RE: Fiat Coupe 2.0 20v Turbo | Spotted
Discussion
Pereldh said:
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!
Thans for that, what a stunning car! Mine ended up donating its running gear to a wide body Martini racing 155 replica, I think that car was well known/discussed on these pages a few years ago.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
Fishy Dave said:
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.
SWoll said:
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?
Fiat all day for me! 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?
loved mine - flawed and fantastic. Always fun to drive and an 'angry' sounding engine as a mate of mine put it at the time. Flaws were around build - switches dropping in to the dashboard cos they were attached so flimsily, the rear washer jet pointing upwards so it wouldn't actually hit the rear screen above about 15 miles per hour. It's inability to put power down on a greasy road meant it could be hard to make rapid progress and alarmingly when on a suspension lift for tyre replacement the guy opened the drivers door and it was hard to close due to body flex, oh and above 130 mph the wipers flap wildly on the screen :-)
I wish i'd never sold it .........
I wish i'd never sold it .........
My mate had one of these new in a lilac colour and I had an Alfa 3ltr GTV in a kind of jade green / turquoise.
Looking back I cant fathom our colour choices, but it was the 90s :-)
Pretty evenly matched on performance, albeit the classic Alfa V6 noise was far preferable to my ears.
Both still look distinctive and quite sharp I think.... good designs if a bit ordinary to drive. hot hatches in drag
Looking back I cant fathom our colour choices, but it was the 90s :-)
Pretty evenly matched on performance, albeit the classic Alfa V6 noise was far preferable to my ears.
Both still look distinctive and quite sharp I think.... good designs if a bit ordinary to drive. hot hatches in drag
biggbn said:
SWoll said:
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?
Fiat all day for me! 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?
Always fancied one of these but rare as rocking horse s
t these days and pricey for nice one.
Still deeply cool though.
SWoll said:
biggbn said:
SWoll said:
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?
Fiat all day for me! 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?
Always fancied one of these but rare as rocking horse s
t these days and pricey for nice one.Still deeply cool though.
Bought one from another forum May last year. Around £1100 for one with 19(!) previous owners and 156k miles. Immediately pulled the engine to do the cambelt, clutch and the coolant hose of death, among other things. Drove it pretty much from September till early March when it ran out of MOT. Next job is to pull the rear subframe for a refurbish. Love it to bits, the 5 cylinder noise is just beautiful.
First fill up shot:
First fill up shot:
I have always loved these and when looking for a hot hatch type car in the late 90's, one of these was on the list but sadly I never found one for sale so never drove one. They were quite rare back in the day, never mind now, I think the asking price is quite reasonable given the way things are today. Always loved the way the exterior colour came into the cabin, nice touch.
Stored well, cared for and driven as a weekend car only, this car won't lose any money I wouldn't have thought. Last of a generation of 90's sports cars, love it!
Stored well, cared for and driven as a weekend car only, this car won't lose any money I wouldn't have thought. Last of a generation of 90's sports cars, love it!
My mate has one of these with 40k on the clock. He won't sell it. I have fond memories of going to the Nurburgring, loading onto the car ferry in my Honda S2000 and him in his Fiat Coupe and my wife in the Fiats boot as she had lost her passport!
It was quite quick but cooked it's standard brakes quite easily.
It was quite quick but cooked it's standard brakes quite easily.
Edited by Rawhide on Thursday 24th March 14:23
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
Noooo! Biggest myth surrounding these cars! It can be done with the engine in, but find a specialist, it doesn't look like fun!I did a lot of work on mine, new turbo, suspension, and a few other bits of maintenance. I didn't find it too bad to work on in general.
I've had mine for nearly 18 years.
Best change I made was a catback exhaust to hear the engine better.
Sadly it's been languishing in a shed for the last 3 years due to a house move, refurb and covid (and consequent lack of funds to get the car back in tip top shape)
Still, at least the thick layer of dust will be adding to its value. I mean, barn finds of any type are always worth tens of thousands £s aren't they
Best change I made was a catback exhaust to hear the engine better.
Sadly it's been languishing in a shed for the last 3 years due to a house move, refurb and covid (and consequent lack of funds to get the car back in tip top shape)
Still, at least the thick layer of dust will be adding to its value. I mean, barn finds of any type are always worth tens of thousands £s aren't they
Fishy Dave said:
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!
yes, the "old boy in the mighty Fiat Coupe" (as one of the Vauxhall lads was overheard to say) was me.
I first entered TOTB in 2006 with the car on 136,000 miles. I knew I didn't stand much of a chance on the quarter mile or the top speed run, but I'd spent a bit of time and effort making it go round corners, so I fancied my chance at some silverware in the handling discipline. I came third in 2006 (on road tyres). I managed second in 2007, by then on 165,000 miles and in 2008, with 191,000 on the clock, third time lucky gave me a gong for fastest FWD on the handling circuit. I won again in 2009 and came second again in 2010. By now, it was on 246,000 miles and tin-worm was taking its toll.
DSCF2831 by Nigel Ogram, on FlickrAs it would have cost a chunk to sort the rust, I bought a low-mileage Moon Grey 20VT Plus and swapped all the good bits from the Sprint Blue into the Moon Grey. I then continued with the modding until it got to 488bhp, at which point, I realised I'd gone a bit too far. It was just too fast to enjoy properly on the road - I genuinely feared for my liberty as well as my licence - it would do 160+ with ridiculous ease and was quicker than a Giulia QF on a rolling start. I was even decent off the mark too - 0-100 in about 9 seconds and a standing quarter in 12.4. We never actually worked out its true top speed, but it has been well off its 180mph clock on an airfield and it was still accelerating. We reckon it would have done about 190-195 if we could have found a long enough straight....
Fiat Coupe 20 valve turbo Plus by Nigel Ogram, on FlickrIn the end, I bought an Alfa GT diesel for the daily commute, which mean the Coupe didn't get used much. I eventually sold it last year to a chap in Northern Ireland, who is restoring the body, but keeping the mods. As I now WFH permanently, the Alfa eventually got sold too and I now have a raucous V8 as my mid-life crisis car....
I have fond memories of my time with my four Coupes - all made better by the excellent FCCUK forum community and a handful of extremely competent specialists.
Matt Neal driving my first Coupe
My fourth Coupe - a 1995 16v N/A press car
DSCF3677 by Nigel Ogram, on FlickrYellowCar said:
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.
Thanks. Every day is a school day 
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