RE: Fiat Coupe: You (Didn't) Know You Want To
Discussion
405dogvan said:
It's 0-60 was 6.5secs (some people bettered that) - not many cars bettered that in the 90s - they really do pull too, there's no noticeable falloff until you're doing silly speeds.
Turbo and VVT. VVT first bought to market by Alfa.405dogvan said:
I drove one back-to-back (on different occasions) with an Accord Type-R (handled better but WAY slower) and a Mk1 TT225 (a remarkably similar car but once you're off-the-line the TT felt slower)
Turbo and VVT to beat VTEC VVT. How does the TT steering compare to the Coupe? Doesn't the Fiat have a quicker rack and bigger turning circle?
I've run a coupe for over 7 years now and have covered well over half of the 124K on the clock, unreliability to date.....er none.
They really are great cars whichever engine/spec you go for and yes they do need diligent maintenance but I think they don't deserve the rep that many assume. The plus in the ad looks a great car and those seats make a huge difference when driving although personally I've never been a fan of that particular colour.
If I was being pedantic I'd say the 20V cam belt change periodicity is 5 years/60K miles and not 3 years a la 16V but it's great seeing a PH article on a coupe that isn't SOTW.
Although I've got a nice shiny turbocharged petrol Alfa 159 as well it's the old scruffy Fiat with its patina that really makes me smile. Try one before they are all gone....
They really are great cars whichever engine/spec you go for and yes they do need diligent maintenance but I think they don't deserve the rep that many assume. The plus in the ad looks a great car and those seats make a huge difference when driving although personally I've never been a fan of that particular colour.
If I was being pedantic I'd say the 20V cam belt change periodicity is 5 years/60K miles and not 3 years a la 16V but it's great seeing a PH article on a coupe that isn't SOTW.
Although I've got a nice shiny turbocharged petrol Alfa 159 as well it's the old scruffy Fiat with its patina that really makes me smile. Try one before they are all gone....
The youngest son (probably 20 if that) of the one of company director of the firm I was at had a blue 20v Turbo back in 1995/6; his brother had a new(ish) Range Rover in a disgusting Metallic Emerald colour with an aftermarket Autobiography badge slapped on it.
Pots of money but no idea of style.
I recall him telling me how quick it was but all I could think was 'Yes, but look at it'.
Has Bangle designed anything uglier?
Pots of money but no idea of style.
I recall him telling me how quick it was but all I could think was 'Yes, but look at it'.
Has Bangle designed anything uglier?
St John Smythe said:
Just no. The Alfa GTV V6 is far prettier and a much better proposition than one of these. Could never get over the awkward styling and time certainly hasn't been kind the the Fiat. GTV still looks lovely however.
Agreed, as per the GTV V6 on my drive. Good for the Fiat Coupe owners that it goes really well, at least when in it you don't have to look at it.Lotusgone said:
St John Smythe said:
Just no. The Alfa GTV V6 is far prettier and a much better proposition than one of these. Could never get over the awkward styling and time certainly hasn't been kind the the Fiat. GTV still looks lovely however.
Agreed, as per the GTV V6 on my drive. Good for the Fiat Coupe owners that it goes really well, at least when in it you don't have to look at it.
i'm on my 3rd one of these, x2 late turbos - with 6pd boxes - and am now on a red LE (no1097). they do have some foibles as many 90s turbo cars can have. however they are indeed a very distinctive looking car even 20yrs on, and the LE/Plus variants have a few other cosmetic trinkets that just seem to work so well. oh, and that third gear...
mainland europe got the 1.8 16v engines from the punto HGT / barchetta of that era. arguably watering the car down but also making it more accessible in financial economies.
good choice of car and a little leftfield - the design polarises opinions, not many other mainstream brands of 1993 did that, did they? (then along came the scorpio!)
mainland europe got the 1.8 16v engines from the punto HGT / barchetta of that era. arguably watering the car down but also making it more accessible in financial economies.
good choice of car and a little leftfield - the design polarises opinions, not many other mainstream brands of 1993 did that, did they? (then along came the scorpio!)
19alloywheel said:
...I still have the exlusive jacket it came with...
interested in selling?
jontbone said:
Hmm, an interesting car and the Turbo version is very quick off the mark, but for me that's where the praise ends. £4,000 for an old fwd Fiat is absolutely bonkers money.
Probably shouldn't be asking for a penny more than £2,500 for a nice one.
Why because it's a Fiat? Just a Fiat, Fiats are blah, blah, cliche after cliche?Probably shouldn't be asking for a penny more than £2,500 for a nice one.
I sold my standard Fiat 128 for £4,000 last year and 5 years before that my modified Fiat 128 for £6,500. That's right, old FWD Fiats. grow up.
The Fiat Coupe is in reality a Pininfarina Coupe
I've had a 20vt for about 15 years and can't remember the last time I spent any money in it.
Cambelt horribly over due, body work a bit scruffy, but it keeps going and going. Even went through the mot with zero advisories last time round. Insurance was £140 this year, and as long as it continues to be cheap motoring, I'm probably never going to get rid of it.
Although with values firming up, I'm starting to feel a bit guilty just running it into the ground...
Cambelt horribly over due, body work a bit scruffy, but it keeps going and going. Even went through the mot with zero advisories last time round. Insurance was £140 this year, and as long as it continues to be cheap motoring, I'm probably never going to get rid of it.
Although with values firming up, I'm starting to feel a bit guilty just running it into the ground...
[quote=Cockey]I've had a 20vt for about 15 years and can't remember the last time I spent any money in it.
Cambelt horribly over due, body work a bit scruffy, but it keeps going and going. Even went through the mot with zero advisories last time round. Insurance was £140 this year, and as long as it continues to be cheap motoring, I'm probably never going to get rid of it.
Although with values firming up, I'm starting to feel a bit guilty just running it into the ground...[/quot
Chuck two or three grand at it and re kindle the passion. What else could you get with such style for that money?
Cambelt horribly over due, body work a bit scruffy, but it keeps going and going. Even went through the mot with zero advisories last time round. Insurance was £140 this year, and as long as it continues to be cheap motoring, I'm probably never going to get rid of it.
Although with values firming up, I'm starting to feel a bit guilty just running it into the ground...[/quot
Chuck two or three grand at it and re kindle the passion. What else could you get with such style for that money?
I had my first one for several years and it got terminal rust.
What to do? Me and the missus decided we didn't want a normal car so we bought a really good one for £2500.
Money well spent!
A re map at FC Performance brings them up to about 260 hp, again money well spent as they are too polite standard.
What to do? Me and the missus decided we didn't want a normal car so we bought a really good one for £2500.
Money well spent!
A re map at FC Performance brings them up to about 260 hp, again money well spent as they are too polite standard.
Had a 1998 20V Turbo from 2002 to last year (went in a garage fire).
Was the best car I've had, period.
The roadholdning, as with the case of the GTA, can easily transformed into a trackday monster. With Bilstein B6 it's the best GT you can ask for too.
However the engine is the real jewel.
A 2-litre pumping out 340-350bhp in my case the last 110000km's. In a total of 275000km. Engine untouched apart fron the usual service, cambelt etc. Tell me one VW or BMW doing that!!
I now have a Z4 M Coupe but it's not nearly as fast or exciting.
Was the best car I've had, period.
The roadholdning, as with the case of the GTA, can easily transformed into a trackday monster. With Bilstein B6 it's the best GT you can ask for too.
However the engine is the real jewel.
A 2-litre pumping out 340-350bhp in my case the last 110000km's. In a total of 275000km. Engine untouched apart fron the usual service, cambelt etc. Tell me one VW or BMW doing that!!
I now have a Z4 M Coupe but it's not nearly as fast or exciting.
I had one of these from new as a company car S610 BFE
It was quick, comfy and a real head turner back in the day
split an oil pipe very early in its life (warranty repair with no fuss and never went wrong again whilst I had it) and went through tyres at a satisfyingly alarming rate
smashing really
It was quick, comfy and a real head turner back in the day
split an oil pipe very early in its life (warranty repair with no fuss and never went wrong again whilst I had it) and went through tyres at a satisfyingly alarming rate
smashing really
I drove past the local Fiat garage on my way to Uni and used to lust after the 20VT they has sitting in the forecourt. By 25 I managed to get my grubby paws on one. By 26 I'd got shot. It was an unmitigated disaster of a car. It did look good, and when it went, it went well. But after fixing one mechanical the next one was just around the corner.
Funny I see a few "future classic" comments being made. They were saying that 10 years ago when I had mine. Wishful thinking perhaps....
Funny I see a few "future classic" comments being made. They were saying that 10 years ago when I had mine. Wishful thinking perhaps....
IanMorewood said:
Bangles best ever effort, good chassis, great engine, space for four, just a shame about reliability (given their age and budget it's no surprise) and running costs, the £2000+ insurance quote I got helped me walk away.
GLITTER YEARS for me This has always been a car I would like to try ... also I was once told the double bump headlamp covers were moulded on designers wife's / girlfriends bum ? not sure if true but if you look at them its easy to believe .. she had a nice tush
GregorFuk said:
I drove past the local Fiat garage on my way to Uni and used to lust after the 20VT they has sitting in the forecourt. By 25 I managed to get my grubby paws on one. By 26 I'd got shot. It was an unmitigated disaster of a car. It did look good, and when it went, it went well. But after fixing one mechanical the next one was just around the corner.
Funny I see a few "future classic" comments being made. They were saying that 10 years ago when I had mine. Wishful thinking perhaps....
Prices of the 16vt are on the up although it's fair to say the recession did bring them right down to rock bottom. They've recently gone up by about 50%, sounds a lot, but when you're talking about a now £500 - £1000 car it's not that much!Funny I see a few "future classic" comments being made. They were saying that 10 years ago when I had mine. Wishful thinking perhaps....
There are a couple of untrue 'facts' in the article I can see, but that's journalism V Pedantic geekiness for you.
I've got a thread running in Readers cars about my 16vt sheds and various other engine related gubbins.
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