Coupe or not Coupe?

[Giocherellona]

Quick question:

Does FIAT still make the Coupe?
I love that car but Autotrader is only turning up pre-2000 ones.
If not, is there an equivalent that anyone can recommend?
My alfa 146 is great fun to drive but has got to that stage where everything is falling off.


Cheers!

[Jimbo.]

So not that old then?

Fiat Couple production ceased in 2000/2001 IIRC with the "LE" being the run-out model.

Closest relative is the Alfa GTV, which was made up 'til 2005ish.

[Giocherellona]

Ouch!
It's a 2000 plate but highlights this year have been a complete gearbox rebuild and an entirely new exhaust. I'm nervous just starting her up wondering which hideously expensive part is going to blow up next.

Thanks for the info, though. Shame about the Coupe
I love the GTV but I need at least a 2+2 to accomodate the kids...

[Petrolhead747]

GTV is a 2+2. Seats are pretty suitable for kids, adults only for very short journeys!

[Giocherellona]

Fantastic! I wonder why I thought it was a two seater...
Cheers.

[pdV6]

Fiat Coupé is much more practical; adults can almost sensibly fit in the back and the boot is a useful size. The GTV just has a certain "something", though, so you'd be well advised to have a good look at both and decide what's going to work for you.

[davejones81]

The Plus or 6 speed copues were actually the end of line model, the LE was in 98-99. I have an LE, its an amazing car but you will have to keep on top of it mechanically........

[JR]

Petrolhead747 said:

GTV is a 2+2. Seats are pretty suitable for kids, adults only for very short journeys!

Depends how old your kids are, they won't take a rear facing child seat.

For the OP: have you considered the Alfa GT? Reasonable rear seats, good boot and based on the 156 floor pan.

[shirazjiwa]

The coop is a stunning car! Colour is always subjective but I love rosso red or sprint blue.

Had mine for 4 years now, although the last 18months has seen it kept in storage. Am lucky enough to be about to buy my dream car - a fezza - but i'm still going to hang onto the coop and make it roadworthy again - just because I'd miss it so much!

Go for it, you'll have no regrets!! Powerfiat in basildon used to specialise in them and i think there's a specialist who advertises on PH now as well.

[Giocherellona]

Thanks for the replies

I'd love a fiat coupe but I'm truly tired of massive repair bills and not having any mod cons. Just wish they still made them.

The Alfa GT looks stunning! Thanks for the heads up on that, didn't even know it existed.
That may well be the winner although I will drive the 146 into the ground first while waiting for the price to drop a bit. The kids are aged 6 and 3 so they do need a little bit of room.

[shirazjiwa]

Giocherellona said:

Thanks for the replies

I'd love a fiat coupe but I'm truly tired of massive repair bills and not having any mod cons. Just wish they still made them.

The Alfa GT looks stunning! Thanks for the heads up on that, didn't even know it existed.
That may well be the winner although I will drive the 146 into the ground first while waiting for the price to drop a bit. The kids are aged 6 and 3 so they do need a little bit of room.

Best bet is to sit in each and taken them for a test drive. I knew the instant I was in a coop it was the car for me - slightly heavy steering and clutch, plus the acceleration was everythign i wanted. In time, I added bigger wheels and a strut brace which aided cornering, and I knew the limits of the car - lovely handling and could slide it around and out of corners to my hearts content. The advertiser on PH is also throwin in free servicing I think with some models.

Anyway, best of luck with whichever you choose, although I am biased on the coops side And Jenson Button used to own one - google it (channel 4 interview).

[vm1936]

I have owned both...two coupes and buying a third tomorrow!

I must say i prefer the coupe and have always found them very reliable if properly looked after (as have friends who have had) whilst the GTV's have been more problematic.

Views on both

Handling - coupe better - more progressive / less crashy - but watch out for power understeer on boost
Performance - similar but coupe far more explosive and feels stronger
Practicality - coupe far better - can seat four adults in relative comfort
Comfort - coupe good / alfa has harder seats and awkward pedals that made feet ache
Costs - coupe probably a bit more due to expensive cambelt changes every 3-5yrs and constant oil top ups
Looks / style - both good but alfa better / more sleek

All my opinion of course and such cars are really personal preference so would echo drive both and make up your mind - either way better than the run of the mill rubbish.

My next coupe (and i have owned an impreza turbo, gtv, m coupe in between) is costing me 2,500 is near mint with fsh, 2 owners, 70k and as fast as a boxter - and i cant wait to drive it again. Go figure!!!

[BigAlinEmbra]

shirazjiwa said:

Giocherellona said:

Thanks for the replies

I'd love a fiat coupe but I'm truly tired of massive repair bills and not having any mod cons. Just wish they still made them.

The Alfa GT looks stunning! Thanks for the heads up on that, didn't even know it existed.
That may well be the winner although I will drive the 146 into the ground first while waiting for the price to drop a bit. The kids are aged 6 and 3 so they do need a little bit of room.

Best bet is to sit in each and taken them for a test drive. I knew the instant I was in a coop it was the car for me - slightly heavy steering and clutch, plus the acceleration was everythign i wanted. In time, I added bigger wheels and a strut brace which aided cornering, and I knew the limits of the car - lovely handling and could slide it around and out of corners to my hearts content. The advertiser on PH is also throwin in free servicing I think with some models.

Anyway, best of luck with whichever you choose, although I am biased on the coops side And Jenson Button used to own one - google it (channel 4 interview).

Colin McRae also had a coop that prodrive "tinkered" with apparently.
I just bought a 20vt last month. In terms of looks and performance for the price, I don't think anything comes close.

OP, what mod-cons do you think they're missing out of interest?

[Giocherellona]

Thanks, guys. I am getting more tempted by each post....

As for mod cons, well I'd really like:

Feedback on how many miles I have left in the tank instead of waiting for the orange light to come on and remembering which type of fuel I put in
Automatic intermittent windscreen wipers
Proper climate control
Cruise control
Heated seats (our 166 has them and I am a massive fan and so is my bottom)
Reversing/parking sensors
Central locking (mine packed up way, way before I bought the car)
A more modern looking interior (mine looks like it teleported in from 1970, groovy man)

All fairly superficial I know but they make your life just that little bit nicer.

[vm1936]

Just picked up the coup - amazing how fast and planted it is. re your wish list - those options can all be found on a 330i/TT/RX8 but you will spend 5K plus min. As i said before - drivers fun can be had for 2.5k (or less) - drive them all n take the plunge but you wont be disappointed with a good 20vt.

[coupebill]

Welcome to the fold,if you've not logged onto FCCUK.ORG forum the first thing they'll say is "check your oil".I cant seem to access the site at the mo?,anyway enjoy.

[BigAlinEmbra]

Giocherellona said:

Thanks, guys. I am getting more tempted by each post....

As for mod cons, well I'd really like:

Feedback on how many miles I have left in the tank instead of waiting for the orange light to come on and remembering which type of fuel I put in
Automatic intermittent windscreen wipers
Proper climate control
Cruise control
Heated seats (our 166 has them and I am a massive fan and so is my bottom)
Reversing/parking sensors
Central locking (mine packed up way, way before I bought the car)
A more modern looking interior (mine looks like it teleported in from 1970, groovy man)

All fairly superficial I know but they make your life just that little bit nicer.

You don't get auto wipers (well not on mine anyway!). Don't really miss not having this as my pug does have em.
Plus point is that the home sensor has gone wonky on the pug so the wipers stop anywhere they like and the part alone is about £150. By not having this you don't have to pay to fix it.

Climate control, afraid not, best you'll get is AC.

Nae cruise control. I don't do many motorway miles, so this isn't something I miss. Sometimes nice when you're getting bored on a long journey to give the right ankle a wee tweak and get some turbo wallop to wake you up tho.

Heated seats - pass. I have poverty spec cloth seats so dunno about the leather ones.

No parking sensors as standard, having been in a colleagues car with this I understand the attraction. Cheap to retro-fit, although the back of the coupe is only about a foot past the end of the back window!

Central locking - check. Only thing is the boot doesn't have a button to open it, you should check the pull tab next to the drivers seat works. Otherwise it's open by key.

Interior, well how can you not like that body coloured slash across the dash?!


If you have a hankering for one, then you'll always kick yourself for not buying one. I bought mine 5 weeks ago and the only complaint so for has been when I stuck my 6'3 colleague in the back and he said "it's a wee bit tight for space back here". He did then go on to say how much cooler than my last car it is though!

Economy wise in town, it's barely worse than my 1.4 pug 306 cos you don't have to rag the living st out it to make progress.

For a couple of grand, you'll have something that puts a smile on your face when you walk out the house and see it, give you a massive grin when you put your foot down, and you'll not be able to walk away from it without sneaking a look back at it.
If that doesn't appeal, then you probably shouldn't be on PH!


Oh aye, as a slight aside, every woman I know that has seen it has commented how lovely it looks too.
Can't be bad!

[Giocherellona]

I know, I know, those extra will cost me at least 5k and I rarely spend any more than that on a car

The Coupe does sound like massive fun for the money. I never worry about economy, ooh no, although my hubby has suggested that I might like to use 5th *occasionally* Saying that, my alfa is only car we own that doesn't have a v6 in it!

Thank you so much for providing the pictures, I know how much of a pain it is. The dash is indeed much nicer than the alfa's!

[Alfa_75_Steve]

Hmmm, not sure about the interior:



or



Couldn't find any bigger ones, but much preferable to the Fiat. IMHO.

[Giocherellona]

oh right, that's not the same interior as my alfa.
Although I do have the leather seats
It's the one feature that I absolutely insisted on.