Verdict on a Fiat Coupe 16v Turbo

I'll have to get back to you on my 20VT economy, as I have only done 100 miles or so since I bought it. I have bought a GTEC1 chip which with a PRV, colder plugs and bosst gauge set at 1.2 bar should give 255-260 bhp. 260 bhp from a 16VT will require more than a chip ETC.

Sorry to drag this thread up again, but I wanted to update on my 20VT.

Since fitting the GTEC and PRV chip the car is quite a faster and seems to be giving similar fuel economy figures as it was before. I usually get around 28mpg.

However I would say performance is pretty much the same as my Evo-chipped 16VT with PRV.

Fuel economy was a bit worse on the 16VT, I got around 25mpg in general driving, however I think from memory that the 20VT has taller gearing which may account for the difference.

Overall I still think the 16VT is a better car. I hear so many horror stories on the 20VT but hardly any on the 16VT, apart from worn cams due to using too thick oil, or neglecting the servicing.

The 20VT is also a lot more cramped under the bonnet, for example cambelts and turbo changes are a nightmare of a job. I have a cracked manifold (which the 16VT doesn't ususually get) and its going to be a big job..

I also keep worrying that something will go wrong, where as on the 16VT if anything did go wrong I could fix it myself.

The 20VT does sound better IMO though and obviously its newer.

So having owned both for a while I would say I preferred my 16VT..

I might yet sell the 20VT and get an Alfa GTV though..

Just to add to the debate!

Horses for courses really, although your original question was if the Coupe 16VT was a worthy buy, the answer is a big YES!

The 20v and 16v boys will bitch at each other all day about which is the better car/engine etc but it's all down to what you want, and as you don't want to pay the extra for insurance, and it is a significant extra, then the 16VT is the one to go for. Both cars are great, but if cost of running is a worry as well as insurance, then the 16VT is the wiser choice. However, if you do a lot of miles, the difference in insurance between the two will be academic as the 16VT is slightly heavier on fuel, though not by much to be honest.

Performance wise there is little in it, the 20v is quicker to 60 by 2/3 of a second and 6 mph faster, in gear times are similar too, but in favour of the 20v. A chip, air filter and aftermarket exhaust will see this gap vanish though and take your 16VT up towards 240BHP. (The same applies for the 20VT also, obviously!)

They are effectively the same car, only a small dashboard change (centre console) steering rack, brakes (brembo's on the 20v) and the engine are different. The Brembo's are the best of these changes, the engine is slightly more powerful, but rather lazy feeling, and the centre console is all down to taste, I prefer the console in the 16v as it doesn't have a (usually broken) big ashtray at the bottom of it, but, the 20v console has a nicer clock!!! The steering is lighter on the 20v with less feel, the steering lock (so turning circle) on both cars is awful! If you can't do a 3-4-even 5 point turn, don't buy one, and be careful in multi-storey carparks!

Bodywork corrosion tends not to be an issue on either the 20 or 16 but, as with all cars, get it checked for accident damage and factor this into haggling a good price. The only weak spot on these cars is the sills, if left unprotected they can rust leading to an MOT failure and a big bill or worthless car, this is often found on cars that have been lowered for a good part of there lives, speed bumps etc take off the protection and the water gets into the seams. Also, the rear of the arch lip on the front and the front of the rear arches (basically both metal bits!) can be rusty, although it never seems to progress far and is usually easily sorted.

Watch for the clutch on the 16VT, it's not as strong as the 20VT and although costs no more to fit, is still an expensive job compared to lesser cars.

Also, as with all italian cars, make sure all the electrics work, the sunroof motor is a weak spot on both cars, aircon if fitted is reliable. Try to get a sunroof OR aircon, you don't need both, that doubles the potential chances of failure.

The rear light cones are alloy and can corrode in time, once alloy starts going there is no stopping it really so avoid corroded light cones if you can, the later cars seem to suffer from this more than the earlier ones for some reason.

If you can get it, get leather, good for resale, two shades of tan (light and dark) and black are available on the everyday coop's, colour choice is all yours there!

Red is the strongest colour for resale, however, it's the weakest colour for aging. lots of cars go a pinky colour and it's almost impossible to correct without a respray as the paint is sealed under a hard lacquer.

If you are going to modify, it might be worth paying the very little extra required to buy one that is up to the kind of spec you are looking for as suspension mods etc are costly, but add little more to the value of the car when you come to sell it, let someone else spend all the money and get one with all the right bits added already.

Engine wise both need fresh oil as often as is possible, and good quality oil to boot. The 20v is more oil dependent, by that I mean miss oil changes at your peril, the 16v will tolerate this to a point as it's a good old fashioned solid engine, the 20v is a Alloy engine with rather thin liners and also the crank shells on the 20v are prone to wear through oil starvation.

Turbos are turbos, if the oil is changed for the engine in good time, the turbo's will do 100k plus, mine is on 78k now and there is no sign of any trouble, I know my Delta HF Turbo from some years ago passed 120k of very hard and un-sympathetic use on it's original turbo before it let go!

Most 16vt's sound a little tappy, this is fairly normal, although listen to a few before buying, you'll soon get to know how a good one should sound, unless you go to listen to a load of bad ones of course, this is unlikely though!

Power is easily pushed upwards and the engine will take it with no problems to a point, around 300bhp is the acknowledged safe point where you have to start thinking about internal mods, however, the crank is forged (same as the integrale) and strong as an ox.

The Coupe forum is a good place to look, just don't get to swayed by the 16 vs 20 v debate and make sure you ask questions if need be, we'll help you find a good one if we can.

Enjoy your Coupe, it's a great car in either form, will make you smile when you drive it, and cry when it breaks, they all break, just not as often as some people might like you to believe! It will get you looked at too, if that's important to you!