It's back on the road...

It's been without an MOT and on a SORN for over ten months but a swift visit to the local Garage and it now has an MOT. I then added TAX, some fresh Mobil 1 and it is now back in the garage!

It feels really strange to drive it again too... My what big windows it has

My word Bob, amazing!

We thought you'd gone to the dark side...

Must be lovely to get back into a car which gives a real sensation of speed after driving the Audi.
You mentioned a while ago that you may be selling the Coupe. Hope you've now changed your mind?
Your Coupe is my favourite colour combo, by the way

I know what you mean - I drove mine today for the first time in two or three months and it feels really airy compared with my Alfa GT

Three other things struck me....

1) It is still ballistic - every time I leave it for a few months I get use to 150bhp of diesel power and the Coupe just feels like warp speed

2) The tyres are hopeless - five year old Toyos are now losing their grip - car was squirming under full power in the dry - never done that before

3) The rust spots on the bonnet and the awful gravel rash on the front bumper haven't got any better while it has been tucked up under a cover - really need to get them sorted...

The first thing was indeed forgetting how big, and low, compared to the Audi's, the windows are

Second... It feels more like I'm sitting on, rather than in, the Fiat.

Sadly the A5 has done its best to kill the ballistic feelings that I used to get from the Coupé too After pottering about in the old 156 the Fiat used to feel really quick. Sadly the 240hp 6 cylinder Diesel, with it's 500nm of torque and S-tronic gearbox makes the Coupé feel a bit, dare I say, slow

And then there is the superb steering and handling of the TT roadster which makes the Coupé feel really old. That said my Toyo's must be of a similar age and things did improve a little once the tyre pressures were adjusted.

The Coupé is currently chosen for a trip to Scotland in a couple of weeks. But I'm torn between taking it or the TT if I'm honest.



I am thinking of moving completely to the dark side I am finding it increasingly difficult to justify keeping the Fiat. I am just not using it. There is sadly a part of me that would like to sell the Coupé and the A5 (Which I do really like) and get my hands on a new TTRS. I've taken one out but have avoided taking one for the long term test as I just know I would do it!

Well, for what it's worth, I drove my Coupe 'properly' for the first time in 8 weeks last week and I was blown away. With 207bhp, the Saab 9-3 has started to feel pretty fast on the daily commute so it was a present surprise to experience warp speed again

The steering and poise of the car felt amazing! The whole thing feels like it's alive (helped no doubt by the vibra technics mounts... ). Near instant throttle response is something I don't remember and it spools much faster than the Saab, if not earlier. That said:

- Roger's little 147 courtesy car seems to have much more steering response so I'm guessing there are some components that need refereshing.

- Those seats... Seriously, what on Earth were Fiat thinking? They are the worst seats Ive ever sat in I think. I'd quite forgotten how bad they are. Definitely in need of an upgrade there.

- My foot hurts from that clutch again... I suspect I have a fairly serious injury from training that isn't getting better as it was fine for years before now.

I don't think turbocharged cars will ever stop feeling quick if you don't drive one regularly.

And you're right about the seats Trappy. When I sold the 20VT and got the Plus the extra support was er, a Plus.

Glad to hear your back in the driving seat and hope she gets chosen to do the Scotland round trip to rekindle some of the love.

Did you get any advisories on the MOT?