Just after a general opinion from you peeps as I'm thinking of saving up to get one, but want to know about reliability mainly. Parkers guide says it's an ace car with good control and awesome power. Something I'd love! So what do you guys (and gals) think??
General Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo
- Thread starter kye_cinq
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General Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo
its the best car fiat ever made. everyone wants one. just be prepared to spend some money on it because they arent designed to be cheap to run. as for reliablity, its a fiat for a start so dont get your hopes up, but thankfully the coupe's are more likely to have had an owner who could afford to keep it well maintained and who would have actually wanted to keep it well maintained because coupe owners tend to cherish their cars. find one thats been loved and you should be ok, but keep a grand in the bank for when things go wrong or you may end up selling it because you cant afford to fix it, like so many people end up doing.
you should go to http://www.fccuk.org/ to do some research and speak to the people on there.
you should go to http://www.fccuk.org/ to do some research and speak to the people on there.
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:yeahthat: Very nice car really nice engine (prooven by time) same as used in a Lancia Delta isn't it?.
As said can be very expensive and that was enough to put me off buying one im looking for a Alfa 156 instead as its still got the Italian charm
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As said can be very expensive and that was enough to put me off buying one im looking for a Alfa 156 instead as its still got the Italian charm
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The coop can be reliable, best thing is to keep them totally standard and they will rack up big miles. But it's half choosing a decent one, and the other half is just good old luck. But you have to be prepared for a few big bills and have money in reserve, if you can't do that then perhaps the coop isn't for you.
interesting post, just came in this section to pretty much post the same thing!!!
im looking for coupes, but finding one thats done under 65k is hard!! they have huge milage on them!!
im looking for coupes, but finding one thats done under 65k is hard!! they have huge milage on them!!
Well they are (pretty much) all at least 6 or 7 years old now, so it's not surprising. It's not the sort of car that gets owned by a little old lady who does 6 miles a week driving to the shops. Hence most owners actually use them. Mileage isn't that important though, condition is.
A looked after one with 100k on will have had new belts and tensioners, wishbones and so on.
One for sale at 65k might be someone who's held off on changing the cambelt, and has now decided it's too expensive. If so, maybe they've scrimped on other stuff too.
If you really want a low miler, you could import a new (unregistered) one from Malaysia. Will cost about £15k, see http://www.fccuk.org/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=253485
H
A looked after one with 100k on will have had new belts and tensioners, wishbones and so on.
One for sale at 65k might be someone who's held off on changing the cambelt, and has now decided it's too expensive. If so, maybe they've scrimped on other stuff too.
If you really want a low miler, you could import a new (unregistered) one from Malaysia. Will cost about £15k, see http://www.fccuk.org/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=253485
H
i did think that, saw one with 95k, and it had just had lots of stuff including cam belt changed.
suppose im just a bit of a snob!!
suppose im just a bit of a snob!!
Reliability wise, what is more unreliable? A series 1 land rover discovery (a car famed for it's unreliablility) or a 20v turbo?
I have been toying with the idea of a coupe 20v turbo for a while now, my mum used to own a land rover discovery that broke every 4 months. If the coupe is even half as bad as that was then i could handel one.
Are the NA's significantly more reliable than the turbo's?
I have been toying with the idea of a coupe 20v turbo for a while now, my mum used to own a land rover discovery that broke every 4 months. If the coupe is even half as bad as that was then i could handel one.
Are the NA's significantly more reliable than the turbo's?
i would reccomend getting a N/A before the turbo, they are more reliable than the turbos.
I dont think people quite understand how much these cars cost to run. I know loads of people who have had to sell thiers simply because they cant meet up with the running costs.
Buying the car is the cheapest part of owning one. Dont get me wrong i loved owning one, its was just crippling me financially. Although i was cover 400 - 500 miles a week in it.
If you have spare cash floating around go for a 20vt!
I dont think people quite understand how much these cars cost to run. I know loads of people who have had to sell thiers simply because they cant meet up with the running costs.
Buying the car is the cheapest part of owning one. Dont get me wrong i loved owning one, its was just crippling me financially. Although i was cover 400 - 500 miles a week in it.
If you have spare cash floating around go for a 20vt!
I drive a punto HGT at the mo, averaging 26mpg and needs a new variator. how does that compare to the costs of a coupe?
So far i am paying:
£32 every 220 miles for petrol
£175ish for tax
coming up is £500 for variator + full service
I normally do all my own work if i can. How do you think i would cope if i owned one?
So far i am paying:
£32 every 220 miles for petrol
£175ish for tax
coming up is £500 for variator + full service
I normally do all my own work if i can. How do you think i would cope if i owned one?
That's pretty cheap! I would say I spent the following on my coop if you spread it over a month
Insurance £90 - 25 year old, 5 year's no claims (modified car)
Fuel - £100 - This is purely for driving to the gym and the weekend, I do no work mileage. However, this is not a true representation of the MPG you could do if you tried. I drive it like I stole it as soon as it's warm
Tax - £15/month
I'd then budget about £150 ish a month on things going wrong, new tyre needed, wishbone gone etc etc. Also some months you just get hit with a bill for about £400, for whatever reason. These are the months that fccucked me up But you have to have money in reserve, or just lend it off your mum if you're like me
I'd say you probably need about £300 to £400 a month to spend on your car to own a coupe without scrimping. However you could save a bit if you fitted things like brake discs, pads, wishbones etc yourself.
Insurance £90 - 25 year old, 5 year's no claims (modified car)
Fuel - £100 - This is purely for driving to the gym and the weekend, I do no work mileage. However, this is not a true representation of the MPG you could do if you tried. I drive it like I stole it as soon as it's warm
Tax - £15/month
I'd then budget about £150 ish a month on things going wrong, new tyre needed, wishbone gone etc etc. Also some months you just get hit with a bill for about £400, for whatever reason. These are the months that fccucked me up
But you have to have money in reserve, or just lend it off your mum if you're like me I'd say you probably need about £300 to £400 a month to spend on your car to own a coupe without scrimping. However you could save a bit if you fitted things like brake discs, pads, wishbones etc yourself.
N/As are certainly cheaper to run in general, but again you need to find a good one ... cheaper to insure certainly, but still group 16 or 17 so not like a 1.2 punto Do not generally suffer from manifold issues, the suspension takes less of a beating and there are never going to be any £500 turbo bills. Also, they don't drink oil like a turbo and are thus much less likely to go bang due to oil starvation Yes, you may top the oil up every week but the 3 or more owners before you may well not have done
They are no more fuel economical than the 20vt, but they won't go through tyres and brake pads like the turbo (oh and unlike most turbos the brakes don't squeal IME ). If you do need new tyres they'll be cheaper as the wheels are smaller.
My n/a cost me about £2k to buy from a fccuk forum member but did cost me £800 odd for a service and MOT ... due to a previous mechanic having threaded the sump plug and stuck it back in with filler which was an expensive pig of a job for my specialist to sort and a whole new rear brake set up. However, touch wood, I've had no problems with it in a year but then it's a second car and I've done about 2000 miles. However, no reason why it wouldn't be as reliable if I did more miles...
Oh and the n/a has a far better exhaust note than the turbo, especially with a decent exhaust, given that there's no hairdryer attachment to strangle it ... 5 pot warble rocks :slayer:
Do not generally suffer from manifold issues, the suspension takes less of a beating and there are never going to be any £500 turbo bills. Also, they don't drink oil like a turbo and are thus much less likely to go bang due to oil starvation Yes, you may top the oil up every week but the 3 or more owners before you may well not have done They are no more fuel economical than the 20vt, but they won't go through tyres and brake pads like the turbo (oh and unlike most turbos the brakes don't squeal IME
). If you do need new tyres they'll be cheaper as the wheels are smaller. My n/a cost me about £2k to buy from a fccuk forum member but did cost me £800 odd for a service and MOT ... due to a previous mechanic having threaded the sump plug and stuck it back in with filler which was an expensive pig of a job for my specialist to sort
and a whole new rear brake set up. However, touch wood, I've had no problems with it in a year but then it's a second car and I've done about 2000 miles. However, no reason why it wouldn't be as reliable if I did more miles...Oh and the n/a has a far better exhaust note than the turbo, especially with a decent exhaust, given that there's no hairdryer attachment to strangle it ... 5 pot warble rocks :slayer:
if you decide to buy a coupe have a limit of how much your willing to spend reapairing/maintaining. from my ross's experience lets just say hes about 13k upside down. you muat have a burn it and run figure before youve spent so much that you cant turn back.
Indeed. But it is modding that tends to kill the 20vt from looking at fccuk for 2 years ... very few well-maintained standard cars build up big bills other than for normal maintenance
I was thinking of getting a 20v n/a, gsr induction kit (if they make one) and supersprint system. with a remap and a few other tricks to bring it to 180bhp (not quite turbo pace but quick while still being reliable). Only problem is the na's don't have as nice standard kit as the turbo's
What standard kit do you mean? Wheels are different but I sourced some late style n/a wheels which look great and you can always put 20vt wheels on an n/a...the plus and le variants came with recaros and these do come up but cost a fortune! My n/a has a strut brace which is probably the most worthwhile mod you can do
If you want more power why not just get a 20vt...any mods you do an n/a will add to the insurance so the difference will be less
Wheels are different but I sourced some late style n/a wheels which look great and you can always put 20vt wheels on an n/a...the plus and le variants came with recaros and these do come up but cost a fortune! My n/a has a strut brace which is probably the most worthwhile mod you can doIf you want more power why not just get a 20vt...any mods you do an n/a will add to the insurance so the difference will be less
Vickster said:What standard kit do you mean?
If you want more power why not just get a 20vt...any mods you do an n/a will add to the insurance so the difference will be less
Wheels don't look as good, the seats look pretty horrible (do you get the leather steering wheel, gear knob/gaiter on the na's?). And you get a plastic engine cover instead of the alloy one (yuck).
But it the running costs of the turbo i can't stomach, hence why i want the better sounding na.
No, the rocker cover is alloy too (certainly on the 2 I have had)...the seats are the same as the 'normal' 20VT (cloth or leather), and yes the gaiter, steering wheel and gearknob are leather
Ransoman said:
Looks wise only the wheels and brakes are different between turbo and N/A the later LE and Plus models had kits fitted which are cheap as chips to buy.
These wheels cost me £200
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g60/Mr_Bridges/r143.jpg?t=1165427238
You are refering to the later VIS 20v engine
Here is my 20v enginehttp://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g60/Mr_Bridges/101006.jpg?t=1165427078
As Vicks says Seats are often cloth on the Turbo's as well.
On the 20v the cloth is ok.
Yes all the inside is the same.
My 20v has in 7months - 8000 miles needed new front pads and a clutch. luckily I did all the work so only cost £100 total. It has had 2x oil changes. Never uses oil between services.
You will be lucky to get 180bhp a filter sounds great but if lucky you will see maybe 3bhp on a cold day. A full exhaust with decat might see 7bhp but less low torque and a chip will just govern things and smooth out some flat spots. with all you might get just over 160bhp You would need cams to get decent power and they cost a fortune.
Here's mine with its new wheels http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/vickstercoop/detail?.dir=736are2&.dnm=aea7re2.jpg&.src=ph ...they are certainly rare...I probably prefer the 20vt wheels but they were going to add 15% to my insurance and cost me £300 with decent tyres so decided against
and my engine bay with strut brace http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/vickstercoop/detail?.dir=1eb0&.dnm=ebd0re2.jpg&.src=ph more or less standard plus a more than generous sprinkling of dirt
Modding the n/a for more power isn't really worthwhile, just get a turbo if you want speed... I find mine plenty quick enough for the 70mph top limits on the UKs roads They do sound fantastic with a decat though, took mine off as I quite liked having valid insurance too
...mine was lowered when I got it (eibach springs) but the ride was terrible, so went back to standard...need costly bilsteins as well to make the ride ok
and my engine bay with strut brace http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/vickstercoop/detail?.dir=1eb0&.dnm=ebd0re2.jpg&.src=ph more or less standard plus a more than generous sprinkling of dirt
Modding the n/a for more power isn't really worthwhile, just get a turbo if you want speed... I find mine plenty quick enough for the 70mph top limits on the UKs roads
They do sound fantastic with a decat though, took mine off as I quite liked having valid insurance too...mine was lowered when I got it (eibach springs) but the ride was terrible, so went back to standard...need costly bilsteins as well to make the ride ok
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