I will drive Europe this summer, over 3k miles in 4 weeks.
My choices of car so far are Fiat Coupe or Merc SL. Which car I choose will be a daily driver. Do you think a Coupe is a good choice for a Grand Tourer or am I asking for trouble? What other motors should I consider? Someone who knows Fiat coupes real well said they were best left alone!
Thanks.

Then that someone knows nothing. Coupe is an excellent GT, especially the 6 speeders.

Go in style and leave the bland Mzbz behind.

That person was carlT. i was about to buy a car from him too, now thats honesty for you, good bloke, and from what i have read here he knows everything about Coupes!
I just seldom listen to good advice and want one or an SL! cheers

I have a feeling you'll live with that forever

I hope I didn't get anyone into trouble, but I was amazed a guy I was about to hand over my cash to for a car, actually advised me against owning one. and not just this particular car but all, as he was going to rebuild the engine and service it all for me as part of the deal. Now that’s what I call honesty, Well what ever, but from an expert that was probably very sound advice I should not avoid, but like a big kid I still want one… I think…

Several of us have done the grand tour; I think by now that *all* the variants have done long-distance tours.

I've done 3000-4000 mile trips around Europe on three or four occasions; I drive London-Berlin once or twice a year, and London-Skye about the same. 135k on the clock...

If the car is properly serviced and maintained - pay particular attention to belts and oil level - then there is no reason why it should be any more or less reliable than a car fresh off the production line.

That said - *I* would be cautious trying it in a modified (chipped, decat etc) car whose history I had any doubt about. While some cars have been intelligently modified with full attention paid to the details which maintain reliability, an awful lot have been done on the cheap since it's so easy just to up the turbo pressure. In the short term, this works, but you are invited to read the technical problem pages to see how many modified cars have issues.

Your mileage may vary.

Neil

7 years and no breakdowns - I'd say my coupe was more reliable than most cars.....

Neil is spot on though, modify on the cheap and you'll break it, however as many people on here have proved, it is possible to run a reliable car with over 300 bhp, but you do need to do it properly

Well if you spend your time breaking them then you are bound to see the worst examples. After all a doctor rarely sees healthy people does he?

2 years no breakdowns

OK - lets have a reality check here. Is it reliable, well as I am in the motor trade, it is no more or less reliable that nay other similar car TBH. I have seen BMW's and Audi's come and go, and now work for Lexus and they still go wrong. You buy what you like!
SL's have issues with control units and expect big bills!

As for Carl, well - he wants to keep em all doesnt he? Why sell one of your babies!!!
In a few years when all parts have dried up - he will be the parts tzar, and a millionaire and we will be his car bitches. A bit like Apocylipse now, he will be in a massive tower with zombie like staff - heads on sticks from those who don't pay on time or question quality.
We'll be all "Mr. CarlT - I need a turbo"
Out of the darkness will come CarlT "the horror - the horror - you chipped it dint'ya"

we are his monkeys - we just don't know it yet.

But yeah - quite reliable, no issues yet

Jonny, we really need to review your medication.......

His posts are consistently excellent.

Right.

Lets put a few things straight. Bockers especially.

Ive not posted or even bothered logging in for ages as im bored of the tossers on here getting a bit high and mighty. Until i was called as people wernt agreeing with some things being said and asked me to reply.

This chap called me to buy a coupe, the reason i told him no was very very simple. He told me he had been looking for over 2 years for one and they were all crap/poor or he was put off by something. He then told me he had just increased his budget to 2.5k. Criteria was all wrong, mileage seeking etc etc. Then to top it, wanted assurance that a freshly sorted car would be totally faultless for a 4k mile drive the week it was ready.

So a measly 2.5k to find a perfect coupe, nothing odd, perfect history, low mileage, EVERYTHING done, guaranteed for a 4k mile trip. Interesting.
If someone has been looking over 2.5 years for one and faults them all, that spells wrong budget, wrong car.

I think i advised buying something sensible with the stretched budget of 2.5k to do the job of touring.

Would motormech, powerfiat etc guarantee a coupe would do a faultless 4k miles a week after practically a re-shell?

So before some of you get bitching and get stupid posts going about me being on a quest to slate them all, get real.


I might be leaving coupe's as a business, but do you think i would still own some of the best in the UK merely locked away in a barn if i was on a quest to slag them and there owners?

Get real. Pathetic some of you lot.

He should buy a new car if he wants that kind of assurance.

I said exactly that, even MR Mercedes dealer wouldn't give you absolute assurance on a brand spanker on those terms.

Strange, how many people are so wise as to what i do and say, or they like to think they are.

Carl, I think Johnny Coops post was tongue in cheek

And it was funny

Me, I just thought either Carl had got out of the wrong side of bed asnd was in a 'I hate coops mood' or he didn't want to sell to this particular buyer

Your still our coop god carl, and I for one look forward to being your coop slave

As you know CarlT, many of us hail your praise and would be lost without your help and parts. As for stock piling pars - good onya, I just hope you remember those who defend you, who may need a fuel cap, cheap. And a real good one. Cheap.

I can understand you being upset or angy, just so we can see how upset you are, how about you posting a pic?
In your banana hammock, looking over your shoulder like you have a secret?

Urrhum..... was just a thought.

Photobucet is free.....




sorry (I wish CarlT was my Dad)

Mr Jonny coupe ive not even posted a comment towards you, nothing at all, i just clicked reply on the last post.

Nothing you said annoys me. Dont worry

Just idiots choosing to bitch about me in there little private room over something they know nothing about.

How about a pic dressed as a pirate then?

Carl



I am not sure why you singling me out. Given the words used by Aston he did not make it clear he was after a new car essentially. Knowing this fact does change the nature of the thread somewhat. I would be surprised if you were to put of a realistic punter looking for a coupe but aware they are buying a car which is essentially 10 years old now.
Given his budget of £2.5k does put your comments into perspective, but if you want to call me a tosser I suppose that is your prerogative. All I try to do, like you, is help people with Coupe queries wherever possible. I enjoy the coupe and want others to share that



Not sure I said that, but you have seen more of the rubbish Coupes than any of the rest of use, it’s the nature of being a breaker surely. I think the Doctor analogy is very apt. I did not see that as being bitchy or even an insult.


No offence was intended or inferred.

Moderators section bockers.



Your not "that" smart mate. So before you make out you haven't said much would you like to add what you have posted elsewhere?

A cowboy then - a pic dressed as a cowboy? C'mon?

thata boy carl..

agree with your rant carlt, unfortunatly you always get this on every forum, usually users like this dont stay on the forum long, hope this is the case would hate to see someone with your knowlodge etc leave a place were you are appreciated by many of us

Fireman??

To make it clear, I don’t think Carl is dissing the coupe or that he knows nothing. The Doctor analogy I saw as a complement.

I apologise if I have caused offence, it was not my intention. A look through my posts and anyone can see that Carl has helped me with various technical questions as well as provide me parts. I have referred plenty of people to him for parts AND advice and clarified my post in the mod section.

hmm 2.5k budget and not sure weather to get a coop or an sl?

can you show me where to buy a sl for 2.5k? i need to know

OK, OK a pic of CarlT as a road worker in cut off short-short jeans and utility belt?

Well i'll be taking my car snowboarding with me ( not sure how to strap it on a board yet ) St Malo to Morzine and back should be interesting roughtly 1200 miles.

what he said ^ ^

still need that green wing carlt, sending to paul please - real cash money available now!!