Been searching for either a 16V or a 20V N/A for a little while now and i think im about to buy a 16V. This will be my first Coupe to see if i like it and itll be and a bit of a toy to play with and hopefull in the future ill be getting a 20vt (and when funds allow) but weve all got to start somewhere eh.

Anyway whats it like? All input greatly appreciated.

Well, I liked it enough to keep it since 1995...

i think barnacle will agree that they are now the most exclusive coupe you can purchase.

not like these old two a penny turbos....

agreed - they are probably the purest of all Coupes and will almost certainly be the first model to achieve any kind of proper classic status

I seem to recall that there were just 700 brought to the UK - reasonable to assume that there will be less than 500 left now

Not a fast car by modern standards (a diesel rep-mobile will see it off) but still hugely entertaining and of course, very stylish

A damn fine way to get into Coupe ownership

All this talk is making me want to keep my 16v! Shame i cant keep it! If i could i really would! 20v soon to be going as new job calls and etc!

Eh???

So Matty are you selling both of them?

he now wants a 20vt i think he will just end up with a 20v 16v and a 20vt on his drive

Nah, he wants a Mito!

He should get an Alfa GTV V6, like the one I am getting.

I actually want a MiTo, 20vt AND an Alfa GTV V6 (Alfa esp) Love them but i cant have all of them!

For some values of 'left'... http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=856481

The 16V is by far the best model to drive and own.

Agreed just alittle.. erm.. thirsty!

With the high axle ratio it's never going to be a sipper of fuel, but 30mpg on the commuter run and 35mpg cruising is not to be sneezed at. Even thrashing it around the highlands it's rarely below 30mpg.

One thing to watch on a 16NA is rust: on the floor close to the sills and the rear subframe bump stops. Also the steel brake pipes... and after fourteen years, mine's finally showing some bodywork rust at the bottom rear of the rear wheel arches.

Agreed. Useable everyday transport with style not-to-mention great fun.

I adored my first coupe ( a broom yellow/black leather 16v na), it had something 'special' about it that seems to lack slightly on my old 20v na and new 20v turbo, hard to describe but it just felt so pure, and i loved the puddle lights and the snarl of the engine as its building up with the rev range sounded fantastic, it would make a great car to start your coupe addiction will, and trust me on this, YOU WILL GET ADDICTED TO THESE CARS LOL, have fun and post up some pics if you get one.

Just driven the coop might be sold by the end of today! Scared of telling it go

why did they remove the puddle light? seems like a usefull thing to have, some one had clearly thought about the design of this.

I would almost defontly say its beast to start off with a NA coupe. If you can put up with its "time of the month" sessions

then go out and drop slightly more money on a 20tv or 16vt, what ever floats your boat.

I have no idea mate it was a really cool thought and perfect for avoiding dog shit/chewing gum/oil (lol) etc

I have a GTV V6 for sale !! Can i tempt you

I had my 16v for 5 years, fantastic car and it's still going.

I can recommend the GTV V6, I have just bought my second one.

Outright performance is about the same as a standard 20VT, but the engine sounds better and there is no turbo lag to worry about.

No, trying to be sensible for work

whats puddle light??

Under the door is a small light which helpfully illuminates the puddle/ice/pile of poo you're about to step into.

Doesn't the 20v have this sophistication? Even my ancient kit car has it!

nope not on the 20v
as for the original question, whats a 16v like, i would say
confusing!!!

but like all coupe's, oh so pretty

Ok, short and sweet - it's got a fantastic sounding engine, better handling than the standard turbos, particularly if there's no aircon, due to the smaller weight over the front wheels. It'll cruise all day on a motorway at eighty and return mid thirties, and low thirties on the commute. It'll do a calibrated 136mph on the autobahn (well, mine will!) after a hundred and fifty thousand miles. And you'll get out of the car in Berlin without feeling particularly knackered.

Watch for worn cams and low oil pressure, as on any 16.

Suspension will be tired by now, so budget for replacement, and watch for rust at the front of the wheel arches on the bottom of the car. The rear sub-frame is probably also rusted by now - particularly the spring hangars and bump stop locators - and you'll probably need new brake proportioning valve and brake pipes. My handbrake's been fine; never once frozen - but others have had issues.


Helpful?

Copy that except no body rust at all. Go for a K+N cone and loose the 'junior' wheels.

Ignore Rob - those original 15" are classics!