After my wife's little misadventure in my coop I got a PM from Rob40 saying he had a couple of spare wheel liners, if I'd like to pop over to sunny Carlisle to get one fitted.

Now I've been on this forum a long while, but I rarely make it out to meets or see other coop owners, so I think I forget what a great community is out there ... and Rob and his son, F1ANG, are shining examples of that greatness.

Their own cars are beautiful and pristine and they didn't laugh that the mechanical and cosmetic state of mine suggests that it's owned by an Amish scat-fetishist.

They didn't even grumble that my bonnet release, always more of a decorative item on my car, chose this morning to give up the ghost, they just got on and sorted everything out while I chain-smoked liked an expectant father. And once the wheel lining was sorted they jury-rigged an emergency bonnet release for me, fixed my leaking boot and made me a cup of coffee for my trouble.

Rob, Angelo - you're both absolute superstars! If I'd tried that job myself I'd still be sticking plasters on the remains of my fingers after trying to get the bonnet open.

I love owning a coop for the way it looks, the way it drives and how special it feels, but you guys have reminded me what a helpful, knowledgeable and dedicated owners' community there is out there. I promise I'll try to get to some meets this year so that I don't forget!

Seriously, thanks a million.

Glad you got sorted Andrew, in spite of their reputation they are top guys with strong loyalties, not least to the Fiat coupe, the 2.4 in particular being a veritable beast along with Angelo's tlc on his own.

A meal in the restaurant goes down a treat, you should come over at Christmas? With Mrs AR of course so that....well maybe not

Your more than welcome andrew, anything to help a fellow coopster, It was a pleasure meeting you today, and I'm really glad we could help you out

It was bloody typical that the release cable chose to give up at my hands, and even more typical that with the amount of spare parts we have, we didn't have a spare cable kicking around to give you

However at least you can now open your bonnet until you get a new cable sorted.

We've certainly seing alot worse out there than yours mate, she certainly has loads of potential, just make sure to put that GUNK we gave you to good use

Thankyou for taking the time to write such a nice post. Anything we can help you with in the future, you know where we are, and your more than welcome anytime

You're more than welcome Andrew, there's no way we'd leave a fellow coopster stranded or struggling to get hold of parts when we've got bits and pieces lying around gathering dust.
Anyway, it was about time we met, you don't live a million miles away!!

It was unfortunate that the cable snapped and delayed things for a while but probably fortunate that it snapped when it did, and not in the middle of the night on some deserted road, miles from anywhere.

Not sure what the availability is for bonnet cables nowadays but I'd be happier if it was fixed properly sooner rather than later.

From what I could see, the car only really needs a manifold, a session with a dent removal company and a few hours TLC to spruce it up. It's a solid car so there's a good few years in it yet.

You know where we are if you get stuck or need a hand with anything.

Couldn't agree with you more Andrew. Rob, Angelo and the rest of the family are fantastic people.
I try my best to help out other coupe owners myself when I can.

Through owning a Coupe and being on this forum, I've met many nice people and made some true friends, two of which are Rob and Angelo

Well done both for sorting Andrew's car and many congratulations on being one of the very few that have actually met Andrew after all his years of being on here

Having been a member of the Fiat Car Club of Queensland for 40 years, this topic is very true. I have some great mates who are Fiat owners as can be attested to by mutually attending important family occasions be they weddings, birthdays and, sadly, funerals.

I have only met Forum members, Wazza and Scuderia, as they live just down the road about 1000km and 1800km respectively. However, I am in regular email contact with Boosted 7 (an ex Brisbaneite) and the other helpful advice I receive on this Forum.

Gotta luv FIATS!!

And this is one of the reasons I want my car back on the road, to hopefully get to some meets and meet people, but I don't seem to see any around the North east so I guess some travelling will be in order. Better join one of the recovery companies

Yeah, the North-East isn't a hot-bed of coop ownership, it seems. Up until yesterday I'd only seen one other coop on the road since I bought mine in August 2011.

Perhaps, now that we're heading into summer, we could do a Hartside meet (I went to one 6 or 7 years ago) and round up the coops from North-East, North-West and Yorkshire.

Sounds good Andrew, I'd be up for that. It's a nice drive over Hartside, I used to be over that way every week almost as a kid as my grandparents had a caravan in Melmerby at the bottom of Hartside.

I better get off my backside and start getting the engine fitted

I had another look at the dent on the rear wing yesterday and I reckon if I take out the wheel liner from the rear wheel I'll just be able to push it out. It's not a big dent, so I'm hoping it will pop out fairly easily.

And I think I'll try to get a new manifold next month (it's not happening this month, what with both kids' birthdays and a wedding anniversary :() - any recommendations on where I should look?



I know you offered to fit a new manifold for me, but it's a pain-in-the-bum job, isn't it?

AndrewR in 'actually talking about coupes on the forum' shocker!

Hey, did you know there's all kinds of technical help and stuff for sale sub-forums on here? It's not all just arguing about politics and stuff.

Why did nobody tell me about these things?

Many people tried, but you argued with them.

Am in the process of fitting a new engine to my coupe also!

Couldn't bare to break her, so getting even more TLC than last year, new engine should be in soon now.

Am also in North East (Darlington) used the coupe as everyday car from 2007 till 2011 not sure wether to use as everyday car again once finished or keep for best (already have a classic for that) the people on forum/meets have been a factor in wanting to keep her (as well as it being a cracking car!)

Peter.

I would recommend Toys 'R Us and a nice jewelry store or Spa Day.