hi guys just registered,ill be hopefully looking to buy a coupe in a months time,mot tax etc finishes on my current car(toyota mr2)and tbh i think it will cost to much to sort the mr2 out :(but Q is can you buy coupes for £1000,that are in good condition

Nope.

Okay, unfair

First of all, welcome to the forum

Second thing is, have a really good read of the buyer's guide in this section. Then read it again!

£1000 may buy you a coupé but it's unlikely it'll have had the major jobs done on it, such as, wishbones, timing belt, clutch, turbo, oil cooler etc etc etc. So very quickly you'll be looking at a bill in excess of the initial purchase price.

Then there's the insurance.....

These cars are tumbling in purchase price but the running costs are what can cripple the unsuspecting.

Buy on condition, not mileage, go in with your eyes open and you won't regret the deal.

Or buy the non-turbo version for *slightly* lower running costs

hi stan thanks for the warm welcome lol,im not really after a tubbie id prefer a 20v n/a but realistically a 16v n/a is the one im looking for,always liked the coupe same as the mr2.insuance isnt a problem im in my mid life crisis still lol

Ah, now you might be lucky with the 16v na. Makes a surprising change to get someone on here who isn't looking for a turbo, and a 20v turbo at that!

There's been one or two recently that might just have fitted the bill so although it may take a bit of searching and a bit of travelling you may just get lucky.........

id love a tubbie but mr sensible is happy with a n/a,owned a mr2 2.0l n/a for 2 years loved it to bits but all of a sudden everything and i mean everything is getting tired on the car so time to get shut and replace,looked at alfa gtv,but i think a coupe is slightly sexier

I got my Coupe for £950, with a stack of bills as thick as my arm!

Granted, my arm's quite thin, but that aint the point..
It was also a cat-d write-off, but no trouble with insurance, runs perfectly, looks great and is fairly sound.

On bills, we shall see next month when I get the belts done. Suspension, radiator and other bits n bobs have all been sorted already though. Along with a complete engine rebuild 40,000 miles ago..

Need to get the bonnet sprayed mind you. Any of you lot have an idea of what it would cost? It's the following colour:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=13...87&id=710157022

Other than that, quite happy with it really, bargain!

IMO you really need to be looking at 3-4K for a good coupe. Buy one for a grand and unless you are extremely lucky it'll most likely cost you a few grand in replacing bits in the first year.

They really are not a buy and run hastle free car.

They can be a hassle free car, but they are unlikely to be an expense free car. You just have to keep spending whatever it needs as the need arises and you'll be fine. (but broke)

sure - but when bits need to be fixed you need to either get the car somewhere to fix it, or spend time doing it. Either of which can be a hastle.

You CAN get a 16v N/A for a grand, just do your homework and see a few so you get a feel for what's good and what's not. Don't be afraid of high mileage if there's history.

A guy in the next village was selling his 20vt for just over a k last summer and might now come below that - although I still see it outside his he may have decided not to sell. Good service history if I remember but it had done 180k miles.

Try doing a search through coups for sale for 'high miles' and 'speed red' and I think £1200 if you're interested.

I bought my First Coupe for £1200 2 years ago. It was a 16VT and was in good nick.

It had 18" rims and was tuned to around 280bhp.

I got a 20v n/a in broom yellow this yr for 900 quid with 130k & massive service file, all belts & clutch done. My mate has it now as the lack of power got to me & i had to buy another 20vt, he loves it and its not needed a penny spent on it & its just flew through mot! Please dont put this guy off!

thanks for the replies people,i wont be put off once im set on a car ill get it,tbh my once preference is not having a red/yellow one,leather interior if its there then bonus,got leather in the mr2 its cold in the winter,sticky in the summer lol

ps i know that fiat have renowed reliability problems(i did own 3 puntos(going through a silly phase)they never faultered at all.every car can faulter at any time.my brother and i went to barcelona in june for the moto gp his 55 plate saab had a few niggles

Im running a 20vna. and as a day to day commute its a 32 mpg reliable car and uses no oil and water. It is also a car that lets you know in advance what is about to fail, its just a case of whether you fix is quickly or not. Right now wishbones are high on my list as the handling is wayward. New Cambelt and clutch will double the value of the car. My car has never broken down in 4 years with one exception which was a dead battery.

With the exception of belts snapping, hoses bursting, dodgy electrical connections, bonnet flying up, fuel cap not closing, alarm going haywire, and sensors giving up, that is.

Most turbo related problems are foreseeable long in advance, but then you dont have one of those.

My car has let me know in advance whether things are about to fail. the throttle got sticky before the cable snapped, however I ignored the warnings and it and broke down.

My clutch slave cylinder is leaking slightly now, and I am not ignoring that one. It is being fixed tomorrow.

Ill concede the following.......Ive had the petrol cap issue but it was intermittent 2 weeks before it finally gave up. Ive got the sticky throttle or ICV not sure which yet. But as I cant find the cable end to lubricate yet Im not sure if I can sort it. Worst electrical connection is side lights which I sorted with emery cloth. Air bag light is on right now... so I need to visit Roger. Bonnet is only 4 years old on mine and hasn't flown up or off. My alarm is switched off but if it was on it would keep me awake. I don't use remote anymore because it wouldn't always trigger. Dont miss that much. My temp sensor is on its way out but thats easy and cheap to fix. Hoses on my NA very reliable and alot less trouble than turbos.

I know that as soon as I get rid of it I will regret it. That happened once before and it was an Audi coupe 2.2 GT. It must be 5 cylinder thing

Didn't know this was an issue I'm suddenly feeling incredibly lucky: managed to drive a good 50 miles down the autoroute in France this summer with the bonnet catch disengaged accidentally and the bonnet stayed put just fine.

I guess one constant whether you spend £1,000 or £5,000 is that the Coupe is an unpredictable beastie...

To be fair, the only bits that have ever failed on mine have been the ones with plenty of advance warning... turbo, clutch, wishbones, except one time when the fuel pump wiring came loose and it wouldnt start. That was an easy fix though fortunately.

If the bonnet flew up on you that would be a nightmare, but I've heard of it happening a few times on here...

for me, bottom line, IF you can afford to potentailly lose a grand, than buy a cheap 20vt....you certainly wont go faster for the cash..cheap, cheap fast cars......it MIGHT go pop...but then so MIGHT any cheap fast car you buy with no history/high miles etc..etc....

if you can afford to look at it as cheap, throwaway fun, go for it.....

and end of the day, if it does go pop...you can always break the car and recoup a fair whack of your investment....maybe this is a cynical way of looking at it, but id certainly consider a very cheap 20vt or 16vt as a throwaway pocket rocket......

It doesn't work like that tho. The turbo might be smokey, are you going to leave it like that, so that motorists behind you can't see squat in at the lights? no you aren't, you'd get it done. The coupe isn't one of those cars IMO.

Say you get one that looks nice for a grand. You have to replace the cam belt, discs, other bits, it ends up costing the same again over the next year. Sound about right?

At least that way, you'd be driving a Coupe over the next 12 months (with intermittant weekends where it's in the garage..).

I reckon I'd prefer to be driving a Coupe, fixing problems as and when, taking preventative measures where money permits, than to save up for another year and spend 3 or 4k then.

I guess you just have to accept it will cost money, whatever way you do it.

You do have a point there, but I'm a fussey git and know that I would want to put right any scuff or scratch, cluncky noise etc. I suppose it just depends on what you want...

You would prefer it during the 12 months because at least you have a Coupe, but 3 years down the line looking back you would either be glad or wished that you waiting and saved up and got a good'un, I certainly am!

Good things co... ahhh it's Friday, I'm off for a beer

all of my fiat coupes have been under 1k, my first 20v wasn't even shown a spanner

the 16vt turbo i had was odds and sods, but was great all in all, if luck is on ur side. then its possible

if your unlucky, or the seller is pulling a fast one, ur in a hole new world of pain

Iv payed 2500 for both my 20vt coupes and 1800 for my 16vt and one had a new engine and the 2 20vt's have all needed manifolds, turbo recons, brakes, rads and other bits and bobs, think u really do need to spend 3-4k for a good one!

But its soooo satisfying when you do have it running perfectly

I recently joined the Coupe fold, buying my uncle's 16V NA for £1100. 56k miles, mint, fsh, new tyres, new battery, SS exhaust. Even got the original press articles and the Fiat publicity 'film reel' in a can. My uncle is a real enthusiast for the cars, but needed an auto. Bummer.

Needs brakes sorting (just not been used enough IMO) - have new discs and pads to go on all round. Really pleased with it so far. Recommended based on 2 weeks motoring!

Thats a very good price really. When you think about it you can get some seriously rubbish 2.0 l. cars for that money, but hey, you can have a beautiful coupe with low miles for nothing. Yeah there might be no turbo kick but the cars are just such a pleasure to drive and have sat on your drive i'm sure for 1100 quid it wouldn't bother you at all

In my opinion, if you spend £1k on a coupe in a private sale you are unlikely to get a car that has been scrupulously maintained by its recent previous owners. It is more likely to be someone's "throwaway pocket rocket" as described by biggbn, which is now being disposed of. Ask yourself why they are doing this. The answer is that you are likely to be buying someone else’s problems. This could sting you quite badly.

It's been said many times before, but the best way to get a decent example is to find a car sold by a well known forum member. They are likely to have looked after the car properly and will understand how to manage its day-to-day care in a way so as to minimise component wear.

This should cost you (at today's credit crunch prices - you'd have been looking at an additional £1k a year ago) in the region of £2.5k-£3.5k for a 20VT and maybe £750 less for an N/A. For an LE or plus you would need £4-£4.5k.

For what its worth, my experience with my coupe has been good. I bought a high mileage example (well average for its age but high by coupe's standards - make of that what you will). It had buckets of service history from a specialist (poweritalia). The previous owner was someone in their mid-late thirties who had driven the car everyday and who had comfortably enough money to maintain it properly. I've spent a reasonable amount on it in the time I've owned it, (added it up yesterday evening and its more than I thought!) but this has been my choice.

A cosmetically and mechanically good, properly well maintained NA (without big mileage) will also cost you 2k+ IMO (especially if you want AC & cow). The difference in price is not that great as there are fewer NAs and not everyone wants / can afford to run or insure a turbo

i just dont see people paying this kind of cash..id say my car is above average inside and out..it has 125k miles and LOADS of history..it hasnt been an abused pocket rocket, iv spen £1500 or so on it, new clutch, belts, waterpump, radiator etc..etc....

it is then, miles excepted, the kind of coop you are describing..forum member, much loved, well maintained regardless of cost.....

i will be selling it in the next few months as soon as my job changes, and i doubt il get £2k for it...

thats reality...id value my car near £3k but the market doesnt....

That is what I found when trying to sell my car. Only when I dropped the price to just above banger money people became interested.

Thats why I decided its best to keep it for now.

I consider under £1500 to be banger money BTW

I don't think it's about cost/value, it's an emotion thing really. Mine cost £3.5k a few years ago, it had all the right stuff one lady (doctor) owner fsh 40ish K.
!st year ok no real problems, 2nd about £1.5k, so far this year £2.5k and I'm picking it up today from mot about another £600.
Given that it's a 95 16vt with 90k it's probably worth £500, but that's not what coupe's are about, if you want value buy a skoda.

I got one up for sale now 1000 ono.... nothing wrong with that little high on the mileage but still runs as good as any other one...

what you selling ?

Why not look in Coupés for Sale section

be gentle with me or ill buy an alfa instead lol

Bye

ok bye

Shorty has an ad in cars for sale

the only time am going to sell mine, is to a scrap yard.

One 20vt my friend, open to offers 12 months MOT, just had cam belt and clutch done, quite abit of service history... LOL 20vt PUNTO as well )if the moneys right LOL

Buy something with high mileage thats been regularly serviced and used.

The problem is waiting for the right car to come along.

iv advertised mine for £1995 and not had a bite...i AM up in the frozen north right enough, but even though..i think when you look at the plethora of cheap coupes available from this forum alone, and the fact that these cars arent exactly flying out to new owners, i think that perhaps we, as coop fans, value our cars much higher than the casual buyer who is just looking for a cheap, fast car.....

im in the same boat as you were ie if i asell the car for as near to £2k as i can, im still loseing a small fortune....and i will not sell it for banger money..because its my dream car and, as anotehr poster sugested, the emotional wrench of letting it go at all, never mind for peanuts is a big issue!!!


in all reality il probably end up buying a cinq sporting or the like for a few hudred quid and use that fro my work commute and save the coop for high days and holidays....yet, if i do that i just KNOW that i will end up spending even more on it to make ot the car i really want..ie suspension mods, strut brace, new tyres etc.....but hell, its only money...

LOL mines ideal then

Well. I had a Coupe for £1000...

Should have changed the discs sooner, forgot to leave it in gear when I parked on a hill, and it was wrapped around my garage come the morning!

Considering it's already booked into the garage to get the cam belt done, needs the bonnet respraying, and now needs a new boot and bumper respraying, my Coupe has cost upwards of £2000!

Boo hiss. Still, it's been fun to own for the past month, and at least it's an excuse to get the paint in tip-top condition. Shame though..

I Paid just over 3 grand for my (then) 80k mile 20vt nearly a year ago, from a forum member (jeez, sounds like a lot by today's standards).
It did have the subtle stage 1 mods I was after thankfully (gtec1+prv, boost gauge in place of the clock, SS catback exhaust, Sparco Strutbrace) so I saved £500 not having to buy these and the previous owner replaced the manifold, wishbones and AC radiator so that was £800 saved as well.
I've since replaced all 4 tyres (falken 452s) and all 4 alloys (with refurbed 20vt alloys) and got the tracking and balancing sorted and the steering wheel straightened up and a windscreen chip repaired and the transmission oil replaced.
It's quite a way from being perfect but very few are (ICV probably needs cleaning, the clutch bites high and bangs a little under quick changes but is otherwise faultless, the alarm works intermittently so I leave it turned off due to the hassle it can give! and I can get excess steering vibration, although powerfiat said this is quite common on coupes and is a "trait").
As I only use it at weekends, it fits my needs perfectly at the moment and drives and goes well enough and I look after it religiously, it has not missed a beat yet.
I was originally hoping to sell mine 12-18 months after buying it for £2-2.5k but in the current climate I have decided it's best to keep it for 2 years, as I'm sure I'd get no interest at all, at that price?

payed 1k for mine, best money i ever spent. im after another one soon!

really entertaining (and useful in highling the problems)thread guys,keep it up.
I too am looking for my first coup (20v n/a) and have set the budget at £1250 for a circa '97/98 one.The way the prices are coming down my expectations are going up although obviously I aint going to get a well sorted car for that money.
But,it will be a sunday afternoon car for me so the starting on the button every morning and being ready for the chariot race of commuter traffic is not an issue.
Current Sunday afternoon car is an MGF(yes I know they are a heap of junk so no point in writing to tell me) so am looking forward to seeing how Fiat screw their cars together and where they penny pinch.
As an aside,any obvious signs when the wishbones are shot?

Jeff

it fails the MOT

Seriously - lots of nice clunking when going over bumps.

thanks Suba

I know these are dumb questions,please bear with me,here's another:what's the'VIS' engine?

Seen this referenced a couple of times but haven't a clue what it could be.

Thanks

Not 100% sure, but I think that this was the later version of the 20v NA engine which has been refined a bit. Essentailly the intake is varied to allow more top end power whilst keeping the low end torque. Not sure on the figures etc. for the two engines, but the proof would be in test driving a healthy exmaple of each anyway.

if wishbones are shot expect the car to wander on acceleration

Yes. 155 vs 147bhp. Having had both, I don't think the VIS feels much quicker, but it makes a fab sound at 4800+ revs

Variable Intake System I believe. No stretchy throttle cable on a VIS car - will be a 1999 or after.

thanks guys,appreciate being able to pick your brains.

would this only happen at high speed or at any speed?

depends on how bad they have gone

How costly to fix?