RE: Fiat Coupe 2.0 20v Turbo | Spotted
Discussion
5 In a Row said:
Slowlygettingit said:
Definitely on the shortlist for most ugly / poorest resolved styling ever.
Hideous in the day and hasn’t aged well.
Just park it next to BMWs latest electric SUV and suddenly it'll be a thing of beauty Hideous in the day and hasn’t aged well.
Slowlygettingit said:
5 In a Row said:
Slowlygettingit said:
Definitely on the shortlist for most ugly / poorest resolved styling ever.
Hideous in the day and hasn’t aged well.
Just park it next to BMWs latest electric SUV and suddenly it'll be a thing of beauty Hideous in the day and hasn’t aged well.
Much love for these after running an Ink Black 20V Turbo one from 2004 to 2008. Sounded great, pretty quick and I took it to just a shade over 100k miles and it never missed a beat. The forum was always a great place with some great threads on there, one from a guy who took his to Canada and another about a fabled selection of delivery miles Plus models in Malaysia.... Did anyone ever manage to bring one back to the UK?
Never owned 1 and for years never rated them when you could buy one for around a grand in the 2000s upto maybe 10 years ago, like a lot of cars with time they have very much grown on me like Fiats full stop.
Surprised No1 has mentioned in the latest series of wheeler dealers Mike bought 1 in which I think is called sprint blue he paid just under £3000 for it Elvis did some work on it and took it to a company he knows and they did some work on the ECU etc it was tested on a Rolling road and was making near enough 330bhp ,Mike sold it for 6 grandish to a chap who had owned 1 years previously and actually had tried to buy the car before Mike did but brewer got to the car before the buyer got to see it , basically seller said whoever gets here first to my house in Bournemouth buys it.
Surprised No1 has mentioned in the latest series of wheeler dealers Mike bought 1 in which I think is called sprint blue he paid just under £3000 for it Elvis did some work on it and took it to a company he knows and they did some work on the ECU etc it was tested on a Rolling road and was making near enough 330bhp ,Mike sold it for 6 grandish to a chap who had owned 1 years previously and actually had tried to buy the car before Mike did but brewer got to the car before the buyer got to see it , basically seller said whoever gets here first to my house in Bournemouth buys it.
I used to have a 16v Turbo back in the day (N772 VJM, looks like it has been off the road since 2007).
Nice car, but a bit of a disappointment after the Westfield SE that I had prior. Had to sell the Westfield as I got married and moved to a house without a garage, all the press raved about how the Coupe was a "drivers car", but after the Westfield I guess anything would prove that to be a big lie.
I did enjoy the car, and it was extremely practical. It did, however, have one problem, occasionally when starting from cold the engine would have absolutely no power at lower revs, making negotiating the Spittals Roundabout extremely dicey. I took it to the local dealer many times but their computer couldn't find anything wrong, so one morning the car decided to play up and I drove it straight to the dealer.
Went in and told the dealer that the problem was there right now, whilst the engine was cold. Dealer slowly finished his cup of coffee, letting the engine heat soak, 20 minutes later I sat in the car explaining that at low revs the engine was completely lacking in power, we left the forecourt in a cloud of tyresmoke and the engine barely saw less than 5,000 revs for the whole test drive, dealer screeched back to a halt after 20 minutes saying he could see no issues. I was shocked to see that dealership disappear a couple of years later.
Nice car, but a bit of a disappointment after the Westfield SE that I had prior. Had to sell the Westfield as I got married and moved to a house without a garage, all the press raved about how the Coupe was a "drivers car", but after the Westfield I guess anything would prove that to be a big lie.
I did enjoy the car, and it was extremely practical. It did, however, have one problem, occasionally when starting from cold the engine would have absolutely no power at lower revs, making negotiating the Spittals Roundabout extremely dicey. I took it to the local dealer many times but their computer couldn't find anything wrong, so one morning the car decided to play up and I drove it straight to the dealer.
Went in and told the dealer that the problem was there right now, whilst the engine was cold. Dealer slowly finished his cup of coffee, letting the engine heat soak, 20 minutes later I sat in the car explaining that at low revs the engine was completely lacking in power, we left the forecourt in a cloud of tyresmoke and the engine barely saw less than 5,000 revs for the whole test drive, dealer screeched back to a halt after 20 minutes saying he could see no issues. I was shocked to see that dealership disappear a couple of years later.
andyps said:
GTRene said:
huh... look at those headlights and hood, if that was original for that one, it could be a prototype or something?
I like the later headlights, love those, which als can be used for some low hood cars.
I'm not sure quite what you mean but that car is pretty original, done a lot of miles but stored for many years.I like the later headlights, love those, which als can be used for some low hood cars.
and looked at those smaler lights, but those were normally covered partly with the hood so looked very different with the hood up... my mistake.
I did not thought those were mounted in the hood, seems asking for problems when you slam the hood with those lights there.
I also thought that I've seen a car with those lights but mounted on the car/body instead in the opening hood... anyhow, my mistake, good for coming back to that, thanks
Highway Star said:
I bought a red 1999 20v non-turbo with the 155bhp VIS engine. I'd looked at Bravo HGTs with the same engine, but they couldn't hold a candle to the Coupe. Will always remember my first drive home in it from Wimbledon down the M4 and M40 - my first 'proper' car.
Even though the petrol tank leaked, the air con never worked, the wipers didn't stay on the windscreen above 100mph, the handbrake froze on, the wing mirrors were useless for seeing anything other than the rear arches, sun visors were tiny and many, many other foibles , it was brilliant.
lol Even though the petrol tank leaked, the air con never worked, the wipers didn't stay on the windscreen above 100mph, the handbrake froze on, the wing mirrors were useless for seeing anything other than the rear arches, sun visors were tiny and many, many other foibles , it was brilliant.
a real die-hard you are 
Like many here I first saw these as a teenager in the mid 90s and they looked so exotic and unique, like nothing else I'd ever seen outside of car shows. (Admittedly Halifax, W. Yorkshire was not known for its exotic car scene back then - it was more clapped-out Vauxhall Novas, etc)
Anyway, fast forward 12 years or so and I eventually I bought one - Ended up owning a '99 Vinci grey LE from 2007-2021 and absolutely loved it. Quite fast, fairly practical, great looking (to my eyes anyway) and you'd often get people pulling up to chat at the lights or at petrol stations 'Oh I had one of them! Wish I'd never sold it' etc. - Now I'm one of those guys!
It was quite reliable overall with no really scary bills, and in the first 5 - 6 years easy to get it serviced/fixed anywhere and get parts. But in the last few years it became more of a hassle - as parts dried up you'd have to go to specialists or phone round half a dozen people to get the work done. Fine if you've got a coupe specialist local or if you're really into having a 'project' but it just because too much hassle for what was meant to be a fun, but fairly usable everyday car. Still regret selling it sometimes, but 14 years ownership is a pretty good innings I think!
Anyway, fast forward 12 years or so and I eventually I bought one - Ended up owning a '99 Vinci grey LE from 2007-2021 and absolutely loved it. Quite fast, fairly practical, great looking (to my eyes anyway) and you'd often get people pulling up to chat at the lights or at petrol stations 'Oh I had one of them! Wish I'd never sold it' etc. - Now I'm one of those guys!
It was quite reliable overall with no really scary bills, and in the first 5 - 6 years easy to get it serviced/fixed anywhere and get parts. But in the last few years it became more of a hassle - as parts dried up you'd have to go to specialists or phone round half a dozen people to get the work done. Fine if you've got a coupe specialist local or if you're really into having a 'project' but it just because too much hassle for what was meant to be a fun, but fairly usable everyday car. Still regret selling it sometimes, but 14 years ownership is a pretty good innings I think!
GTRene said:
andyps said:
GTRene said:
huh... look at those headlights and hood, if that was original for that one, it could be a prototype or something?
I like the later headlights, love those, which als can be used for some low hood cars.
I'm not sure quite what you mean but that car is pretty original, done a lot of miles but stored for many years.I like the later headlights, love those, which als can be used for some low hood cars.
and looked at those smaler lights, but those were normally covered partly with the hood so looked very different with the hood up... my mistake.
I did not thought those were mounted in the hood, seems asking for problems when you slam the hood with those lights there.
I also thought that I've seen a car with those lights but mounted on the car/body instead in the opening hood... anyhow, my mistake, good for coming back to that, thanks
[quote=MKnight702]"I used to have a 16v Turbo back in the day...."
"I did enjoy the car, and it was extremely practical. It did, however, have one problem, occasionally when starting from cold the engine would have absolutely no power at lower revs, making negotiating the Spittals Roundabout extremely dicey. I took it to the local dealer many times but their computer couldn't find anything wrong, so one morning the car decided to play up and I drove it straight to the dealer."
These words ring true. I had a 16V Turbo version of this car in the same Broom Yellow - absolutely loved it! A very practical family car but with great presence, whose styling in my eyes was great, thanks to its assembly of unique design touches.
I'd say the 16-valver was fast enough, but performance overall could still be described as merely adequate, because it certainly didn't feel as responsive as that Lancia Delta HF Turbo which I'd owned before the Lancia Thema 16V saloon which I later part-exchanged for my yellow 16V FIAT coupe. (I never owned a 20-valver, unfortunately).
But I do remember just the same frustrating fault on my own 16-valve which MKNight702 reports above, always showing very similar symptoms at the first roundabout on the daily commute. To the point it might cut-out. This was traced to the engine air-valve, which is an (alloy?) cylinder comprising a valve held under spring-tension which was supposed to govern the air/fuel mix. Eventually, old petrol deposits would gum-up this valve, but if you took it all apart (held in place/under tension by a little nut at the top) and cleaned it out with carburettor-cleaning solvent, the problem was cured.
However, the key trick was to count how many turns you rotated the spanner in undoing the nut, so that when you put it all back, you could apply the same number of rotations to its reassembly. Once you'd mastered this trick, I knew what procedure to follow, and also bought a spare air-valve to carry in the car's glovebox. (Since this engine is common to Integrales, I wonder if they also display this same fault sometimes?)
It was still a great car.
"I did enjoy the car, and it was extremely practical. It did, however, have one problem, occasionally when starting from cold the engine would have absolutely no power at lower revs, making negotiating the Spittals Roundabout extremely dicey. I took it to the local dealer many times but their computer couldn't find anything wrong, so one morning the car decided to play up and I drove it straight to the dealer."
These words ring true. I had a 16V Turbo version of this car in the same Broom Yellow - absolutely loved it! A very practical family car but with great presence, whose styling in my eyes was great, thanks to its assembly of unique design touches.
I'd say the 16-valver was fast enough, but performance overall could still be described as merely adequate, because it certainly didn't feel as responsive as that Lancia Delta HF Turbo which I'd owned before the Lancia Thema 16V saloon which I later part-exchanged for my yellow 16V FIAT coupe. (I never owned a 20-valver, unfortunately).
But I do remember just the same frustrating fault on my own 16-valve which MKNight702 reports above, always showing very similar symptoms at the first roundabout on the daily commute. To the point it might cut-out. This was traced to the engine air-valve, which is an (alloy?) cylinder comprising a valve held under spring-tension which was supposed to govern the air/fuel mix. Eventually, old petrol deposits would gum-up this valve, but if you took it all apart (held in place/under tension by a little nut at the top) and cleaned it out with carburettor-cleaning solvent, the problem was cured.
However, the key trick was to count how many turns you rotated the spanner in undoing the nut, so that when you put it all back, you could apply the same number of rotations to its reassembly. Once you'd mastered this trick, I knew what procedure to follow, and also bought a spare air-valve to carry in the car's glovebox. (Since this engine is common to Integrales, I wonder if they also display this same fault sometimes?)
It was still a great car.
I still love these as a design.
When they first came out, I had a Renault Megane Coupe 16V and the 20V version of the Fiat Coupe was on my shortlist for my next car, alongside an Impreza Turbo and a Peugeot 306 GTI-6. I would have bought a Portofino Blue one.
But then the Audi TT launched in 1999 and my head got turned by the designer styling of that car, inside and out. Never did buy the Fiat or the Subaru or the Peugeot, and since then I have mostly bought fast German metal. These days my Coupe itch is being scratched by a Cayman.
Great to hear the general regard and warmth for this car and I have loved seeing all the photos.
When they first came out, I had a Renault Megane Coupe 16V and the 20V version of the Fiat Coupe was on my shortlist for my next car, alongside an Impreza Turbo and a Peugeot 306 GTI-6. I would have bought a Portofino Blue one.
But then the Audi TT launched in 1999 and my head got turned by the designer styling of that car, inside and out. Never did buy the Fiat or the Subaru or the Peugeot, and since then I have mostly bought fast German metal. These days my Coupe itch is being scratched by a Cayman.
Great to hear the general regard and warmth for this car and I have loved seeing all the photos.
lovely Flanners said:
Had my Sprint Blue 20vt for 18yrs, featured on here with the Pistonheads Heroes https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-features-heroe...
Now on 115K, original turbo with a boost gauge and a Gtec1 chip, my 'everyday car' now doing 1500miles a year, yes the looks are Marmite but just look at the jelly mould (grey) generic euro boxes on the road, fast some may be but they have so little driver involvement, a 20vt 5 pot on full chat is something else, yes it's old and flawed but is such a blast to drive and own.
Now on 115K, original turbo with a boost gauge and a Gtec1 chip, my 'everyday car' now doing 1500miles a year, yes the looks are Marmite but just look at the jelly mould (grey) generic euro boxes on the road, fast some may be but they have so little driver involvement, a 20vt 5 pot on full chat is something else, yes it's old and flawed but is such a blast to drive and own.
My best mate sold his yellow T reg 20v turbo (circa 270 BHP after a little mild fettling) last summer. He owned it for 17/18 years. Lovely clean old car with a great soundtrack off that 5 pot which I drove on several occasions.
I loved the styling of the Coupe as soon as Fiat put the advert for the original 16v on the tele.
Great cars these and undervalued in my opinion when you look at some of the old Tat that's up for sale out there.
I loved the styling of the Coupe as soon as Fiat put the advert for the original 16v on the tele.
Great cars these and undervalued in my opinion when you look at some of the old Tat that's up for sale out there.
Escort Si-130 said:
Still ugly, do not know why this car always gets articles on here at PH. Only decent thing is the engine.
Funny how when Triumph came out with a car the same shape being TR7 it got slated.
You think the FIAT looks like a TR7?Funny how when Triumph came out with a car the same shape being TR7 it got slated.
It get’s coverage because it’s a great car, read the comments from people who have owned & driven them
Escort Si-130 said:
Still ugly, do not know why this car always gets articles on here at PH. Only decent thing is the engine.
Funny how when Triumph came out with a car the same shape being TR7 it got slated.
Yeah , they are so similar I can't tell the difference .......Funny how when Triumph came out with a car the same shape being TR7 it got slated.
Bangle design of the 90s and British Leyland of the 70s ,so many similarities .
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