I am going to use my car as an example and feel free to comment on price anything perhaps im wanting too much but i need feedback. I wont cry or get upset or think you are cu*ts.

Mint body work never been in accident no dents.
Mechanicly excellent
Good miles for a 9 year old car
The car drives great considering its on its original engine covering 86k i think if it had not been looked after it would have buckled by now.
Does not rattle when driving this alone tells me that trim etc has not been interfered with
There are two things which i can see putting people off and that is:

No red key this is common as it aint used and is miss placed in the house somewhere. I see having this on a 9 year coop a luxury.

Part service history although been serviced just not documented missing 3 stamps.
I have seen a few coops claiming to have full history but some people dont understand what a full history is and think if a book is stamped it constitutes a full history. You are sadly mistaken.

Post your comments please.

£3995k

You seem to have had it for sale for ages though, which is worrying. Just being honest. Its actually been bugging me how long its been for sale/bumped etc. Now you will defo think I'm a c**T.

Agree about the history BUT its a 'walk away' thing, it WILL affect the price regardless of what you think. Meaningless or not stamps = good.

It is unfortunately true no stamps does affect the value people like to see stamps filling the spots even though it in reality means nothing.

Nick

If your car was something else then you would sell it easy, as stupid as that sounds.

I find one hell of alot of "buyers" seem to think they are buying a concours ferarri and everything MUST be perfect.

Look at the amount of coupe's around for 2k and people still moan at scratches, marks, odd history missing, one key not there.

Its stupid, if people wake up and realise there actually buying a 10 or whatever year old Fiat that is going to fall apart some day, is going to depreciate rapidly then all would be well. There just a cheap nice looking afordable fast car now, but people still want to have an attitude about them and as such if it aint perfect it aint selling.

People arent interested at looking at the coupe for what it is & its current condition, mainly because they havent a clue, just want to judge it on some bent history and the fact the keys are there! Is why so many people own such shite coupe's to be honest. Oh and the mileage too.


Personally if it hasnt a red key, sort it, some potential buyer wont be arsed, they wont be told they dont need the key, so just do what they want to see.

Ive only had 2 people look and 1 deposit which fell through due to dude not getting finance other than that nobody.
I did buy this very cheep and not because it is accident damaged or abused just a ebay bargain.
I understand about being bugged by it, i get like that aswell hence my bark nothing intended just short tempered since giving up the smokes.

You also have some paintwork issues as well.

If something isn't selling its because its overpriced. A figure of 4k - 4.5k seems like a good place to start, but if it does not sell then you need to drop the price. Eventually it will sell, but there isn't the demand.

If they were scarce you might get the full price for your one but there are a couple on here that for a little extra (or in the case of the one 106k miler less) money that look in better condition.

sort the red key, I always think if any sub £200 job on a car hasnt been done then you ask yourself why not.

Hmmm i could have got it stamped and reciepts made, more fool me but atleast i'm being honest.
What history it does have can easily be checked and the car is known by the forza italia(David).

Carl- i could not agree more. I reckon folks are asking alot of a 9/10 year + car its nice that people treat these cars like 100k

Paint issues are being done, proper i might add windscreen out etc (was advised this due to the taping off issue at the top of windscreen this should also state the type of body shop i use most wouldnt go that extra bit)will be mopped and will look brand new and in better nick than most on here.
3 month waranty which you would have to check for what it covers.

Exactly stamps mean nothing but people still care abou them

Your location probably isn't helping either...a LOT of people live a long way from Edinburgh (a sixth of the population of the UK line in / around London)...it's a 6 hour drive to London I think.

People like to view a car before buying and if you've got to spend £100+ flying up to view (it does cost this with tax) (plus the attendant faff of getting to airports etc), people aren't going to bother if there are cars an hour's drive away. We all know that cars are advertised as mint etc, turn out to be dogs and, while I'm sure this is absolutely not the case with your car, people are wary...

Then if you do buy, it's another £100 up plus the long drive and fuel costs back

Your car is also a red LE, truly a love it or hate it coupe ... I think if it was a leccy blue or moon grey plus it would have gone by now

And whats wrong with a red LE?

Nothing, if you like that pimpy sort of thing

I would phone solo italia up and see how much they would buy it off you for as they specialise in Coupes and they sell there LE's for about 6.5k.

.........sell it off the forum mate

odd reply, but the best "business" sense choice

depends, do you want to sell it at max profit, or ensure it goes to a cherished home etc.... ???

I`ve sold a number of LEs now. And its ALWAYS the red ones that get the most attention and best resale price. This is just what i`ve observed.

However I wouldn`t try and buy & sell a coop now, since the market has changed and its way more difficult to sell them these days.

That is what is stopping me from coming to have a look at it.

Well I think it is definately worth the visit mate

I got the car back last night and it is running perfect the peco (cheers carlt)is not loud and gives off an excellent sound. Manifold was done for £175 inc vat which i think was money well spent.

Wheels being refurbed aswell, this will be worth seeing when done, hopefully for next weekend.

Easyjet fly from Luton to Edinburgh and it might only cost £30 or so to fly up there.

John

I'd second that

Just seen this topic. My 2 cents:

I love your car, but i honestly don't think it is worth the money you are asking. £5500 is top dollar for an LE (not counting soloitalia's super expensive LE's) but yours is average mileage (not a bad thing) and had a fair few defects.

When you first listed it you had peeling laquer and scuffed alloys (which made me want to run a mile), these have now been sorted but the lack of red key still puts me off (i know some think it is no big deal but i wouldn't like the £1000 bill if something went wrong).

I am also of the "half timing belt inteval" camp so as far as i see the timing belt would need doing soon.

IMHO i would say your car is worth £4500 (£5k with the red key (based on what i have seen in the market so far))and that is the most i would be willing to pay.

If you want to appeal to more scottish buyers then join http://www.fiat-scotland.com and list it there. I would also strongly recomend you take it to the scottish italian car day in st andrews this year.

I hope this information is usefull, i hope you don't get offended by my opinion of the value.

I'm asking £4995 for 98 Black L.E with 89k with History & Red Key. I think this is fairly priced and yours seem price accordingly. Just have to wait for the right buyer it will sell

TBH, from what I've seen, almost all LE have been overpriced.

There, I've said it! When I bought my Sprinty there was almost no difference in price and I'm still struggling to see why it'd be worth more. I was looking for performance and an LE has no more... No intention to upset anyone and I apologise if I do.

Mine was just scrapped for £3k. 98R with 92k. Lots of new PF service and parts, manifold and radiator etc and it was still only £3k, so i don't see how a car with £100 of styling (from AutoDs) and leather can be anymore the £500 to £750 more for similar miles/condition (and mine was not perfect)

As said above, sooner or later someone will get intrested, but the price will need to move. Take a look at this page in parker's for prices...this is what buyers are looking at.

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/used-prices/Valuation.aspx?deriv=15481&plate=58&buysell=buy

Any issues with red keys, or paint, or scuffs can be fixed and wouldn't put me off...high pricing does tho.

Trying to be constructive so don't take it the wrong way, just trying to help you get a sale

WMT

Hey, if you like the car (no matter what make and model) and you want it badly, you'll pay the price.

There was an immaculate electric blue plus on here with low mileage and at a top price. I recall a number of people posting negative comments on the price, but the seller held out and he sold it, so there

I personally do think the extra price for an LE of Plus is worth it. The interior just feels a bit more special and the seats are soooo much better than the standard leathers. Also the orginal factory bodykit is a lot more costly than a 100 quid autoDS one (although I agree it's very good value that way). On top of that you get the strut brace, boot net in case of the plus, 6 gears and some nice styling touches. All in all for me it was definately worth the extra money.

Then again, at the current price level they all look like bargains to me. I paid about 17k euro 3,5 years ago and at the time that was a good price

Again, I'm not saying they aren't nice touches, but I can't see how an LE is worth £2k more than a standard. Nice to haves, but not essentials. Will a buyer make any difference between a factory kit and a 3rd party one, I doubt it. Strut braces - well I sold mine for £70. I won't even comment on a luggage net! Then, you have that LE leather...

As Jayzee says, if someone wants one enough they'll pay for it, but thats not been the case for Skint so far...

Its worth 2k more because people will pay 2k more simple really. The plus's and LE are rare and are different to the normal 20vt. You have to pay to be different

When I use to own a 16vt i would always argue that the plus's and the LE's weren't that much better etc.... But this time round when i bought another coupe i wouldn't buy anything but an LE or a Plus. I wanted the car with the Right Wheels, the Red Brakes, the Factory Fitted Bodykit, 6 speed box, the starter button and a set of decent seats....

What put me off your car was the peeling paint work and lack of red key, not the price.......

Ive had soooo many red key sets here for 200 squids, seems odd to put off most buyers for that kinda money.

The LE is a real marmite thing, either you want one or you don't. Are they over priced? Well longer term we'll see, I suspect they'll hold there value longer and rise before the standard car. The Plus is more subtle, and I suspect a hell of a lot rarer. Just for interest I paid a lot less than Skint is asking for mine, but bought it knowing I would have to spend a lot to get it how I want it (Nearly £1500 on parts so far, and that's without any body work), so as always you get what you pay for.

Too many people get hung up on the milage and the red key, although to be honest I wouldn't want to buy the car from someone who couldn't be bothered not to keep the key safe. Not a comment on you Skint as I know it came without, but if someone can't be trusted with a key what are they like with the oil?

Oh and I bought mine because only LE's come in Chrono...

As for the Scottish thing I had loads of interest in my NA from down South, but no one could be bothered to travel. In the end I sold to an enthusiast locally who happened to work where Trish does at the University, otherwise I might still have it. It's not a reflection on the car, just people wanting them on their door step, or at least not at the other end of the country

He sold it, sure, but didn't get much near asking price

Its not selling for £4.5k thats for sure, i will hold out for the right price as i can afford to do so.
I dont have to say why they command a premium its fcuking obvious.

He no way let it go for much less though

I was prepared to pay a premium for one of these, and damn sure I'm not alone

Im not offended exactly what i was looking for. But the red key aint a 1k bill.

Carlt's responce about the red key is a little re-assuring.

I love your coupe, it taunts me every time i visit, but i am not ready for the running costs of a turbo, hence why i only want an NA at the mo.

hehe I guess LE owners will always say they're worth more, just giving an 'outside in' impression as I'm trying to buy another car at the mo.

Skint...have you tried selling it to Solo Italia?

Dont mean to sound funny WMT but a Plus or an LE is worth every bit of 2k over a standard, no offence, if you like a no frills leggo brick then great, but the extra's make the car far far superior.

Ever driven a Coupe with Recaro's and the extras?

no probs carl Thats why I got a sprinter in the first place. Each to their own I guess...

Im not sure i'de pay another 2k for an LE. The extras apart from the seats dont add up to much more than colour coding.

Whats a lot more important in asessing a coops value is what major jobs have been undertaken in its history.
If i was buying a coop now it would be a lot more important to me if i saw the clutch, cambelt, wishbones, turbo, discs/pads, manifold etc etc had all been done.
IMO as good as recaros are they dont command a 25-30% increase in a cars value.
But, as has already been said, if people want it, they want it.

There's a little more than just recaro's although they are the main point.

6-speed box, nicer to drive and my 6-speed plus does 500 miles to a tank, thats a saving towards the price difference.

Nicer wheels, trim, kit etc etc etc

Recaro's

Carl i would'nt be surprised if you had recaro pillows fitted to your bed

Well I think the LE is definately worth it. I agree that it is to some a marmite issue. But having both to compare, driving both, the 2k of the LE is more than well deserved.

The Coupe looses alot of speciality in normal form.

Hold it Skint it WILL sell. I was on the outside and once you see drive etc the LE Plus it becomes clear. I chose the LE as it appealed to me to be more special plus the Vinci.

Oh and you all forgot the push button starter that has to add at least 30 BHP

Heard it all before and no doubt we'll hear it all again. The Recaro's make the difference alone not to mention all the other bits. No matter how rare plus's are LE's are still the top dog, still the jewel in the crown of Fiat coupe's. It's like buying a boxter s because you can't afford a proper 911!

I agree, £2k above 20vt is worth it for the seats and the gearbox. I mean, how much are these parts on there own from a breakers?

Well like I say when I was looking aorund It boiled down to a Plus and LE, LE won for the features mentioned above

If I bought a third Coupe it would have to be a Plus or an LE having had two plain ordinary 20VTs.

John

The Limited Edition and Plus are worth the money its not like there that expensive anyway (compared to similar aged TT, M3, or GTV) A couple of grand gets a Fully loaded Coupe ie leather and air (which not all 20VT have) I know its a repeat but even a second hand set of Recaro`s and a Six Speed box would cost more than £1500+fitment and you still wouldnt have the real item with a proper body kit (not fibre glass), Its a bargain ,Its a steal and all Coupe owner should support to push the Values of the Coupe up and not moan that there not worth it.

Just to note

No LE driver has said it's not worth it

No Standard driver has said they wished they'd pay more to get one!

So there's your answer Skint...you need to sell it to an LE owner

Just a jealous standard coop owner

It would cost you at least 2k to make a standard coop look like a LE why bother just buy the REAL thing its cheaper and looks better

When I had my previous coupe (a humble 1.8 16v, but with leather and aircon) I was very impressed when I sat in a plus for the first time (was Scooby's one about 4 years ago i think?). Everything just seemed more luxureus, nicer to be in and looked very cool from the outside as well with the bodykit and red brakes. The LE's gave me the same feeling, however at the time I wasn't too sure of the all the red bits. I still think the red is a bit OTT, but on the other hand it makes the car unique and looks very Italian!

When I sold my 1.8 and went looking for a 20vt it just had to be a plus or LE. I don't consider a normal 20vt a lesser car, but the extra bits just finish it off for me. But I understand that if you don't car about those bits, the price difference may seem a bit unreasonable. I would still happily pay extra for an LE or plus. Next time (if that ever comes) it has to be a black LE thought

At no point in selling on here have i ever had one offer

Ask for one

If anyones buying a coupe these days its because they want a cheap sports car. The clues in the sentance. Im pretty sure thats truth these days unfortunately.
(Im talking to everyone here, not just LE owners)I know you can look out at your beauty on the drive and still drool over how good it looks, but to the rest of the world who've not driven one and been bitten by the bug its just (dare i say it) an old fiat there not prepared to pay much money for.

Depends.

Most have rust on the inner wheel arch lips and in the engine bay, smoky engines/turbos and as such should be treated as a cheap hack.

Mine doesn't and is genuinely *near* concourse

TBH, I'm tempted to sell it to Solo Italia and if someone wants it, they will have to pay nearly £8k for it from them

I'm never selling mine, will keep her - one day these will realise the cult status they deserve...

2K premium over a normal 20VT? madness. It's a six speed 'box and some tasteless recaro's for chrissakes


Disclaimer: That's my opinion, I'm not having a swipe at anyone, the LE is nice.

you git !!!

Knew that would happen

Well each to there own a Coupe without a 6 speed box lacks something to me

New pics here

I think the LE or plus is the finished article and so much nicer than a normal coupe. I have spent more on the engine of mine than people are wanting to spend on a good coupe now, my live map yesterday cost 500 quid! What really gets me is that diesel saxo's and the like fech around the same money even though the coupe was 27 grand new and is a massive leap in quality and performance. Anyway rant over!