General Advice needed for 20vT

[Mootree]

Looking to move up to a P reg 20vT from a Punto. Have found an accident damaged (v light rear bumper and spare wheel well) coupe. I'm concerned at not having any idea what the history is. Car has done 89,000. What should I look out for? I would appreciate some advice on this?

Cheers

 

[pinin__prestatyn]

Hello and welcome :wave:

Personally I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole. What if it has previous accident damage that has been repaired? Has the cambelt been done and do you have proof? When you factor in the likely cost of repair you are probably better off looking at a 16vt or cheap 20VT with history.

 

[smokeme]

Hello and welcome :wave:

Personally I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole. What if it has previous accident damage that has been repaired? Has the cambelt been done and do you have proof? When you factor in the likely cost of repair you are probably better off looking at a 16vt or cheap 20VT with history.

It depends on the buyers eye, if inspected carefully previous damage can be spotted. It will also depend on how well the repairs were carried out. I don't know about you but i always do maintenance when i buy a new car especially the cam belt regardless of what the previous owner/seller says. It will also allow you to push the seller to drop the price if you spot previous damage etc..

Usually it is easier to find a good solid car to start with though

 

[sammiboo]

to someone who was buying a coupe i would say buy the best your money can buy, these things arent cheap to look after so if you get a accident damage one you might be asking for all kinds of trouble

 

[pinin__prestatyn]

I don't know about you but i always do maintenance when i buy a new car especially the cam belt regardless of what the previous owner/seller says.

Fair enough if the cambelt costs you £200-300 then yeah not a problem. But with the Coupe cambelt costing around £500-£1000 depending on who you go to it's a big issue. You can however use it as a bartering point on a potential purchase.

 

[dave]

better to buy an accident damaged one thats been well cared for, rather than a straight one thats been neglected imo

 

[hmallett]

Agreed. The accident damage itself may not be a problem here, as it's the rear, which is the cheap end of a coupe. Problem is that with no history, it could quite easily require the following by 89k:
Exhaust manifold
Turbo oil seals
Wishbones
Oil cooler pipes
Cambelt (plus tensioners)
Radiator
To get those done would be over £700 for parts alone, and well over £1000 by the time you've put labour into the equation.
H

 

[Mootree]

Thanks to everyone for their comments.
I have had another look at the car after the comments and will walk away from this example. Engine bay was in a state and I noticed more damage in the rear than what I first saw. Just not prepared to risk it.
Will wait my time for a better looked after example to come along.
The search begins.....

 

[darkcircuitUK]

You still want one after he told you that it's nearly a grand for a cambelt change? Geezus you must have some spare change hanging about. Don't get me wrong I really like the coupe but it's getting on a bit and there are newer examples of cars that are just as nice as the coupe around that are a lot cheaper. If you already own a coupe then my hat is off to you but if your considering getting one now then your leaving it a bit late in the game and 90,000 miles is a hell of a lot of miles

Well thats just my opinion, I am sure I will get totally insulted and ridiculed now but I am a big boy and I can take it so give me your best shot

 

[timr69]

There's plenty of lower mileage coupes around and they seem able to take high miles if looked after well.

The cambelt on the turbo can be done for about £500 - not 'close to a grand'.

S'pose it's still not cheap compared to a lot of normal cars but you've got to remember that the coupe is a FAST car.
How much would it cost you for servicing and general maintenance on a BMW 328 coupe?
Bear in mind that for the price of a decent Fiat coupe you'll only get an old, high mileage BMW.

 

[custard]

one in the classifeds just now
https://www.fiatforum.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=992

 

[Steven]

89k and it hasn't had the belt done...

 

[custard]

yeah but i went on the fact that they were originally looking at a 90k'er with accident damage

 

[Steven]

Ah yeah, it's infinitely better than that.