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Two New Products For Your Alfa Romeo GTV6

December 5, 2023 Ian

New Hood Prop Support

We just released a few new products to help keep your Alfa Romeo GTV6 on the road, or at least looking good while you enjoy it!

First up are the seat release buttons that tend to break at this age.  My Alfa Romeo GTV6 was missing one when I bought it, and I figured nobody was ever going to reproduce them.  But, thanks to the magic of 3D printing, I was able to create a pair that works well and is close to the original design!  I made a pair for my GTV6 and also made some extras, so if you don’t have a 3D printer you can just purchase one of these. Click here if you would like to purchase a pair.

GTV6 Right Seat Knob
GTV6 Right Side Seat Back Release Button – Reproduction

New Hood Support Prop Guide

The second item is one that I am even more even excited about –  a new hood support prop guide.  Most of them have broken over the years from the under-hood heat, including the one on my car. This is the new reproduction below on my GTV6.

New hood support prop guide we produced

I recently tried a new hood support prop guide that was made from PLA plastic. I was excited to have a hood prop guide again, but after my first drive, the plastic guide warped. The next time I opened the hood I couldn’t remove the hood support from the plastic guide.  The only way I found to release it was to break the top of the guide off. You can see the broken version at the bottom of the photo below. Note how the base has warped, the top piece had also warped and shrunk, trapping the metal hood support.

Various GTV6 Hood Prop Guide Reproductions
Various GTV6 Hood Prop Guide Reproductions

I looked into different materials and learned that PTEG has better stability, and doesn’t deform at the same temperature as PLA. It wasn’t a surprise then that it warped the first time I drove the GTV6.

Purchased guide on top and bottom. Our reproduction in the middle. Warped guide on bottom
New guide on top and bottom. Our reproduction in the middle. Warped guide on bottom

We are also making these available for purchase. I believe these will hold up better than a PLA version, and are a bit closer to the original Alfa design. I have tested it on my personal GTV6 in summer heat with no issues.

Two hood prop support guides
PLA hood support guide on left, PTEG on right
Purchased hood support guide on left, ours on right
PLA hood support guide on left, PTEG on right

Click here if you would like to purchase one, or click here to go to our shop and see all the products currently available. Please check back as we launch more products to help keep your vintage Alfa Romeos on the road!

Is your car one of the top 10 most stolen cars in Portland?

May 1, 2023 Kim

Every month almost 1000 vehicles are stolen in Portland.  While most (82%) are recovered within 30 days, this is still a major inconvenience, expense and source of stress for those whose cars have been stolen.  But which cars are thieves targeting, and is yours one of them?

Which type of cars are most likely to be stolen in Portland?

The top 10 Models that were stolen in Portland over the past 12 months are:

  1. Subaru Outback and Legacy
  2. Subaru Forester
  3. Honda Civic, CRX, Del Sol
  4. Kia Soul
  5. Hyundai Elantra
  6. Honda Accord
  7. Honda CRV
  8. Ford F250
  9. Ford F350
  10. Subaru Impreza, Impreza Outback, WRX

Source:  Portland Police Stolen Vehicle Database April 27, 2023

The available data doesn’t break down the model years for each model, but if you dig into the data, you will quickly see a trend.  If you look at these top 10 models by year, you will notice that most of them are over 15 years old.  

Here’s the chart for the top vehicle (also probably one of the most popular vehicles in Portland) the Subaru Outback / Legacy.

Source:  Portland Police Stolen Vehicle Database April 27, 2023

The sharp drop-off is for the 2005 model year.  (The Portland data source only shows the year if you hover over the chart.)

Why are older vehicles stolen more often than newer, more expensive cars?

You might think that thieves would target newer vehicles because they are worth more, but they typically target older vehicles that are easier to steal.

The sharp drop-off you see in the above chart is due to the addition in the new 2005 model year of a better vehicle security system with an immobilizer that prevents the vehicle from being started unless you have the correct key with a small computer chip in the key.

The way the immobilizer works is that the vehicle’s ignition switch needs to detect a specific chip in the key before it will enable the starter circuit and allow the vehicle to start.  Even if you have a key that is cut correctly and fits into the ignition switch and can turn the switch, if the small chip that is embedded in the head of the key is not detected by the security system, the immobilizer will not let the starter engage.  And therefore the car can not be started.

Older cars typically have keys that have worn down, and it’s sometimes possible to open the door or start the ignition with a “Jiggle Key.”  This is a key or other tool that is filed down to fit in the lock or ignition switch and can often turn the ignition by jiggling the key.   Much like how a lock is picked.

But if a thief doesn’t want to be bothered with a jiggle key they will often just break open the ignition switch and try to start the car using the exposed ignition switch behind the lock mechanism.

How do you know if you have a chip key / immobilizer?

If any of the keys to your vehicle are just a plain piece of steel with no plastic head, you do not have a chip key.

The key on the left below is from a 2005-2009 Subaru Outback and has a chip embedded in the head.  The key on the right is a key for a 2000-2004 Subaru Outback and does not have a chip in the head.

Even if your key does have a plastic head or built-in remote control, it still might not have an immobilizer.

So how do you know if you have an immobilizer and chip key?

If you own any Subaru from 2004 or earlier you do not have a factory immobilizer or chip key.

From 2005-2009 Subaru rolled out immobilizers on various models.  See this website for a full list.

If your car is a model year 2010 or earlier it’s worth checking.  If you’re not sure you can either search online using your Make, Model and year.  Or you can call a local locksmith or hardware store and ask.  If your local hardware store can make you a copy without having to program anything, it is not a chip key.

What about newer cars?

If you look at the chart below there is a second surge in thefts for cars from model years 2010 through 2022.  The majority of these cars are from Kia and Hyundai because they decided not to add an immobilizer to their vehicles to save costs. (Kia and Hyundai are both owned by Hyundai Motor Group).  Thieves and teenagers have discovered this weakness and the Tik Tok Kia Challenge took off.

Source:  Portland Police Stolen Vehicle Database April 27, 2023

The good news is that Kia and Hyundai are releasing software updates and providing low cost alarms with immobilizers.  So if you own a Kia or Hyundai contact your local dealer to see if you qualify for the updates.

What can you do to prevent your car from being stolen?

If you own an older Subaru, Honda, or Ford pickup truck, your car is being targeted by thieves.

First, figure out if you are at increased risk of having your car stolen. Is the make or model that you own one of the most commonly stolen cars in the Portland area?

Next, determine whether you have an immobilizer / chip key. If you do not have one, definitely consider purchasing and using a steering wheel lock, kill switch, or alarm.  Always make sure you lock your doors and (it seems obvious), always take your keys with you when you leave the car.  

We are currently developing an inexpensive add-on immobilizer for sale on our website.  More information will be coming soon, but we hope that we can help to lessen the number of cars that are stolen every month in Portland.

New Product: Alfa Romeo U-Bend Hard Fuel Line

April 25, 2023 Kim

What is The U-Bend Fuel Line?

The U-bend fuel line that we created is designed to replace a molded, high-pressure, rubber fuel hose on the outlet of the Alfa Romeo GTV6 or Milano fuel pumps.

Alfa Romeo Fuel Line 180 degree U Bend 8mm 5/16"

Alfa Romeo Fuel Line 180 degree U Bend 8mm 5/16″

8mm hard fuel line 180 degree U bend for Alfa Romeo Milano and GTV6 chassis

$19.95
Shop now
U-Bend will prevent hose from kinking
U-Bend after installation
Kinked hose

The GTV6 and Milano share the same basic engine, transaxle, and suspension design, but on some years and models, the fuel pump is on the passenger side, and on others, it is on the driver side.  On models with the fuel pump on the driver’s side, the rubber hose coming out of the fuel pump has to turn 180 degrees before going into a hard line that takes the fuel from the driver to the passenger side of the car, where the fuel filter is located.  

Who Should Buy The U-Bend Fuel Line?

If you have a 1981-1986 Alfa Romeo GTV6 or 1987-1989 Alfa Romeo Milano V6 and you plan to replace the fuel pump, rubber fuel hoses, or fuel filter, you should check your fuel filter layout to see if you need this fuel line and inspect your molded rubber hoses for cracks or age.  If those hoses are older than 10 years, we recommend replacing them.  

The fuel hoses going into and out of the fuel pump are 8mm or 5/16” inner diameter and should be rated for high-pressure fuel injection.  If you are replacing your fuel pump, we recommend replacing all those high-pressure lines near the pump and using this U-bend to replace the original molded hose, which is no longer available.

List of models that the U-Bend line will work for: 

1981 Alfa Romeo GTV6

1982 Alfa Romeo GTV6

1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6

1984 Alfa Romeo GTV6

1985 Alfa Romeo GTV6

1986 Alfa Romeo GTV6

1987 Alfa Romeo Milano 2.5 V6 (Silver, Gold or Platinum Trim)

1987 Alfa Romeo Milano 3.0 V6 (Verde Trim)

1988 Alfa Romeo Milano 2.5 V6 (Silver, Gold or Platinum Trim)

1988 Alfa Romeo Milano  3.0 V6 (Verde Trim)

1989 Alfa Romeo Milano 2.5 V6 (Silver, Gold or Platinum Trim)

1989 Alfa Romeo Milano  3.0 V6 (Verde Trim)

Personal Story: Why We Developed The U-Bend Fuel Line

In 2017, I replaced the fuel pump on the 1987 Alfa Romeo Milano we were building for the 24 Hours of Lemons series.  The rules state that the fuel system must be original, or you need to switch to a racing-approved fuel cell which is expensive and time-consuming.  So our goal was to keep the fuel system as original as possible.

We discovered that the high-pressure molded rubber fuel hose that comes out of the fuel pump is no longer available for sale when we went to order the fuel pump.  So back in 2017, when we replaced the fuel pump and all the old rubber hoses, we just used a longer piece of straight fuel hose in hopes that the larger bend radius would keep the hose from kinking.  However, that did not fix the problem because when we inspected it again this year before our latest race, we found that the hose had kinked and was likely blocking some flow, and was also at risk of cracking.

Since we had some extra NiCopp tubing left over from some brake upgrades, we decided to make a hard 180-degree U-bend to eliminate this potential failure point.  And it performed flawlessly over 16 hours of full-throttle racing at the last event.

Alfa Romeo Fuel Line 180 degree U Bend 8mm 5/16"

Alfa Romeo Fuel Line 180 degree U Bend 8mm 5/16″

8mm hard fuel line 180 degree U bend for Alfa Romeo Milano and GTV6 chassis

$19.95
Shop now

Should you hire an auto broker to buy an inexpensive car?

February 7, 2023 Kim

We recently had a customer come to us looking to replace their 15-year-old car that had been badly damaged in a car accident. He was looking for a relatively inexpensive used car, as it was not the primary commuter car for their family. 

When we told them we didn’t have any inexpensive cars in inventory, but we could help them find a good one for a small fee, he politely declined and said, “we just need to get a cheap used car for our kids to drive and are pretty specific about what we’re looking for.”  He also said he would consider hiring us if they wanted to purchase a nicer, newer car.  

While we look forward to working with this customer in the future, auto brokerage is not just for newer cars, and it can be of greater help to customers purchasing an older car. 

Here’s why: 

It is much easier to find a newer car in good condition.

If you are looking for a late-model car, prepare for some serious legwork.

So while the risk seems higher on a more expensive purchase, the odds that a 3-year-old car with 50k miles will need a new engine or other expensive and unexpected repairs are much lower than a 15-year-old car with 150k miles.  The average 3-year-old car is in better condition than the average 15-year-old car.

When we first started offering brokerage services,  we only focused on used cars up to about five years old.  It is not hard to find good, lightly used cars that don’t need much reconditioning beyond a set of tires, maybe new brakes and a couple of dents and scrapes repaired.  If you’re already set on a certain make, model, color, or trim level, you just have to be patient, and a car that fits your specifications will come along. Car buyers still needed help with the purchase process, but the risk that the car would arrive with serious or expensive surprises was far lower.

On the other hand, if someone asked us to find them a 15-year-old, $5,000 car that required much more leg work.  At that age and price point, most of the cars at the dealer auctions were cars that needed significant work, had major body damage, or had high miles and lots of wear and tear.  We probably looked at 20 of these for everyone we bought.  And even then, they usually required a few weeks and thousands of dollars in reconditioning.  So this wasn’t a quick process, and it didn’t make sense for us to try to find these cars for customers.  But when we did find something in that price range we would recondition them and put them in our inventory

The Smaller Your Budget, The Greater the Challenge

The average customer that’s looking for an inexpensive car is typically looking for something that’s primarily reliable.  When your budget is limited, you don’t have a cushion for unexpected repairs.  

Most people have an idea of what they want, but it might be difficult to find a good example in their price range.  And when good cars do pop up, they tend to sell quickly, either to buyers who have been looking and know what they want or to curbstoners who will clean them up and flip them at a higher price for a quick profit.

This means you have to look past minor dents, scrapes, and higher mileage to find a car that’s been well-maintained.  Ideally, you want to find a car that someone is selling because their needs have changed, not because they just got a $4500 estimate to replace the head gaskets.

If you need a car quickly, you might need to look at models that you normally wouldn’t consider but are still reliable and good value.  Like an older Buick instead of a Toyota Prius.

How do you spot these cars?  That’s where experience comes in.  Knowing which older cars can be a good value.  Knowing what questions to ask the seller before you start driving across town.  And knowing how to read a Carfax.  Sometimes what they don’t say is just as important as what they do say.  

Customers with a smaller budget are less likely to spend money for an inspection or advice

One of the first things we learned when we started our dealership is that probably only 10-20% of buyers are willing to spend $100 for a Pre Purchase Inspection once they found a car they like.  Especially when the budget is tight.  But this is when it’s even more important.  A 15-year-old car might be a few months away from needing a new transmission or engine.  And the signs that a transmission is starting to fail can be subtle and easy to miss.  Even knowing that the brakes are almost worn out or the tires are ten years old can mean the difference between finding something in your budget or buying something that quickly needs $1000 in repairs that you can’t afford.

We believe that the money you spend hiring a good auto broker will be made up in the reduced risk of buying a car with hidden problems, as well as the time savings we can provide.  We are also comfortable negotiating with sellers when many people aren’t.

Want to learn more?  You can read more about auto brokerage services or contact Esprit by email.

How to buy a used car for $5,000

February 6, 2023 Kim

how to buy a used car for $5000

“Can you help me buy a used car for less than $5k?”

We used to hear this question from car buyers all the time. They knew that as dealers, we purchased cars from wholesale auctions for customers as a service (called auto brokerage) and that we used to sell refurbished vehicles that meet our high standards. 

Unfortunately, finding a car for $5,000 these days is harder than ever before. We put together the following advice for car buyers on how to buy a reliable used car at this price point.

Why is it so hard to buy a car right now?

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Steps for Buying a Car Through an Auto Broker

January 31, 2023 Kim

Have you considered hiring an auto broker to purchase a car? We love working with a potential car buyer to find just the right car for your needs!

Here are the typical steps we take when acting as an auto broker to help you buy a car:

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Hiring an Auto Broker: Is it right for you?

January 30, 2023 Kim

Buying a used car is an excellent way for busy families to save money and get a reliable vehicle. But it can be difficult to find the right car, and that’s where an auto broker comes in. An auto broker can help you search through hundreds of vehicles, perform a pre-purchase inspection, and negotiate prices.  

However, there are some potential drawbacks when using an auto broker for your used car purchase. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits and drawbacks of buying a used car through an auto broker so that you can make the best decision for your family.

If you are looking for a reliable used car, but don’t have the time or experience to find one on your own, consider hiring us to act as an auto broker for you.

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Update – January 2023!

January 23, 2023 Kim

As of January 2023, we are no longer licensed dealers in Oregon. We are fully transitioning our business model to car consulting / auto brokerage services. This means that we will be working on the same side of the table as our customers, helping folks search for, find, inspect, and purchase a car that is right for them without us having a “business interest” in the vehicle. We think this is a better fit for what our customers are looking for and are excited to help you find the right vehicle!

After nine years as dealers, we have found and purchased hundreds of cars and look forward to using this inside knowledge to help our customers. We want to find the best car for you – not the best car that we have in stock that might work for you.

Ian recently helped Michelle and Grant G. purchase their first fully electric vehicle. Check out the recent review they sent us!

“Working with Esprit Motors helped us buy the exact car we wanted for an extremely competitive price.

The last couple of years in the car market have been absolutely wild, with low inventory, prices sky-high, and little negotiation. It was daunting to want to purchase something but not feel like we were at the mercy of a dealership.

Ian took our list of cars and options and used his market knowledge and dealer access to help us understand what was available in the market, how different factors affected pricing, and the wholesale-retail spread so we could feel confident that when we found “the one” it was a very good deal. His knowledge and relationships with shippers allowed us to search the full West Coast. Ian advised us on what to watch out for and counseled us to skip over some listings when he felt like the seller might be holding something back. Working with Esprit, we had access to both the wholesale and retail markets and the inside knowledge to successfully identify good deals in each. 

Once we identified the car we wanted to purchase, Ian counseled us during the negotiations and arranged shipping for an extremely competitive rate. In the end, we got the car with every option we wanted, delivered to Portland, for the best price we had seen during our two-month search.”

— Grant and Michelle G.

If you would like to hear more about our car consulting / auto brokerage services, please read more here and send us an email. We can fill you in on how we can help you find, locate, inspect, and purchase the right car for you!

All-Wheel Drive: Do I Still Need Snow Tires?

January 13, 2021 Ian

Each winter, we hear the same comment from customers, friends and neighbors — they do not need snow tires since they have a Subaru with All-Wheel Drive (AWD). As they prepare to drive to the mountain for skiing or to travel over a snowy mountain pass, we worry that they are not well equipped to handle the winter snow and ice.  

In the interest of safety, we want to clarify this misconception for our customers and other drivers. Here are the main benefits of All-Wheel Drive and winter tires so that everyone can make the best decision for themselves.

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Confused by types of car titles? Here’s what they mean

February 3, 2020 Kim

Confused by types of car titles? Here's what they mean

You have probably heard that a car has a “clean” title or to avoid cars with a “salvage” title, but what do different types of car titles really mean? 

The type of title greatly impacts the value of a car and describes its intended use.

Let’s look at each option one by one:

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