[Roadsters] Just your thoughts OT Fiat 850

[Aaron Polivka]

I've driven and rode in a Fiat 850 spider.  It actually handles quite
well (if all the suspension bits are working properly, which is a big
if) but has the all the "performance" of a 60s beetle. It's pretty,
though, and has a certain amount of charm, but a roadster is a much
better driver. As I recall, 1st gear was a "grinder" (no synchro). Even
a 1600 puts out about twice as much HP.

I'd also hate to be in an accident with at 60s rear engined Italian
sports car.  Most of these were rusty within a couple of years of new,
and that cheap, thin metal in front didn't give me a feeling of safety.
Other than looks, and MG Midget is a much better car, and a Midget is
one somewhere between "junk" and "crap" on my scale of desirable cars.
:)

The 124 coupe was way cool.  Probably twice as fast as an 850 and a
great looking design that has aged very well IMO.  But tin worm and
horrible reliability has got 99.9% of them sentenced to the crusher by
now.