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)
>>> **********************************************
>>>
>>
>>
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>
>