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New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( #1619370
24/04/2018 16:57
24/04/2018 16:57

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Turin2Darlo95
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Turin2Darlo95
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T



Hi everyone, I'm Lawrence, I'm 22 and currently live in County Durham but moving to North Yorkshire in the coming weeks.

I bought my first Fiat Coupe 20VT last month and paid £1500 for it. 67k miles, Sprint Blue, tan leather interior and sunroof.

I was aware that the clutch was slipping when I bought it, and that the lacquer was peeling off the roof and boot lid, but other than that everything seemed fine. I drove it 250 miles back from London and had no issues whatsoever.

The same evening, I took it out for a drive, boosted in 1st gear and tonnes of white smoke came out the back of the exhaust.

Noticed there was coolant leaking and thought I'd blown the head gasket or a cylinder head.

Thankfully it wasn't the head, it was the radiator, however when I took the knackered one out, someone had filled 3 big holes in the radiator with cement! After scratching my head, I put new one in, I reversed the car out of the garage...then I lost all gears... I've just head to replace the clutch, master and slave cylinder -.- My wallet is very sore right now.
Hopefully that's that for now, then next thing will be a good service and the timing belt.

I've spent £758 on parts and labour, so £2258 altogether including what I paid for the car. Did I still get a decent price for the car considering what I've paid out for so far?

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619372
24/04/2018 17:18
24/04/2018 17:18
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,789
In the driving seat!
Guzbod Offline
My life on the forum
Guzbod  Offline
My life on the forum

Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,789
In the driving seat!
Congrats on getting a sprinty! Mine is 21 years old now and I have just replaced the radiator and all the hoses. In reality I haven't spent much on it but I suspect that with age it will require more TLC. Great car and still turns heads. Enjoy and get a bigger wallet! smile


[Linked Image]
Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: Guzbod] #1619374
24/04/2018 17:25
24/04/2018 17:25

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Turin2Darlo95
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Turin2Darlo95
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Thanks! I love modern classic cars. I had a Volvo 480 before which was quirky and a real head turner. I was looking for something with a bit more power and for a decent price, then came across the Fiat Coupe. That 5-cylinder soundtrack is priceless!
I'm in the midst of getting a new job, so more money for the coupe!

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619380
24/04/2018 20:19
24/04/2018 20:19
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836
Hereford
H
HiraethHuw Offline
Enjoying the ride
HiraethHuw  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 836
Hereford
Yes, you got the car for a good price. And you're working through the list of jobs which need doing to a car of this age.

As well as the cam belt, failure of the Chod (coolant hose of death) , round the back of the engine, and rusty oil cooler pipes which can fail, are ways your Coupe can fail expensively.

Lovely colour combo, your car.

Get it on a ramp and spend money on the underneath before spending out on a respray on top.

An exciting time for you, starting out on a rolling resto.

Enjoy laugh

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619400
25/04/2018 06:26
25/04/2018 06:26
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 627
Bulgaria
french_coupe Offline
Club member 773
french_coupe  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 627
Bulgaria
Still a good buy. Once the major work is out of the way then its just general maintenance, as with any car.
With the big jobs done you can use the car as a daily driver with great reliability and a load of fun too.


lost in space
Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619405
25/04/2018 07:30
25/04/2018 07:30
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,462
Kent
Submariner Offline
My job on the forum
Submariner  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,462
Kent
Sounds good, best colour too. I echo above before you do anything if it is to be a keeper check out infamous locations on the car for tin worm and get them sorted. Get yourself aquainted with a Specialist who knows their way aroud the Coupe and will save you ££'s in the long term.

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619421
25/04/2018 10:29
25/04/2018 10:29
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 438
Eastbourne, Sussex
R
Richie007 Offline
Enjoying the ride
Richie007  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 438
Eastbourne, Sussex
Before spending more money some of the hot spots for rust you can find yourself. Strip the back of the interior out and look for rust around inside of the interior rear wings. Rusts from the inside out. Take out the boot lining and trim and look for a brown line along the seams. Rusts from outside between the wheel arch lining and boot floor structure usually worst on drivers side. Front wheel arch liners remove and check rust. Can do all this yourself. Then get it down a garage and check the floors.


Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: HiraethHuw] #1619433
25/04/2018 16:14
25/04/2018 16:14

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Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
Turin2Darlo95
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T



Thanks for the tips HiraethHuw. The cam belt will be next on the agenda.

I've noticed my boost gauge is sitting at about 2.2 bar, is this normal as standard? It seems quite high in my opinion as my friend is running 1.8 bar in his diesel PD130.

The respray will be the last thing on the list. It doesn't bother me as the car moves too quick for people to notice ha.

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: french_coupe] #1619434
25/04/2018 16:16
25/04/2018 16:16

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Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
T



French_coupe, my idea is to use it as a daily. I'd rather enjoy driving too and from work.

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: Submariner] #1619435
25/04/2018 16:18
25/04/2018 16:18

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Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
T



Thanks for the advice Submariner & Richie007. When I get chance I'll take a look at these spots. It was dry stored for 8 years before I bought the car so fingers crossed these notorious rust spots aren't an issue.

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619437
25/04/2018 16:38
25/04/2018 16:38
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
magooagain Offline
Club Member 259
magooagain  Offline
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Forum is my life

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
There is something very wrong if you have 2.2 bar on a boost gauge.



Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: magooagain] #1619438
25/04/2018 16:43
25/04/2018 16:43

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Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
T



What should it be at magooagain?

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619439
25/04/2018 16:45
25/04/2018 16:45
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
magooagain Offline
Club Member 259
magooagain  Offline
Club Member 259
Forum is my life

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
If it's a standard car then it should be no more than 1.1 or less I seem to recall.



Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: magooagain] #1619440
25/04/2018 16:47
25/04/2018 16:47

T
Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
T



Oh... There must be something wrong then confused Do you reckon there could be an issue with the boost gauge itself?

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619442
25/04/2018 16:51
25/04/2018 16:51
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
magooagain Offline
Club Member 259
magooagain  Offline
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Forum is my life

Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
It's possible. It's not a constant 2.2 surely? Is it just spiking up to 2.2?



Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619457
25/04/2018 22:19
25/04/2018 22:19

M
moonie
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moonie
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M



Got any pics of the car

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619458
25/04/2018 22:52
25/04/2018 22:52

M
moonie
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moonie
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M



R48VKK?

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619459
26/04/2018 05:48
26/04/2018 05:48
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,662
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
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Posts: 16,662
Auld Reekie
Hi Lawrence and welcome to the forum


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619466
26/04/2018 07:50
26/04/2018 07:50

G
GrahamL
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GrahamL
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G



Maybe confusing the oil pressure gauge with a boost gauge? There is no boost gauge as standard. Is this gauge at left side of instrument cluster, with an oil can symbol, next to either a voltmeter or oil temp gauge? Or a totally separate gauge off by itself somewhere?

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619490
26/04/2018 18:29
26/04/2018 18:29

T
Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
T



Yes, I've just confused the oil pressure gauge with a boost gauge crazy Have a chuckle if you must.

Also what's the best way to upload photos onto the forum? I don't use Photobucket.

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619491
26/04/2018 18:34
26/04/2018 18:34
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,662
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,662
Auld Reekie
Originally Posted By Turin2Darlo95


Also what's the best way to upload photos onto the forum? I don't use Photobucket.


Try tinypic - but they do turn out er, large rolleyes


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: Edinburgh] #1619492
26/04/2018 19:12
26/04/2018 19:12

T
Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
T



Thanks Edinburgh, I will upload some photos of my car tomorrow as these photo sharing sites are blocked where I work so can't put them up at the minute frown

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619507
27/04/2018 07:39
27/04/2018 07:39

T
Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
T




Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619509
27/04/2018 08:52
27/04/2018 08:52
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,662
Auld Reekie
Edinburgh Offline
Club President, member225
Edinburgh  Offline
Club President, member225
Forum veteran

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,662
Auld Reekie
Very smart smile

If that's where you normally keep it, being weather-shielded is half the battle.


BumbleBee carer smile
Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619529
27/04/2018 14:54
27/04/2018 14:54
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 975
Behind Enemy Lines
Master_Mariner Offline
Club member 583
Master_Mariner  Offline
Club member 583
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 975
Behind Enemy Lines
Nice, especially in the 3rd picture- tan interior suits that colour.

Nice to see the sunroof extended- you may want to make sure the runners are gently greased/lubricated to keep it opening and closing smoothly.

I think she looks rather jaunty and good spirited!

Now just to smother her with TLC as they hate any mechanical attention!

MM

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: Edinburgh] #1619532
27/04/2018 16:27
27/04/2018 16:27

T
Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
T



Thanks Edinburgh, I was meeting with my friends at a multi-story car park in Darlington. Unfortunately at the minute I don't have a garage where I live, but the house I'm moving into next month does, so i'm hoping it doesn't rain much in the meantime.

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: Master_Mariner] #1619533
27/04/2018 16:34
27/04/2018 16:34

T
Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
T



Thanks for the tip Mariner. She's making a name for herself where I live already. I had a remapped Skoda Fabia VRS try keep up with me today and just left him. Pulled up at some lights eventually and the lad was just looking thinking "what the f%*k is that?".

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619536
27/04/2018 19:34
27/04/2018 19:34
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 975
Behind Enemy Lines
Master_Mariner Offline
Club member 583
Master_Mariner  Offline
Club member 583
Enjoying the ride

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 975
Behind Enemy Lines
They tend to do that.

It does make you very aware that your flying the flag of the coop when your out driving.

Not that anyone sensible looks to race -its not quite what we are about imhv. But should you need to...."express yourself" The coop is an unknown to many and even the standard performance is a revelation.

Check your oil level. Lol.

MM

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: Master_Mariner] #1619541
27/04/2018 20:18
27/04/2018 20:18

T
Turin2Darlo95
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Turin2Darlo95
Unregistered
T



It's an absolute pleasure to drive. The handling for a FWD car with 220bhp is absolutely amazing.

I'm going to take it for a run out over the weekend, up the A686 (Hartside Pass), then across the North Pennines.

I've got a considerably heavy foot so "expressing myself" happens quite often. And yes I will be checking my oil in the morning.

Re: New Member & First Coupe! Good, bad & expensive :( [Re: ] #1619549
27/04/2018 23:39
27/04/2018 23:39
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 649
UK
Clintos Offline
Club member 2040
Clintos  Offline
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Enjoying the ride

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 649
UK
Hi Lawrence, No such thing as a good buy I'm afraid. If it seems cheap, there probably is something wrong with it and it sounds like you're slowly uncovering the usual coupe gremlins. Hopefully you've just experienced someone who knew a few things were failing and got rid before much more went wrong. You should be fine if you maintain the coupe but it does come at a price I'm afraid. Good look with project but I would turn your immediate attention to oil/filter, air filter, CHOD, timing and aux belt replacement before anything else. PS I'm based in Eaglescliffe, Stockton so hopefully see you about sometime thumb


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