Fiat Coupes

[Chris71]

I posted this in the main thread, then noticed a Fiat section has appeared! Maybe someone can advise me.....

Hi,

I know a few people on here have owned Fiat Coupes. And without opening up the Coupe/Corrado/GTV debate again(!) I have a few questions.....

Whats a realistic price and what should I look out for? Assumed I couldn't afford one on my strictly sub 3k budget, but there seem to be quite a few about.

Similarly, I presume the turbos command a higher price than the naturally aspirated cars, and 20Vs more than the 16Vs? Apart from the obvious straightline performance difference are there any significant changes? For a daily driver I think I could live with any of them to be honest and I'm not sure I need to pay the premium (presumably) commanded for a decent 20V turbo.

Whats their reliability *really* like? I'm being warned off anything Italian and/or vaguely speciliast, but Parkers reckon they're pretty good. Am I going to find it leaking and periodically refusing to start or is this a myth? I can kind of cope with niggling faults, but don't want to see it expire in a cloud of smoke when I'm trying to get to work

Anything else you can add? - advice, faults to watch for, recommendations etc. I'm all ears.

Cheers,

Chris.

PS It should probably be stressed that this is for daily use (quite a few miles - frequently in the rain etc etc).....

[slapmatt]

I can't comment on the Coupe, but my girlfriend has an 2002 Punto and it's been back to the dealer so many times under warranty that it's disgraceful. New clutch, starter motor, numerous electrical niggles, plus a few other things I'm sure she'd tell you about - and this is on a car only a few years old.

To be honest, I wouldn't touch a Fiat with a bargepole (and I own an Alfa!).

[mick_coupe]

I have owned Alfa's and Fiats,both the same on the reliability stakes.Mine have all been good.My local dealer is very good.I owned a coupe 20v vt for over 12 months and it was excellent,a mate bought the car off me 18 months ago and its still going strong.Had to replace brakes but apart from that only servicing.Try and find a 20v non turbo with a FSH and you won't go wrong.Try this forum www.fccuk.org/forum/ubbthreads.php

Mick

[Chris71]

Cheers Mick. Decided I'm going to concentrate on the 5 cylinder cars - possibly a na one for my budget (especially given the traffic density round here)

[nre]

I'm on my second coupe, I enjoyed the first so much until it was written off. There are a few common problems like front wishbones going and exhaust manifolds on the 20 vlalve models, the cam belt and auxilary belts are very expensive to replace on the 20V especially if you go to Fiat as they take the engine out so if you buy one from a garage make sure they do that or have been done recently. You can pick up the basic 20VT 's quite cheaply with prices rising to 8k or more for a good condition LE (limited edition) or plus, both these models have a 6 speed box, strut brace and body trim.



NRE

>> Edited by nre on Wednesday 24th May 18:18

[Alfa Mad]

The Coupe has a very similar chassis and suspension to my 155. I have found this, and customer's Coupe and Barchettas relaible and viable. Sure, some things do wear out before some of the German stuff- they are built to a budget- but I wouldn't have any qualms about ownership. Personally I'd avoid the 20v- I wouldn't like to change a cambelt, much less pick up the pieces of a failed one. I realise the 20v engine is more desireable, but I'd go for a good 16V turbo. This advice does go against the grain, and I speak from an maintenence and handling point of view.... Also, you'd be able to buy a really good one for that money.
The shame is that the 20v engine is so strangled by the exhaust that you'd never know its a 5 pot, and it does nothing that a 4 cylinder stablemate won't do.
Remember to buy on condition and servicing record before mileage and year though.

All in all, good taste- personally I find the Coupe much more attractive than a GTV and better handling too.

[pdV6]

Alfa Mad said:

personally I find the Coupe much more attractive than a GTV

Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder

Alfa Mad said:

and better handling too.

You wot? The reason the Coupé has such good interior space is that it doesn't have the trick suspension of the Alfa that gives the GTV its renowned handling prowess...

[wink]

I've had a Fiat Coupe 20 VT for 8 years & it's a great car. Basically they're very sound with solid engines, but remember that you're buying a well-used car for under £3k. Check the usual stuff - FSH, bills, general signs of being cared for. Proof of cambelt change at or before 72k mls is essential or budget to do it immediately. I'd go for a 20 valve car - they have more torque & power as well as being younger than the 16 valvers. Front suspension bushes wear out, along with brakes, and exhaust manifolds crack on turbos. Oil cooler pipes also corrode as they get older & usually entail replacing oil cooler. Watch out for non-standard dump valves, air filters and ECU chips on turbos - all popular mods which can shorten engine life. And check the dipstick - they do use oil & a surprising number of people don't seem to keep them topped up. If there's nothing on the dipstick, walk away. Hot idle oil pressure should be above 2 bar on a 20 valve, though can be lower on 16vs, which also seem to sometimes have dodgy oil pressure senders.

[DavidCane]

I've just bougth a 1999 20VT plus. I looked at a few and this was definitely the best one I saw. However when it went for a service yesterday my attention was drawn to a few bits that will need replacing soon.

They're all fairly normal wear any tear items such as the front wishbones already mentioned (£150 for a new pair fitted), corroded rear springs and a poorly repaired exhaust (£200 for a new standard one fitted).

It means that I've got about £800 that I need to spend on the car over the next few months. None of these are particularly huge items and there is a good support network out there with specialists like Powerfiat and L&M having very very good reputations.

Bear in mind that these things was found on a £7000 coupe which has just passed an MOT. If you buy a £3k one, get it up on a ramp first and have a good inspection of the wear and tear bits.

DC

[kean1976]

I own a 1998 20vt and it is absolutely brilliant. I have owned four Alfa's up until now and my wife currently has a 156, but the Coupe beats them all hands down. Its performance is awsome for the money and the build quality, although not quite as good as the German stuff, is much better than any factory built Fiat i have ever seen including the brand new ones. Bear in mind these were hand built in the Pininfarina factory and not by Fiat themselves. I test drove an Alfa GTV before buying mine and much prefered the Fiat. Mine has done 130k and still feels like new and i only paid £2600 for it. Ok i did have to service the brakes all round but replaced all the discs with Brembo's, fast road pads, new hoses and most of the pipes all for around £400. This still makes the cost of the car only £3000. It had the cam belt done and the water pump replaced by the previous owner and the only other fault i have had with it since owning it is a new front wishbone at a cost of £90 fitted. All of which is just wear and tear stuff that will eventually go on any car. Like everything its allways a bit of a gamble buying a high performance car for less than £3k but if you are carefull and get it checked thouroughly you won't be dissapointed. Plus as a bonus i'm getting 28mpg round town and up to 35mpg on a run, pretty good considering the way i drive it.

[DavidCane]

If you've done 130k then you're due a 2nd Cambelt change about now!

[_Neal_]

I own a 1998 20VT as well - I love it! It's quicker than most things on the road, looks great, sounds good with the warbly five-pot and some wastegate chatter, and is pretty rare.

The Fiat Coupe Club UK Forum is a great resource - Has a full buyers' guide and everything you need to know about the coupé. Link to the forum is above - Click on Buying and Selling and you should find it.

£3k is stretching it a bit for a 20VT, although you will be able to find some decent examples. I think there's a nice one in the "For Sale" section of the forum at the moment actually. Coupé prices seem very low at the moment.

You could get a good 20V NA or a 16V Turbo for under £3K. I'd go for the 16VT myself - It's a lot of car for the money.

Reliability-wise, mine is used every day by my other half for commuting - It's never let us down (touch wood!). As mentioned above, the specialists are very good (and very reasonably-priced).

Overall I'd say try and buy a standard one, buy on condition rather than mileage, and service history with a recognised specialist is vastly preferable to a Fiat main dealer history. I see you're in Essex - Powerfiat are excellent Coupé specialists and I think will inspect cars pre-purchase (if you can persaude the Seller to let you have it done).

www.powerfiat.co.uk

Good luck with it!

[kean1976]

Cambelt was done just before i bought it at 124k and was its second one. The car only had three owners before me and was used mainly on motorways and for long journeys hence the good condition for the milage.

[veloce]

Is there a forum for selling cars on here? I'm seriously considering selling my coupe (although I change my mind every day - it's like trying to get rid of a stunning wife who's cheated on you!)

It's a blue metallic 16VT Plus with Viscodrive. New Lancia engine with only 12,000 miles on it (put in by DBS Desira - Fiat Warranty people). Recon turbo 20000 miles ago. Evo Chip gives it significantly more grunt than a std 20v. I've had 38mpg out of it (but I did get flashed for going too slow). It drives superbly and I'm about to get it through the MOT (will need abs sensor as light is on). Apart from grooved discs on the front and the chip it's std. Aircon and black leather with 6 disc changer and amp (factory fitted).

I won't say how much I want as I'm not sure if I should even be posting this here !

cheers

[pdV6]

veloce said:

Is there a forum for selling cars on here?

Not a forum as such, but a free* classifieds section here

* Free for non-trade sellers, anyway

[veloce]

ok thanks. I'll get it on there when I've taken some photos and got the MOT done. In the meantime if anyone wants any more info you can email me on [e-mail] looking for around £3k

[JamesBondMI5]

20v cars are brutally unreliable and heavier than the 16v cars. The non turbo 16v is a great little sportscar with a responsive engine and good handling, the turbo is a bit much at times.

Much as I hate to admit it, the Fiat is a better car than any of the Alfas...

Mike
Roberts Aerospace & Automotive (Alfa Romeo, Fiat Coupe, and Maserati specialist in Hampshire)
www.cars.robertsaerospace.com

[pinin_prestatyn]

Well I thought that the 20V is heavier but apparently it isn't. Also from the horse's mouth (well the biggest coupe specialist in the UK) the 20V is more reliable than the 16v.

Edited by pinin_prestatyn on Sunday 6th August 22:30

[wink]

JamesBondMI5 said:

20v cars are brutally unreliable

I'd like to see the evidence for this brutal assertion. My 20 valve turbo has been perfectly reliable over 6 years. It's only ever failed to start when I left the stereo on overnight & drained the battery. And it's never broken down - actually the only cars I've owned in 30 years that broke down were a Ford & a Volvo. Mind you, I remember an Alfasud that wasn't keen on starting on damp mornings. I don't know whether the 20v is heavier than a 16v and I don't care, because it still feels fabulous every time I drive it.

[aranell]

JamesBondMI5 said:

20v cars are brutally unreliable and heavier than the 16v cars. The non turbo 16v is a great little sportscar with a responsive engine and good handling, the turbo is a bit much at times.

Hmm, my 20V has been nearly 100% reliable (touch wood ), whereas my 16VT has had a lot of random problems on it. My 20V is also a lot lighter to drive - both in steering and clutch, so I don't think your assertions hold true.