General anything specific to look for in this model?

[Punto Maltese]

I was going to go and see a black 16 V Turbo Coupe in the next few days, and this is a 1996 model. Besides the usual, obvious things to look for, such as paintwork, scrathes, mechanical things and so on, is there anything else that may be important to look for when buying such a model? besides to check when was the cambelt changed, and if not consider it when paying?
(Yeah i know that to change the cambelt costs a bloody huge amount of cash )

I am asking you ppl coz its obvious that any common problems with this model will be known to most of the ppl here

 

[dave]

there is a coupe buying guide here

http://www.fccuk.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=256230&an=0&page=0#256230

 

[pinin__prestatyn]

The 16VT's cam belt doesn't cost all that much to replace.

Having owned both, my advice - Buy a 20VT

 

[Punto Maltese]

yeah i know that 20VT model is better, and that is wot i`ve always been looking for, but in an island as small as Malta, only 29 km long and 15 km wide, there are only 13 coupes in all, and to import one from abroad means that you have to pay a 100% registration tax( a government policy intended to reduce the number of cars on this congested piece of rock just 60 miles off Sicily, but which failed miserably ) on importation (on sportscars). So if I import one which costs me 8,000 Euros, for example, would mean that I would have to pay an additional 8,000 Euros in registration tax and other expenses such as freight, transportation, etc., making it too much expensive.

Hence this is the first time in 2 years that I saw one for sale, and i will try to buy it, after all, the difference in power from the 20 VT to the 16VT is some 25 bhp right?
Are there other significant differences besides the obvious reduction in power and torque?

 

[pinin__prestatyn]

mmm, I would say yes. You get the Brembo's on the 20vt , The standard alloys are a lot more attractive (styled by pininfarina as opposed to fiat) and the centre console looks years newer. You get a third brake light, The turbo lag is almost non existant compared to the 16vt, and the engine is about 30 years newer and sounds nicer (not detracting from the tried and tested integrale engine, it just isn't as good in the coop!!) The speakers were also upgraded for the 20vt.
Not that this all matters as you haven't got the option to choose unfortunately. Better to say either 16vt or 20vt will give you a big silly grin