A sad day...

So today I took my Coupé out of the Garage for the last time. I gave the car a quick clean, checked all the levels, put a few more items in the boot and headed off to fill her up with some fresh V-power.

Other than taking the car for the mot last week, in the village, I've not really driven the car for quite some time. I have become accustomed to my daily driver, an Audi A5. The A5 is quiet, really well built, comfortable, packed with toys and has one heck of a torque push. So getting back behind the wheel of the Coupé is all a bit strange. The large windows, that go low into the door line, make it feel a bit like you are sat "on" rather than "in" the car. The rear view mirror is remarkably close to your head and you soon remember just how compact the Coupé is. Initially everything feels really raw. there is a lot more road noise and oh yes I have to change gear! The car feels a bit too hard for the "B Road" heading out of the village and it takes some time to get used to everything. After the Audi this is a real assault on the senses.

I arrive at the garage and pop open the fuel filler. Fellow in front has a really smart mid 90's 911 and is throwing admiring glances towards the Coupé. After he pays he pops over to say That's a "Fabulous Looking car." We then spend a few moments nattering before he leaves. I finish filling and as I return to the car another fellow is out of his van looking over the car. "Oh wow mate, a Fiat Coupé, not seen one of these for ages, I loved these when I was a kid, my uncle had one."

Fuelling complete I head off towards Newmarket to give the car a bit of a run. The car feels much nicer on the "A" roads and I begin to remember why I loved this car. I get to the edge of Newmarket and spin around to head home. Car is now all warmed up and it sounds amazing, that has Miltek always had a nice sound when warm. The drive home is a little more spirited and I've got used to the car again. The coupé lacks the torque of my A5, the low down shove of that V6 Diesel, with the DSG changes is amazing, but the Audi has not got that high RPM punch of the fiat has. As the rev needle rises the Fiat sounds epic and is a real hoot. A BMW M140i went screaming past so I thought I would follow. We were stuck behind a truck and I thought he would easily drop me as we accelerated away, and indeed he did... but not by much

I left the A11 and headed home, car was burbling and popping wonderfully has I went through the village

Todays little drive has rekindled a little bit of the love I had for my Coupé. It's going to be a little sad to say goodbye tomorrow but I have a lot of good memories. I really hope that the TTRS, which will be next, is going to manage to combine some of the best bits of the Coupé with the best bits of the A5.

Tomorrow the Coupé and I will take our last trip together

Oh Bob!

Great write up Bob. Hope the new owner says hello on here.

Together

Sad times, great write up, must've been hard having so many people show interest whilst on the petrol run.

Sometimes I hate the lack of comfort my coupe provides, even when compared to the wife's 500. Finding a decent A or B road with a fast BMW or 350z or 911 to make progress with sure rekindles the love though. Shhh, no 'coupe Vs' posts.

Hope the new owner looks after her and that the ttrs lives up to expectations. How's that old saying go...... Oh yes, you'll be back.

The NAs are a little softer. Spring rates and smaller wheels with higher profile tyres. My VIS is quite comfortable compared to the LE.

My Coupé is on Billies and Apex springs. Joe (Magooagain) gave me some standard shocks and springs and I an letting these go with the car for the new owner.

I've been struggling to find a second hand RS this year. I'm hopeful that some second hand ones will turn up soon, if not... Trade the A5 and order New

A good but sad day indeed! It'll be one of those ‘I should never of sold it’ but totally understand, I sometimes get itchy feet and still have a cars to own list that needs ticking off. I love my coupe but I still miss my TVR Tuscan everyday!

Mate, it's been an absolutely pleasure getting to know you over the years and I hope you won't be a stranger on here or facebook!

Cheers MrC, I'm sure Trish and me will turn up at and event or two and say hello. I do expect the future to hold some days of regret but hopefully the replacement car will help me through those days. To us our Coupé has been so much more than a car. It has taken us to some great meets, events and places. It has also enabled us to meet some fabulous people and make some really great friends.

So, whilst the car is changing I'm sure I'll still be kicking about.

And that’s it, I no longer own a Fiat Coupe. We got up very early this morning and Drove down to Portsmouth to meet the new owner who had travelled overnight from France. Yep, my Coupe is stealing my retirement dreams and retiring to France!

It was a good drive down and slightly emotional but the new owner is a really nice fellow, It lsounds like the car is going to have a good life in the sun.

Whilst in Portsmouth we took an opportunity to check out a TT for sale and the Audi dealer. A yellow car with a black wrapped roof. Absolutely horrible wrap and a salesman that had absolutely no idea about the product, why do they employ muppets like that?

Yellow One

Sad day Bob but it sounds like it's gone to a better place to help against corrosion with it being outside the uk, now what spares have you got for sale

Aye well, we knew it would happen... Bob has gone to the dark side!

Now there's a question. I will need to get everything together, I have stuff everywhere, and then get the items listed. Already have several PM's after a few of the items



One could suggest that my journey into the world of Italian cars was my shift to the dark side My move back to Audi has just been me seeing the light

That's fighting talk on here. I think from now on you should be known as Darth Oodi!

It's those cloudy headlights, don't forget Audi is 'vorsprung dark (side) technik'

Honestly, I've loved every minute of life with a Fiat Coupé.



Indeed, after my A5 lamps the Coupé dipped lamps did feel somewhat lacking early yesterday

I can only sympathise with your parting Bob, I can't think what it would be like without one

But it seems to be in caring hands at least, better than in a scrappy.



As has been said before, you never know....

New owner reporting in. Understand how you feel Bob, having recently sold a Moto Guzzi I had owned for 20 years. Although still deeply attached to it, it anchored me to a period in my life and memories I will never forget but I had nevertheless 'moved on'.

Its tucked up here in France, will likely only see spring and summer (I will have to pick times when the farmers are not muck spreading and covering the roads as is their way) and the paper chase begins to get it registered on a French plate

I will update with my progress registering and running the car and contribute to the forum where I can. A great resource particularly the 'how to's' many thanks to everyone that put it together over the years.

Guy

Hi Guy,
Where in France are you?
I am near to Limoges and have 2 x 20vt's there. One is on French plates and I will be doing the 2nd one this summer. I would be interested to here how you get on. Have you looked into the CoC yet?
Frazer

Welcome Guy.
I will have a check later in my coupe history as Mrs Magoo thinks that we have registered 2 coupes with the same CoC.

Mind it could be a lot different now that it's the ANTS system here.

Good luck with the coupe.

Hi Frazer, I'm about 30 mins south of Rennes. I've registered cars here on the old paper based (Madam says "Non") system and the new ANTS (computer says "Non) system - all times it went OK but its still just pushing paper really. Looking at Fiat France regards the CoC their homologation department claims they can provide for any Fiat car after 1996. There are a couple of others but I would rather provide them with a French doc. to head off any "computer says...



Thanks - Joe? Bob talked about you several times. Have sent you a pm.

Hi,
when i imported mine,back in 2011, i did change my headlamps to continental ones and my rear fog lamp,went to the C.T place (for a pass ) while waiting for my CoC.

Hi, Yes that was a process I followed for an old Merc E class (happily now departed). The ANTS system has changed things a bit, mostly for the better especially regarding the CT versus MOT!!

I haven't had the pleasure of the ANTS system as yet, but will do later on this year. I would be grateful if you can let me know how you get on.

I know that Fiat France will give you a CoC. I believe that it is 200 euros. An alternate is Eurococ on line. I haven't tried them, but the reviews are good. I don't know how they can be cheaper than Fiat, but the cost with them is about 170 euros.

In 2009 I paid 180 to Fiat France for theCoC. Frazer do you still have the CoC for the first coupe you registered? I have mine I'm happy to send you a copy and you should be able to put your coupe info In place of mine.

Hi Joe,
I don't have the one from the yellow car, no. I didnt actually realise that you can use them for more than one car, but makes sense now that you mention it. If you don't mind can you email a copy to frazermyers@hotmail.co.uk

Its time now to get the blue plus on French plates. No more trips to the UK for an MOT. Probably should have done it before Brexit came about, but I wasn't going to keep the car all these years. Cannot seem to let it go though.

Frazer

I don't think we are supposed to use the CoC more than the once. But if you can change it so it looks original then why not!

Let me have your email Frazer.

Thanks Joe

OK. Why not. I like your thinking. Email address is frazermyers@hotmail.co.uk

Frazer

It is a truly sad day Bob. Can we start a wager on how long it takes before you get another Coupe ?

Maybe you could get a cheap one just to bring to FCCUK events?

Or.... I could rent you mine ?

Joking aside, I hope we'll still see you about at the odd event etc. Bring the Audi !

Oh dear Bob,

Hope you find what your looking for in a new Audi...like others I imagine you will return!

Welcome on board Guy - here's to the coupe having a long life of luxury in the French sunshine!

Regards

MM

Very sad day Bob...

You finally did it. The Mad Coupe has left for France.

Just the Mad owner left now...

Very sad to leave the car behind in Portsmouth and it's also really odd to go into my Garage and find it without a Coupé inside

As for finding an TTRS, I haven't been able to find one yet with the right specification that isn't Nardo Grey. Still baulking at ordering a brand new one.

If I do ever manage to find an RS, that I want to buy, I will pop along to a meet with it Really struggling to find one with the right colour / specification, so much so that I was back to contemplating ordering new again, but the prices have shot up

.

This one is Tempting

One of four cars I'm interested in, all just missing a couple of options I would really like.