Re: Berlina trip from Phoenix (too long)

["Daegrigg (Don)" <daegrigg@domain.elided>]

Andrew,

I had a similar "bonding" experience with my 79 Sport Sedan.  It sat in the
PO Michigan garage for 2 years, only started every few weeks and driven
around the block.  I flew in from Maryland, arrived at the car about noon in
Tecumseh.  I had planned to stay with a friend in Toledo but the car just
kept on going even through rain and fog in the mountains of western PA.
About a 15 miles from my house at 2:00 in the morning, I ran out of gas!   A
helpful state trooper  gave me a lift for gas and I rolled in about 4:00
a.m.  Slept till noon the next day.  Every time I look at Alfetta, I think
of that drive - 32 year-old car, 500 miles in 14 hours.

Cheers,

Don

----- Original Message -----
From: "Watry, Andrew (LNG-SFR)" <Andrew.Watry@domain.elided>
To: <alfa-digest@domain.elided>
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 12:57 PM
Subject: Berlina trip from Phoenix (too long)


> Here's an update, for anyone who cares, on my Berlina trip.  To recap, I
> flew to Phoenix from Oakland Saturday AM to look at, and buy if I liked
> it, a 1973 US 2000 Berlina with AC.  Thanks to some friendly Digest
> members' offers of help if needed, the Berlina minded its manners and ran
> just fine on the 900-mile trip from Phoenix to Berkeley Saturday and
> Sunday. So it is possible to buy a 30-year-old Italian car, give it a
> minimal look-over, and drive it cross-country.  Granted this car was a
> pretty well maintained one, and had been in regular use its whole life,
> so it was pretty well tested.  And the owner seemed like a mature,
> reputable guy who took care of his stuff.
>
> I left Phoenix about noon Saturday after being pretty convinced the car
> was solid, took the I-10 route to LA, met a Berlina Register member there
> and stayed over Saturday night, riding around in his Milano and enjoying
> Pasadena.  Early Sunday AM I took I-5 and CA 99 up the Valley to CA 120
> near Stockton, the across to Oakland. The Berlina ran fine at a regular
> 65-70 MPH cruise, hindered only by nasty Valley fog part of the way on
> 99.
>
> Some specific points from the trip:
> * No problems with the car after amassing 913 miles in two days; added
> two quarts of oil and air for the spare tire.
> * Boy can Alfa wipers be slow.  This car's wipers definitely have the two
> standard speeds: slow and slower
> * My ankle got stiff as a dead moose from the stock SPICA pedal height.
> Ouch.
> * Got just under 27 MPG for the trip as a whole including climbing 4000
> feet over Tejon Pass.
> * Got many long "cool-looking car but what the f**k is it?" stares from
> passing drivers and passengers en route.  People definitely notice
> decent-looking Berlinas but seem to have no idea what they are.
>
> * Americans sure drive boring vehicles; only really interesting car on
> whole trip was replica 427 Cobra making a lot of noise going 55 in slow
> lane in Dublin, CA.
>
> * Saw no Italian cars whatsoever on the road.  Did see the seller's five
> other Alfas, and friend's Milano in LA.
> * Only three cars en route older than the Berlina: 65 Mustang in
> Bakersfield, 64 Comet on Altamont Pass, 54ish Chevy 3/4 ton on Altamont.
>
> * Traffic in AZ is more sane than in CA; speed on freeway seems more
> reasonable, and with less variation.  Not like I-5 with 90 MPH fast lane
> and 65 MPH slow lane full of trucks.
>
> * The only cars being driven fast were the type favored by readers of
> Import Tuner magazine.  Some of them was checking out my bad ride too,
> knowwhatI'msayin'?  Now that's affirmation from the young generation.
>
> Sorry to be so windy.  The trip was a rush.  As a PS, the seller of the
> Berlina has a nice red Montreal for sale if anyone's interested.  I can
> pass along contact info.
>
> Andrew Watry
> Berlina Register
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