Modern Classics Coupe Article

So good it should have been an Alfa:

https://www.modernclassicsmagazine.co.uk/buying-articles/fiat-coupe

I'm very glad it's not an Alfa.

I once came across a post on some car forum many many years ago.

I vaguely remember it saying something along the lines of how Fiat Coupe drivers thought/acted as if they were driving Alfa Romeos.

I was quite offended at how they were assuming this nonsense because I personally have never thought that I was driving an Alfa Romeo, but rather a Ferrari.

I remember reading some time ago at this time of the year that the AA had more call outs from Alfa owners due to dodgy wiring & electrical faults than any other make of car.

Yes, I can understand that. I worked with a guy back in the late 80's who ran a Ferrari as a daily driver (sales guy, company car and I forget the model) and I was a passenger on several occasions. The Coupe often reminds me of his Ferrari from the that epoch wrt fit, finish, foibles and character.

Having a choice of Alfa’s and the Fiat coupe 20vt to use is nice. This week I used the Alfa 155 with 20vt in it on Monday, Alfa 156 Gta Tuesday and the coupe 20vt still since Wednesday so shows what I like driving.
My Alfa Gtv 3.0 hasn’t been used for 2 months

That could now be Mercedes. Spoke to a couple of RAC and AA chaps of late and asked them the most frequent marque of the car they are picking up both independently stated Mercs, sensor faults and responses to them require full lift and recovery. Roadside repair capability zilch.

I think if pushed I prefer the refinement and the purer driving pleasure of the GTV V6 (a mini 456GT) over the Coupe, better handling, build quality is better (makes the Coupe feel a tad budget) and road holding, no on/off power delivery less Marmite in the styling department (better soundtrack) than the Coupe too, but I will not be selling either.

I've always been struck by how much better the build quality on the Coupé is over period Alfa Romeos. I've been in a few over the years both as courtesy cars and having a nose in customer's cars at Roger's and the interiors of Alfa Romeos in particular don't seem to age or wear well. For me the Coupé feels and looks more upmarket than both the GTAs and the GT.

It’s the complete package for me which all comes together in creating a great car. Honestly, not one aspect of the car which I feel
could be better, of course I haven’t had a massive repair bill yet🤞

Great car...not one aspect that could be better?....for sure it could have been this thread from 2007 is a good read

https://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/274425/1

I thought then and still do:

Bonnet release death trap catch
More bhp as standard/larger capacity
Doors and locks that don't freeze shut on cold nights
Heated seats with better support
An original 'coupe' emblem/badge for the car, better badges all round really
No visible rear boot lock
Better in car lighting
4WD (or RWD)

A proper special edition that had engineered performance increases rather than some styling tweaks for Plus/LE

I suppose being a new owner the items you list have not been a problem to me, so far! One area where I would like to have seen better, having given more thought, would be the headlights illumination, very poor.

I'll second that. In 25 years of ownership I have never been happy with the lights. A retirement project will be to try and improve them...

On the other hand, though, the only things that surprised me (and still irritate) were the absence of an intermittent single-swipe windscreen wipe, and the absence of single-touch windows on the passenger side. I certainly wouldn't want all the crap that comes on modern cars - heated this and that, auto this and that, computers between you and the road. I don't miss more power, even (and I've driven the lot, and had a 20vt for a few years... but I sold that and kept my 16NA; it's a better handling car.)

Neil