OT: Porsche Guy or Alfa Guy?

[jamesdak]

Originally Posted by William

Nah, I want an old SPG like the one I used to own...







W.

I can only say WOW!, love these.

[oliver1850]

Originally Posted by texbike

Yeah, they were essentially the successor to the GT4. In typical Ferrari 2+2 fashion, they weren’t as well received as the 2 seat models -especially when they were first introduced as the Mondial 8. The cars went through 4 different iterations with each one improving. Mine is a Mondial 3.2 which is considered the “sweet spot” in the series. It has the same motor and trans as the 328. The cars are fairly simple and have fewer known issues than 911s of the same era. There only 32 3.2 Coupes brought to the US in ‘88.

A shame that there weren't more. I think it's a nicer looking car than the 308/328 and the GT4. I like the GT4 (except the rear bumper) but at the time I was looking, the main attraction was "cheapest Ferrari available".

[Steve in SLO]

Originally Posted by Tonger

‘04 GT3 captures the pure essence of Porsche and is the ‘forever’ car. Did you see the article in Total 911?

I saw just recently, but I have to say that it’s a lot more fun driving it then reading about it.

[Steve in SLO]

Originally Posted by jamesdak

Loved my old 2002ti!

Beauty!
Mine actually started out life as a 68 1602 and ended up with a 2002ti motor and five-speed 320i 5 spd transmission.
That was a fun car.
I have a friend who has a 3.0 CSL and a 2002 turbo. What a couple of monsters.

[paredown]

I got totally robbed on the 2002 front--my father-in-law had a pair--a '72 and a '75 (one for the shop, one to drive) that he kept running. About the time that we were moving around a lot, he got rid of one, and then after he passed away, my MIL gave away the second (along with her '84 Audi), just before we moved back to the US--not a word to us. Grrrrr.

Like other posters, I still remember the first 2002 test drive, sitting in the back seat while the sales guy did his personal rally course around the dealership--tossable, great sounds and it stuck like glue. I still remember the Car and Driver review

I honestly can't remember if that was before or after the first Alfa followed us home--to be honest, I spotted it in an impound lot, and made inquiries. My only regret is that my father (who was a really good mechanic) was too busy to coach us on trouble-shooting, and our skills were not at the 'diagnose a poorly running Alfa that has been sitting for god knows how long' level--so eventually we dumped it. (Freaking early '60s Veloce that is selling for a bazillion dollars now!)

Brother #2 had a Fiat 1600 (124 precursor) so that we could get to run and and some fun in it--and eventually it was Alfa #2, a 1600 GTV (looked pretty much like the 1750. By that point, our skills were a little better, and that's the one that we did the head gasket on (my bad--I did a long night drive at speed, and broke it)--with dad's help--I still remember him making a timing chain tensioner out of mild steel with a hacksaw and a file when we couldn't find the part easily.

Oh, and he jigged up and welded the aluminum oil pan back together after we went airborne after hitting a curb--'Go back and get all the pieces' he said. I think part of the same misadventure--we drove down to Portland to pick up a used front suspension, and rebuilt it. He set it up with a protractor and string lines--we took it in, and the shop made exactly one adjustment. And he could tune the dual carbs by ear...

[jamesdak]

Originally Posted by Steve in SLO

Beauty!
Mine actually started out life as a 68 1602 and ended up with a 2002ti motor and five-speed 320i 5 spd transmission.
That was a fun car.
I have a friend who has a 3.0 CSL and a 2002 turbo. What a couple of monsters.

I was at a BMW dealership Saturday buying a 340i. While waiting I out back in the delivery area I spotted a silver 3.0cs in the back lot. Went to check it out and it was beautiful with a lovely burgundy interior. Looked very mint. So wanted to back out of the deal and get that.

[glepore]

Originally Posted by joosttx

I saw this bad boy being unloaded in the hood yesterday. Someone is going to have a bitch'in Memorial Day.

Good grief, first the TR and now this. Must be QUITE the hood you reside in.

[texbike]

Originally Posted by jamesdak

Loved my old 2002ti!

Cool '02! Is that a picture of your old car?

Texbike

[joosttx]

Originally Posted by glepore

Good grief, first the TR and now this. Must be QUITE the hood you reside in.

You should see the Alfa down at the bottom of the hill. I’ll try and take a picture of it today.

[jamesdak]

Originally Posted by texbike

Cool '02! Is that a picture of your old car?

Texbike

Yep, that's the beast I had so much fun with.

[joosttx]

cool alfa that resides down the street from me.

anyone what model it is??

[maunahaole]

Originally Posted by joosttx

cool alfa that resides down the street from me.

anyone what model it is??

I’d guess either a Guilia or Berlina. I’m no expert on the finer points of these things.

[tuscanyswe]

A 70s Giulia

[Steve in SLO]

Yep. Giulia. My riding buddy in medical school had a red one. Looked great with a rack and a couple of bikes on the roof.
Pure panache, but my 2002 would smoke it.

[Ken Robb]

I'm not sure but isn't "Berlina" the Italian term for sedan and Giulia (Gulia?) a model name used by Alfa so this might be a Giulia Berlinetta.