Re: First-time Alfa owner needs info

[Tony Martie <tony@domain.elided>]

Colin,
 Since you are new to the list let me be the first to welcome you. I would
also like to assure you that the current, seemingly endless threads on such
fascinating topics as; lugnuts (ooh!), shit lists (hmm?), and the two most
common spellings of "Spider" (whoa!) are not indicative of what you will
normally find here. Normally there is a lot of very useful information being
shared about the care, maintenance, love for, and driving of our wonderful
Alfas (<-- look! no apostrophe!). I expect the list to return to these
subjects soon. Very soon.

tony martie
also have a 78 spider

Oh yeah, your questions. I do not have the answers to most of them but, the
smoke thing is probably just a little oil leak on an exhaust pipe and the
vent window latch can be stuck back on with rear-view mirror adhesive (any
auto parts store).

> From: Colin Talcroft <ctalcroft@domain.elided>
> Reply-To: Colin Talcroft <ctalcroft@domain.elided>
> Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2001 18:56:19 -0700 (PDT)
> To: alfa-digest@domain.elided
> Subject: First-time Alfa owner needs info
> 
> Hello, everyone
> 
> Just joined the list. Have been reading posts and the
> archives in an attempt to avoid stupid questions that
> everyone is tired of answering, but I didn't really
> find much of use, so I thought I'd list my questions
> in the hope of getting some response.
> 
> I have just acquired a 1978 Spider. I am its second
> owner. It has 87,000 miles on it. The previous owner
> was a relative, so it's a car I have known for years
> and I know it has been well taken care of, but it has
> its quirks and I am ignorant (forgive me). I want to
> make this car look better and get it running the best
> I can. The first hurdle has been finding someone who
> works on Alfas (familiar story?). I am in Santa Rosa,
> California.  
> 
> So, first question: Where do I take this car for
> service? It has no special problems. It runs fine (I
> think), but I want it looked over just to be sure
> there are no potential safety problems. The only
> problem I have had is thin smoke coming out of it once
> (seemed to be from the rear axle) on a very hot day
> after about five miles of hill climbing. It was very
> hot underneath. This scared me, but it hasn't
> recurred. Just some oil on a hot part? This thing sure
> leaks oil, but I hear they all do.
> 
> Second question: Needs new tires. Anything that is
> particularly suited to this car?
> 
> Third question: The rest is cosmetics. There are a lot
> of little parking-lot door dings, but I can't figure
> out what the paint color is. It's a medium to dark
> brown. Chocolate Brown and Mocha Brown appear to be
> two colors used around that time. Anyone know?
> 
> I want to replace the gear shift knob--where can I get
> one? The car is missing one knob from the sliders to
> the left of the console. I'd like to get one of these.
> The window handle and lock mechanism on the left front
> triangular window has come off. I have the handle, but
> how do you "glue" this back on to the window?
> 
> Any help would be much appreciated.
> 
> Now for the question that really gives me away--how do
> you drive this thing? I love the way it feels, and I'm
> not a complete idiot behind the wheel--I even learned
> to drive on a FIAT, years ago, which felt rather
> similar, but this thing intimidates me, I guess. I'm
> used to driving a VW Passat at the moment. Needless to
> say, it's different (as it should be!) The Spider is
> so noisy that I am uncomfortable at high revs, but I
> know that shouldn't be a problem. I want to be able to
> drive it the way it deserves to be driven, but until
> it's checked out, I can't help feeling a bit timid.
> Where are people shifting in one of these? 4,000 RPM?
> 5,000 RPM? Also, I find it hard to get the thing going
> without spinning the tires! Anyway, any thoughts to
> help an enthusiastic but lost beginner, please.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Colin
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