What's the modern day Fiat Coupe?

[Splendidmac]

Another vote for the Alfa GT V6. I had one for four years and loved it. As someone else said, surprisingly practical quite apart from the obvious virtues (noise, looks). Mine was completely reliable over 70k plus miles.

Sold mine because I had a baby on the way and thought it wouldn't be practical enough. With hindsight it would have been absolutely fine.

I may in fact be in the market for another one soon, as I can't think of anything else that does the job better for the money.

[Welshbeef]

J4CKO said:

I thought the chip took them to about 260 ?

The 0-100 of the coupe was widely reported as 14.5 but a lot said that the press cars had been "optimised" a smidge.


Even if it had 300 bhp how would it "humiliate" a car with more power, as in be able to leave it for dead ?

Edited by J4CKO on Thursday 21st August 16:29

Easily other cars driver not giving as much commitment as the coupe or risking his licence or maybe he had a poorly Boxster v a 500 bhp monster coupe.


End of day coupe 20v turbo is still very fast today you need much more than hot hatches to best it

[k-ink]

I was told by someone of their plan to put the coupe turbo engine in a cinq!

[Welshbeef]

k-ink said:

I was told by someone of their plan to put the coupe turbo engine in a cinq!

That would be bonkers - can imagine 600bhp/tonne easily.

[Mr2Mike]

J4CKO said:

I remember being told I would need a new intercooler, air filter, exhaust and some other bits to get anywhere near 300, the "Gtec" chip claimed to add 25/30 bhp, have things moved on that far ?

I'm saying your estimate of around 260 max from a remap is about right, you certainly need extra mods to get close to 300.

[J4CKO]

Mr2Mike said:

J4CKO said:

I remember being told I would need a new intercooler, air filter, exhaust and some other bits to get anywhere near 300, the "Gtec" chip claimed to add 25/30 bhp, have things moved on that far ?

I'm saying your estimate of around 260 max from a remap is about right, you certainly need extra mods to get close to 300.

Ah, sorry Mike, I read it as can extract 300 with just a chip.

Mine was mental fast, fitted the manual boost thingy the wrong way round and got it up to 1.7 bar

It did use more oil than petrol by the end though, I still get a frisson of excitement when I see one, it is however on the banned list as
I bought it when I shouldnt, couldnt afford it really. Sprint Blue with a few choice engine mods and the black *cloth* interior and ffs people, please leave them pretty much standard, Fiat did a good job, no wings, no Ferrari badges, no kits, no massive wheels, they attract the misguided styling individualists as much as Jap stuff.

[Mr2Mike]

J4CKO said:

please leave them pretty much standard, Fiat did a good job, no wings, no Ferrari badges, no kits, no massive wheels, they attract the misguided styling individualists as much as Jap stuff.

I loved my 20VT, it really was a impressively quick little car and sounded lovely. It did have a melted piston when I bought it, but after I fixed that (and rebuilt the turbo) it was very reliable; just a regular diet of petrol and front suspension bushes really.

[Fpaskell]

Interesting topic; i owned a Fiat Coupe for about 5 years, followed by an Alfa GT V6 3.2 for 3 years and then Audi A5. The Alfa is a very good alternative and in many respects a slight improvement on the Fiat; superior interior fittings, lights, finish, good sat nav. Great engine sound, similar performance (both capable of 6 seconds 0-60). I clocked 14.2 seconds 1/4 mile with my coupe on a drag strip, and took the Alfa on a track where it performed very well, surprisingly better brakes than BMW M3 for example. The Alfa suffered slightly from soft suspension so it could bottom out a little. Both reliable and much loved. Audi A5 has great lines (to me) and similar accomodation and of course is much more modern, let dowm by being a diesel. Fiat had "chocholate" suspension which would wear out, lights only just bright enough for the performance, but amazingly with small kids i had a fith seat belt added and could carry five. Fiat Coupe certain classic for future, Alfa GT may be also in 3.2 version.

[Mr2Mike]

Fpaskell said:

Interesting topic; i owned a Fiat Coupe for about 5 years, followed by an Alfa GT V6 3.2 for 3 years and then Audi A5. The Alfa is a very good alternative and in many respects a slight improvement on the Fiat; superior interior fittings, lights, finish, good sat nav. Great engine sound, similar performance (both capable of 6 seconds 0-60).

I do like the GT, but what's the fuel consumption like? That was one of the impressive aspects of the Fiat; mine rarely returned less than 27mpg even when pressing on, and it was possible to get over 30mpg from it on a run. The later ones with the six speed box were supposed to be better again.

[hondansx]

To answer the original question, i'm not sure there is a modern day equivalent. Really you're looking at hot hatches from a performance point of view. An Alfa GT is not a quick car; it's too heavy and hardly makes dull performance up with incredible handling. It looks nice - that's it!

The Fiat is still a quick car today in 20v Turbo form. We had a 3.0 GTV and took it to a specialist near Brands Hatch. The owner took me out in a stock Fiat and it was clearly quicker than the Alfa. You'd have to buy something significantly more expensive to compete with it at the time.

For me the E36 M3 is the only real car that is in budget and is genuinely still rapid. It's not as unique as the Fiat Coupe but unmolested and in good nick, the Beemer still looks 'right'. Get one in an M3-only colour and it won't look like a dressed up 320i.

[Mr2Mike]

hondansx said:

An Alfa GT is not a quick car; it's too heavy and hardly makes dull performance up with incredible handling. It looks nice - that's it!

It's a fair bit quicker than I expected if these figures can be believed. It's not even that much heavier than the Fiat Coupe.

hondansx said:

For me the E36 M3 is the only real car that is in budget and is genuinely still rapid.

The M3 weighs 100kg more then the Alfa, yet isn't too heavy?