Date: Sat, 2 Aug 1997
From: OCDesign@aol.com
Hello Glenn,
It's great to see there is such a loyal group of people for this car. Thanks for putting up all this information. I am considering buying one but have a few questions:
- Is the fuel injection engine more reliable than the carbureted one?
- Are the models toward the end of the production life considered less "classic"?
- What should I be looking for when I am shopping for one?
Thanks for your help.
--Oliver
Oliver -
I would rate the fuel-injection engine and the carbureted engine equal in reliability. If you plan to do your own maintenance and engine tuning, the carbureted engine is easier to work on. The fuel injection system requires less maintenance, but more troubleshooting if something goes wrong. I have worked with both systems, and prefer the carbureted system because of its simplicity and adaptability. Also, I like to tinker, and don't mind the annual cleaning and tuning that makes my carbs dependable.
As far as I can tell, any year 1800 is as "classic" as any other. If you plan to drive one regularly, you might want to avoid the very early models, because it's a little harder to find parts for them.
Shop for an 1800 as you would shop for any other used car. The best cars have the best bodies. Ideally, all the trim pieces should still be on the car, there should be no rust and no discernable damage. I think it is better to start with a complete car with a good body than to purchase a good driver with rust or damage. The engine and other mechanical parts are easy to rebuild and replace depending on your skill and available time and money, but the body is never the same after damage or extensive rust.
-Glenn.