Used Coupes - Advice and Recommendations appreciated

[Rainrix]

Hi All,

After driving around a beaten up old hatchback for a few years i've finally got enough NCD to get decent insurance quotes on some better cars. I've Definitely got my heart set on getting some form of coupe. Before i drop any money i'd appreciate views and opinions from any former/present coupe owners. Main things I'm looking for.

- 2-4k Price range

- Fun Factor and enjoyment

- Reliability (rules out something like a fiat coupe )

Economy isn't much of an issue as i only have a 3 mile round trip for work. The toyota celica seems to be the best fit from what I've seen so far on the internet, but I'm open to any suggestions. Again any advice from past owners on fun reliability other things to look out for would be appreciated.

Cheers

[phil1979]

Being the biased fan-boi, i would suggest an Alfa GT. I loved mine.

[kambites]

Integra DC2?
Maybe a Corrado, if you can find a good one.

The Alfa is a lovely thing too, but not quite as sharp to drive.

[oilslick]

MX5 with a hard top?

[northwest monkey]

E46 should be achievable.

320, 325, 330 all good cars.

[kiethton]

northwest monkey said:

E46 should be achievable.

320, 325, 330 all good cars.

This.

Just ensure that the cooling system has been refreshed (known weak spot) and the wing rust (typically superficial) hasn't set in.

Buy on condition over mileage, check boot floors for cracking on higher powered models, used to be a major problem however if present there are now a number of specialists that can fix it fairly easily.

[Riley Blue]

W124 E320 seems to be flavour of the week.

[FD3Si]

kambites said:

Integra DC2?

This!

Wonderful things. Go drive one. Not at sedate speeds, but at 'pressing on' levels of commitment. If you don't fall in love, there's no hope

[LordHaveMurci]

Amazed nobody has told you to walk or cycle to work yet...

Fiat Coupe 20VT as a leftfield choice? Would an Alfa GTV fit into your budget?

[Grahamr123]

The Celica T sport is a great car. I get about 30mpg from mine on a 30 mile round commute.
It handles really nicely and sounds decent for a 4 cylinder. Only problem is that it doesn't have a great deal of torque so you have to really work the engine to get the power, but the 'Lift' (like VTEC) at 6200rpm does give a nice kick and its good fun.

Plus the boot is pretty spacious for a 2+2 coupe and the rear seats fold almost flat so you could probably even fit a bike in the back.

[daemon]

Rainrix said:

Economy isn't much of an issue as i only have a 3 mile round trip for work. The toyota celica seems to be the best fit from what I've seen so far on the internet, but I'm open to any suggestions. Again any advice from past owners on fun reliability other things to look out for would be appreciated.

Cheers

Celica would be a good choice - the 140BHP variant is a nice drive - aim for 17s and a boot spoiler as a minimum spec.

Also get the facelifted one as it had the earlier cars engine problems (burning oil from memory) sorted

[MG511]

No car will like a 3 mile round trip every day, especially something with a turbo or tuned engine. Get a bike and a weekend car?

[LordHaveMurci]

MG511 said:

No car will like a 3 mile round trip every day, especially something with a turbo or tuned engine. Get a bike and a weekend car?

I hear what you're saying but my Fiat Coupe 20VT coped perfectly for two years before some numpty wrote it off

[anonymous-user]

I may get flamed for this but what about a TT?

[jep]

MonkeyMatt said:

I may get flamed for this but what about a TT?

Was just about to say a Mk 1 TT...

[forzaminardi]

A Celica is good choice. Buy wisely and it'll last you a lifetime.

[Rainrix]

LordHaveMurci said:

Amazed nobody has told you to walk or cycle to work yet...

Fiat Coupe 20VT as a leftfield choice? Would an Alfa GTV fit into your budget?

Well to be fair its not purely for work, i'd be having plenty of casual driving to nowhere plus shops and all the rest. Fuel prices haven't made driving for fun completely redundant yet have they?

GTVs are nice and well in budget, nice lookers as well. Lots of really good suggestions that slipped my mind. Again this is just research really (still a few months before i make a choice). How where your experiences with the fiat? Are they as hideously unreliable as I've heard?

[peterg1955]

Have a look at the Hyundai Coupe SIII 2.0 - I bought an 07 plate for £3.5k last year and put another 8k miles on it without any problems.

I'd always liked the styling of the Hyundai Coupe so when my Skoda Octavia looked like costing more to fix (DSG clutches going, turbo bearings shot) than it was worth I got rid and replaced it with this.

It's more fun to drive than a lot or people realise (even Clarkson liked it...)and is very comfortable for longer journeys (heated leather seats, cruise and climate control) as well as for my 6 mile each way commute.

[LordHaveMurci]

Rainrix said:

Well to be fair its not purely for work, i'd be having plenty of casual driving to nowhere plus shops and all the rest. Fuel prices haven't made driving for fun completely redundant yet have they?

GTVs are nice and well in budget, nice lookers as well. Lots of really good suggestions that slipped my mind. Again this is just research really (still a few months before i make a choice). How where your experiences with the fiat? Are they as hideously unreliable as I've heard?

I spoke to a Fiat/Alfa specialist before buying my 20VT, I had come from a newish 30k mls BMW 330D so didn't want an unreliable heap of crap. He persuaded me the Coupes were pretty good so I bought one.
Ran it for two years before it was written off & the only thing that went wrong was a temp, sensor that cost me £20!
When it was written off I bought it back & myself & a mate used it at W-S-M Sandocross event & I went & bought another one for my daily driver. Sadly I bought a pup the 2nd time around, was too confident after my success the 1st time.
I did think long & hard about a GTV V6 the 2nd time round but the Fiat is more practical (4 seater + biggish boot) & I got the impression it would be more reliable(!) & cheaper to run.