Fiat coupe 20v turbo

[dabofoppo]

Hey guys. Im here because currently i own the slowest of nissan almeras and in a few months im contemplating getting rid of it and buying a fiat coupe 20v turbo. All i know about them is apparently they are quite fast. My main concerns are: are there any known faults? What are the running costs like? And are they fun? thanks for any help

[TimR69]

Go to www.fccuk.org/forum

[Robert060379]

The main problems with the 20V Coupe Turbo are.

Group 20 insurance has resulted in a lot of them being driven by idiots without insurance because they can be picked up from auction websites for under £1000 but cost three to four times that third party only.

Service costs (£600-ish for a full belt and filter change) have resulted in the cars being neglected and for every decent one out there you'll find thirty ropey ones that have been run over with a mop.

The Brembo edition are rarer but the brakes aren't that much better than the standard ones to justify paying a lot extra.

All in look for a car with a full service history and well looked after. Expect to pay over £3000 and look after it because the car will be worth a foretune in a few years.

Most important, enjoy it.

[chim500nj]

Really pampered ones are now becoming rare and these types of cars must be loved and looked after. As with all Italian cars find a good one and it will reward and please you.

If you want an example of a mint one currently for sale try here: http://www.stgeorge.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=pub...

At £3,500 it is a snip.

[Robert060379]

chim500nj said:

http://www.stgeorge.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=pub...

At £3,500 it is a snip.

That is beautiful. I'm viewing her on Tuesday with my cheque book.

Edited by Robert060379 on Sunday 24th January 14:20

[gj88]

If you do that you'll buy it. A £2500 respray will ensure you will! It looks absolutely lovely.

[Gompo]

chim500nj said:

Really pampered ones are now becoming rare and these types of cars must be loved and looked after. As with all Italian cars find a good one and it will reward and please you.

If you want an example of a mint one currently for sale try here: http://www.stgeorge.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=pub...

At £3,500 it is a snip.

Doesnt it need a cambelt change? No air/con?

I'd be surprised if you couldnt find a better and cheaper example on the FCCUK website (not looked recently admittedly).

[Cyclone1]

Gompo said:

chim500nj said:

Really pampered ones are now becoming rare and these types of cars must be loved and looked after. As with all Italian cars find a good one and it will reward and please you.

If you want an example of a mint one currently for sale try here: http://www.stgeorge.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=pub...

At £3,500 it is a snip.

Doesnt it need a cambelt change? No air/con?

I'd be surprised if you couldnt find a better and cheaper example on the FCCUK website (not looked recently admittedly).

Agreed it looks nice cosmetically and very standard, but also it may still be running the original turbo so given it's age and mileage then this'll need replacing soon (albeit for only about £450). Might be worth checking those for sale on fccuk for comparative purposes.

Jules

[wink]

Fast, great fun and great value. Surprisingly decent space and fuel economy too - 29mpg. They need cambelts doing every 36k (original service schedule specified 72k). Exhaust manifolds can crack - ticking sound on cold startup and smell in cabin, but disappears almost immediately as manifold expands and seals the leak. All 20VTs have Brembo brakes but uprated pads are necessary to make them work well. Squealing brakes at parking speeds very common, annoying but trivial. Look for full service history, ideally with specialist. Go for aircon & leather - plenty about. Beware modified/chipped/chavved examples. They do use oil, so check dipstick. Nothing on it means walk

Edited by wink on Monday 25th January 17:54

[Highway Star]

Cyclone1 said:

Gompo said:

chim500nj said:

Really pampered ones are now becoming rare and these types of cars must be loved and looked after. As with all Italian cars find a good one and it will reward and please you.

If you want an example of a mint one currently for sale try here: http://www.stgeorge.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=pub...

At £3,500 it is a snip.

Doesnt it need a cambelt change? No air/con?

I'd be surprised if you couldnt find a better and cheaper example on the FCCUK website (not looked recently admittedly).

Agreed it looks nice cosmetically and very standard, but also it may still be running the original turbo so given it's age and mileage then this'll need replacing soon (albeit for only about £450). Might be worth checking those for sale on fccuk for comparative purposes.

Jules

I'm pretty sure that car was a FCCUK members' - AlanW - he part-ex'd it for an Alfa GT. He's still on FCCUK, so should be able to answer any questions. He definitely looked after the car and was a standard bearer for all things standard as far as the Coupe goes.

[montydog]

Hey, that's my old coupe! I am AlanW on the Coupe forum.

Robert060379, how did you get on? Did you buy it or not?

BTW, it does have fully functioning and very cold aircon and yes, it's on it's original turbo but it doesn't smoke and pulls normally. Whoever buys this will get a very nicely sorted car. I have pampered it like a baby for the past 4 years. I hope whoever buys it treats the old girl properly.

Edited by montydog on Wednesday 27th January 15:52

[gj88]

Gompo said:

chim500nj said:

Really pampered ones are now becoming rare and these types of cars must be loved and looked after. As with all Italian cars find a good one and it will reward and please you.

If you want an example of a mint one currently for sale try here: http://www.stgeorge.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=pub...

At £3,500 it is a snip.

I'd be surprised if you couldnt find a better and cheaper example on the FCCUK website (not looked recently admittedly).

Perfect body and paint work, lovingly looked after. Find me a better one.

A coupe of that quality is worth that an more all day long.

[Chris71]

I nearly bought a 20VT Coupe a couple of years ago and good ones were anything up to £5k, so if that really is a minter for £3.5k I'd grab it.

[Gompo]

gj88 said:

Gompo said:

chim500nj said:

Really pampered ones are now becoming rare and these types of cars must be loved and looked after. As with all Italian cars find a good one and it will reward and please you.

If you want an example of a mint one currently for sale try here: http://www.stgeorge.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=pub...

At £3,500 it is a snip.

I'd be surprised if you couldnt find a better and cheaper example on the FCCUK website (not looked recently admittedly).

Perfect body and paint work, lovingly looked after. Find me a better one.

A coupe of that quality is worth that an more all day long.

I'm not having a go at the previous owner who's now joined this thread, but I'd be surprised if the dealer is making a loss on this car. If I was going to spend nigh on £4k on a 20VT I'd want something 'more' than this (6 speed etc) or something where the 'big' things were sorted. They have probably gone up in price a bit since I was looking, and I am sure the good ones will start to appreciate.

I seemed to be the only one on this thread picking up that it needed a cambelt change too. I was trying to give a prospective buyer some help.

I have nothing against Fiat Coupes so not trying to knock them, hence me looking at the thread - I came close to buying one earlier this year (same colour as yours gj88) and they used to be my favourite modern affordable coupe.

[gj88]

Gompo said:

gj88 said:

Gompo said:

chim500nj said:

Really pampered ones are now becoming rare and these types of cars must be loved and looked after. As with all Italian cars find a good one and it will reward and please you.

If you want an example of a mint one currently for sale try here: http://www.stgeorge.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=pub...

At £3,500 it is a snip.

I'd be surprised if you couldnt find a better and cheaper example on the FCCUK website (not looked recently admittedly).

Perfect body and paint work, lovingly looked after. Find me a better one.

A coupe of that quality is worth that an more all day long.

I'm not having a go at the previous owner who's now joined this thread, but I'd be surprised if the dealer is making a loss on this car. If I was going to spend nigh on £4k on a 20VT I'd want something 'more' than this (6 speed etc) or something where the 'big' things were sorted. They have probably gone up in price a bit since I was looking, and I am sure the good ones will start to appreciate.

I seemed to be the only one on this thread picking up that it needed a cambelt change too. I was trying to give a prospective buyer some help.

I have nothing against Fiat Coupes so not trying to knock them, hence me looking at the thread - I came close to buying one earlier this year (same colour as yours gj88) and they used to be my favourite modern affordable coupe.

You're correct in that it needs a cam belt but the bodywork really is perfect. I can see your logic in wanting 'more' than a standard 20vt but IMO a sorted standard 20vt with immaculate bodywork is more than a tatty LE or plus for the same money

[Gompo]

gj88 said:

You're correct in that it needs a cam belt but the bodywork really is perfect. I can see your logic in wanting 'more' than a standard 20vt but IMO a sorted standard 20vt with immaculate bodywork is more than a tatty LE or plus for the same money

Yes I see where you are coming from. I guess it's maybe one of those cars that is worth the asking price because of the recent bodywork etc, it just may be difficult to find a buyer when they can be tempted by higher spec cars at similar price albeit not condition.

[gj88]

Gompo said:

gj88 said:

You're correct in that it needs a cam belt but the bodywork really is perfect. I can see your logic in wanting 'more' than a standard 20vt but IMO a sorted standard 20vt with immaculate bodywork is more than a tatty LE or plus for the same money

Yes I see where you are coming from. I guess it's maybe one of those cars that is worth the asking price because of the recent bodywork etc, it just may be difficult to find a buyer when they can be tempted by higher spec cars at similar price albeit not condition.

Another fair point. It's all down to the buyer at the end of the day. If I didnt have pretty much the same car as the one for sale in this thread I think I'd go for this. I really cant be bothered to do body work on a coupe. A plus will always be top of the list if it's in near perfect condition. I dont mind about doing the belts as it just puts my mind at rest.

[Gompo]

Is yours an 'R' gj88? If so, where did you buy it from? I know it's not an unpopular colour, but could be the one I looked at.

[Robert060379]

Got n insurance quote for the car and decided to move to a cave and live off the land instead.

[montydog]

Robert030679,

I assume that means you're not buying the car. Did you look at it? What was your opinion?