle it can still be driven, I had success rebuilding them with the repair kit, I made a removal tool from and old focus bonnet hinge.
Alternators are a PITA...
Keep your eye on the rear springpans, wiper motors can have a mind of their own.
.
Just enjoy.
Thanks for the advice; very much aligns with what I read before on forums/guides. 6 GTVs is a good tally, seeing as they're so cheap at the moment I might get a few I kept a block of wood in the roof motor compartment, when the roof misbehaved a quick whack on the motor sorted it.
It was a 50% split between all my twinsparks on 'uses oil'.
Cambelts 3 years, 36k, variators when needed, when they do start to tap/rattle it can still be driven, I had success rebuilding them with the repair kit, I made a removal tool from and old focus bonnet hinge.
Alternators are a PITA...
Keep your eye on the rear springpans, wiper motors can have a mind of their own.
.
Just enjoy.
We had one of these from new in 2001 (Y plate) and identical in colour and spec to your own.
Even when new we did have some roof issues. Ours also went through the suspension bushes in about 2 years.
I remember having that done with whee alignment and the car was transformed.
Your driving impressions are similar to what I remember.
Such feelsome steering and that engine although not the most powerful was so nice to use .
I used to be an avid member of the GTV / spider forum on alfaowner back in the day and went to a lot of meets with that car, hence my forum name.
I’ve also run a 156 and 147.
Even when new we did have some roof issues. Ours also went through the suspension bushes in about 2 years.
I remember having that done with whee alignment and the car was transformed.
Your driving impressions are similar to what I remember.
Such feelsome steering and that engine although not the most powerful was so nice to use .
I used to be an avid member of the GTV / spider forum on alfaowner back in the day and went to a lot of meets with that car, hence my forum name.
I’ve also run a 156 and 147.
Edited by Alfa Pete on Monday 13th March 20:37
1000 Mile update
Two weeks into ownership now, so thought I'd add some updates on how the Spider has been.
A big impact on using a convertible is the weather; since owning the Spider we've had near constant rain, snow and temperatures below 10 degrees. Really happy to report the Spider has been as weatherproof as any car and its Climate control has kept the car warm and windows cleared. So while most of my driving has been roof up in the rain, one of these Alfa Spiders can work perfectly well as a daily. I'm getting 36 MPG on super unleaded (the Spider can't do E10 so its Fizzy petrol only)
I've also changed out the radio; it was a cheap aftermarket unit the car came with but its been upgraded to a Blaupunkt unit with Bluetooth/aux in. It also works really well with the powered antenna and fits in with the interior colour scheme too.
I've also given the interior a going over - the carpets are a light grey colour and weren't in great condition. However, a go over with a carpet cleaner seems to have worked pretty well and bought them up nicely.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/4bUFDCcK.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/rrtthJEx" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/rrtthJEx.jpg)
Issues? The roof is still temperamental and needs looking at (but is still workable manually thanks to the extra buttons behind the driver seat), the alignment needs sorting and the gear change isn't the best - I'll need to get the linkage checked. But that aside, I've had a ball revving the twin spark out and have really enjoyed trying out the handling on some good B roads. FF drivetrains have their limitations but I'm finding myself comparing it to my old 208 GTi in the way it has a really good setup for everything I'm throwing at it.
Long may it continue.
Two weeks into ownership now, so thought I'd add some updates on how the Spider has been.
A big impact on using a convertible is the weather; since owning the Spider we've had near constant rain, snow and temperatures below 10 degrees. Really happy to report the Spider has been as weatherproof as any car and its Climate control has kept the car warm and windows cleared. So while most of my driving has been roof up in the rain, one of these Alfa Spiders can work perfectly well as a daily. I'm getting 36 MPG on super unleaded (the Spider can't do E10 so its Fizzy petrol only)
I've also changed out the radio; it was a cheap aftermarket unit the car came with but its been upgraded to a Blaupunkt unit with Bluetooth/aux in. It also works really well with the powered antenna and fits in with the interior colour scheme too.
I've also given the interior a going over - the carpets are a light grey colour and weren't in great condition. However, a go over with a carpet cleaner seems to have worked pretty well and bought them up nicely.
Issues? The roof is still temperamental and needs looking at (but is still workable manually thanks to the extra buttons behind the driver seat), the alignment needs sorting and the gear change isn't the best - I'll need to get the linkage checked. But that aside, I've had a ball revving the twin spark out and have really enjoyed trying out the handling on some good B roads. FF drivetrains have their limitations but I'm finding myself comparing it to my old 208 GTi in the way it has a really good setup for everything I'm throwing at it.
Long may it continue.
Spinakerr said:
Looking good, glad to hear 1000 miles safely dispatched. I am keen to hear how you get on wiht the Blaupunkt unit as I've also ordered one of the newer ones, a 'Stockholm'. These new ones are good match for late 90s/00s interior styling.
Can't praise it highly enough; Mine is a "Barcelona" one (not sure on the naming, was a gift from my partner) but can't praise it enough. Very high quality feel, sounds good with adjustable EQ and works seamlessly with my iPhone. Can adjust the settings to match your car too; initially mine had a persistent clock showing which meant the antenna wouldn't retract but managed to get the switched off. If you use it for bluetooth calls it should work pretty well; people can hear me fine and its easy to answer/hang up.
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