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Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
#1066001
08/07/2010 00:45
08/07/2010 00:45
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,645
JKD
OP
Forum is my job
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OP
Forum is my job
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,645
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This has of course turned out to be a good thing, making the Coupe all the more special and rare now. But whilst it was in production, it ticked all the right boxes - great looks, great engines, powerful, practical and a reasonable price tag meaning good value for money. On top of that it got largely positive reviews from motoring magazines. If you look at its competitors at the time, these cars don't even seem to be in the same class as the Coupe. And even now it seems to be a 'forgotten car.' Its as if it never really left a mark in the world of motoring. People go on about Toyota Supras and Nissan Skylines but the Coupe is largely unknown! Surely the Coupe's success can't be attributed solely to ///// being on the bonnet?
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: JKD]
#1066004
08/07/2010 00:57
08/07/2010 00:57
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 23,307 North Wales
Theresa
Former Presidentessa Club member 58
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Former Presidentessa Club member 58
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 23,307
North Wales
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It probably was down to the fact that it's a Fiat The Italian cars didn't have a good reputation for reliability or build quality and those, along with future resale value probably put a lot of people off buying one. There are now many more people who will buy an Italian car, but it's surprising how many people still think of them as expensive, unreliable rust buckets. Suits me though, as it's more unique and special to me than any car will ever be (except the 3 Astra GTE's I had)
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: Theresa]
#1066016
08/07/2010 02:55
08/07/2010 02:55
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,694 Midlands
MCMike
Club member 2095
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Club member 2095
Forum is my job
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,694
Midlands
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Didn't they sell 70,000 of the things ? that's not too shabby, especially as the top-of-the range LE's were £27,000 new IIRC. And 'T' I didn't know you had Astra love - I ran a GTE 16V 156bhp model for 4 years - fantastic car.
1972 Triumph Stag 1984 Alfasud TI 1999 Fiat Coupe Turbo LE 2005 350Z
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: Theresa]
#1066025
08/07/2010 07:00
08/07/2010 07:00
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,095 highlands
jimboy
Club Member 857
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Club Member 857
Forum is my life
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,095
highlands
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It probably was down to the fact that it's a Fiat The Italian cars didn't have a good reputation for reliability or build quality and those, along with future resale value probably put a lot of people off buying one. There are now many more people who will buy an Italian car, but it's surprising how many people still think of them as expensive, unreliable rust buckets. Suits me though, as it's more unique and special to me than any car will ever be (except the 3 Astra GTE's I had) I'm afraid Theresa is right here, combined with a high price tag for the time, this indeed, put some off.
I'm an old git & happy with it,most of the time
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: jimboy]
#1066030
08/07/2010 07:16
08/07/2010 07:16
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Jurgen
Unregistered
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Jurgen
Unregistered
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I think it did pretty well actually. Over 70.000 sold isn't at all bad for a car like this. From what I remember the Corrado sold about the same. I don't think the GTV did much better either (despite being for sale much longer!).
Did the 350Z and the RX8 really sell any more?
The market for the coupe was pretty small as well, mainly Europe and Asia. The best markets were Germany, Italy and the UK. It sold very poorly in Holland (about 700!) though and most were early cars (16v and 16vt's and later on the 1.8 version). Hardly any 20vt's over here.
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: ]
#1066038
08/07/2010 07:35
08/07/2010 07:35
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barny1976
Unregistered
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barny1976
Unregistered
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I think the attraction of Japanese cars with their bullet proof reputation for reliability was a big thing in the 90's and early noughties and the celica, prelude, silvia etc would have seemed like a better investment to many given they were about the same price.
I think a lot of people who buy coupes also do it for the image and to get one up on the neighbours rather than because they are real petrolheads and therefore their reserach was probably limited to Auto Express and Car Magazine where they were likely spoon fed the usual Fix It Again Toni propogana about FIAT.
All the better for us I think though as a good Coop now has a certain exclusivity about it. I have to say mind those people that I know who have knowledge about cars have all commented on how nice, and rare, the Coop is so they certainly have the right reputation amongst those in the know.
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: ]
#1066080
08/07/2010 10:05
08/07/2010 10:05
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,280 West Berks
skinflint
I need some sleep
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I need some sleep
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,280
West Berks
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I can think of a few more reasons.
It came from a more austere time, so there were less people buying performance coupes, or spending that much on a car. (By comparison today I'll see about 30 Audi A5s on my way to work each day)
There were some other contenders that got a lot more room in the press, like the MX-5, MR2, Subaru Impreza and MGF, and convertibles were the flavour of the day.
It was also a bit snubbed in the press. I have a Performance Car magazine which lined up a lot of different cars, and chose the Lotus Elise first, and the Coupe last. They commented that it could stay close to an M3 of the day for half the money but then moaned about front wheel drive.
It would win any test with the Calibra, Cougar, Rover Coupe, Honda Prelude etc.
Then there were the love it or hate it looks.
But really the main thing is people didn't know about it. The 20VT's performance figures eluded me until the car's lifecycle had ended.
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: sugerbear]
#1066115
08/07/2010 10:48
08/07/2010 10:48
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,144 Southampton, Hants
Roadking
Club member 1809
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Club member 1809
Forum is my life
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,144
Southampton, Hants
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Not a well publicised car either. I never saw a coupe in a fiat dealership. I think quite a few were imported because the cost abroad was much cheaper (nearer 20k) than the UK price. Military personnel serving in Germany could buy a top spec 20VT for £12.5k. They were very popular for a while, especially as they could be legally driven to their full potential!
"RK's way seems the most sensible to me". ali_hire 16 Dec 2010
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: Roadking]
#1066293
08/07/2010 14:22
08/07/2010 14:22
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jonjeffryes
Unregistered
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jonjeffryes
Unregistered
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At the time the coupe was launched I was still buying new Alfa's (young family = 4 doors)...IIRC it was Italian+fwd+expensive = run away!!
I can recall looking at one at the joint Alfa/Fiat dealership where I bought my new 155 and thinking the Fiat was really exotic and therefore too expensive for me to run...
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: ]
#1066408
08/07/2010 17:12
08/07/2010 17:12
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 754 The South of the West
JonH
Enjoying the ride
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Enjoying the ride
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 754
The South of the West
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I reckon, for the UK anyway, it had a disadvantage due to the dearth of dealerships around. Every town has a Ford/Vauxhall dealership whereas you are priviledged to get more than two or three Fiat dealerships in a whole County !. Who in their right mind would want to buy a car knowing that the simplest of services could entail 100 mile round trip ?. It was a Fiat failing then, and its still a failing now. Plus, the PR/advertising was utter rubbish. Still, 70,000 units is a good enough number if you consider Fiats 1960's Coupe, the 2300S Ghia body , only managed a measly 7,194 with just 220 RHD.
No.199
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: barnacle]
#1066490
08/07/2010 20:19
08/07/2010 20:19
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barny1976
Unregistered
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barny1976
Unregistered
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Is the 20VT common as muck like? Can't say I have seen many about. Or is that to be read with tounge in cheek?
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: ]
#1066494
08/07/2010 20:25
08/07/2010 20:25
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andre333
Unregistered
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andre333
Unregistered
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Is the 20VT common as muck like? Can't say I have seen many about. Or is that to be read with tounge in cheek? Banter between the 20vt guys and the rest of the peeps with lesser models
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: ]
#1066500
08/07/2010 20:28
08/07/2010 20:28
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rintyh
Unregistered
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rintyh
Unregistered
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Car magazine actually raved about the Coupe and thrashed everything else ina few 'Giant Tests' as they called them
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: ]
#1066533
08/07/2010 21:11
08/07/2010 21:11
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barny1976
Unregistered
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barny1976
Unregistered
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Is the 20VT common as muck like? Can't say I have seen many about. Or is that to be read with tounge in cheek? Banter between the 20vt guys and the rest of the peeps with lesser models thought it might be
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: Roadking]
#1066572
08/07/2010 22:00
08/07/2010 22:00
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charlieBoy
Unregistered
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charlieBoy
Unregistered
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Military personnel serving in Germany could buy a top spec 20VT for £12.5k. They were very popular for a while, especially as they could be legally driven to their full potential! Yep, I bought one through a relative who was stationed in Germany at the time and we brought over five of them - all for around £13-14k depending on the exchange rate at the time - could sell them in the uk for £18+ and usually to dealers - we sold three to dealers, one private and I kept the other one. The reason it wasn't popular was a) the power and being front wheeel drive - the view was 200bhp was the max for any front wheeel driver car, b)the looks (some people don't like it), c)the price - it was £26k at the time and all the comparable cars were perceived to be more reliable, better built and had a better badge - most of you must have still come across people who go - A fiat? Why? - still - makes it all the better when you take them from a ride and give them a bit of third gear to wipe the smile on or off their faces and go - that is why!
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: pinin_prestatyn]
#1066603
08/07/2010 22:24
08/07/2010 22:24
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barny1976
Unregistered
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barny1976
Unregistered
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Fiat 500 is getting a little like that now as well.
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: pinin_prestatyn]
#1066610
08/07/2010 22:34
08/07/2010 22:34
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siloman
Unregistered
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siloman
Unregistered
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When i bought mine 3 years back the sales guy said These are one of the best performance cars around if they had stuck on a Maserati badge it would be up for 10k+
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: ]
#1066619
08/07/2010 22:55
08/07/2010 22:55
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 596 Fareham, Hants
Wal_S
Enjoying the ride
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Enjoying the ride
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 596
Fareham, Hants
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I think 2 words Subaru and Impreza were the reason. Can remember at the time people were going mad for 4 door rally reps and not stuff like the Coupe.
The scoobs didn't have their current image then and you'd have to pay over list for one if you couldn't wait the 8 months plus the average dealer quoted.
Loved the Coupe then and our local long gone dealer (Cannon Fiat) always had one in but when it came to sign on the dotted line I bottled it and bought a Subaru. The whole Fiat range at the time was pretty mediocre which also didn't help.
Think it has aged much better than the Subaru though in hindsight IMO.
Last edited by Wal_S; 09/07/2010 07:07. Reason: Missed a bit
If all else fails read the instructions
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: Wal_S]
#1066787
09/07/2010 09:46
09/07/2010 09:46
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,466 Kent
Submariner
My job on the forum
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My job on the forum
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,466
Kent
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When I tell people that the car is 13 years old they cannot believe it; the design is still so fresh and exciting! BUT it is a Fiat and they are not exactly renowned historically over here for relaibility, bodywork and performance.
Maserati or the Alfa badge stuck on it and it would of sold more IMO.
Also the fact the motoring press did and still do quote silly servicing costs and unrelaibility problems did and does not help matters.
Last edited by Submariner; 09/07/2010 09:48.
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: barnacle]
#1067375
10/07/2010 00:57
10/07/2010 00:57
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,034 Sweden
Per
I need some sleep
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I need some sleep
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,034
Sweden
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Car magazine - back when they actually considered a car as a whole and not simply how fast it went - had it as the best coupe *every* month from its release to final build in the GBU section. I remember that too! Autocar praised it all along aswell.
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: Per]
#1067420
10/07/2010 08:24
10/07/2010 08:24
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,095 highlands
jimboy
Club Member 857
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Club Member 857
Forum is my life
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,095
highlands
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Clarkson raved about them. Not that's a big deal, but never the less he was impressed with them. I think that there are some valid points here, but looking at this again, the price tag did put some off, for a Fiat & to be perfectly honest, I do remember when they first came out,& that doesn't seem that long ago to me, but there wasnt a blaze of publicity as some others have pointed out. The car mags are, at an educated guess/observation bought by the young team of the day & feast their eyes on machines that they can only dream about. OK that's maybe a bit generalised, but there's truth in that. I'm not exactly saying some serious buyers dont read car mags, its just that an expensive car like this is usually purchased by someone in the know who has already made up his mind. Hope that makes sense
I'm an old git & happy with it,most of the time
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Re: Why do you think the Coupe wasn't a big seller?
[Re: jimboy]
#1069294
13/07/2010 21:41
13/07/2010 21:41
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 313 Essex
reza_q
Making a profit
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Making a profit
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 313
Essex
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I think all of your comments are accurate. It was a bloody expensive car (my purchase invoice from the first owner for the LE was £26K!). I guess people considered and bought other Coupes, like a proper RWD 328i Sport for around the same money (cracking car).
The build isn't the best either, and to be honest it's a Fiat! As mentioned, if Alfa had made it I think it would have sold more, but then they had the glorious GTV.
I think they are stunning cars, especially in Plus and LE form (I have both and I think the Plus looks better due to different tyre profile and nicer wheels). But one of my friends at work thinks it's the ugliest car he has ever seen (this guy is so bland that he thinks ST150 is pretty...).
I congratulate all of us Coupe drivers for standing out from the norm. These cars are expensive to run, and can be annoying as hell! But, they are simply amazing to drive. Sitting in my lovely Recaros on the way to work puts a huge smile on my face. What a lovely place to be, and what an incredible engine. My LE is still quicker than a pals Mountune tuned Focus ST with 265bhp.
These cars were well ahead of the pack, as is the story with most italian cars. I mean 5 cylinders, Garrett turbo, variable intake cam timing, all aluminium construction, boost control, balancer shafts and 220bhp from 2.0 litres. Even the base ST Focus doesn't beat these specs with 2.5 litres, and there is probably 12 years in between them.
Enjoy your Coupe. It is special.
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