Don't go see it!
Went down today as dan is after another 20vt.
They wouldn't give any details over the phone and said its and I quote 'a sold as seen car' we thought strange for a main fiat dealers. (Rockingham)
We drove all the way to corby, terrible service had to ring 5 times about the car to find that out but even worse when we got there no one wanted to show us around the car!
after 30 minutes we got thrown the keys. (And told don't thrash it if you test drive it like we were two 17 year olds)
1st impressions v good
Paintwork 8-10
Even light surrounds were tidy
History good
Belts done
No smoke
Looked nice
interior good
full blueflame exhaust sounded good
Oil pressure good too
Then we opened the bonnet oh dear..
1st thing we noticed it looked like the condition of the titanic and the spark plug cover was missing but there was gunk in the water so left it running for 10 minutes and the water boiled over and fans wouldn't stop temp in red before we turned it off.
Head gasket gone! Pissed water out all over the floor waste of time idiots, no wonder nobody wanted to show us around it.

Good feedback, shame you had to supply it though. Saw this one the other day, looks good, if a little too good

Dan was dissapointed he did want it.
May be worth an offer and then a repair for all you handy with a spanner guys but me and dan are a bit pants at things like that. Worth 2k easy if it wasn't broken obviously.

Must say it looked nice, suprised you made it out of Corby, sorry if anyone is from their, remember dont mention kettering.

Un real we rang about this car again to see how much they would let it go with the head gasket gone but we thought we would see if they were more honest about the car this time.
It went like this!
Hello im calling about the fiat coupe do you still have it?
Yes
Is there any problems with it?
Well its a sold as seen car so you have to come and look at it...
So the head gasket hasn't gone then?
Ow well is that what you have heard sir?
Yes I plastered it all over the fiat coupe forum you were supposed to call me when you had worked out weather it was worth fixing or if you were going to let it go cheaper with the head gasket gone!
Oh right sorry did call you i will check and call you back...... 15mins later a call 1500 in the condition its in.

How much is a head gasket job inc labour, anyone know roughly?

I think it will be a lot to be honest mate, not a simple job at all. Would say more than the £295 you have got of the price, might be wrong though.

If that is the ONLY thing wrong she could be a good buy. I would be very careful though .

Tim if the gaskets gone and it's has still been used could this have not done more serious damage.

I think this is one to leave well alone. I'd be banking on a replacement engine just in case.

If the head gasket is blown who knows how much it has been run like that? Could be that the engine is toast.

Nase, call Jbt he said the same as spookly, thinks it will need a new engine

Gaskets never go unles the heads been off before and a cheap gasket has been used or its not been sealed properly.
Its cooked the piston.
So an expensive car.
In its current state its worth £200-£300 max.
Theres enough of these cars well priced currently for sale to warrant sticking two fingers up to the snotters and buy a looked after one.

Yeh thanks for the advise dan has decided to leave it well alone.

They can't pull the old "sold as seen" routine. It's against the law under the Sale of Goods Act

So many poxy dealers try this one

We have come to the conclusion the only way is private! Went to see a sprint blue last night!
The garage said the ONLY problem was it needed the tracking doing because the steering wheel isn't straight! From the description we knew the mot ran out in march and had no tax so over the phone we got them down from 1695 to 1100. so thought it would be worth a trip to coventry motors (35 miles).
Got there...
NO history! NONE just 1 mot (said has stacks on the phone)
Air bag light on
All buttons pushed through on dash (miles through)
No stereo center console falling off, wires all over the place
Wouldn't start without jump
Smoked like Dot Cotton
Cam belt was sooo old it was almost brown and had faint smoke coming from that area!
It didn't warm up (thermostat possibly)
Even under 50 degree's the oil pressure was at 1.75
It had the cheapest tyres in the world on it and the wheels were curbed to death
I said to the guy! 'You told us on the phone it had no issues and was in good condition, the airbag lights on!
He said 'all cars now days have airbag lights on'
I said well thats a problem isn't it and gave him the keys back! his boss came out and said 'ay mate aint you gonna take her for a spin?'
Err no its got more faults than San Andreos and its got no petrol in it but good luck selling it.

What have I learnt
Buy private from a nice area where the people look like they can afford to maintain a performance car, even at £3500 my mate bob bought a pup from a garage in oxfordshire (well known)

I have told dan thats what you get at that money he cant believe I bought a ink black 4 years ago on 52k for 1400 took it straight for a cambelt and water pump and it was a great car for 2 years before I got my LE!