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Date:         Sun, 11 Jun 2006 07:39:40 -0700
Reply-To:     Mike Miller <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Miller <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
Subject:      Re: alfa romeo (friday friday friday)
Comments: To: Mike Bucchino <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <001401c68d58$f62d7310$6501a8c0@mike>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Yeah they have a best one now, the model's name is Ferrari.

On 6/11/06 6:14 AM, "Mike Bucchino" <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET> wrote:

> Back in '81, I was working at a VW- Fiat dealer as a mechanic. I was > responsible for all the dealer-prep of the new cars, and did many VW's > (including a diesel Vanagon), and some Fiats (including an X1/9, which the > service manager closed the overhead door onto, as I was pulling it in the > garage, badly scratching the removable hardtop). > The VW dealer prep book time was an hour, IIRC, but only took 1/2 hour > (including test drive!), while the Fiat book time was 8 hours, and you > needed every bit of it. Any wonder why? Quality control for one thing. > For example, the Fiat's cyl. head bolts, suspension bolts, etc. all had > to be checked for proper torque, the coolant had to be discarded and > replaced with some real antifreeze, the keys were cut so poorly and the > locks were so bad that one could easily break the key in the lock, if it > even worked at all. Many things that should have been done at the factory > weren't. > It was a good thing that the VW's sold so well and the Fiats didn't. My > job was easier that way. It's no wonder Fiats left me (and probably many > owners) with a bad taste in my mouth, and I would give you a plug nickel for > a top example of thier best one today. Do they have a best one? I doubt > it. > > Mike B. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "David M" <covrambles@YAHOO.COM> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Sent: Sunday, June 11, 2006 2:15 AM > Subject: Re: alfa romeo (friday friday friday) > > >> Years ago I had a Fiat X1/9, the dealer also handled >> Alfa Romeo and Maserati. >> Italian cars are fickle and fragile. Parts wear out >> and break easily. The window handles on my Fiat all >> broke off on the first frosty morning when the windows >> froze closed. The engine compartment cover was >> carefully designed to deposit water directly on the >> distributor. The stitching on the seats all failed at >> the same time leaving the component parts floating on >> the seats. Parts cost a FORTUNE and if not in stock >> take a long time to get. Mechanics and parts are hard >> to find, if you can find them at all. A large >> percentage of the Alfa is Fiat parts. >> Now buy it and weep... >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 22:49:21 -0500 >>> From: Jeff Palmer <jpalmer@MTS.NET> >>> Subject: alfa romeo (friday friday friday) >>> >>> Evening ladies and gents, >>> >>> My good friend has suddenly fallen in love with a >>> 1990 Alfa Romeo >>> convertible (Spider I think is the model). 65,000 >>> miles. I did a >>> little googling but didn't come up with a whole lot >>> of information. >>> Does anybody have any experience, maintenance wise >>> etc. with this >>> model? I feel partly responsible as I dragged him >>> over to see it so >>> i don't want him to get in over his head. >>> >>> Thanks as always >>> Jeff >>> >>> 85 Westfalia GL (with great new springs from >>> Busdepot) >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> End of vanagon Digest - 9 Jun 2006 (#2006-484) >>> ********************************************** >>> >> >> >> __________________________________________________ >> Do You Yahoo!? >> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around >> http://mail.yahoo.com >> > >


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