Fiat Coupe Club UK
Should I sell Or Repair
Posted By: Anonymous
Should I sell Or Repair - 11/12/2006 17:53
Hello guys was told by the guy at power fiat that this was the place for advice. I just wanted some opinions. I have recently rushed in and bought a 1999 Red 20vt with 100,000 miles every reciept since new serviced every 10,0000, oil change every 5,000 belts done new cluth 10,000 miles ago a wad of history basically, the car on the outside is dent and rust free and the paintwork is as good as you can get on this age of car and the interior is like new no marks nothing everything electrical works apart from the seatbelt light is a bit flicky but thats it.
I bought the car 3 weeks ago which was advertised at £3,500 after haggling and the seller being let down buy numerous buyers I offered £2,500 which he took (he said grudgingly)
It ticked all the boxes all it needed was new brakes as these had warped which i thought hey so what, after driving the car for a week i thought sweet I have got an amazing car the turb kicked in at 3,000 revs and my liver felt like it was slipping out of my body I had a week and a bit of bliss its was perfect in every way
2 days ago, showing off my to my friends as you do I was bragging and talking about the powwweeeerrr my buddys very impressed i took them out the instantly wanted one, I then followed my mate who has a cavalier sri (no competition) to his house he put his foot down so did i a huge grin as the turbo kicked in at 2nd, gear, then 3rd no turbo, still going quick 4th no turbo oh dear the cav was pulling away oh well my turbo is knackered bugger, we got to my mates house then we noticed a tapety sound oh dear no turbo new tappets how fragile is this car!
Today went to power fiat and oh no worst sound you can get on a coupe it needs a new engine you bought a lemon
so my dilema get a new used engine for a car i really love the look off and had a great time in at a cost of £2000 really all in maybe more
or flog it as broken
Im sure some of you have been there what do you think
Posted By: cjh
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 11/12/2006 18:06
Tallk to Carlt now...
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 11/12/2006 18:16
his mailbox is exceeded!
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 11/12/2006 18:34
have got in touch i think i will go for the engine tbh just think any other t-reg i wouldnt consider it for 1 second coupes just look fantastic and when they work jeezzz
Posted By: stan
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 11/12/2006 21:07
Fix it and stay on the forum for advice and help. CarlT will see you right with a replacement engine and you'll be sorted.
Just watch that "loud pedal"
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 11/12/2006 21:28
i think thats what i will do im use to throwing money away on cars, forgot to mention when i bought it it was missing the rubber arch
http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=259472&an=0&page=0#Post259472where can i get a new one? fiat, ebay? any idea what to ask for obviously needs sorting
Posted By: stan
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 11/12/2006 21:42
Ask one of the breakers on here CarlT should be able to sirt that one out for you dead easy.
Just one thing though, no doubt loads of people will tell you the same, when you get the engine fitted keep a close eye on the oil level, the 20VT can use a lot of oil so it pays to check it very very very often!
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 11/12/2006 21:52
I was aware of that i checked it every couple of days since i had it although most days i was struggling to see on the dipstick how do u get around that prob especially when the oil is clean
Posted By: Emjay
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 11/12/2006 21:58
Mark the dipstick (lightly) with chalk first
Posted By: Rog20VT
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 11/12/2006 22:05
oil is never transparent. if you cant see it on the dipstick then it aint there.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 11/12/2006 22:32
ok got that oil oil oil
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 11/12/2006 23:10
Quote:
...how do u get around that prob especially when the oil is clean
If the oil on the dipstick is clear, you're looking at the wrong one! Transmission fluid is clear and the dipstick for this is near the brake fluid resevoir, the engine oil dipstick is at the back left of the engine as you look in the engine bay with the bonnet open.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 11/12/2006 23:31
yeah i know where it is i just find it hard to see after a few attempts and my neighbour looking over my shoulder we see it and it was fine on mine so was my oil pressure
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 12/12/2006 02:58
maybe pays to test drive for longer i took mine for 1 hour drive , gave it a pacing ,
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 14/12/2006 03:22
Keep it obviously,why obvouusly you will ask.Well the next one you will buy could go exactly the same way and if you rebuild what you have ,you at least know what you have got.
Simple or what?
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 14/12/2006 03:30
i was in the same dillema only i have owned mine for 2 years and the finance was piad up the week it broke so i got it done.
but if i was in your shoes having only owned it for a few weeks i'd bin it or buy another and use it for spares!
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 14/12/2006 03:39
More important than how long you have owned it is what has been done to it in terms of maintenance,mods,and its condition.Surely if its really nice in every way why "bin it or use it for spares"
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 14/12/2006 16:02
Quote:
More important than how long you have owned it is what has been done to it in terms of maintenance,mods,and its condition.Surely if its really nice in every way why "bin it or use it for spares"
thats my thinking at the moment the car has no dents and the paintwork is bright im finding it hard to get in contact with carl about this engine is he always hard to contact?
Posted By: RusH
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 14/12/2006 16:26
He will see this post and will be on like a vulture.
Sit tight
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 14/12/2006 17:27
Quote:
Quote:
More important than how long you have owned it is what has been done to it in terms of maintenance,mods,and its condition.Surely if its really nice in every way why "bin it or use it for spares"
thats my thinking at the moment the car has no dents and the paintwork is bright im finding it hard to get in contact with carl about this engine is he always hard to contact?
Nope he is just generally very busy, and as i said engine isnt here till sometime Thursday.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 14/12/2006 19:31
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
More important than how long you have owned it is what has been done to it in terms of maintenance,mods,and its condition.Surely if its really nice in every way why "bin it or use it for spares"
thats my thinking at the moment the car has no dents and the paintwork is bright im finding it hard to get in contact with carl about this engine is he always hard to contact?
Nope he is just generally very busy, and as i said engine isnt here till sometime Thursday.
I was panaking cos i took it you said wednesday my apologies Carl
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 15/12/2006 01:40
im not great at mechanics i know how to service a car, change a alternator/battery etc on regular oldish cars like astras and escorts but thats about it but why cant you repair the engine when the big end goes on a coupe is it just better to get a new engine?
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 15/12/2006 18:06
Just out of interest how much is a new engine? I assume a new
engine is worse case senario if a new one is required.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 15/12/2006 18:41
ive been told not to get it remanufactured by people with no experiance in coupes but they charge just under £2000 and it`ll probably break, second hand engine seems to £750ish i think if you can find one then the same to fit it im quite depressed about the whole thing to be honest i bought it to drive on the weekend as I have a driving job and hate driving my work car but its HORRIBLE AT THE MOMENT!
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 15/12/2006 18:42
ANY ONE HAVE A BETTER OPYION LET ME KNOW?
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 01:29
Still with used, dont get a remanufactured one as i found out, it can go horribly wrong... about to build another engine
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 01:31
Quote:
ANY ONE HAVE A BETTER OPYION LET ME KNOW?
Not had chance to look at this one, been shopping all day, only got 3 hours in at work.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 01:46
I wasnt very well today so stayed at home and did ring a couple of people I would not touch a remanufactured engine with a large stick now i`ve heard what problems they give, I have been offered engines from breakers yards with 6 month gaurantee all interestingly enough seem to have 30,000 miles but no proof of this can be given for some reason, for about £1000 but im not convinced I`ll wait for Carl me thinks he seems very trusted on the forum and everyone else that deals in coupes whos not on the forum seems to be a wicked bodger of the highest degree, its tempting to get a engine from fiat but I cant afford to do that and improve the car as well.
My mate swears by these guys
http://www.reconditioned-engines.co.uk/thanks.shtml they said they could tow my car away fit new engine and have back in a 3 days with 5 year warranty but after talking to the knowledgable fella at power fiat he said i`ll have trouble and im inclined to believe him as they seem to give a 10% discount for paying by Cash/ bank transfer (dodgy hey) im sure there fine for a ford fiesta or punto or sommink similar.
hey ho the quest goes on the world of coupes is damn strange imo!
thanks for talking to me guys!
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 01:54
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 02:04
hey I have had loads of other sporty cars and never never have i had this hastle! well renault 5 turbo but i was so green i was grass
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 02:20
"We can supply a fully re-manufactured engine on an exchange basis for £1795.00+ vat.
From experience it is an advantage to have your old engine alongside the replacement unit during fitting. This makes it much easier to transfer parts from one engine to the other. We will require a deposit pending return of a serviceable exchange unit"
remember 10% discount for unreversable funds and fitting and collection thrown in as a winter deal i nearly did it thank god for the guy at power fiat laughing at me for even considering it and this forum or i would have done it! admit it a basically new engine fitted at this price you wouldn`t say no if it would work?
there must be so many people similar position to me who dont use the forum or havn`t seen a specialist in coupes who have been duped
ANY OUT THERE USED THESE GUYS WHAT HAPPENED?
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 02:25
£2108.
![](/forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif)
For whatever reason i dont see any recon engines last.
Maybe its because there not done properly. I think alot of the specialists have stopped rebuilds, unless all new bits are used.
Its much easier to go down the used route, but of course there is always the risk that a used engine could pop in no time.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 02:26
they wanted £1000 at the breakers yard for the low mileage 20vt one (unproved)
one breaker had a 20v n/a and said i should put that in it would work well.
lying git he did only want £400 for another 30,000 mile example
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 02:28
so how do check the ones you send to people are ok?
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 02:33
Quote:
so how do check the ones you send to people are ok?
Cross my fingers and have them blessed.
Bar a good running and a compression test there isnt much else, just honesty and the fact i know good from bad.
But then there is no way of saying how long they will last, i could post out and a piston ring breaks in a fortnight, but how would one forsee that???
Like anything really.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 02:39
whats your success rate like? ie. out of 10 within 6 months
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 02:52
tell me about it?
service stamps all there in the BOOK! Yes winner oh yeah!
fiat dealer service (whoooo)
2,000
12,0000
19,650
31,340
45,000
51,190
black& white garage.com
62,613
73,158
88,353
firela motors
91,000
98,700
its on 102,000
i have all 3 keys (hell ya) turbo doesnt smoke after test drive etc.
technically all i need is a deaf guy who drives softly and he would consider this a damn fine example i mean i have the red key! not much use now is it!
I CHECKED THE OIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT HAD OIL!!!!!!!!
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 02:59
You are unlucky then.
Although no ammount of history makes the car any more reliable or better in my opinion. Too many people judge a car on the wrong things.
Sell it as is, your not going to be far from the purchase price buy the time you repair, and whats the difference??
Better the devil you know some people claim? how long did ye have it???
New engine is a bonus others say, its not new, its mearly a re-homed unit!
Its got a low mileage engine others will suggest. Oh low milers dont go bang do they?
Its up to you, but in your shoes i'd cut my losses and ditch it.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 03:06
you could be right carl! you dont sell low milege coupes with 5 year 60,000 mile warrantys do you it must have the red key!
in all seriousness do you sell coupes whole not just in bits?
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 03:10
hang on what if i try slick 50 surely it will be like new again! yeah thats it i could save 1000`s
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 03:11
Quote:
you could be right carl! you dont sell low milege coupes with 5 year 60,000 mile warrantys do you it must have the red key!
in all seriousness do you sell coupes whole not just in bits?
I certainly sell a few, although i dont have to advertise 80% of them as buyers seem to track me down. ![](/forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif)
No warranties though, unless ive been on crack the night before, although most benifit from any free parts and odd repairs should they need them, kind of a fair mutual common sense agreement.
Heres our recent one:
web page
Painted to mintness and £1400 of damage occured in 5 days, which were repairing on the insurance! ![](/forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif)
Sold two others since, and have one 20vt and one 20v na and one 16v left to do.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 03:13
nah slick 50 mate £15 im gonna try that will run like new again
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 03:15
ohh nice coupe mine lasted longer then 5 days
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 21:39
Quote:
tell me about it?
service stamps all there in the BOOK! Yes winner oh yeah!
fiat dealer service (whoooo)
2,000
12,0000
19,650
31,340
45,000
51,190
black& white garage.com
62,613
73,158
88,353
firela motors
91,000
98,700
its on 102,000
If you look at those service intervals, there are a couple of worryingly long gaps of 14,000miles and 15,000 miles. If previous owners have done a lot of short journeys with those oil change gaps and/or they weren't religious about checking the oil level, you may have an explanation.
I never leave a car for longer than 6,000 miles between oil & filter changes and I've never had an engine fail on me (apart from a cambelt which doesn't count).It's a risk you take when buying a used car with that sort of mileage. I hope you get a good outcome
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 16/12/2006 22:08
Quote:
Quote:
you could be right carl! you dont sell low milege coupes with 5 year 60,000 mile warrantys do you it must have the red key!
in all seriousness do you sell coupes whole not just in bits?
I certainly sell a few, although i dont have to advertise 80% of them as buyers seem to track me down. ![](/forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif)
No warranties though, unless ive been on crack the night before, although most benifit from any free parts and odd repairs should they need them, kind of a fair mutual common sense agreement.
Heres our recent one:
web page
Painted to mintness and £1400 of damage occured in 5 days, which were repairing on the insurance! ![](/forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif)
Sold two others since, and have one 20vt and one 20v na and one 16v left to do.
you wouldn`t take a part ex would you? fsh, mint condition slight rattle at idle
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 17/12/2006 01:23
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
you could be right carl! you dont sell low milege coupes with 5 year 60,000 mile warrantys do you it must have the red key!
in all seriousness do you sell coupes whole not just in bits?
I certainly sell a few, although i dont have to advertise 80% of them as buyers seem to track me down. ![](/forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif)
No warranties though, unless ive been on crack the night before, although most benifit from any free parts and odd repairs should they need them, kind of a fair mutual common sense agreement.
Heres our recent one:
web page
Painted to mintness and £1400 of damage occured in 5 days, which were repairing on the insurance! ![](/forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif)
Sold two others since, and have one 20vt and one 20v na and one 16v left to do.
you wouldn`t take a part ex would you? fsh, mint condition slight rattle at idle
Depends how much you want for it, and if your idea of mint matches mine, which i doubt.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 17/12/2006 02:43
well its not immaculate but none are i mean its 7 years old but it has no panel damage only very minor carpark door type pin dents that are well disguised and you can only see if you angle your head with good sunlight the bonnet is chipped the interior is perfect really does look new i mean if i traded that car in to you could you sort me out something for an xtra £1800 lets say for example just a standard 20vt with leather in same nick only working
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 17/12/2006 19:10
Quote:
well its not immaculate but none are i mean its 7 years old but it has no panel damage only very minor carpark door type pin dents that are well disguised and you can only see if you angle your head with good sunlight the bonnet is chipped the interior is perfect really does look new i mean if i traded that car in to you could you sort me out something for an xtra £1800 lets say for example just a standard 20vt with leather in same nick only working
Best not to class it as mint then. Only a few are.
The only one i got that fits that critia has 124k on the clock, i guess you want 1k for yours?
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 17/12/2006 19:46
can you pm me with more details i don`t care to much about mileage i just want to get the car of someone like yourself who knows about them rather then someone whos been on the forum for a bit and makes out they know about them
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 10/01/2007 20:34
Right im starting to get fed up now, set backs have caused me to re-think weather I should repair my motor even though i have all the parts or start over and just buy a car from scratch Is anyone interested in taking this project over themselves PM me!
what I have:
Red Fiat 20v turbo T reg Coupe 100,000 miles fsh, big ends going still drives!
replacement engine (with 57,000 miles on it supplied by carlT)
replacement oil coolers and pipes, turbo
just needs fitting
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 10/01/2007 21:18
Your mailbox is full.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: Should I sell Or Repair - 10/01/2007 21:25
emptied now sorry get carried away talking to forum users instead of working these days