Hi guys

I'm a Pom now living in Oz and ex owner of a Coupe when I lived back in the UK so do love them. They were not sold over here at all and I'm led to believe only a handful have been imported privately due to the stringent (and ridiculous) import regs over here so they're a pretty rare beast....I've been here 11 years and have yet to see one!!

Anyway, this one has recently come up and I'm toying with the idea of buying.

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Fiat-Coupe-1999/SSE-AD-3273967/?Cr=0

Is there a short list of things that I need to examine and bearing in mind there are no places that stock/sell spares for the Coupe over here, what would I be best buying parts-wise and getting shipped over in preparation for work/how much roughly do these items cost so I can avoid the car being off the road for any length of time. It needs to be a daily driver so has to be useable all the time.

Any thoughts and/or advice greatly accepted!

Cheers

Gary

Hi Gary. That coupe could be in very good condition with little rust.
Plenty of parts are available here in the UK. I imagine the expensive bit is the postage.

Strong price but looks sweet. Hope you buy it and have great times with it.

G'day Gary,

That Plus looks awesome. It's so rare to see these cars in sunshine like that!
As far as things to look for, I'd suggest downloading the buyer's guide HERE

There are at least a couple of coupes in brisbane, Graeme (Possum on this forum) has a blue 16vt and is on the south side of Brissy. I seem to recall him saying that he has been able to source most parts from the local fiat dealer, so hopefully you won't have too many problems.

If you buy it will you drive it back from WA? Now that would be some road trip to do in a coupe!

Go for it! Looks amazing.

I seem to recall that parts may still be available from new Zealand? Graeme may have mentioned this to me.

If you do drive it back from WA and you come back via north Victoria, stop by and say hi!

I believe that car was sold new in New Zealand so it should be rust free. Parts are available From NZ or the UK without much of a problem. I've ordered parts through the local dealerships by providing the current part numbers too.

It looks like a great example!

What's the deal with the rectangular side indicator repeaters? haven't seen those on a coupe before.

£11,340 in English money, but looks a corker.

Japanese market ones Anthony.

It could be a Japanese market Coupe but they also have headlamp washers. They could have been removed of course.

Hi guys and thanks ever so much for the replies and comments - they are very much appreciated.

Magooagain - I currently run a Maserati and source all my parts from the UK as the Main Stealers over here are a rip off so am happy doing that. The only issue would be the time it takes to get from there to here, hence why I was after a list of 'consumables' that I could/should get here ready to go in anticipation of any future issues :-) And yes, the price is strong at the moment. There are 5 for sale in Oz at present with this one being the latest but the others have been sale for between 1-3 years with absolutely no movement! A bit of an 'iceberg' car methinks!

Boosted 7 - I think I might have had some chats with Graeme awhile back when our paths crossed so might try him again if I do buy. And if I do, it'll be transported over here rather than driven - not enough time for me to do it unfortunately!

Dan Dan - you're shown as being on the GC but you mention Victoria?Do you still have your Coupe?

Scuderia - thanks for that info and yes, it is a NZ supplied car. Are you running one over here too?

Guys I'm a little more comforted at the thought now so will see how things pan out soon! If I do get it I shall become a member here with pics in a flash!!

Cheers

Gary

Hi Gary, I do have Fiat Car Club contacts in WA so I can put you in touch with them. They may know the car.

Wazza, in Sydney, did have his red 20vt on the market for less $ than the WA vehicle.

I obtain parts from Steve at AA or Country Cruising with about 7-10 days delivery. As Boosted7 wrote, I also use the local dealers who are quite happy to order in the parts, unlike the "Japanese brand" dealers who do not want to know the "grey imports" we have here.

Perhaps we could meet up and discuss Coupes.

I've updated my profile for now Gary.
I'm here backpacking and working to obtain a visa for a second year so I move around a bit.
Currently in North Victoria until the end of may. I started out in GC and Brisbane area and spent a bit of time with Graeme.
Any chance I get to see and talk coupes I will certainly take.

The drive from perth to Brisbane would be incredible in a Coupe. I've done Sydney to Perth and back in a 700 dollar ford and I loved it. The Coupe would have no problem.

Unfortunately all my memories of Coupes are back home in the UK. Can't afford to buy one out here either!

Hi Graeme and thanks for the offer of the WA contacts. I have emailed the seller this morning so we shall see what comes back from that but if we do decide to get it inspected, are there people in the club who know these cars well enough to perform such an inspection do you think? I'm happy to pay obviously.
I think Wazza's car is still up for sale. It's a bit older with 3 times the amount of kms on it so not really keen on one that leggy if I'm honest.
Thanks for the info re parts too. I am a little more reassured about it now so we'll see what occurs from here.
The kind offer of a meet up might be good as my wife would potentially like another look at one. We viewed the white one near us last year and that is as close to perfect as you'll find but the seller doesn't actually want to sell it. He's only put it up to placate his wife I believe and he is not willing to budge a single cent on the price - hence why 3 years later it is still up for sale! You're Mt.Gravatt way aren't you? I'll check to see if she wants to look at another one to remind herself what they look and feel like and if she does we'll be happy to come to you if that's cool?
Dan Dan - all received and duly noted! I hope you have a great time over here in this wonderful country and if you do achieve residency then maybe you can get one too!
Cheers
Gary

Hi Gary,

Tried to send a PM re my contact details but it said you are over your limit?

Yes, I'm at Mt Gravatt East. You are most welcome to come and have a look at my Coupe. Scuderia, Boosted7, Wazza and Dan Dan have already done this.

I am in Oz from midweek next week.Perth for 10 days then onto Sydney and Melbourne for another 10 days. Hope to see a coupe when there.

I found a couple of coupes when in NZ four years ago.

Perthling (Giles) lives in Perth.
Wazza (Warren) is in Sydney.
Scuderia (Steve) is in Melbourne.

Could be worth a PM to them or alternatively, I do have some email/phone numbers for them.

Hi Graeme

We'd love to take you up on that offer if possible? We feel another look/check out would help firm up our decision.

We are in 'loose negotiations' with the guy from Perth over the car and had more chats today with him so a decision is looming large!! Are you about at all next Saturday or Sunday where we could meet up please?

I don't know why the PM should be over the limit as I don't have any messages in there?

Anyway, the guy selling the car says it is well known to the Perth Fiat crew so I'd like an inside line from them too so will PM Giles (or if you have his email address it'd be appreciated) to see if he can shed any light.

Thanks for all your help!!

Gary

Gary , you need 5 or more posts for your pm box to be open so one more and you there .

Ah I see!! Thank you nismo!!

Just had a look at the pictures! really nice looking car!

Considering one recently sold in the uk for around £7k

Also assuming this one is straight with no issues and is likely to be even better with no rust anywhere due to the Ausy climate!

im sure this would fetch roughly that price if it was presented as such in the uk

But have no idea of car prices in Australia! i know most things seem expensive over there in a like for like comparison especially with a poor exchange rate (for the UK) at the moment so its probably in the right ball park

Hope it goes to plan for you if you choose to purchase!
Next time i'm visiting friends in Oz, i will have to keep an eye out for it, its only a metaphorical down the Road from Caloundra Qld

Hi H_R

Yes this car does, on the face of it, appear a good one. If the plan goes ahead then it will be inspected but I'm hopeful it's as good as it looks.

It has been the personal car of the wife a car dealer (I think he might even be a Fiat dealer) and it is allegedly rust free and very well cared for with the cambelt done 3 years and 10,000kms ago.

I guess time will tell but I shall post whether it's a yes or no once the decision has been made.

As for prices of cars over here, well we also have a Giulietta bought new in 2011 for $44,000 - that shows how damn expensive such things are over here!!! It's a long and government-fabricated reason why they are so expensive but don't start me on that ha ha!

Cheers

Gary

Yes H_R it is "just down the road", just over an hour's drive to Brisbane and you can even visit "Crikey World" (Australia Zoo - establishment of the late Steve Irwin) on the way.

Hi guys

Further to this, it' booked in for tomorrow for a 250-point check over by a mechanic so will wait to see what is thrown up by that. I have emailed the Buyers Guide section to him for guidance too so he can check the bits and pieces that are specific to the Coupe.

As an aside, it is a late '99 model that should, I believe come with a code card as opposed to a Red Key but it doesn't have this code card. Should this be enough to make me walk away given how incredibly rare they are over here, especially in this apparent condition?

Cheers

Gary

It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. My Coupe has a red key and a code card, not sure you need both.

In 5 years, and an engine rebuild I never needed the red key or the code card.....

It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me either. Maybe use it as a bit of a bargaining chip and see if you can knock a few dollars off the price.

Hi guys and thanks for the replies.

Given the advice and other research I've done I don't think it'd be a deal breaker for me but,as Boosted7 has suggested, a bit of a bargaining tool for a better price.

Cheers once again!

Gary

Good luck Gary.
If my information is correct the dealer who sold the car initially could have the data to supply a copy of the card

further details here

Hi Alesi and that's a cracking idea!

If I do go ahead with the purchase then I shall contact them directly.

Cheers

Gary