RE: new 164 owner

["Karl Chen" <karlcchen@domain.elided>]

Congratulations !!!

There are a few things I learned as 164 owner:

1. Never ever for whatever reason let wrong mechanics touch
your 164.  Both of my 164s when I got them looks perfect but internally( 
especially electronics ) has been basterizied by
someone that don't know what he was doing.  A mechanics no
matter how competent in his field cannot properly service
a 164, period.  Thier isn't enough 164 to let them mater the
skill.  Check both skill and reputation.  You are lucky, for
California, San Ramon area, you can trust Import Doctor.
Recheck all work done, especially some minor areas that had
been removed like properly secure intake boot...  My experience
has been it is hard for a mechanic to master both fixing
mechnicals and electronics.

2.  Learn to do some minor maintenance but let proper mechanics
do the major work on time.  This will save you money.  This is
only a suggestion.  If you like me want attempt major work,
It will cost you more money getting proper tools or you risk
destroy your car by wrong tools.  Not to mention skinned
knuckles and breaking Federal laws on weekends - the national
minimum wage law.

3.  Replace parts on schedule before they even has chance to
fail.  This eliminated 90% of debug time that normal people
encountered and then introduced which in trying to locate a
failing part, unnecessarily taking things apart and create more
problems than ever solving a problem.  How funny that there are
so many people getting paid to solve similar kind of problems on
computers - including me, ashamed <g>.

4. Don't try to save a few bucks.  Go for true OEM parts or
better parts if they are proven.  Nobody ever got rich on doing
that, just misery.  The worst habit I ever picked up from some females - 
made me driving around like idiot for hours to redeem
some $.50 coupons collected before expired so they can feel good
and justified their hard work.  Thank you very much.

The moral: If you can wait a year to buy things cheap and brag
about it, it is a proof that they are things you don't need anyway.  Just 
like most of birthday gifts. Now I paid my boy to destroy all coupons and 
junk mails before any adult even have a chance to touch
it.  Well this did not save me money either, now I can waste more
time on improving my glider acrobatic flying skills like doing loops and 
perfect landing in 30kt plus cross wind...  The choice is clear
for me what to brag about.  Wait, maybe I do save some money, I don't
need a bigger house when I don't have junk to pile up...

92 164S
94 164LS
Karl, San Jose, California.
How funny again if you trying to prove to everyone that you
are happy you will end up - unhappy.

>>
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 08:20:50 -0800
From: "Granier, Rob" <rob.granier@domain.elided>
Subject: I Got It!  I Got It!  Back In the Alfa Saddle Again

After selling my Milano Verde last February,  I vascillated between a
Lincoln LS 3.0 5 speed and a 164 for my next purchase.  But, it couldn't be
any 164,  I wanted an L with a moonroof and 5 speed,  or an S but either had
to have low miles and be a USA west coast car.  So, last week on
recycler.com, what shows-up?  A '91 S 5 speed with 67000 miles, residing in
<<

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