Hi all,

First post on here so hello thinking of buying a coupe and want one in sprint blue. What do you all think of this one? The problem with it is that I live in Merseyside so travelling to Southampton is rather difficult at the minute.

clicky

We have a V reg Renault Laguna to trade as we won't need it once we get the Coupe. Just after advice really, the guides are great, learnt alot about coupes in the last couple of days

Welcome
That one looks OK, there may be someone in/around Southampton that might be able to look at the car (at least initially) to save you a journey if it's a dog.
You might also want to check the For Sale section on here, you can often, although not always, find a well looked after example or two.

I was mooching around the for sale section but really want a sprint blue If there is anyone around southampton, what would be sweet Obviously I'd owe the lookee a pint

that car is at the bottom of my road. I can look at it for you if you like, but i can't look untill friday morning.
It's been there for a few weeks, and i walk past it every day.
Give me a shout if I can help.
Cheers
Mark

Mark that would be sweet I'm in no great rush, but don't want to let a cracking car pass me buy.

Matt

EDIT: Spoke to Andrew there, and he said they'll be onsite around 10:30, but otherwise it sounds good. Cam belt changed around 8k miles ago. Full service history, all keys, etc. So if you think it's good

Got the derby on saturday morning so might not be able to get down this weekend, but might get there on sunday. We'll have to see.

Ok, i'll have a nose around to make sure it all stacks up, probably about 11ish i should think, i'll try to look at the paperwork and see what else has been done, i'm not the most mechanically minded, but i know what's what with these things now.
I'll PM you my findings
Mark

Cheers,

Looking at the price and comparing it with what parkers would suggest it says he's asking the Independent dealer price. If you wouldn't mind let me know what you think I should offer? We'll settle a price on the car first, then talk about the part exchange. Rather excited about it

If all checks out ok, which I hope it does I might own a coupe by the beginning of April.

Parkers don't have a clue around coupe prices, I would say the price seems about right for a dealer given the age, spec and mileage

Thanks Mark, spoke to the guy today and he said there has been another bloke interested in the car and was supposedly going to look yesterday but might be in today. But i've explained you won't be around till tomorrow and he seems ok with it. Though I hope it doesn't go before you get a chance to look at it, he shouldn't do that though.

If everything checks out with you tomorrow i'll go ahead and go down and sort it out.

no worries, i'll probably be there between 11 and 12.

Mark

just got back from looking at the coupe, but the place was shut, no one around so couldn't look inside or at the paperwork.
Having said that, it is in very good nick body wise, and interior. I couldn't see any dings or scrapes, and the nearside front alloy was the only one that had slight kerbing.
Thie interior was good, no tears, rips or anything like that. It seems a local car because the plates were made up at Goddards in Salisbury, which is about twenty miles away or so, so it is a local car. I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions, but to me it seemed well looked after and if the paperwork and history back it up then it looks a good buy for sure. Price wise, i know that it has been there for about three months so he will move a bit on the price, couple of hundred quid.
Sorry this isn't as thorough as i would have liked, but i had a bit of a family problem to sort out first, and it took too long, but from what i saw it was a nice clean coupe.

All the best
Mark

Hi Mark,

No worries about the family problems, I'm just grateful someone had a chance to go look at it and would have saved me a 600 mile round trip. But from what you said above, I'll definitely be going down and if things check out, i'll buy it.

Just spoke to the Garage and there is a guy called Dave there who has opened up now, so there is someone there now. Seems there is another interested party. Any chance you could take it for a spin for me, only if you have time. Sorry for the cheeky request.

Mark is it possible you could nip back for me as some issues with the central locking have developed or could someone else take a look?

Thanks,

Matt

matt,
i've just had a second look and a chat with the bloke down there.
I've changed my mind i'm afraid, if it was me i wouldn't bother. Firstly, the central locking doesn't work so that will need sorting out. The car has had paint at some point, as there is blue marks on the black skirt on the passenger side. After actually getting in the car, there is wear on both the seats which i guess for a car that has done 93k isn't unusual but it still doesn't look right.
Also it doesn't have an oil temp gauge, instead it has a voltmeter. Someone might be able to give a better idea on this. Looking under the bonnet it all looks clean, but not much coolant, well under the min level. It also didn't have any id marks on the windows, i thought that all uk cars had the vin number displayed?
The last service was at the main dealer on 83k a year ago, so it is due another service i should think. I could see no paperwork for the cambelt change or anything else for that matter. So no record of tyre changes, brake pads etc. The only thing to go on is the stamps in the book.
To me it was just a pretty average to be honest, looks good to start with but as soon as you dig a bit deeper you start to notice a few things. I'm not expecting the car to be mint, but if it was me i would walk away. The best place would be to buy one from a forum member, with a bit more history.
Anyway, hope this helps, if there is anything else, give me a shout.
Cheers
Mark

Thanks for that Mark, another forum member is going for another look tomorrow as I didn't know you were going. But from what you've said I'll probably leave it.

Just see what the other fella says tomorrow. Thanks for your help, looks like you've saved me a trip

Infact i've just called him and saved him a journey. Thanks for your help with this mark. Just time to keep looking.

Quote:

---

In early 1998 a revised version of the 20V engine was produced with a slightly higher power output of 154bhp at 6,700rpm, with many other minor changes made to the range, such as a new bonnet support strut, new rear brake calipers and a voltmeter instead of the oil temperature gauge.

---

I know this is for a 20v, but it may explain the voltmeter.

As Mark has said you wouldn't expect a mint 95k car but I would expect receipts etc, perhaps you could contact the previous owner for a bit more info. There are plenty of Fiat Coupés knocking around nowadays that have good history for the same price..

I'd still be up for a viewing if you come across another car in this area

Paul

Thanks to Paul and Mark for your help with this, I have decided not to buy the car and am now looking at possibly getting Burnsy's car instead