This is NOT my car.

This is NOT a sales ad.

I am just breezing through Autotrader and saw this 16vt advertised.

I have never driven one- but this looks lovely. And someone may be looking for one.

I didn't think the price was that bad. And with Covid….there must be some serious haggle room?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classi...ation=at_cars&model=COUPE&page=1

Regards

MM

That looks lovely, priced cheap as well at only £4500.00.

That is astonishing effort, with more than 40 photos - perhaps over-generous with some of the info...

A great start for someone at that low mileage.

Looks a very smart car indeed and seems well priced, Strange seeing all the images of paperwork but no under bonnet image.
Still surely that will sell soon enough.

£4.5K for a 16v turbo with cloth interior, needing a cambelt change and with an MOT fail in 2017 for "Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings both sills"... good luck with that.

Ahh,

The voice of realism there...that's a real shame. Hence no under bonnet shots!

Mind you would still affect the price in a positive way maybe for someone with the skills and love to turn it around?

Just looks way too good to end up as a parts car.....

Hmm.

MM

It has a clean MOT on it now so presumably that particular rot has been sorted, but once it's got that bad there are likely other unseen areas also affected. I'd be very wary.

I know of a coupe that had years of clean MOT's (not even an advisory) and then was scrapped due to fatal rot being discovered in the sills, so you have to very careful. Personally I'd avoid any car that had a failed MOT for rot even if it had been repaired 'cause it's almost impossible to know the full extent of it unless a complete strip and restoration has been done.

Hi all, newbie here having a look at this 16vt you are talking about. I’m a 50 yr old looking for a coupe to relive my midlife crisis !
I have read the sound advice given regarding the rot to sills.
Seller says he will put the vehicle on a ramp to inspect.
Will post back after I’ve looked at it .
Regards all, Nipper


Ps. If anyone is looking tonight, late advice would be welcome

Usual coupe spots for rust (where mine has it.... )

Lift boot carpet right up and look in the seam of the boot to the wing

Bubbling around rear arch or pinafarina badges - moisture gets inside the rear 1/4 unfortunately and rots from inside out

Under bonnet look at uprights on around where the horn is (Left hand side as you look at it)

Unfortunately rust is the biggest thing, remember - these cars are over 25 year old in some cases now. I've been around classic cars alot growing up so it makes me smile when people say about a coupes rust and not going near etc.... - When you've looked at a 70's stag (or any car tbf!) thats been sat in a barn for 18 years then pulled out, now thats rust. And people then dont say "Dont go near it as the holes in the floor are over 3 ft" - They get restored. And look at any mk1 golf, mgb restoration etc.

The coupes just in a weird phase of its life now where they're being tipped as future classics (and indeed good ones are now north of 10k!) but people with them still see them as a cheap fun car and not worthy of restoration. Tides turning and i'd guess that the specialists are seeing more restorations that servicing these days and i'd also expect that to ramp up as time goes on and numbers dwindle further

Lee

Cheers for that Lee, I’ve liked Fiat coupes for years but have never been in a position to indulge myself until now,
Invaluable advice 👍

Engine wise, check for good oil pressure - should not drop below 1.1 bar on idle when hot. Check for oil leaks, often the oil cooler pipes would need changing if not already done. The thermostat is unobtainable new, so will need modding to work if it's stuck open. Renault 5 inline stat should do the trick and is quite cheap.
The radiator can be found new for a reasonable price.

Right, didn't end up looking at the 16vt above. The seller became twitchy when mot failure for rot was mentioned also reneged on the ramp for inspection so I bailed out.

Instead I have bought a 1998 20v off of flea bay for £1875 !

I will start a new thread and hopefully post some pictures.