what are the most common problems with this car?

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Great question! As an '87 Spider Series 3 owner-to-be, here's what you should keep an eye out for:

## The Big One: **Rust**
This is the #1 killer of Alfa Spiders. Focus on:
- **Front crossmember** under the radiator
- **Chassis legs** running back from the engine bay
- **Floors and sills** — these are structural for rigidity
- **Door bottoms, wheel arches, and panel edges**
- The **spare wheel well** — especially where the towing eye is welded (it can pull right off if rotted!)

Since the car you're looking at is listed as *Original & Highly Original*, hopefully it's been garaged!

## **Engine & Mechanical**
- **Oil seepage** — The twin-cam engine is famously "sweaty." It may look like leaks but it's often just seepage around the finned sump
- **Head gasket** — Not uncommon to fail; check for oil/water mixing
- **Timing chain** — Can get noisy, but adjustable
- **Cooling** — Use proper corrosion-inhibiting coolant, not plain water (alloy engine!)

## **Electrical & Interior**
- **Fuel gauge** — Swings wildly when cornering (no buffer in the circuitry)
- **Electric windows** — Slow operation usually means worn cables
- **Trim** — Switchgear and detail parts can be tricky to source

## **Convertible Top**
- Plastic rear window can **crack in cold weather** when folding
- Pivot points need regular **lubrication**

The good news? At 76,500 miles with *Original & Highly Original* status, this looks like a well-preserved example. The Series 3 Spider's 2.0L twin-cam with Bosch injection is pretty robust when maintained!

Want me to find some other Series 3 Spiders for comparison, or help with anything else about this car?

1987 Alfa Romeo Spider

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1987 Alfa Romeo Spider

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