Classic Cabrio Comparison

MGB V8 v’s Alfa Spider by Matt Nichols

When it comes to choosing an entry level two seat convertible to savour on high days and holidays then included on your short list should be Alfa’s 105 platform based Spider and MG’s model B. Both cars are available from Great Escape Classic Car Hire so you can ‘Try before you buy’ and in performing this comparison I chose their 1991 Series 4 Alfa Spider and 1971 MGB V8. The age gap may seem quite stark but the origins of the run out model Italian go all the way back to the 60’s and despite its plastic body kit and more modern interior design, it has a similar front engine rear wheel drive chassis set up to the MG.

First impressions

The acid test here is when both cars are presented to you with the keys in the ignition, which one do you get in and drive away, tricky isn’t it? The Alfa attracting you with its air of sophistication and Mediterranean flair, whilst the MGB sits there quintessentially British, albeit appearing much older in looks and styling. Which way you go I think will be a mixture of your preferences on country, era and abilities with a spanner? Buy an MG and you would be bonkers to think that you’ll never have to lift the bonnet yourself whilst with the later fuel injected Alfa you could easily step into ownership planning to rely on a single visit to a specialist each year for servicing and an MOT.

Sat inside

If your personal car compass was faltering on initially approaching these two sports cars then I guarantee you’ll either stay sat inside the MG or immediately get back out and run to the Spider. Because although the Alfa has fingers in both old and new world pies the seating position and interior design are all bang up to date. Conversely the MG is locked in a time warp combination of low slung seat, tiny windscreen, sweet smelling leather and mix of traditional dials and switches. If that doesn’t do it for you, or you don’t enjoy the handbrake pressing into your left leg then the Alfa is probably a more suitable place for you to be.

Engine and exhaust note

Now I have to admit straight away this is slightly unfair on my part in choosing an MG with a Rover V8 and raucous exhaust fitted. Press the starter button on this car and it goes up several star ratings instantly courtesy of the guttural throb emitted out the back, echoing off of every building, wall and bridge you pass under. The oversized engine also delivers lots of delicious torque from the off to provide great cruising and overtaking ability. OK so the Alfa is on the back foot in giving away four cylinders and 1500cc, but its 2.0 litre twin cam is no slouch providing equally strong cruising ability and a sporty, albeit far more subtle, exhaust note. The Spider just misses the inevitable punchy acceleration and overtaking ability the extra power gives the MG. If the latter were a more conventional 1800cc model then maybe the tables would get turned, so best keep an open mind in this department.

Out and about

On the highway these cars start to feel much closer in era with both delivering their power through live back axles. The MG’s ride crashes more over broken road surfaces whilst this particular Alfa squeaked its way along, possibly due to a warn bush or something requiring a spot of lubrication. Surprisingly it’s the MG that feels more modern, save for its steering which has a slightly odd artificial feel, being the same static or on the move despite the absence of power assisted steering. The Alfa’s newer shape and cockpit hide its original underpinnings very well indeed as on the move this car feels every bit a classic dominated by the heavy live axle that is firmly weighted to the road. The sensations you get inside the car are largely from the rear body being pushed around by the connecting rods and bars that hold the axle in place enhanced further by some slack introduced over time. The MG definitely has it on dynamics when pushing on, the Alfa being much more refined, but both transport you back in time whilst on the move.

Ownership prospects

Alfa Romeo is the first choice of car for many enthusiasts and collectors and it is not difficult to understand why. There is something, DNA if you like, that draws you in allowing your heart to rule your head on any purchase. Alfa’s are cars you fall in love with and get passionate about and the Spider fits this mould perfectly being less risky than some models as many have lived their entire lives safely stowed during winter months. Also when you buy one the chances are it will be an original specimen and not modified in anyway. MGB’s on the other hand, with some exceptions of course, will have had at least one re-build by now and therefore inevitably ‘improved’ in some way. This one received a Rover V8 and 5-Speed gearbox, whilst others will have got power steering or uprated suspension and converted from rubber to chrome bumpers, or given a set of period wire wheels. I think therefore in choosing between the two cars you can either tread the relatively low maintenance path of an up together Spider or the continuous improvement path that virtually every MGB in the land must find itself on at some point in its life.

Overall

As weekend tourers both cars will do a job for you and so your decision should be based on exactly how you would prefer your classic car experience to pan out. Handy with a set of spanners and keen to have a go, get stuck and make changes to the car then the MG is the car for you with excellent access to parts and panels. Simply want a car to drive and enjoy whilst leaving the oily bits to others then an up together Spider should fit into your life very nicely, particularly if you have a warm and dry place to keep it when not in use.

Driving

MGB - Great dynamics, although the ride can crash over bumps at times

Alfa - A lot of fun and feeling every bit a classic despite its relative newness

Engine

MGB - 3528cc Rover V8 combines well with the 5 speed gearbox delivering both punchy acceleration and great cruising ability

Alfa - 1962cc twin cam engine and 5 speed also work well together in the mid-range, although lack a few horses to be on a par with the MG’s V8.

Brakes

MGB - Discs up front and drums at the rear start to struggle when pushed

Alfa - The all-round servo assisted disc brakes on the Alfa are brilliant

Handling

MGB - Very little body roll and firm ride mean you can corner confidently at speed

Alfa - Perhaps the biggest surprise of all, agile and engaging

Desirability

MGB - Prices vary massively with original matching numbers chrome bumper cars changing hands at well over £10,000

Alfa - Good Series 4 Spiders are holding strong at around £8,000 with original Series 1 cars also fetching well over £10,000

Pro’s

MGB - Entry level classic car that offers its own unique British sports car experience with easy access to parts and panels

Alfa - Fun car for any occasion that comes with classic Alfa DNA

Con’s

Buying a MGB: None really, just with so much choice out there make sure you get the right one for you Renting: None

Buying an Alfa: Mechanicals are robust and reliable, but rust can be an issue, so make sure it’s a good one Renting: None

Overall

MGB - 4/5

Alfa - 4.5/ 5

Weekend Challenge for Alfa Spider

One of Great Escape Classic Car Hire's Alfa Romeo Spiders took on a challenge last weekend (23rd and 24th July) put down by a classic car motoring journalist. Phil Wheedon of Classic Car Buyer and Classic Car Mart borrowed our 1992 burgundy Alfa Romeo Spider Series 4 for a trip to Scotland and back over 48 hours, via his home in Peterborough, for a forthcoming feature. We were happy to oblige because we were 100% confident in the car's reliability.

The 19 year old Alfa Romeo Spider performed faultlessly throughout the journey, which included Phil returning from Scotland with the hood down all the way. Although we will be checking the car on the ramp following this epic journey, there are no reported faults on the 65,000 mile car.

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we work extremely hard to improve the reliability of our fleet of cars, of which the average age is over 30 years old. We operate a strict maintenance regime for every vehicle and we have invested in an in-house workshop at our main Worcestershire site. This has improved vehicle turnaround and enables us to ramp check every car on a regular basis. Our other sites have similar arrangements with local garages.

"Our breakdown rate is less than 2%," explains Graham Eason of Great Escape Classic Car Hire. "That is pretty remarkable considering that our cars cover over 5 times the average classic car mileage and very nearly the average motorist's mileage."

Every Great Escape classic car is covered by full nationwide AA breakdown recovery. Unlike some classic car hire companies, Great Escape does not charge for vehicle repair and recovery from anywhere in the UK.

For more details on the Great Escape fleet visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733.

Try before you buy Alfa Romeo Spider

Great Escape Classic Car Hire road tester Matt Nichols tries out the Alfa Romeo Spider

Do you sometimes wonder what makes a car a classic car? It’s not as though there is a straight forward definition, or line drawn somewhere out there in the sand. Some cars just seem to naturally gravitate to being classics, whilst others pick up provenance along the way, possibly from appearing in a film, or perhaps owned by somebody famous. Look around some more and you find another group that have had to go out and win big time to gain entry, often facing severe adversity in races and rallies across the globe before finally being recognised and appreciated for what they are.

The Alfa Romeo Spider, although gaining recognition in the film ‘The Graduate’, seems to fall into a fourth category, one that is arguably the most difficult to gain entry. A category where cars are simply born and live out their entire lives as classic cars, spread in this case over an incredible three decades. Because for over 27 years, Alfa’s pretty two seat sports car was held in the highest esteem throughout the world and across all four mildly tweaked generations that culminated in this roll out series 4 derivative. On the surface surprising, but then to some degree easier to understand when you look up the original recipe and recognise some of the key ingredients; pure Alfa DNA, gorgeous Pininfarina styling and classic front engine and rear wheel drive layout. All topped off, like the icing on an already impressive cake, by something that is no means guaranteed from any car, classic or otherwise, one that is grin inducing fun to drive.Quite how good this car is to whiz along with the roof down is perhaps the biggest surprise of all, particularly when your overwhelming pre-conceived idea is that of a car demonstrating form over function. Or one some might refer to as having a strong feminine appeal. Not a bad thing, just not necessarily an image that conjures up the right impression of a true driver’s machine. Which just proves how wrong you can be?
Having spent a day driving the Great Escape car I have to admit that although there is forgiveness in the chassis and suspension, which certainly helps prevent a sudden diversion to the nearest dentist immediately after every speed bump, there is also something else that you discover when pushing on a bit. Thankfully not the disappointing wooliness that I was expecting, instead a lovely deftness around how weight is transferred from both left to right and front to rear delivering real driving pleasure that can be enjoyed at any speed.As a consequence I am now convinced that this car’s hidden brilliance is as a direct result of it being rear wheel drive, because it constantly reminds you that there are two ends to consider.
From the slight shimmy over minor undulations to the way it hooks itself up into corners. On a car of this size the sheer mass of the live rear axle means that unless provoked, it is basically stuck to the road. What you feel sat in the cockpit is therefore as a result of the solid steel bars that connect the axle to the rest of the car. If the Spider were front wheel drive it would loose that feeling, and arguably its proper sports car credibility. Personally I reckon maintaining this layout represented a great call from Alfa, a landmark decision that also meant the Series 4 Spider was the last mainstream Alfa to use a front engine rear wheel drive layout before the Fiat chassis era finally took over.
Navigating both slow and fast sections of the highway I cannot hide my unexpected appreciation and respect for this diminutive Alfa sports car, from its great looks, both inside and outside the cockpit, to the pace you can maintain whilst rolling along with barely a tickle on the throttle pedal. Look at the dash and think it too modern, then eyeball the front wings, or right hand rear flank through the drivers mirror and you’re immediately transported back in time. As you are every time the rear of the car reminds you of its presence over bumps and undulations, truly sensational.In terms of classic car traits there are very few, namely a squeaky rear end and very slow drivers side electric window, but these minor points aside, the roof is the best I’ve experienced, controls light and easy to use, brakes brilliant, gearbox a delight, indicators that cancel themselves, and as I now appreciate most unusual of all, a clock that still works. No adjustments are required from driving cars from a more modern era either, the fuel consumption is very good and better still it requires only normal unleaded.
This really is a car that can be enjoyed by everyone, whatever you drive or have driven before, delivering a truly fun day out, so go on you know you want to.
Verdict
1991 Alfa Romeo Spider Series 4
Driving
In one word 'fun'
Engine
Alfa's 1962cc twin cam engine works particularly well in the middle band (3,000-4,000rpm) whilst in fifth gear travelling at 60-70mph
Performance
Max Power: 120 BHPMax Torque: 122 lbs/ft0–60 mph: 9.4 secondsTop speed: 118 mph
Brakes
The all round servo assisted disc brakes on this car are brilliant
Handling
Perhaps the biggest surprise of all, agile and engaging
Desirability
Series 1 and 2 values are the highest and on the rise, which bodes well for later models. Series 4 car values are holding strong with the less well liked rubber bumper Series 3 models the cheapest buy
Pro’s
Fun car for any occasion that comes with classic Alfa DNA
Con’s
Buying: Mechanicals, as long as well maintained, are robust and reliable, but sadly the steel used by Alfa during this time was not the best, so be careful Renting: None
Overall
4.5/ 5

Hire a classic Alfa Romeo Spider in Yorkshire

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has added a classic Alfa Romeo Spider convertible to its self drive sports car rental fleet based in Harrogate, Yorkshire. Easy and rewarding to drive, the silver Alfa Spider is the perfect weekend getaway car.
The new Alfa Romeo Spider for hire in Yorkshire is a stylish two seater convertible with good size boot, five speed gearbox and power steering. The car's appearance is based on the iconic Alfa Romeo Duetto of the 1960s, made famous by Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate. It is available to hire by the day, week or weekend from Harrogate. Prices start at £165 for 24 hrs and include full 24 hours use for every day booked, unlimited mileage, insurance for 1 driver and full UK AA breakdown cover. Until Christmas 2010 you can receive 10% off these prices by booking online.
Great Escape Classic Car Hire operates a fleet of 50 classic cars for self drive rental in the UK from locations in Shropshire, Suffolk, Worcestershire, East Midlands, Yorkshire, Oxfordshire and Dorset. The new Alfa joins Great Escape's existing fleet of three Alfa Romeo Spiders for hire in Suffolk, Worcestershire and East Midlands.
To find out more about the new Alfa Romeo Spider for hire in Yorkshire click here or call 01527 893733
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We've got another Alfa - what to look for when buying one

There's just something about Alfa Romeos. When I founded Great Escape an Alfa Romeo Spider was one of the original two cars on the fleet - it's still on the fleet and despite covering over 50,000 kms in four years it has never broken down and needed very little maintenance work. That's quite different from the usual Alfa reputation for rust and dodgy electrics. Maybe it's because this particular Alfa was assembled by Pininfarina...

So it made sense to add a second Alfa Spider when we expanded into Suffolk - that one is a 1989 Series 3, a carburettor version with the arguably sweeter 1600cc twin cam engine. Many Alfisti poo-poo the Series 3 Alfa because of its 'aerodynamic' restyling but these are really great cars - inexpensive, reliable and, in the right colour like our Medio Blue example, I think they look great. Particularly riding on nice Cromodora alloys.

Our latest addition is another Series 4 Alfa Romeo Spider in metallic burgundy. It's identical to our original Alfa Romeo Spider but is a slightly earlier Series 4 and features the allegedly superior Bell and Colvill right hand drive conversion. What makes the Series 4 so great is the creature comforts - power steering and electric windows.

The Series 4 Alfa Romeo Spider is the easiest of the 1966 to 1993 105 Series Alfa Romeo Spiders to live with because of these relatively modern features. It is also fully galvanised, which means the rust that ravages the early Duetto, Kamm Tail and Series 3 cars tends to be held at bay for longer. That doesn't mean that these cars don't rust - the spare wheel well, rear arches, headlamp surrounds, windscreen scuttle and front valance all rot out. The interiors are also notoriously weak wearing and replacement parts, although quite easily obtained, tend to be expensive and only available new or refurbished. Mechanically the Alfa Romeo Spider is very reliable, being fitted with fuel injection and engine management systems. The twin cam engine is legendary and long lasting so parts are easily available and generally it is a hard wearing engine. However, it does not particularly sustain high mileages, particularly if a very strict servicing regime has not been maintained using high quality oils (Alfa recommends Selenia). The usually sweet five speed gearbox has generally weak synchromesh, particularly on second - this is often caused by swift changes from cold before the fluid in the box has had time to warm up properly. Engine and gearbox rebuilds are not particularly expensive but can render a generally cheap classic car scrap.

Our original 1992 Series 4 Alfa Romeo has completed 50,000 kms in 5 years without major incident. The car has never broken down on hire and has only suffered minor and routine maintenance issues including clutch and starter motor. Mainly this is due to regular servicing and careful cleaning before and after every hire - we jet wash underneath and around every wheelarch before the car is parked up and we Carcoon it over winter. When we purchased the car we also invested in wax injection to prevent rust - this cost just £100 (by the company that wax injects all Morgans) and has definitely helped the car remain rust free.

Prices for Alfa Romeo Spiders are a mixed bag. The classic car market has finally recognised the original 'boat tail' Alfa Romeo Duetto as a bonafide classic and prices have risen considerably in the last three years - it is difficult to buy one for less than £10,000 today. Series 2 Kamm Tail Spiders are the next most desirable but prices still float around the £7-8,000 mark for a reasonable car - there are a lot about and condition is everything. And often very hard to judge on these cars because the shell contains so many hidden rust spots. The Series 3 car is the least loved, mainly due to its spoilers (derived from Alfa's 'aerodynamica' styling project in the 1980s). Although they share the rust problems of the mechanically and bodily identical Series 2 Kamm Tail cars (in fact a retro-conversion is available in Germany for them), they are generally much better built and significantly cheaper. As a low cost way into Alfa Spider ownership (prices start at around £3,000 for a reasonable car), the Series 3 is recommended if the looks don't matter to you (and they have mellowed with age - we quite like them at Great Escape) - it is as fun to drive and the 1600cc, often overlooked, is sweet and peppy.

If your budget won't stretch to the Duetto we think the Series 4 is the best of the rest. It is useable as a daily driver in the way that neither the Series 2 or 3 are due to rust and lack of power steering and, we think, it looks great. The Pininfarina makeover may have introduced plastic bumpers but it is a remarkable piece of styling that managed to turn a 30 year old design into something classic but contemporary.

The Alfa Romeo Spider really is the perfect getaway car. So now we have three - one in the East Midlands, one in Suffolk and one in the Cotswolds. For advice on buying a Spider call Graham on 01527 893733 or if you want to discuss hiring the car, just let us know as well.

Milestone for Alfa Romeo Spider

It's time to raise a glass to our long-serving Alfa Romeo Spider. This car has been on the Great Escape Classic Car Hire rental fleet since day one nearly four years ago - it was one of the first two cars we offered for hire, alongside our Jensen Interceptor. And now it's passed a landmark - 100,000 kms. Ok, so its only 62,000 miles but we think the little car deserves its moment of glory.

We bought the immaculate Alfa Romeo Spider in 2006 when it had just 51,000 kms on the clock. In the intervening years it has been one of our most popular hire cars with glowing feedback from customers. And it has been utterly reliable.

Belying Alfa Romeo's reputation for building fragile cars with electrics designed and assembled by people who apparently don't know their AC from their and DC, our Alfa Romeo Spider has been the most reliable car on our fleet. It probably helps that the car wasn't built by Alfa Romeo - it was assembled by Pininfarina, who executed the elegant Series 4 redesign of our car - and that it is relatively new compared to some of our cars. But 50,000 kms in less than 4 years at the hands of hundreds of enthusiastic drivers is testament to what a great car it is. The Alfa Romeo has never broken down on hire and has only needed a clutch, starter motor, brake pads and discs and an electric window motor.

We're so impressed by the Alfa Romeo that we've added a second Alfa Romeo Spider located at our base in Suffolk. Although we've added a couple of MGBs in the intervening years, we still have a soft spot for the British roadster's Italian rival. To find out more about the remarkable Alfa Romeo visit http://www.greatescapecars.co.uk/ or call 01527 893733. Prices start at £165 for 24 hours.

Drive the best ever Alfas - as voted by you

When we read at Great Escape Classic Car Hire that Alfisti - Alfa fans to you and me - had voted the Alfa Spider and Alfasud their third and fifth favourite Alfa Romeos of all time we had to agree. Since we started Great Escape four years ago Alfa Romeos have been a central part of our fleet. We now have three Alfas - although our Alfasud is not for hire any more - and they remain amongst our most popular cars.
The Alfa Romeo poll was organised to celebrate Alfa Romeo's centenary and appears on the dedicated Centenary website at http://www.alfacentenary.co.uk/.
Great Escape has two Alfa Romeo Spiders for hire in the UK - one in Suffolk and one in Worcestershire, ideal for the Cotswolds. The cars are beautiful and elegant two seater sports cars that are very easy to drive and ideal for year-round touring thanks to their good quality hoods, excellent heaters and easy driving style.
To find out more about the Great Escape Alfa Romeos in Suffolk and Cotswolds click on the links or call 01527 893733.

Italy vs Germany

At Great Escape Classic Car Hire we've decided to go to extremes this summer. The hot weather got us thinking about adding more classic convertibles to our hire fleet (we have always run short at busy times). When we started looking at suitable options our choice came down to two extremes - either an Alfa Romeo Spider or a Mercedes 300SL. Two very different cars that probably appeal to different people. So what to do?

Well, we ended up buying both. It has meant losing the Porsche 928 but once we started looking at Mercedes and Alfa Romeo cars we realised that both of these convertible are just perfect. They're easy to live with, reliable, easy to drive and stylish. Even though the Germans and Italians seem to have approach the idea of a stylish convertible from different directions, the end result is a pair of classic convertibles that achieve the same result - a great and entertaining day out.

We've bought a lovely Mercedes 300SL for our Yorkshire fleet - finished in metallic green with a cloth interior and automatic gearbox. It's the more leisurely, relaxed alternative to our new Alfa Romeo Spider, which we've added to our Suffolk fleet. It is a 1989 Series 3 'aerodynamica' car finished in metallic blue with a black interior and a manual gearbox. It is a 1600cc car running on carburettors - not as powerful as the 2000cc version of this engine but what it sacrifices in power it makes up for in smoothness and sweetness.

You can find out more about the cars on the Great Escape Classic Car Hire website or clicking here to view our Suffolk fleet or Yorkshire fleet. Or call 01527 893733.

Our Porsche 928 is for sale

We are reluctantly selling our great Porsche 928 after a couple of years on our hire fleet. It's going to make way for two new additions - our new Mercedes SL in Yorkshire and our Alfa Romeo Spider in Suffolk.
Although the Great Escape Classic Car Hire Porsche 928 was not our top hirer it was consistently rated as one of the best cars on our fleet by hirers, who loved its looks, performance and sheer driveability. This car really is one of the most under-rated classic cars on the market. If Porsche had only made the 928 and it didn't live in the shadow if the 911 then values would be dramatically higher.
So, we're very sad to see it go but life goes on. If you want to buy the car we're auctioning it on Ebay from 17th July for 7 days. Click here to view the item.

Alfa Romeo Spider now available to hire in Suffolk

Great Escape Classic Car Hire has added a second classic Alfa Romeo Spider to its hire fleet. The new car is based from Great Escape's site in Suffolk, near Stowmarket, and is the only classic Alfa Romeo for hire in East Anglia. The car complements the very popular Alfa Romeo Spider for hire from Great Escape in Worcestershire.

The new Alfa Romeo Spider for hire in Suffolk is a 1989 Series 3 car finished in the rare colour of metallic Medio Blue with a black interior. It has a manual gearbox and is fitted with the classic 1600cc twin carburettor, twin cam Alfa Romeo engine that featured in the original Alfa Romeo Duetto launched in 1966.


The new car can be hired from Great Escape Classic Car Hire in Suffolk on a daily, weekly or weekend basis. Every hire day includes a full 24 hours use, unlimited mileage, insurance for 1 driver and full UK AA breakdown cover. Prices start at £165 for 24 hours. Gift vouchers are also available.


The Alfa Romeo Spider was an expensive two seater convertible when it was launched in 1966 and competed with the Jaguar E Type convertible. Today the Alfa Romeo Spider is more comparable with the MGB convertible but is generally considered to be a more sophisticated and better handling alternative to the popular British car.


To find out more about hiring the Alfa Romeo Spider in Suffolk click here or call 01527 893733.