Hanny

There are a few specialist that Coupe owners use - to name a couple - L & M, Black and Whites.

I think that you will find that the coupe's traction control is called Viscodrive (20v Turbo).

They can be unichipped quite easly and there are various mods that can be done to control the boost manualy to give you full boost in all gears.

There are two ways of cam belt change - engine out £1000 to £1200, engine in - £450 to £650.

Have a look at the cars for sale on the Fiat Coupe Forum - http://forum.fiatcoupe.net/ubb/ultimatebb.php

I think that you might mean Sprint Blue instead of Powder Blue, the colours can be a wee bit confusing.

Best to have a go of a few but the general rule applys that you need to find a good one to get the full package.

Reading this thread and some of the tall guys might want to get a sun roof so that they can open the drivers window and scratch their heads through the sun roofs.

As for handling never really had any problems there, it can be a bit twitchy on the B roads but keep up with the wifes Audi Quattro........in the dry.

Hope that the info is of help, cheers guys, may be see some of you on the road.

[Edited by Hanny - 11/13/2002 8:16:32 PM]

Kayjey

Cam belt prices when done through the Forum (http://forum.fiatcoupe.net) will drop below £300.

All in all good support from the users, and although Fiat dealers are generally considered a bit low on quality and Coupe knowledge, there are a few good ones. Also specialists or passionates like Paul Wigen (forum again), L&M or Evo offer quality work at competetive prices.

Check out my site www.fiatcoupe.net for general info.

If you're looking for one, don't forget higher price generally means less trouble. There's a few reliability problems (do Scooby's have that too? ) but they can be fixed easy or cheap most of the time.

Rottie1

Dont wish to appear negative, but i really liked these cars and test drove two before i bought the scoob, both broke down on the test drives. One just died the other went into limp mode.

Bummer as i loved the style and tho i never experienced it the performance.

Still respect them tho.

Rottie

GaryC

The boost was/is limited in 1st and 2nd to increase traction (at fullboost you'd just spin the wheels)

I had one for an extended test drive (weekend), beautiful car, deceptively quick, especially once above 40-ish. Great turbo whallop, they would pull away from a scoob above 40/50, but IIRC 0-100 is almost identical so the increased grunt above 40/50 only makes up for the lack of it from standstill.

Didn't get one in the end as when I took it back to the dealer, they had one of the first 3.0 V6 GTVs there, which after just a 10 minutes drive was so much better. Quicker, more responsive, better looking, and THAT exhaust note.

Still a cracking car though, and a good 2nd hand prospect. As long as you don't get an early one, you'll have no reliability problems. I had Italian cars for 4 years and they where 100% reliable.

screech

fiat dealers came last in customer satisfaction survey this year, so if you do get one take it to specialists. apparently they have a poor turning circle, build quality is suspect, and front tyres will obviously be lit up on many occasions. but a nice 5 pot under the bonnet can't be bad, and apparently they can rattle along on the motorway with no fuss.

Brit in France

Hi there. I've had a 16vt Fiat coupe for over a year now. Although it's a 1996 model, I've had very few problems with it. I bought it for the equivalent of £5k, and as there was no FSH and 110Kkm, I immediately had the infamous cambelt change done (for about £450 inc. all anciliaries and a major service). I reckon it was putting out about 200Bhp at this stage, as it had a de-cat exhaust system. I then took it to Barry Waterhouse at EVO engineering (if you know 'Grales, you'll know Bazza), who kindly chipped it and fitted a short-throw gear shift for about £500 (I think, though my memory stinks). The car is now putting out around 260 Bhp - according to Bazza, and with not a shred of evidence, but I believe him.

So, for around £6k, I have a car with full leather, aircon, great looks (IMO) and daft power. I will probably regret saying this, but it rattles and squeaks and causes less trouble generally than my girlfriends TT roadster, and in a straight line (provided you remember to give it enough revs!!) it makes me giggle every time. I took it off the clock in top (260km/h), but generally drive reasonably sanely.
The turning circle is only rivalled by large container vessels, and the thing that carries space shuttles to the launch pad, the electrics are supposedly dodgy and yes, it's a fair cop, it chews front tyres (though it does handle for a FWD, I PROMISE).

But, my mate with a Scooby (WRX I think, though he used to have some grey import ANIMAL) likes it, though it probably is meant for other uses.

God, sorry for rambling (and on my first post too!). Just wanted to add to the discussion. Respect to you and your cars, and what DOES the "bright" button do?

More wine, anyone?

Jim

Scoobs_4ever

I used own a 20VT in a former life. Well expensive to run but a seriously good car.

Saxo Boy is almost right. 1st gear was pants (mega wheelspin) but I disagree with him about 2nd gear. I liked 2nd gear due to the fact that 75mph was achievable.

BUT

3rd gear was truely awesome. I know its down to speedo readings but 125mph in 3rd was bloody fantastic. Just imagine pootling about in 3rd doing 30mph then the next time you change gear is 125mph.

hhhhhmmmmm

LG John

My experiences of the car were in damp conditions so the driver couldn't put full power down till about 50mph - then it made some useful progress. Actually, of all the cars I'd like to put my scooby up against its an EVO (would still get humped ) or a 20V Turbo (confident I can match or beat it 60-100 now).

My beef with the 20V T is their looks, somedays I like them and some days they look stupid

julesm

GaryC,

An Alfa GTV 3.0 V6 is quicker than a 20VT???? Do me a favour, slower 0-60, much slower 0-100 (at least 2 secs), and in-gear times don't even compare!!!

Admittedly, it will sound much better than the 20VT, but it will also sound better than just about any other car on the road. I test drove quite a few V6 GTV's prior to buying a 20VT, yes it looks fantastic, it's fairly well put together, but performance wise it just couldn't compete, even the handling was not as sharp and precise as the 20VT, probably down to the extra weight the GTV has to lug about. Still it was an impressive car and I must admit it still has excellent road presence.

Andrew Longworth

Its a kick *** car :-)
I have a 20VT LE. Originally it was a choice between the Coupe and an Impreza. In the end it was availability that made the decision for me. I have no problems with it so far.
At the weekend went out with a few Impreza's. In terms of speed kept up with the Impreza's (having to back off at some points to avoid the back seat) however when we hit the twisty stuff, I was left for dead for a couple of reasons.
1) I had never driven the roads before, 2 of the other 3 had - many times :-)
2) Simply down to handling and 4wd. I could not match it.

It was fun though. Proved to be a little surprise for the Impreza's which is just what I hoped as this was the first time we had compared.


[Edited by Andrew Longworth - 11/18/2002 11:02:58 AM]

GaryC

Jules - don't know about the facts and figures, but jumping out of a 20vT Coupe after a weekend and straight into a GTV V6, the GTV felt faster. I guess it could just have been better response from a NA engine, but from the drivers seat, the Alfa felt to have more grunt overall - just lacked the shove in the kidneys that the turbo gave.

As to handling, I felt the Fiat too jittery and tail happy (especially under braking), the GTV seemd more planted, and has the passive rear steering to counter the rearward liveliness.

Still both great cars through and the best 2 small coupes of the time - arguably still not bettered??

gball

I actually own a 20VT currently running at 1.1 bar and a steady 240 bhp on tap.
The car is sh*t fast and was not to far behind my m8's WRX 96 (WooderWRX)from 40 upwards.
The look I get from you guys in your uk turbos when you still see me in your rear view mirror is priceless, lol.
Power and style in one go ..
Will say that the only car I have driven that keeps up with you lads on the bends though is the Pulsar,still the scoob is in a class of its own.
Cheers all ,
Portafino.

Jacey Boy

Gball,

What mods have you done?

astra888turbo

Its not as good as astra 888 neiver is wrx

dazc2

nice spelling mate.......bet you went to school to learn to spell like that