What's the modern day Fiat Coupe?

[underphil]

GT would get my vote, loads more rear leg room than the Brera

RX8 also fits the bill, but obviously bit of a marmite thing

[Alex]

chockymonster said:

The Alfa GT and Brera are not really 2+2s they have 4 seats but you have to have no legs and short driver/front passenger to make the rear space even remotely usable.

That's the definition of a 2+2.

[Amateurish]

Mr2Mike said:

For some values of "better" I agree. The Fiat is quicker and more economic though.

I wouldn't say the Coupe is any quicker, or more economical. In fact the later GTV V6s were more powerful than the Coupe. On power and performance, the two cars are pretty much on a par.

However, when it comes to looks, sound, interior, the Alfa is streets ahead IMO.

[Amateurish]

aka_kerrly said:

Amateurish said:

E46 M3 must be within budget now?

I think you would have to be a hell of a BMW mechanic, have a big war chest or completely bonkers to buy a £6k E46 M3,

Maybe, but I'm not the first to think of it!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Jurgen]

Amateurish said:

I wouldn't say the Coupe is any quicker, or more economical. In fact the later GTV V6s were more powerful than the Coupe. On power and performance, the two cars are pretty much on a par.

However, when it comes to looks, sound, interior, the Alfa is streets ahead IMO.

Hmm I reckon that's very personal! My old coupe was a 'plus' model, so with bodykit and recaro seats (and other bits) but I always preferred the looks on both interior and exterior. As for sound, the V6 is a fantastic engine, but I really have a soft spot for 5-pot engines. There shouldn't be much it in perfomance wise (although in magazine tests the Fiat was always a bit quicker), but the Fiat feels a lot faster (turbo shove).

They're both fantastic cars though and to me it's just a matter of preference, they're pretty equal to me.

[Alex]

I owned a 20VT from new and test-drove a GTV V6. Whatever it says on paper, the Fiat is way quicker.

Later on I ran an Integra DC2 for 8 years. Not as fast as the Coupe, but a much better drive.

[vit4]

I was toying with the idea of getting an Alfa GTV V6. A friend who has an Alfa GT 3.2 took me for a ride in it, and now I need one the sound is just glorious (I didn't realise that it is the last of the Busso engines rather than the GM unit in the Brera), the interior feels very special and I was surprised at just how well it seemed to put the power down (I think he mentioned that his had an LSD though). £4-5k should get a good one, give it a go and then sell it to me

[Amateurish]

Jurgen said:

Hmm I reckon that's very personal! My old coupe was a 'plus' model, so with bodykit and recaro seats (and other bits) but I always preferred the looks on both interior and exterior. As for sound, the V6 is a fantastic engine, but I really have a soft spot for 5-pot engines. There shouldn't be much it in perfomance wise (although in magazine tests the Fiat was always a bit quicker), but the Fiat feels a lot faster (turbo shove).

They're both fantastic cars though and to me it's just a matter of preference, they're pretty equal to me.

Each to their own, but I much preferred the high revving NA V6 pull, to the turbo lagging, torque steering 5-pot.

That said, the "Plus" version is the best looking Coupe, rather than the rather garish LE

[Mr2Mike]

Amateurish said:

I wouldn't say the Coupe is any quicker, or more economical. In fact the later GTV V6s were more powerful than the Coupe. On power and performance, the two cars are pretty much on a par.

However, when it comes to looks, sound, interior, the Alfa is streets ahead IMO.

I used to get 30mpg from my 20VT Coupe pretty regularly on my commute without really trying, and the 6 speed version was supposed to be even better, but I've never heard anyone even claim to get that from a V6 GTV. As for speed, unless you are talking about the (rare/expensive) 3.2L engined variant then the Coupe is quicker in 0-60, 0-100, standing 1/4 etc. and of course extracting quite a bit more power from the Coupe isn't difficult.

I don't think the Alfa is 'streets' ahead on any of the things you've listed either. The Alfa V6 certainly makes a wonderful noise, it's iconic in fact, but the straight 5 in the Coupe is hardly a bad sounding engine. The Fiat's interior is also very good, far more distinctive than the Alfa as well. The Fiat's looks are very much marmite however, I like them but plenty of people don't and the Alfa has a far broader appeal.

My ideal car would be the GTV but with the 20VT engine. Not that the V6 doesn't appeal, but what the 5 pot turbo might lack in aural orgasms, it makes up for in better performance and economy IME.

[marcosgt]

BMW 335i coupe?

E46 M3 will be a bit expensive to run, I suspect (but then maybe the FIATs weren't that cheap) and the E46 is getting a bit long in the tooth now to be considered 'modern day' (I know, I keep looking at one, but now I can afford one, they're all too high mileage for my taste! )

Not much in true coupe form about. Aside from the lack of 4 seats, maybe the GT86?

M.

[crostonian]

Alfa GT 3.2 is the only car suggested so far that fulfills the brief just be aware that anything post March 23rd '06 will be £490 annual VED. Your budget should find you a nice car with a bit put aside to do the belts or clutch if needed or maybe a nice Ragazzon pipe.

[MiniMan64]

I'm feeling like a general concencous is forming on the Alfa GT here!

[HustleRussell]

The RX-8 sounds like an electric lawn strimmer.

[Baz Tench]

Amateurish said:

aka_kerrly said:

Amateurish said:

E46 M3 must be within budget now?

I think you would have to be a hell of a BMW mechanic, have a big war chest or completely bonkers to buy a £6k E46 M3,

Maybe, but I'm not the first to think of it!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Mine is worth about £6k now (10 years old, highish mileage and it's had a few previous owners), But it hardly costs me anything outside of fuel and routine servicing at an indie.

I don't get this fear of cars at the 'cheap' end of the scale. Just buy on condition.

[scrubchub]

MiniMan64 said:

I'm feeling like a general concencous is forming on the Alfa GT here!

Speaking from experience of owning a GT, though the 2.0JTS not the V6, I can confirm that it is a very practical car. I even went to France with my missus and two friends for a week and squeezed everything in! Ok, it's not a Volvo estate, but the boot and rear seats are very usable, though perhaps 6 footers and up wouldn't want to spend a huge amount of time in the back!

I got 28 mpg out of mine over a year of ownership, and as the VED is pretty similair to the V6 (pre 2006) then the running costs shouldn't be too dis-similair. The engine is more reliable than the JTS as well. I test drove quite a few V6's, but I was too young to run one so went for the 2 litre. It's a great engine, and the sound really is as good as people make out.

Mine was unfortunately a pain in the ass, hence getting rid after a year, but I'd have another in a heartbeat! It's definetly comfortable enough to be in use every day as well. Good cars. And rather nice to look at as well!

[itz_baseline]

aka_kerrly said:

^ A DC5 costs more than £6k.

Sadly there aren't a huge number of coupes that are significantly more modern than the Fiat other than those you listed.

There is of course the TT but the rear seats are for small kids only, the Hyundai coupe offers a V6 an decent spec and from what I understand aren't bad steers.

Or go old school and find the best condition 944 for £6k?

How about a DC2 then? I have had mine for 3 years and done a handful of trackdays. Apart from normal service costs and 1 set of tyres its cost me nothin to run at all. Even the tyres at 15" are cheap. It wont depreciate, seems to be bullet proof and will show up much more expensive things through the twisties. You hardly see another one about and is something a little different.

[Yiliterate]

Think this ticks all the boxes...and with a grand left over to set aside for 'unforeseens'...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...

[405dogvan]

Spoke to my mate today - he owned a Coupe 20v for 5 years and loved every minute of it - I know he chopped-it-in when it was well into 6 figure miles and his 3 kids were too big for the Coupe but I'd no idea what he'd gotten

The replacement is a bit more 'old man' but then, as he said, we're "old men" now

This, basically... (not his v.similar)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...

He says it's a lot more like the Coupe than even he expected - nice noise, silly power on demand, rides well, handles at a push, car is pretty unique (like or lump it - it certainly is)

You may need an oilwell tho, he's planning on swapping it for a diesel one - and he's younger than I am!!

or this one if you don't mind a car clearly 'trying too hard'

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...

or this, which has a really nice interior at least (and a dechromed looseat)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...

Edited by 405dogvan on Wednesday 25th September 21:24

[-Pete-]

I would've thought an S Type was almost the modern day opposite of Fiat Coupe?

If only you could the triple headlights of the Brera etc with the Busso V6

[andyalan10]

Left field alert:-

Volvo C70 T5 Sport 2dr 2.5

Hardtop convertible, 5 cylinders, 220bhp.

Obviously not the same as a fiat coupe, but not a BMW 3 series either!

Andy