[alfa] Contributions to the AD

[C M Smith <cmsmith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Richard is very politely suggesting $5 contributions PER YEAR!!!! to 
support this digest. I don't know about you guys but I spend at least $5 a 
WEEK buying automobile related magazines that, while interesting and have 
nice pictures, don't come close to the entertainment value of this digest 
let alone its hard economic value to anyone with a technical problem with 
their cars. Heck, when I discovered this digest in desperation over the 
stepper motor fiasco that just about every 164 owner eventually suffers I 
was on the point of dumping my Alfa for whatever it would bring. Instead, I 
did the old Internet search and uncovered the 164 page, hosted by Colin 
Verrelli, and the link to this digest. I found that I was NOT ALONE, and 
that many otherwise sane people had paid good money or worse, sacrificed 
their own time, to repair this manufacturing design blunder and restored 
their beloved Alfas to daily use. Yes, even the fwd FIAT Alfas are special 
cars that drive like nothing else you can find anywhere. Mine has a rusting 
windshield header but otherwise is rot free and looks like it could last 
forever so long as Alessandro is alive and parts are available. I can't 
bring myself to sell it unless Alfa comes back with something better, like 
a Brera for example (drool).

Since that time I have used both internet based resources (and subsequently 
discovered a similar resource for my Turbo SAABs) to help me rationalize 
the continued enjoyment of my European cars. I have saved big money leaning 
on the advice I have received from these sources.

I think I have "donated" twice (it's hard to think of this as a donation, 
more properly it is a just payment of a legitimate price for service 
rendered) and each time thought I was being a bit on the cheap side. I 
bought a US dollar draft each time because cashing Canadian cheques in the 
US is a royal pain as is vice versa. I suggest each of us consider how much 
we spend on car mags, or coffee, or beer in the afternoon and compare that 
to the cost a donation for the continued financial health of this digest.

Pay up guys, it's a bargain.

Cheers


Michael Smith
White 1991 164L
Original owner
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