Can I ask your advice before taking the plung on this one? I have had two Coupe 20v Turbo's previously so I am reasonably clued up on them.
I have not had one now for four years, but want to go back and have two in mind.
1: Blue 20v Turbo Plus, 75,000m, £5500
2: Silver 20v Turbo, 63,000 m, £3500

Both these cars are immaculate with everything (Cambelt etc) done on them and the Plus has a factory fitted bodykit. What do you think, are the cars worth the money, is the Plus worth the extra £2000?

Thanks for your feedback.

Both seem at the top of their price brackets.

Which do you like the look of most?

6 speed is nice but doesn't make much difference unless you do LOTS of miles.

Other than a few red bits and skirts there is no difference except a strut brace and these are only £90.

Go and drive them both, its amazing how the quality of "immaculate" coupes can vary!!

BUY ON CONDITION, CONDITION IS EVERYTHING.

Whatever you buy will not be perfect as the youngest are 9 years old.

FYI I chose condition over plusness, twice!!

Thanks a lot, I have now found another one and am taking someone with me to look it over.
This is a 98 portofino blue 20v Turbo, with all MOTs and 56k. Lots of work done on this car as well.
I wasn't looking for a private sale, but this one looks stunning.
The only negative given about the car is the rear off side wheel has been curbed, but I will be happy to replace if that is the only worry.
At £2995, if the expert is happy, I will be buying it.
I will keep you fully informed and with any luck, I'll have a real car again by next week.

OK, I admit I'm getting excited now.
With regard to my last post, the car is Sprint Blue not Portofino Blue.
In the original post I said about the Plus, the radiator grille looks to be different, it's like mesh rather than the standard lined grill.
Do you know where these are available from?

You can get these from eBay and Alternative Auto's new and also find them second hand on here (the forum). You can get hold of both, slat and honeycombe relatively easy. Speak to Joe and FCSS (Traders Section) he can get you just about anything you want, new or secondhand.

also, the position with a Plus - they're obviously newer than most 20vt's and imo are the best (as i have one) - but even fiat described them as the "top of the range"

as others have said though, condition and service history/maintenance is more important than mileage as has been proved loads of times on this forum alone

good luck mate

Good low mileage Sprinty 20VT? Sounds great. Just buy with the head, not the heart... (not that I did )! Paperwork and lack of rust are critical.

Good luck!

Thanks for your help everyone. I have spoken with the lad who I am taking with me, his garage is a Coupe specialist where my last Coup had it's cam belt done.
I am under strict instructions to leave everything to him, so I should be fine.
I will get this one, or another one within a week or two and I will get the honeycomb grille.
I had a red one first, then silver. The red looked great, but was a serious problem. I regret ever letting my silver one go, nothing I have had compares to these cars.
I currently have an Abarth 500. Got new last year and it's as new, but I fell in love with the Coupe a while ago and need one back.

Let you all know, the Coupe I am viewing has full Fiat service history and has had £1750 worth of work done on it at Motormech.
I have phoned Motormech, who knew the car and say it's one of the best.
I have made arrangements now and am going after work Wednesday.
With regards to a honeycomb grille, I am not having much luck locating one of these.

If motormech are selling it, you'll be okay, the car will be as described. Ask Paul for a grill while you are there, I'm sure he can find you one

Paul's a great bloke, he'll put you right.

the grill i'm not so sure he'll have, but if not try Steve at Alternative Autos and Joe at Countrycruising, both found on this site i believe

your grill might be a zender, which I would keep if I were you, or sell, there quite sought after. It could even be a a 16v grill if its a plastic, in which case I'd be checking for damage.
Best of Luck, The money your spending should get you a good example. As above pick carefully and be prepared to walk away if it doesnt tick all the boxes, there are plenty out there to choose from.

with motormech knowing the car, I would say It probably is a good one, looked after, with money well spent on it. didnt see the motormech detail till after I posted hence the edit

I was taking an expert with me to look over the car, but phone him this morning and on his advice, I asked if the seller would bring the car to the garage so it could go on the ramp.
He has had no problem with and is bringing the car on Wednesday.
The garage near me specialises in The Coupe, doing cambelts etc. So if he is happy and all paperwork is correct, by 5PM Wednesday I will have it.

D Day tomorrow, go to see if I have a new baby.
Added a picture to my signature as I think it looks stunning, hope it's as good under the hood.

Been suckered, absolutely gutted.
Supposed to be meeting the chap at my local garage for the car to recieve it's inspection, only for the chap to phone and tell me the car wont start.
I took two hours off work for this and my current car is being picked up tomorrow by new owners.
I'm now well fed up!

Crapola!! Don't believe it! Have you had any explanation from the seller?

Little consolation tonight, but if the car is unreliable maybe this has done you a favour...... good luck

which garage wafcarl?

I had arranged to have the car inspected at a Coupe Specialist Garage in Wigan. I had my cam belt, aux belts and various other jobs done to my last Coupe, so know the garage well.
I was happy to put all my faith in the garage and would have bought the car had he liked what he had seen.
But, that's over so now I want your opinions on two more cars I am interested in. I will get one of these, just nagging questions.
1: One is a Coupe 20vTurbo LE. This looks great and has had loads of work done to it. My concerns on this car are the car having been chipped, dump valves, uprated turbo etc. May all be innocent, but it seams to shout, "I've been driven hard"
2: The second is a 16vTurbo in yellow. This is completely original, one owner from new, FFSH, 50,000m and looks as new with no modifications. Also, this is from a garage and comes with 12m warranty.
So, what do you all think?

Is the 16vt the one mentioned in Spees thread?

If the second one is the one on Pistonheads (at Baynards in Surrey), then they have been trying to sell that for ages. I think they wanted around £5k originally - so maybe worth some further haggling.

If that is the one, then it would be interesting to know how long ago the 54k service was done and also when the cambelt was changed - I think the 4cyl recommended age intervals are less than the 5cyl (certainly is for my Integrale)- as that may be due again sooner than you think.

Does look though

Agree with evo_number_one completely!

Seems expensive considering wider economy and prices low mileage 20VT's have gone for recently.

No one modifies a car without using the extra performance they have paid for!!

Evo, it is the one in Surrey.
With you and others feedback, I think I'm going to see this one. It looks top draw and it's history looks great.
Are 20v Turbo plus alloys on this car an option, would you try this or keep completely original?
Do these come alarmed as standard? Any feedback on the garage?

I cannot recall seeing a 16vt with the plus alloys on, but have seen plenty with the standard 4x single spoke 20vt alloys on - so guess there would be no problems there. I'm sure someone else will be able to confirm/put me right on that.

AFAIK factory Alarm/immobiliser was standard on all coupes - but they are not the best!

If the car is as original as described, it would be nice to keep it that way, but those plus alloys would look on it.....

Good luck and remember - haggle like mad and keep us all informed how you get on

Any members in Surrey look at car for me?
Give you £20 if you will inspect car.

May be someone has?

Thanks for all help.

That's it everyone, I have bought this car.
It had new belts & clutch 400 miles ago and will come with 12 months MOT and parts & labour warranties.
I expect to get it early next week by delivery after inspection.
The lad on the phone says he has no problem if a fellow enthusiast wants to view the car.
Better change my avatar to banana yellow.

congrats matey, hope it's a good 'un!!

Quick out of the blocks there!

Well done Wafcarl - look forward to seeing some piccs and hearing more about her

I would bear in mind that if the car has been on sale with the garage for 2 years, then the 400 miles ago belt change could be needing doing again soon. However access is easier than on the 20 valve engine.

Good practice suggests that 16vt belts be changed every 3 years irrespective of mileage notwithstanding Fiat's 5 year schedule.

The garage is not a million miles from me, I may take up the lad on the phone's offer and take a look later this afternoon.

Thanks a lot.

like Petep has said , date of when belts where done is more important then milage covered unless they covered very high milage. i hope im wrong for you and did you get date of when they done

you should of stuck it out on first one imo, as more then like it was just a flat battery . as i belive the person took it as P/X. he may of not been using it and with a few weeks of non use and this cold weather could have done the battery no favors. and it had that all important specailist history and know by them

motor mech have just put up a 6speed belts just done and more