RE: Fiat Coupe 2.0 20v Turbo | Spotted
Discussion
I've always liked these. I've the yellow film reel tin with the video tape in it somewhere. I liked them that much the Alfa GTV passed me by at the time. The Fiat seemed better, had four seats and didn't have a rear suspension layout that took up boot space.
The GTV appeared more on my radar after driving a V6 164 and V6 156 and they were £2K-£3K in the Noughties. When I was looking there were often posts on Fiat Coupe and Alfa forums asking when their cars would achieve classic status. A phase 1 GTV V6 that changed hands in the Noughties for about £2K after it had had some expensive bodywork done and a mechnical upgrade passed through a few owners needing work is up for comparable money to this yellow Fiat.
That OS panel behind the front wheelarch is misaligned so it's not giving me worth £7K vibes.
I missed out on a Lampredi 16V Turbo one a few years ago. Was 50 miles away and in that darkish metallic blue. I snoozed, I lost. The seller informed me the buyer was going to break it for a project.
The GTV appeared more on my radar after driving a V6 164 and V6 156 and they were £2K-£3K in the Noughties. When I was looking there were often posts on Fiat Coupe and Alfa forums asking when their cars would achieve classic status. A phase 1 GTV V6 that changed hands in the Noughties for about £2K after it had had some expensive bodywork done and a mechnical upgrade passed through a few owners needing work is up for comparable money to this yellow Fiat.
That OS panel behind the front wheelarch is misaligned so it's not giving me worth £7K vibes.
I missed out on a Lampredi 16V Turbo one a few years ago. Was 50 miles away and in that darkish metallic blue. I snoozed, I lost. The seller informed me the buyer was going to break it for a project.
Around a quarter of a century ago, 16 year old me sat longingly in a yellow 20V turbo in the Fiat showroom. My dad was busy with a salesman, buying the cheapest new car they had in stock that day, which turned out to be an orange Punto 60 with plastic bumpers and wind-down windows. It was at least insurable and affordable, and I am of course very lucky and grateful to him for suffering it so that there was a family car I could use to learn to drive in, but I think the tragic juxtaposition of a base spec ginger Punto only served to amplify the other-wordly coolness of that Coupe in my young mind, and the desire will probably never really leave me. I've had opportunities to scratch the itch, but have gone for other options, like the MR2 Mk2. So I still need to tick this one off at some point.
There's a 20V turbo LE in Crono Grey that lives round the corner from me (with the reg A20 VLE) . Gives me lustful thoughts every time I walk past.
There's a 20V turbo LE in Crono Grey that lives round the corner from me (with the reg A20 VLE) . Gives me lustful thoughts every time I walk past.
Edited by Mark Asread on Thursday 24th March 10:05
Best car I've had - period.
My car was indeed both faster, comfier, more economical & fun than my current Bmw Z4M Coupe.
Tuned to 340hp, utterly bombproof it was too within my 284000km ownership.
Having discussed this with Bangle in person, I can assure you this is the only & last production car he did hands-on.
(He never even mentioned the Alfa 145.. I do not know where that comes from. I HAVE read Chris Harris mentioning it, but he also says a lot doesn't he)
The Fiat Coupe was a very clever design too - contrary to its most fierce competitor Audi TT
.
Firstly Chris & Fiat made sure the aero was spot on, hence the sharp cut rear and the look of the nose, etc. Even at 260km/h its stable (I've tried).
Secondly, there's some hidden features. Just look for the clamshell bonnet shutlines - cleverly hidden withing the side streak features. (in early concepts, also the rear bumper side split was in the rear streak, to make the car almost void of any shutlines except the 2 for the door..)
Then the front side streak behind the front wheel is also a fully functioning side vent, realeasing lots of hot air a 2-litre 220hp is producing.
Thirdly, both rear seat & luggage space are usable - contrary to its closest cousin Alfa GTV!
My car was indeed both faster, comfier, more economical & fun than my current Bmw Z4M Coupe.
Tuned to 340hp, utterly bombproof it was too within my 284000km ownership.
Having discussed this with Bangle in person, I can assure you this is the only & last production car he did hands-on.
(He never even mentioned the Alfa 145.. I do not know where that comes from. I HAVE read Chris Harris mentioning it, but he also says a lot doesn't he)
The Fiat Coupe was a very clever design too - contrary to its most fierce competitor Audi TT
.Firstly Chris & Fiat made sure the aero was spot on, hence the sharp cut rear and the look of the nose, etc. Even at 260km/h its stable (I've tried).
Secondly, there's some hidden features. Just look for the clamshell bonnet shutlines - cleverly hidden withing the side streak features. (in early concepts, also the rear bumper side split was in the rear streak, to make the car almost void of any shutlines except the 2 for the door..)
Then the front side streak behind the front wheel is also a fully functioning side vent, realeasing lots of hot air a 2-litre 220hp is producing.
Thirdly, both rear seat & luggage space are usable - contrary to its closest cousin Alfa GTV!
Edited by Pereldh on Thursday 24th March 11:22
A friend of mine had one 20 years ago and he adored it - it certainly went like a stabbed rat. He emigrated to the USA in 2006 but as far as I know he still has the car in storage at his parents house in the UK!
Not really my thing. I like the exterior styling but i grew up in a time when exposed body colour paint inside the car meant a poverty spec model and I can't get past that.
Not really my thing. I like the exterior styling but i grew up in a time when exposed body colour paint inside the car meant a poverty spec model and I can't get past that.
cerb4.5lee said:
You've got me thinking back now! I went to TOTB 2/3/4...years ago, and I reckon there was one of these there.
I'd always drove back from those events thinking how slow my car was after seeing all those really quick cars gunning it!
I've always admired the Fiat Coupe and I've always liked how different it looked.
I'd always drove back from those events thinking how slow my car was after seeing all those really quick cars gunning it!
I've always admired the Fiat Coupe and I've always liked how different it looked.
Come in Nigel Ogram!I had two, loved the first one, in sprint blue. It was the car responsible for shaping the rest of my working career in motorsport. A friendly forum, with owners happy to track their cars; it won me the odd Sprint too and got me into visiting the Ring on an annual basis. Great Audi UR like soundtrack, plenty of power, unique looks (which I love), just a shame it's fwd (as someone who enjoys a drift or two).
Here was mine in Austria, in about 2003 iirc.
Had one for a decade and it was utterly reliable over nearly 70K miles, despite having had better cars this was my favourite car I've owned.
Deeply regret selling it and I will own another, probably should have restored a clapped out Plus I was offered instead of my Alfa Spider but too late now.
Still never tire of the looks or the sound of the 5 cylinder engine.
Deeply regret selling it and I will own another, probably should have restored a clapped out Plus I was offered instead of my Alfa Spider but too late now.
Still never tire of the looks or the sound of the 5 cylinder engine.
Limpet said:
Love these. Although I'd be inspecting the offside front corner carefully on this example, as the alignment between the offside door and the front wing is miles out.
Not many cars could pull off that yellow, but this does. Looks fantastic IMO.
If I recall correctly, the 'front wing' panel, which is the small panel between the wheel & the door, is bolt-on, and the (somewhat unreliable) Meta alarm is mounted behind it. So it could well just be that it's been removed to remove/replace/repair the alarm, and not put back brilliantly.Not many cars could pull off that yellow, but this does. Looks fantastic IMO.
I had a Portofino Blue one, bought in haste from a local shady dealer, ignored warning signs but was pretty young and so keen on it, should have got the yellow one they had as well, might have been better, couldnt be worse. Mine had been run short on oil by the muppet who owned it before.
Remember in about 1999 a Sprint Blue Coupe going past me on Princess Parkway in Manchester, may have well have been some exotic supercar, jaw dropping, my mate bought a new Ink Black one, seemed so fast back then, still is pretty rapid but mine caused me much agro and almost a divorce.
Remember in about 1999 a Sprint Blue Coupe going past me on Princess Parkway in Manchester, may have well have been some exotic supercar, jaw dropping, my mate bought a new Ink Black one, seemed so fast back then, still is pretty rapid but mine caused me much agro and almost a divorce.
Fishy Dave said:
Come in Nigel Ogram!I had two, loved the first one, in sprint blue. It was the car responsible for shaping the rest of my working career in motorsport. A friendly forum, with owners happy to track their cars; it won me the odd Sprint too and got me into visiting the Ring on an annual basis. Great Audi UR like soundtrack, plenty of power, unique looks (which I love), just a shame it's fwd (as someone who enjoys a drift or two).
Here was mine in Austria, in about 2003 iirc.
My 20vt was the best car I have ever owned. Sure I have had better cars, but the coupe did such a good job of ticking the boxes. The fccuk meets certainly gave me some lasting memories.
Always loved them but never brave enough to buy one back in the day.
My lad is now 18 and looking for something more interesting than the usual fiesta ST, Corsa VX so might have to see what he thinks and throw in a few quid myself to help with the running costs and insurance.
Previous PH article from 2019 here
So, one of these or a GTV V6?
My lad is now 18 and looking for something more interesting than the usual fiesta ST, Corsa VX so might have to see what he thinks and throw in a few quid myself to help with the running costs and insurance.
Previous PH article from 2019 here
So, one of these or a GTV V6?
Pereldh said:
Best car I've had - period.
My car was indeed both faster, comfier, more economical & fun than my current Bmw Z4M Coupe.
Utterly bombproof it was too within my 284000km ownership.
Having discussed this with Bangle in person, I can assure you this is the only & last production car he did hands-on.
(He never even mentioned the Alfa 145.. I do not know where that comes from. I HAVE read Chris Harris mentioning it, but he also says a lot doesn't he)
Nice to see one that doesn't burn my eyes before I get a chance to look at it and a tasteful choice of wheel make a sweet looking ride, congratulations on owning it.My car was indeed both faster, comfier, more economical & fun than my current Bmw Z4M Coupe.
Utterly bombproof it was too within my 284000km ownership.
Having discussed this with Bangle in person, I can assure you this is the only & last production car he did hands-on.
(He never even mentioned the Alfa 145.. I do not know where that comes from. I HAVE read Chris Harris mentioning it, but he also says a lot doesn't he)
Edited by Pereldh on Thursday 24th March 10:03
carinaman said:
Rankss said:
If I remember correctly these are an engine out job to change the belt and coolant pump, so make sure that's been done
A workaround was developed many years ago so the cambelt can be done with the engine in situ. lb3nson said:
Bought one in lockdown last year and spent the summer using it. Really great cars and handled much better than expected. Definitely glad I ticked it off my must own list.
Rust is a major killer of these now - and it’s not obvious from the outside.
These grip and handle much better than they have any right to!!Rust is a major killer of these now - and it’s not obvious from the outside.
Edited by biggbn on Thursday 24th March 11:47
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