Thinking of getting a 20v or 20v Turbo.
Any owners out there tell me about the things to look out for when buying.

Thanks.

RALPH.

most important thing is service history,and look for low milage.
The timing belt is expensive to change around 500 quid,because engine has to come out ,most times.
The problem with most of the turbos is that they get driven hard which of course leads to engine trouble,always risky when buying a high performance car,anyway look for low milage,few owners,and check underneath for rust.

This is not a car to be looked after on the cheap. Belts are a must, must be up to date. Front wishbones tend to go, really have to be genuine Fiat. They drink oil. That's just for starters. For me the worst of all are the electrics. They hate the icy weather. Not being able to get in the car if you haven't done any preventative measures. Frozen handbrake cables.

Pound for buck though & if you consider what you have, the turbo anyway, standard 220bhp. Hoot to drive. Not really a DIY car as they are not easy to work on. Service history is a must if you are serious on running one of these.

Thanks chaps,
So,low mileage,full service history and a recent cam belt change is a must.
Got it

RALPH.

It's esentially a Tipo/Bravo/Brava/Marea.
Suspension is rather simple stuff.
Subframes will need checking for corrosion esp. at the front. Check the bushes between bodywork and subframe at rear for failures. You can't buy replacement bushes!
Brakes shouldn't present any issues - water getting into handbrake cables can freeze but easy to prevent.
Steering is pretty robust. Standard hydraulic affair.
Electrics on most fiats this age are starting to suffer with poor earth connections.
Engines seem to be ok. Does like to drink oil as much as any Fiat 2.0 of the age. Have seen a few people with cracked manifolds. Most garages that are knowledgable on the coupe can do the timing belt without removing the engine. Most other engine work is pretty simple as half the engine is exposed with the huge bonnet up. Beware abused or neglected examples - if the previous owner isn't knowledgeable about the car consider walking away - it's probably been filled with asda price engine oil.
Bodywork should be good if there is no damage. Bonet is prone to stonechips with the very low nose. A damaged bonet is pretty much cause for a write-off as they cost so much.

All of the above is good advice.

The turbos tend to have engine oil leaks, the n/a versions can have gearbox oil leaks, but not generally the other way round! My n/a has never used any engine oil so that's a bit of a myth, at least on the non turbos - it likes Selinia Racing by the way, and well worth the little extra over Selinia 20k.

Always go for service history over low mileage - you won't find many with "low" mileage anyway depending on your definition. A good non turbo will be as quick as a badly treated turbo, and there's potentially less to go wrong in everyday use.

Cambelts must be done every 5 years without fail, anyone who says it hasn't had one because it hasn't done the mileage isn't the seller you want! Watch the temp on the testdrive too - they don't run hot unless there's a problem (headgasket usually), even in traffic.

Remember many have been thrashed & crashed so you want one with good service history and long periods of ownership ideally. Check the oil pressure is ok, my non-turbo never drops under 3 bar even in traffic and that's what a properly looked after engine will be showing.

They are great fun and not in the least fragile if properly looked after. Mine was an every day car for 7 years and never missed a beat (frozen handbrake aside, and don't bother trying to drive them in snow either!). The electrics should be ok too if it's been looked after.

Gavin

Just to throw in another spanner in the works. Beware of the so called "hose of death" Situated behind the engine leading to the thermostat. When these go, your engine is usually toast.

Thanks chaps.

have thought about the N/A cars.
Still got a useful 150 odd HP.

So,I,ll go shopping for one after christmas

RALPH.