La, la, la means I love you
Look at that front end. Those cool headlights, and the signature Alfa grille. Is it black or is it blue? The owner swears it’s black metallic, but when the light hits it just right, a subtle tinge of blue comes shining through. And those red seats – so Italian.
Not gonna give you a hard time for being unfamiliar. This is an Alfa 916 Spider. Built between 1993 and 2004, this beautiful roadster (And yes, they did make a hardtop GTV version as well) was a fairly popular car in Europe, designed by Enrico Fumia at Pininfarina. At the end of the run, nearly 39,000 Spiders were built and almost 43,000 GTVs. In 1998 automotive know-it-all Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear said the 916 “was one of the best sports cars of its time.”
Much like the 84 Spider Veloce I drive today, I don’t really consider the 916 as much of a sports car, per se. It’s too delicate for that. This isn’t a car you thrash around like a Porsche, you bond with it, and enjoy it for all of its beauty; aural, mechanical, and of course, aesthetic.
Friends of mine immediately love or hate the car upon seeing pictures. But pictures (mine included) really do not do this car justice. There is something in the subtlety of Pininfarina that catches your eye at first, yet reveals the depth of the cars design language the more time you spend observing. The first words I spoke in the passenger seat were, “I’m in love.”
The owner of the car is kind enough to take us for a nice drive in country and let me drive back. The seating position is much like my Spider, you sit more on top of the seats, rather than down low in the seats, like a Porsche. This car has pleated red leather seats to accompany its dark body and is rather striking, whether up close or at a distance. They are very comfortable, but this car is more suited to people 5’9″ – ish and shorter. Come to think of it on my trips to Italy, I’ve never seen a lot of 6’4″ people. Finally, like earlier Alfas, the instruments in the 916 all face the driver (as they should) to make keeping track of the cars vitals easy.
This 1997 model features the 2.0 Liter Twin-Spark engine, producing 148 horsepower. My host tells me that even though some look for the 3.0 liter V6, he feels it upsets the handling balance, making the car nose heavy. Much like the R129 Mercedes SL. Everyone wants that big V8, but the 6 cylinder car is the one with better road feel.
Out on the back roads, the cars power is more than enough to motor along at a sporting pace. Though this car has a bit of scuttle shake, it is far less than my current Alfa, and quite a bit less than the BMW E30 convertible I used to own. It’s no Porsche Boxster, but I’ll never drive this car the way I drive my Boxster. (Photo below courtesy of owner…)
I know I sound like a fanboy for Alfa, but the Alfa Spider is not a car that beckons to be slid around every corner, it is so much better at a relaxed pace, feeling the gear changes, and listening to the engine with the breeze in your hair. In our oversaturated world, this is something we all need more of and the 916 is far more soothing than anything that comes in a pill from the pharmacy counter.
For those worried, parts are readily available overseas – even windshield glass. I am currently investigating what if any can be ordered from the local Alfa dealer, and what if any parts are compatible with current Alfas. Prudence suggests the timing belt be changed every 5 or 6 years, and the rest of the maintenance is standard in terms of batteries, fluids, and hoses.
If you can’t afford a Ferrari, but want mega Italian style unique enough that you won’t see one coming for miles, consider grabbing one of these while you can. They are trending on Bring A Trailer for as low as $9,000 with the high water mark around $16,000. Minimal cash for major style, I say.
Hello and welcome to Heel and Toe.
