here i go again. 20 yr old coupe
Discussion
suddenly realised that i don't need a sensible/reliable car anymore. now fully retired and only "summering" in the UK means i can take liberties with transport.
was originally going to just recommission the GTV V6 and maybe keep one saab as a toy.
but. a red 20VT fiat coupe hoved into view. very red. seller was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about his car and it was well priced given a Cat C a couple of years ago. low mileage and good recent history. previous owner is an aviation engineer for a well known (major) airline so i trust his workmanship !!
we're now 500 miles in and the list of jobs needing doing is short.
alarm - as usual. it's definitely working but not responding to the fobs. i will persevere but might just swap it all out for a remote locking unit
belts - done at 39k and, possibly at 74k. who knows?, will invest an afternoon and some blood and skin sorting this out
sticky centre console - yep, it has one of those
bonnet release - also a yep. i've sorted a work around that doesn't involve wrecking the grille but parts on order
chunk out of driver's mirror - parts on way
minor oil leak somewhere - will live with this for now, no appreciable loss
damage to n/s bonnet corner - will attempt to tidy but can live with this as well
budget tyres - will be sorted this weekend
wobbly rear view mirror - easy fix, tighten the 7mm fixing nut
leather is all good, sunroof works properly in all modalities, looks like it has a cheeky little aftermarket centre pipe/back box on it. we're bonding at the moment and it has been several years since i had a coupe but i have a good feeling about this one. definitely smart enough to be a "keeper", despite the niggles
what could possibly go wrong ?!
paul
was originally going to just recommission the GTV V6 and maybe keep one saab as a toy.
but. a red 20VT fiat coupe hoved into view. very red. seller was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about his car and it was well priced given a Cat C a couple of years ago. low mileage and good recent history. previous owner is an aviation engineer for a well known (major) airline so i trust his workmanship !!
we're now 500 miles in and the list of jobs needing doing is short.
alarm - as usual. it's definitely working but not responding to the fobs. i will persevere but might just swap it all out for a remote locking unit
belts - done at 39k and, possibly at 74k. who knows?, will invest an afternoon and some blood and skin sorting this out
sticky centre console - yep, it has one of those
bonnet release - also a yep. i've sorted a work around that doesn't involve wrecking the grille but parts on order
chunk out of driver's mirror - parts on way
minor oil leak somewhere - will live with this for now, no appreciable loss
damage to n/s bonnet corner - will attempt to tidy but can live with this as well
budget tyres - will be sorted this weekend
wobbly rear view mirror - easy fix, tighten the 7mm fixing nut
leather is all good, sunroof works properly in all modalities, looks like it has a cheeky little aftermarket centre pipe/back box on it. we're bonding at the moment and it has been several years since i had a coupe but i have a good feeling about this one. definitely smart enough to be a "keeper", despite the niggles
what could possibly go wrong ?!
paul
red paint is, erm.., still very red. 1 tiny patch of lacquer peel on the edge of the bootlid otherwise all good. i need to enlist the services of a young person to post images but i don't have any around at the moment !!
it was MoT'd last week and there is an advisory for a small amount of rust on the n/side belt anchorage. i've had a look and it's surface stuff on the end of the sill; will fix this before i head back to TnT for the remainder of winter. there's also some surface rust on some suspension components but that's probably down to lack of recent use.
i've not had a 20VT before - i had a 20V NA and a 16VT many years ago so most of it is familiar.
checked on-line and it seems a reasonably well-known specialist in aylesbury is offering belts,tensioners and water pump for £305 all in. at that price i won't be skinning my own knuckles i don't think !!
paul
it was MoT'd last week and there is an advisory for a small amount of rust on the n/side belt anchorage. i've had a look and it's surface stuff on the end of the sill; will fix this before i head back to TnT for the remainder of winter. there's also some surface rust on some suspension components but that's probably down to lack of recent use.
i've not had a 20VT before - i had a 20V NA and a 16VT many years ago so most of it is familiar.
checked on-line and it seems a reasonably well-known specialist in aylesbury is offering belts,tensioners and water pump for £305 all in. at that price i won't be skinning my own knuckles i don't think !!
paul
Good luck with the Coupe, I think they are an excellent car and I deeply regret selling mine a couple of years ago after owning it for 9 years or so. Think you've done the right thing going for a turbo for no other reason than I found parts supply for the NA/VIS specific components was starting to become non existent, running costs between the 2 are more or less the same as well.
Sounds as if you've got a mid period car which I think is the sweet spot rust wise with the Coupe, the later cars (W/X reg) seem to be a lot worse from this perspective. Once my 916 Spider resto is finished I'm going to get another one, won't sell the next one either!!
Sounds as if you've got a mid period car which I think is the sweet spot rust wise with the Coupe, the later cars (W/X reg) seem to be a lot worse from this perspective. Once my 916 Spider resto is finished I'm going to get another one, won't sell the next one either!!
it's an "R" prefix and no other sign of any corrosion previously so hopefully one of the "blessed" ones !
bonnet damage - now much improved following a suction pad session
sticky console is slowly responding to nail-polish remover
on the downside - the oh-so familiar (to fiat and alfa owners) non-self cancelling L indicator has reared it's head.
on balance, not a bad first week !
paul
bonnet damage - now much improved following a suction pad session
sticky console is slowly responding to nail-polish remover
on the downside - the oh-so familiar (to fiat and alfa owners) non-self cancelling L indicator has reared it's head.
on balance, not a bad first week !
paul
Edited by paulmakin on Sunday 11th February 16:03
paulmakin said:
aha !!
i was ready for it today. silicon grease in the locks and handbrake off overnight. regular/daily coupe drivers will know why !!
that learned it - i think we've now established who is in control in this relationship
mirror is wobbly again though.
paul
I think we all learned the lesson the hard way with both of these Coupe Winter "characteristics", had to silicon the door seals on mine as well!!i was ready for it today. silicon grease in the locks and handbrake off overnight. regular/daily coupe drivers will know why !!
that learned it - i think we've now established who is in control in this relationship
mirror is wobbly again though.
paul
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