Hi,

Im new to the Fiat Turbo Coupe scene but fell in love with the 'Poor Mans ferrari" after driving a 16v turbo last week.

Now I want one for a lovely weekend turbo toy.

However - which is the better used buy? a 20v turbo or the 16v turbo? I don't mind either and not bothered about getting maximum speed, as the 16v turbo I drove was fast...!! easily reaching 135mph very quickly.

All heads up and info greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks

Simon.

id go 20v turbo every time mate because they have the 5 pot sound which i love.

There really is too much to discuss with your question Simon, it is hard to summarise the pro's & con's really! (If there really are any)

My choice was to go for the 20VT. Purely down to the 5 cylinder engine they have, and the increased 'standard' power

easy ! 20vt they are awesome

LOL! Thanks for the comments guys!

I to love the sound of the 5cyl 20v turbo engine, esp with a nice blow off valve!

I'm going to be doing this on a bit of a budget, and am looking to pay as little as possible. any ideas where to look for a decent "cheap" 20v T ?

Loads for sale in the 'For Sale' section here...

On eBay....
On Pistonheads
On and in the Autotrader

To name a few
You might also email some of the guy's in the traders section (on this forum) to see what they might have

First off, welcome to the forum! Its a hard choice you have because there both great cars!

I would recommend you use the search function as the 16vt vs 20vt has been covered many many times. Every one has an opinion about it, its best for you to take a 16vt and 20vt out for a drive and make up your own mind. I have had both and cant fault either of them

Which ever you choose, you have picked the right car...


Edit..
There is no such thing as a cheep coupe, you can get one thats costly to buy, but cheep to maintain, cheep to buy but costly to maintain, or if your unlucky, costly to buy and maintain......but never, ever cheep to buy and maintain....

If it was me and i was starting again i would go for a nice 16VT as the engines are much easier to work on, i wouldnt hessitate to do a cambelt or change the head on a 16VT, but with the 20VT things are thet little more complicated.

You see less 16VT's around which makes them more special in my opinion.

I would swap mine for a nice 16VT very very easily, any offers? lol

I reckon 80-90% of the people who give an opinion on this topic haven't driven both!

Bit of an assumption that

Ha ha so true.....In that ,if you weren't poor before you got it, you soon will be.

Poor but happy

20vt for smooth power and the noise

Probably correct though.

I've driven both.

I think you should get a 20VT like just about every other person who wants a coop - makes my 16VT that much more rare and special

I have a Focus ST170 52 reg with 68k on the clock that i would P/X or swap etc.. for a Fiat coupe turbo... if anyone fancies it lol

Yes you should definitely get a 20VT

Fixed that - That's totally understandable

Some of us have driven *every* model, and quite a few... (including yours, before you had it!) so <--- very rare smiley!

Simon, of the two you've posted, the 20vt is probably the *easier* to drive, and it's faster. But I think the 16vt is the *better* to drive, if you like the turbo kick.

Myself, I prefer the 16NA for its better handling, but that's a minority view as it's not as quick.

Neil

Helped you out there

A minority of 3 I think? LOL

Barnacle - i like the Turbo kick feeling, but cant help thinking that the 20v will be alot faster and smoother....

I saw this on on autotrader and wondered what you guys thought...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/a...c&logcode=p

si.

It's hard to give an opinion from an ad with so much of what I'd want to know/see not included in the blurb.

Could very well need discs and pads all round, plus a cam and aux belt change. Could well need new tyres and a full service...how much has that grand now become....£2500 maybe.

In todays market I'd be looking for a private sale from an anal owner. I'd settle for a tyre change and maybe an fluids/filters and spark plug change, but would have to very impressed to be offering even £2000. That's just me though ...I spent a year looking before I handed over any cash

11700 miles + cambelt done at 74000k



Looks to be totally bog standard, which means you'll just have to go through the service history and check if it's had a good owner. Check the fluid levels (5 min after warm engine shutdown). And expect to buy a car that is worn - in order to make it 'like new' it'll need some new suspension bits probably (dampers / bushes), check the clutch, RUST,...

I would definately pay the seller a visit if he's nearby - might be an honest car.

Si, if you haven't done it already, read this: http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=931827#Post931827

Thanks for the Info!

I have just done a valuation on that webuyanycar.com website and they have offered £2100 for my focus.

If I have that sort of budget what kind of car would i get for my money?

If THEY offer 2.1 then you can probably get 3 elsewhere.

Edited to say: it will get you what you choose. Which might be bad and filled with hidden problems or good if you know about cars in general, the Fiat Coupe in specific and are able to have a VERY good look around it and have an independent tech check done.

I am mechanically minded and will not Rush into buying a coupe.

however i want a decent enough one before i part with any cash at all! lol

If anyone is in the Derby area with one, i'd love to meet up and have a good look at your pride and joy (maybe you can take me for a spin)??

i have decided this is defo the car for me.. its just a matter of waiting for the right one.

Probably a good idea to get to a meet if you can.

I like both the 16VT and the 20VT having owned one of each.

The 20VT is smoother and more refined. The 16VT feels a bit faster due to the more traditional turbo power delivery.

I still prefer my GTV V6 though simply because of the noise it makes.

Are there any meets coming up soon?

Welcome to the forum. I took the plunge a couple of months ago and got a 20vt. The reason... I wanted a Sprint blue one

Seriously though, I dont need a car during the week and it sits in the garage from monday to friday, I can therefore justify the higher running costs of the 20vt. I got mine at a good price with very good history but I do need to carry out a cambelt change soon ( I will service it at the same time) and get some decent tyres (not that she has been driven anywhere over the last 3 weeks in this weather!).
I guess by the time I have done, it will work out at the same price as one with recent belts and service etc, but at least I will know what quality parts have been used and workmanship etc.

Decent ones are out there for sensible money, but as Samsite999 says, and as my experience with most cars, cheap ones will need money throwing at them so buy the best you can afford, which ever model you choose.

I cant comment on any other model but whichever you choose, you will get some looks and compliments! Happy hunting

is this someones from this site?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998S-ZENDER-KITTE...#ht_1980wt_1167

yes, its a well known forum car, check the for sale coupe section

I think the Sheffield/Rotherham fraternity are planning a meet in Chesterfield soon, probably after the weather lifts though. Only 30-40 up the road from you.

Keep an eye on the UK social events forum.

Is this the one that comes with free "eyebrows"?

[url=http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=913519#Post913519][/url]

this to me looks a minter for the money.. something i would happily splash my cash on...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998S-ZENDER-KITTE...#ht_1980wt_1167

Its not a minter, you wont see a minter for under 3k BUT its a very well looked after (by the looks of it and the chat I had with the owner and when I saw it) for very reasonable money

Nice.. I hope in a good way its still for sale when I have sold my Focus ST170.

I'll certainly be more than interested in it!

sunday, cosford - i'm only in burton so you could see my plus and come for a little spin....something to aspire to

having driven 16vt and 20vt prior to purchasing my original 20vt i liked the way the 20vt felt as quick but smoother. latterly, one of the premier coupe specialists has declined ever to work on the 16vt again and there are no doubt good reasons for that. i also believe the spares for the 20vt are in greater supply and therefore possibly cheaper. pm countrycruising (joe) off this very forum and see what he can offer for sale....

Indeed, Cosford would be a good place to get to know the coupes and things to look out for, as well as what there supposed to sound and look like!

seems cosford is off, according to gilbo in the meetings thread - maybe another time simon

Go for a nice 16vt better all road car in my eyes

most people on here will say an expensoive coupe to buy will be good thats not the case go for the coupe with the most history as some people in the past have bought expensive coupes and they die and some cheap ones like mine has gone years and purrs like a kitten


p.s it waqs my fault the belt slipped damn scooby

No!

Most people on here say, "Buying an expensive coop is no guarantee it's a good coop."

They would also say, "Don't be put off by high miles. It's the service history and condition that is important."

However the most important thing to remember is punctuation.

All i can tell you is that i sold my ST170 in November and bought a 20VT, and i am absolutely loving the Coop!

Although i did quite like my ST, was actually a better car than i thought it would be.

For standard (ish) levels of power the car to get is the 20vt though it does help if your the type to pay others to do work on it. The 5cyl is very nice and not at all slow. If your hands on and want to evolve the car the easier model is the 16vt though thats maybe just due to me being into that engine. The 20vt is a bugger to work on in comparison. I've had several of both and thats how I'd see it.

I've owned both and the 20VT is superior in almost every way. Given the choice, I'd always go for a 20VT.

I feel priveleged to provoke a smiley from you Neil! I know my car has been around a bit, which isn't a bad thing.

I used to own a 16VT but never had anything close to a standard 20VT so can't compare too much. I prefer the noise of the 20VT but prefer the steering of the 16VT as the 20VT steering is a tad light.

16v NA lol oj mate turbo all the way

Drive both, take your pick!

There are examples of both models currently for sale at L&M, might be a good place to go to try both. Both cars in question have some decent heritage too!

I'm tempted by that 16VT they have!

G

I've owned and driven both. The 20vt is very refined and power seems all through the rev range increasing in revs whereas the 16vt has more of a brutal "kick" feel on boost and is certainly just as fun.

They both have strengths and weaknesses but essentially are both great cars!

Drive both!

Thanks for comments. My Coupe was sold today (Ebay link one-20vt Zender Kitted). Was a great starter for Coupe ownership. Just had a few paint niggles. Hope you find your ideal Coupe.