Roadster Salon

[Guitarguy]

I'm buying a second car from Roadster Salon.com. I have to say they have a way of doing business that makes it really easy. I'm sick of looking for clean "needs nothing" cars. Everything I see for sale needs work or has been "messed with" by some "at home" mechanic I've never met. I don't do have time to do my own repairs. I like the Ala Carte way they do things. You want bitchin Ferrari style leather in your car... no problem.
These guys - even on there basic (basso) cars - have a quality level I've yet to see elsewhere. Engine done by an older experienced ex Ferrari guy (cam belt, hoses, other belts, gaskets, all replaced and engine tuned up) Paint work that I've never seen better. (Man there is a lot of half assed paint jobs out there) Seats redone, electrical scrubbed, (the windows work better than factory) Wheels refinished, Brakes, other rubber, all replaced. And... all under one roof!
While I read on this forum from guys who cringe if they see a car selling at over 1999 prices, can anyone show me a clean well sorted car out there thats selling for less (with at least a decent looking matching interior). The Russo and Steele spider that sold at auction last January was not as well done as Roadster ..... yet is sold for $26,000. And why is no one is bringing another Spider or Pinin to the Monterey Auctions... you'd thing there would be 10 more guys trying to hit that mark. Where is all the well sorted Spiders? Can anyone post a "for sale" clean fully sorted car?
I've seen also Andy's Spiders, very experienced but he's in Canada, and it's the same price. RS is midwestern nice,right up front about prices and I think his cars right now look cheap... there... I said it.

[baltobernie]

By their count, they've sold over two dozen cars; more power to them. We all know these are great classic cars, and if someone can bring some economies-of-scale to the refurbishment of these beauties, more the better for all of us.

[johndemar]

Seems odd, at least to me, that there entire inventory is 2000's, and no price listing as far as I could see. Although I didn't look too hard.
Besides if you buy a car that needs nothing, what would we have to talk about?

[Guitarguy]

Good point John, I'm sure something will go wrong on a 30 year old car. I just don't have time to run my car to the shop every six weeks for yet another thing.
I love the way these spiders look, drive, sound. I love that there is room for stuff in the car. (for me a guitar and amp for gigs) My BMW M3 was perfect... too perfect maybe. But lets face it these cars are toys... I just want my toy to work.
The guys at RS put it all into harmony for me. They also can kick it up a notch on your car later for you. (vintage bumpers, lowered, killer leather, Nardy wheel, etc) For a guy like me.... a "vintage car greenhorn"... it's a perfect way to get into a classic car, without much worry. And... I really believe for what they offer - rust free, repainted, fully sorted, prideful no shortcut work - they are a bargain.
I flew out to Arizona auctions this last winter, out of a thousand cars sold there was only one clean rust free spider for sale. (I guess Ray at Roadster Salon bought it, and it still needed resto work) So I ask..... any other fully sorted cars for sale out there?

[johndemar]

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... &sk=t&sd=a

This is very nice.

[weekend warrior]

Congratulations, if you don't have the time, skills or facilities to do your own restoration then a specialist like this is a great solution. Its taken me ten years to do mine to a spec very similar to their lusso model and i have my own fabrication workshop!!
Hope you can post some photos when you take delivery

[Guitarguy]

Yes I'll post some photos soon. But I have to say John that red car is beautiful. Great color.
Then looking inside it gets a little scruffy. All well and fine for the money.
And yes... I don't have the skill, or the time. So those RS cars are right up my ally. I'm excited to just have one guy take care of all the details. It does cost more but I jump in and drive... granted I miss some of the experience of working on my car but I would do such a crappy job, and nobody near me has the skill set. I post this because earlier as I was looking at buying a vintage car this forum kept coming up. For me, I just wanted an easy way to get a cool car with out any stress of DIY project. Someone new might be poking around the same way I was. Here is one experience I had:

I found an '85 Black Spider in texas from a dealer this last spring. Seemed a reputable dealer, but... I asked: any rust?.. "nope." Any paint touch up? ... "nope, just come and buy it" When I went to see it it had rust bubbles and was not that great a paint job. A real expensive mutt of a car. Very disappointing experience. Ray at Roadster Salon.com was really honest and up front.
I'm just pointing this out for other newbies who might want a Spider and like myself,are not mechanically inclined. And I feel that when looking around they really seem cheap for the package they offer. No rust. 1st class paint- mechanics- interior. It's been fun... the lack of stress, priceless.
I bought a '80 Smoke Grey spider with 60K miles from Roadster Salon yesterday I get it early Sept. I'll post photos when I get it.
PS... I've heard next years "Fiat Freak Out" will be in Chicago.

[Guitarguy]

I just got an email from someone asking me about the work at roadster salon. My experience has been great. I rushed them on a second car they had in stock. I was happy with it but they pointed out flaws that they would fix for free. I took the car in early October... drove it a few weeks. Ran great... Ok the headlights went out on a dark road but some contact cleaner fixed it.... then I sent it back to them for the winter. They are taking care of some small details at no expense. I don't have time to buy a project car. They delivered a working, painted, matching interior, rust free car I could jump in, turn the key and go. I was in Scottsdale last week and saw cars that went for millions that did not have better interiors than RS. I saw MG's that had similar levels of work done go for $30-$40K..... and lets face it the MG is not as good a car. The prices on restored sports cars are climbing... fast. These cars are still cheap. But it won't last long. For me the Roadster Salon cars are long term investments while having short term thrills. One thing I will say if any restoration shop says "it will take 4 weeks".. you should expect 8 or 12 weeks. Thats true with guitars and with cars. For now I'm "doing time" in a mini van but I'm counting the days until spring.......

[courtenay]

Someone has to ask - might as well be me....how much?

[Guitarguy]

i think the web sight explains. $20K For needs nothing professionally painted car rust free, all perishables replaced, fresh timing belt, hoses, rubber etc. I talked to them from the car show they are almost sold out for this year and will have to raise prices soon. A low mile examples or an 85.5 will cost lots more. (Andy Spiders quoted a pal $40K on his 85.5 last year) Then you can ad on to those prices if you want Ferrari style leather or "Nardi" Wheel or other upgrades. If all you do or see are Fiat spiders, this might seem crazy. But to look at every other car of similar age (MG's, Triumphs, Alfa's) it's really starting to look cheap. If you want an 85.5 done to concours level one (not level three) you can expect to pay triple that. ( or about half of a current Mercedes 190SL done to a level 2)
i know there are cars out there listed cheaper but not for better than they offer. If you sell an RS car two weeks after buying it you are gonna loss money.... but where are prices going to be in 2016 ?
This is not the paint job done in "bubbas" garage but a stunning well prepped, blocked and sanded finish.
Consider the Spider new was the same price as a loaded Mustang, half of a Jag E type , or 1/4 price of a Ferrari 275. And check the prices realized at the latest auctions on those models.
There..... you asked.
Roadster Salon Web: http://www.roadstersalon.com

[Nova]

Thanks for the feed back on RS. I now just have to wait for delivery.

[TX82FIAT]

I don't know. My two cents having owned three Spiders. We know what these cars are. We know the pleasure of owning one as well as many of the shortcomings. I'm sure roadster salon does great work brining these cars back to life. However, at some point in ownership you are going to have to get your hands dirty on something that is not working. IMHO, the 20K plus price tag buys you piece of mind for a few years of ownership and then you are right back to the same place as the rest of us. If you want to buy the car and run it for a couple years then sell it, that may be economical to spend all the money up front.

[Guitarguy]

Yes, good point. But that is the same with many cars. Ask the guy who owns an E-type for 80-$160K. Or another who owns a million dollar late 50's Ferrari. (Or a 15 year old Ferrari for that matter) They have all lost that new car smell long ago and the jiggly bits just keep getting jigglier.
My pal owns a mid sixties E-type, fully restored, and has to fix something every time he takes it out. "No, every. single. time" he says. I drove my '80 Spider 400 miles home the day I got it from RS. Figuring out how the hell the heat works and all else is part of the charm. Expect to get your fingers dirty, yes. There is a reason vintage cars are worth more when they have the original tool kit in the trunk.
But when your car is really well painted, chrome is tidy, leather looks good, it makes your heart beat faster, like looking at a pretty girl. Then when she's purring because she is ... REALLY in tune, that is one of lifes pleasures. Yes.. all the better when you've done it yourself. But some of us can't. I'd rather work hard at my job.. then pay some one else to fix my toy.
A ferrari 275 GTS is a half a million bucks now. You will need a good mechanic to keep it happy. This site will still be used by all of us for the million questions that owning a Fiat will bring. I'm really glad it's here. But I was happy to pay Roadster Salon to go thru all the electronic connections as well as major stuff. My electric windows really work (and rather quickly) in my '85.5 Those guys took care of sooo many details. Brakes, belts, seat backs, trim pieces, sun visors, it's all very well sorted. Will it be perfect?..... No.

[RRoller123]

There is a great pleasure in buying a nice car and just driving it. One of my best friends has owned about 60 (not kidding) exotics, sports cars, etc over the past few decades. Corvettes, Panteras, Lotus', you name it. Buys them and drives them for a short time and sells them. Nothing wrong with having someone else turn the spanners for you. To each his own. BTW, he just bought a Fiat 500 Abarth over the Mini Cooper, said the Mini was a "better" car but the Fiat was more fun to drive!

[Guitarguy]

I look forward to meeting a few people at the the "Fiat Freek Out" in chicago this July. I''m always looking to learn what I can and see other cars. I hope Roadster Salon comes with some cars since it's his home town. They are a nice group of guys. He owns one of the coolest and cleanest 1985.5 spiders in the world... it was his dads car. His dad and uncles were and still are big into Fiat and Ferrari. Many generations of know how.
plus I'd love to find some one who wants to sell a Fiat 2400 Dino coupe.