Want a Coupe...not sure on value on these cars

Hi guys

My name's David, I'm a major car enthusiast and I'm 22, live in Kent and I just sold a Fiat Tipo Sedicivalvole on Pistonheads....some of u may have seen it but anyway I'm not onto looking for a Coupe and have seen 2 I like and wondered if these are good buys?

This is the first:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?V...:MEWA:IT&ih=007

As you can see being 1 owner and FSH it's pretty good but the mileage worries me and is it a little too cheap plus it's with a dealer? I have this on hold to look at if needs be and potentially buy.

This is the second:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?V...:MEWA:IT&ih=014

This one is not so standard and is running 14psi but does seem a very good car. Is 14psi a bit much? Boost controllers do worry me as well as you don't know where the car has been set in the past plus it's been running a superchip, which again worries me.

What do you guys think? They are in my budget and obviously 1 is slightly better than the other but I don't know lots about these cars apart from what I've read in the buying guides etc.

Ideally buy from a forum member and get it checked over by a specialist, Powerfiat or Momotech.

Or consider buying a car from CarlT - he has a very good reputation on here.

You could be a private one, but make sure the history is good and it has the usual good signs etc, read the buyers guide. Ideally you want a specialist or at least a mechanic to give it a once over before buying anyything.

Do you REALLY want a red 16vt?? People say things about red 16vt's.

At a £1500 budget you carnt be too choosy to be honest. Engines for these fetch £1000, unfortunately £1500 in coupe world tends to buy a shed.

What no congrats on sounding non chavvy shabba, my you are slipping

I was told that £1500-£2000 for a 16VT is fair and it should be fairly good for that?

The 2 mentioned surely can't be that bad?

Buy a standard one that has been looked after by an enthusiast. (read: forum member)


16VTs offer good VFM, but are older and generally considered not as good as the 20VT models.

What is your budget? A good 20VT will set you back in the region of 2.5k - 4.5k depending on year and mileage. Plus models attract a higher premium.

Don't forget to budget in the region of £1000 a year for servicing and maintenance, and of course, at 22, a hefty insurance premium.

I'd recommend to avoid modded cars. If you want a faster machine after some time, mod it yourself. At least then you know you are starting with a good base engine.

Externally, look for misalignment of body panels, especially round the front, as quite a few of these cars have been crashed. Rust could be an indicator of a replacement panel.

Internally, you want leather, and the cars are of sufficient age that this means little difference to asking price.

Oh, and red ones are cursed (Serious, ask our resident Coop Chop Shop Owner), so buy a yellow one. (They made Ferarris in that colour too, if that is what you are worried about)

Well £1500 to spend i wouldn't be worried at 96k on an 11 year old 1 owner £1500 car. Stands more chance of being genuine.

I'd look at the first one not the second if i was feeling ill and wanted a red 16vt (its a personal thing)

Agree with the above. I cant access the links coz I'm at work but I wouldn't really buy a car from Flea Bay, and anything thats any good on there is usually overpriced ! I would save up a bit more and spend £2500-£3000 a get a nice one privately (autotrader / pistonheads) or from the forum. Saying that you can do a lot of homework and there'll always be something to maintain for a car of 7 or 8 years old.

Seriously these arent cheap cars to run, only do it if you can afford to spend £1-2k a year on misc running costs/maintaince.

I'm very tempted to go see the first one as said because of the fact it's standard and has had 1 owner I must admit

My last car before the Tipo was an Impreza WRX running around 300bhp which I modified myself (not big nasty bodykits/wheels etc). Blitz Nurspec Exhaust system, decat, panel filter and boost increase to 1 bar and it flew.

BUT that was mega thirsty so only owned it for 6 months and I assume a standard Coupe 16vt will be better than that.

16vt is the most un-economical of the range i think. Some doing no more than 20mpg.

Unless they run PERFECT and everything is PERFECT they are a sodding headache.

Wow for an enthusiasts club you make them sound rubbish....

My friend Oli had 1 for a good 2 years and left it standard and it ran as sweet as nut, just regular oil changes etc.

See the first one before buying, if it meets your criteria, buy it. There may be a forum member locally to you who could have a look with you, as we tend to know what to look for (usually from bitter experience )

And DON'T mod it.

I have been the proud owner of a coop for several years...I would encourage you to look for a while and find the best one you can that has been regularly serviced (fsh essential in my opinion) with low mileage. Mainly because if you buy a nail it could literally cost you a fortune on repairs.

Also take into account the running costs of these cars before buying one. At the moment mine is costing an average of about £500 per year to maintain just taking into account little repairs here and there (radiator, wheel bearings, brakes, suspension and other usual items). Plus a couple of hundred quid a year for a service.

The general maintenance cost of a coop is about £1000 a year I suppose. Make sure you buy one knowing this!

Coops are not cheap cars to run and the maintenance thing is becoming an (expensive) issue on most of them now as they get older.

Basically...make sure you buy a good one!

I give an honest opinion on them, seeing as ive had more Coupe's than most people.

Best to be in the real world with them.

The first one looks very good in the photos but then again a shed can look good in photos........

Having said that, it's either had a full respray or been kept in a garage judging by the fact that it isn't Speed Pink now

Remember to print out the buyers guide and go over it thoroughly before viewing.

Ask about history, especially cam belt changes and check the documentation to make sure it's been done.

Oh, and welcome to the forum

Oh by the way.

My 16vt does about 26 or 27 mpg....possibly even a bit more under "normal" driving.

Its not that bad....but I have looked after it lovingly!

re: the 2nd one....If he is selling it because of a company car arriving, why is he attempting thinly vieled offers for swaps or PX on a prelude or 200SX?

I'd avoid that one!

Perfect. If you want to keep them running sweet and with little expense then regular service, oil check and the usual maintenance are the key. Dont mod them as Shabba suggests.

And they are good reliable cars in standard fettle, they just need plenty of maintenance and you have to watch out for abused examples and at your price they become more abundent.

Mr Carlt had a green one for 1k ish if it hasn't been chopped to bits for parts (thats the second time I have recommended that car and I would have bought it if my bid of £150 and a bottle of gin had been accepted).

Save up - buy a 20vt for £3k-4k for a good one + don't mod it = happy life

I was thinking that myself, the thing with coops is very much you get what you pay for, bargains are often not come by, if they are cheap they can be cheap for a reason.

On the budget you have, you are at the lower end of the market, thats not to say one of these you have shown may not be a good example.

Out of the 2, I would look at the first one and not the 2nd. The 2nd one, its just something about I have only woned this for 6 weeks I don't like, but then I don't trust anyone

If you can increase your budget as much as you can, if not, then have a look at a few, don't buy the first one you see, take the buyers guide with you, check the car thoroughly, get it independantly checked, try and get an existing owner to look over it with you.

Good luck

must admit (and its not everyones taste) but our family have had 3 20v non turbo's, all which have been ultra reliable - 1 ended up in bury football ground through the dry stone wall due to a drunk driver mind you!!). i have one now with 102k on the clock, its in good nick and i've just driven over 2000 miles to france and back without a minutes bother - dont get a 16vt - same engine as the lancia integrale and mine was off the road more than it was on!!

So many horror stories here....hmm a rethink on what car to get may well be in order now then

20v every time, and a decent one unless you want oily hands?

and a bad back

Mwhahahahahaha!!! It's only because I went for a bargain one


Cheap as chips, me

mate, you can encounter problems on any car with decent perfomance that's approaching 10 years old - in this respect the coop is no diferent to any of them. my experience is, if you take your time and pick a decent one, they are fairly easy and cheap to maintain as long as you use a specialist, ie motormech in birmingham,powerfiat in essex etc...don't be put off, but DO listen to carlt..

well said Proccy. I don't think people are intending to be negative about the mighty Coupe, there are no guarantees on any type of car you choose to buy, but if you start off with a well looked after one you will be in a better position.

Yes but it's hard to find a good 1 at my budget is what your saying so why take that big risk....I've had nothing but bad luck with every car I've owned...its bound to happen again

i remember buying my coupe, i just couldnt wait and i had to get it...found one...ahhh perfect..ill have it....

THEN

i signed up on here, and boy did it scare me reading everything people have put about the, the problems they have had...then i thought to myself, and site dedicated to a specific car is going to have pros and con, in and outs blah blah blah to a car!

touch wood ive only had a few minor problems with her, and shes a 100k 1997 20vt... lovely car...

i agree with shabba on the first few words...get a 20vt... go the whole hog

you wont be let down!

Wait, Save and Spend on 20VT !!
Its worth it !!

£1500 should be able to get a 20v n/a, especially if not worried about mileage, non leather, non ac or the odd scratch...would be my choice...had two, not cost me any more to maintain than any other 10 year old car...just wish the blo*dy thing wasn't so big, had such a cr*p turning circle or such wide doors ... grrrr

But but but arggggh the first one has all the things going for it though. 1 owner since new and FSH....grr!

It might be ok, just get it checked out, must be plenty of 16vt owners on here without issues, just DO NOT modify it and give it TLC (check oil, service it, don't rag it from cold etc). For £1500 its almost throw-away money really. If it only lasted a year it wouldnt be the end of the world.

Go see it and ensure you get it checked out.

Yea hmm I hear Scooby is from that area perhaps he can come with? SCOOOOB?

Not any more, and may be a bit busy.

Hmm calling any Coupe owners near Leicester? Loughborough I beleive

There's a link of owners willing to view in buying and selling...which is where I am now going to shift this thread to

Lol so AGAIN calling all Coupe owners near Leicester Loughborough I need a hand...

check the top post in the buying / selling section!!

I have done that Steve with no joy as to who could come out with me so I think ill take the buyers guide and check her for myself. Only way to learn I guess unless someone else is game to help.

are there no specialists in the area?

Are you sure you want to spend £1500 on a car that might cost £1k a year to run? I would agree with the people who have said save for a 20VT (which is a much better car in many ways), or get a nice 20V non turbo as it will be newer and cheaper to run (most likely)

yeah..get one like mine.... click here

Im nearish loughborough and i have a 16vt, just check the oil every week, take care from cold, and she will never let you down (just be prepared for the odd lil problem, like all cars this age)...amazing cars

Thanks DanDan a comment like that is what I need to hear as I was being totally swayed from ever buying one but I think tommorrow I may just go look!

Go drive one!

Coupe ownership isnt always easy, but as long as you dont buy a shed it's so worth it.

Hi Every one!

I'm new to the forum and in that sense new to The Coupe! I have been considering by a performance car with the intentions of keeping it long term but I am working with a £3k budget.
Any advice would be gladly appreciated, I have seen a couple of Coupes and just wnated well more of an experienced point of view... Does any one anything about these cars?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/127946.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/234136.htm

The first one is for sale on here from a forum member : the advert

The second one isn't *unmolested* as the dealer states: it has a body kit fitted at the very least. Either the dealer has forgotten to mention that (or I've missed it in the advert) or he doesn't know these cars that well, in which case it could either be an over-priced shed or a bargain!

Nice to see the amount of money that has been spent on the 2nd one, but you have to ask why sell it after spending all that money?

Only way to tell is to go and look at them, buyers guide in hand and possibly with someone from the forum to help you.

One good thing about a member selling on the forum: you can look back through their posts to see what issues they had with the car and how they fixed them.......

Hi All,


Thanks Stan for the reply to my last comment, the first car as you have said belongs to a forum member and your link shows some of the questions that have already been asked about this motor. As I am new to Coupes would you suggest that as most of the history is missing I should steer clear?
The second car clearly has a body kit but has an impressive service history so would this be the better option?

Can any one please advise on this and does any one live close to these cars that can perhaps take a look at them for me? An experienced eye is probably what is needed!!!

Thanks

What about the ink black £3k car for sale on here, looks nice example.

History is definitely important but I wouldn't disregard a car without it and I certainly wouldn't say anything bad about another forum member's car (in case they were bigger than me ), after all there could be a genuine reason why the history is missing.

Like you say, what you need is someone local who can pop round and give the cars in question a proper look.

Good point Stan you never know how big he or she might be lol...

In your opinion what do you make of the yellow one, too good to be true? It seems to tick all the boxes I keep reading need checking!

Shabba,

What black one, where is it on this forum?

For Sale section. One of the top ones.

here

Cheers pal, does look good must admit

Ideally my advice is to go have a look at the coupe, after reading the buyers guide. Then if you like it offer to buy it subject to an inspection from a specialist such as Momotech or Powerfiat.

The genuine reason the history is missing is thats its been clocked. Especially if its a trader and it the ad says GENUINE LOW MILEAGE

Which Coupe are you refering to on this?

Sugar, the history, afaik, is missing from the forum member's car (I could be wrong, I often am, allegedly ) but as you say it maybe disappeared earlier in it's life to hide some several thousand miles of *going backwards*

Solstar I can't really say without seeing the cars whether they'd be any good, imagine what you'd think if I said *yes, definitely go for the yellow one* and it turned out to be fit for parts only

You'd hate me...........although most motorists do anyway

check out the list of people willing to view cars and see if someone will help out with a viewing.

Alternatively, and this is the best possible advice I could give to someone waiting for a decent coupé, wait until Carlt comes back from holiday next month and buy one of his. You will never regret it, ever!

Do u really have to take the car to PowerFiat on every buy? Can't you just run through the buyers guide and surely make your own mind up?

I'm venturing 130 miles by train tommorrow to view the standard red 1 and it sounds quite good for a cheap car.

just go with a good knowledge of what to look for. im not sure if there is a 16VT buyers guide on here, and the 20VT one will be different somewhat.

I really do think you should wait and get a 20VT. Its becoming VERY hard to find a genuinely good 16VT these days.

The only thing is my options are limited and seeing a car with 1 owner, FSH and a full MoT does look promising...it cant hurt to go and look at it and if it goes through the buying guide properly surely it's a good buy at only £1500?

Of course go and look at it, but prepared for bills potentially...make sure you quiz the owner on oil - consumption, type, frequency of change etc...oil neglect is the biggest killer of turbo coops

Yep I'm all prepared lol!

Got my pocket sized buying guide at the ready!

Just drive the bu*ger and if it seems good and it all stacks up, buy it once you've HPI'd

How can I HPI on the scene?

You can get your HPI Check by phone for £19.99. Call 0845 300 8905, 8am-8pm Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm on Saturday, 10am-5pm Sunday and Bank Holidays.

Lifted straight from the site mate, and also, if you'd like some extra advice, exercise caution when viewing these cars - it would be very easy to buy a dog on your budget. But, for someone who doesn't know or appreciate the car, it would be easy to undervalue it, so bargains may be out there. Undervalued cars are often unappreciated tho, so make sure the receipts are there.

Sugerbear

going on your last comment do you know for sure that the car has been clocked? or Are you saying that this would be the most logical reason for missing history? Oh and which cope are you refering to?

There are LOTS of clocked coupes out there according to Carlt ... he used to sell lots of low mile clock sets too, doesn't anymore A lost history is the ideal way to hide the clocking of a car!

DidCoop - PM sent

I dont buy 1 a month and as this is alot of money for anyone really its worth £50 max for a health check from someone who knows exactly what they are doing.

The experts work on these cars every day and know them better than anyone. Its good peace of mind to know the car has been checked over by them. Somethings on my car could have caused major issues if Rog hadnt flagged them up for me early.

I wasn't referring to any coupe in particular. Certainly not the one for sale, you need to ring and ask lots of questions. Dodgy traders have been clocking cars and pulling in low mileage punters for years.

There is nothing wrong with a high mileage coupe so even if a 100,000+ mileage coupe has been clocked back to 50,000 it should be fine as long at its been looked after, just you will pay more for the disappearing miles !!

high/low mileage alone is not a good indication of the condition of the car.

Yeah, remember loads of parts need changing between 70 & 90k, so a 70k car might need a new turbo, clutch, rad, manifold, wishbones, suspension etc. However a 100k car might have recently had all that stuff done etc. Go by condition and history.

Well, the yellow coupe I was going to get has been sold!!! so back to the drawing board I guess. I have seen the following cars and kind of hoped you guys would be able to give me your experienced opionions on each of them so that I can pick out the best of whats listed....

http://www.county-liquidations.co.uk/
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/203690.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/127946.htm
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FIAT-COUPE-20v-TUR...1QQcmdZViewItem
Model_W0QQitemZ230172368655QQihZ013QQcategoryZ9843QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fiat-coupe-20v_W0Q...1QQcmdZViewItem

You really need to question the owners on all those cars, usual questions. Then judge which seems best from the answers.

All we can do is tell you want questions to ask, and that might be like teaching you to suck eggs.

I mean what can we tell from pics & a bit of info??

The portafino one (non turbo) seems like a good deal, been looked at by powerfiat and its had a new clutch and betls and its got a full service history. I cant see the two fleabay ones.

Some Advice Please...

What do you guys think of a Coupe 20vt that's done 104k miles, 2 owners from new with Full Fiat Service history, but has had a replacement engine fitted by a Fiat Specialist that's done 34k at a cost of £4k?
What are the draw backs if any with a replacement engine on these cars?
Oh by the way the cost of the car is £2795 via a tarder!

If the replacement engine has been done correctly by a reputable specialist then there should be no problems. The fact that its done 34k seems to point to it being a good one. The ones we tend to hear about on here going wrong have often been rebuilt on the cheap.

Seems a good price if you can get them down to 2.5k all the better and the mileage isn't a problem. FSH is great but you need to know whats been changed (oil cooler pipes, radiator etc etc).

Suerbear,

Cheers, the add said "Fiat Service History" So if the seller can give me the name of the garage that did the work I can call and check the details of work carried out... good thinking I'll try thet rout first!

Ta

That first one at County Liquidations looks like a plus or a vt6 to me..........at just over £3k

Can't be right can it?

Moon grey 6 vt. Lovely. I would go and take a look, but I think there is some auction type thing going on with that site (does not make it very clear), you cant test drive them until after you have bought them as well.

is it me or does that bonnet seem a little high ?

As Carlt will tell you, all the problem Coupes are low mileage. High mileage ones with specialist history are the ones to go for.

Andy.

I have a low mileage coupe,no problems with mine!

Isn't it,how you look after them?

From what I can tell there is no hard and fast rule about judging a car on just it's mileage, however if a car has done 104k and then has an engine replaced to one that has done 34k what factors neeed to be considered, if any?
Also any ideas/ thoughts on how this may affect the future residual value of the car?

One last thing on the cars I have listed above, which cars would you guys arrange to see based on the information given in each add? (ie: which should I shortlist and which should I get rid of) I'd love to view all of them but unfortunately time is of the esscence. Oh I think the 1st one is an auction, so I will be striking that one off the list!

You sure it's not a clocked high miler

If you want a porto coop then whats wrong with ruspers? Other than that i'd call on the moon vt [6] make sure it has documents history you know the score or a non turbo then damiens on here which i think is on one of the ebay ads.

Well I'm not sure that I'll ever be 100% sure, but I called the seller and he will dig out the paper work so he can give me the details of the garage that carried out the work. I should have the info later so will call them tomorrow to make sure, apart from that is there any more I can do to be sure???
I am considering getting an AA or RAC technician out to look at the car before I dive in, any comments on this, has any one ever used the AA or RAC to view one of these coupes in the past?

Skint...

Is ruspers coupe is it on this forum? oh and it would have to be a turbo, I know one of the links I listed above is for a none turbo, but I realised after!!! oooops....

AA and RAC checks are no good for a coop too old a car for them dont waste your money pay a mechanic who knows what they are talking about.

Solstar, it is on the forum in the for sale section its well worth a look has more extra's and essential jobs done than most for sale and its cheap considering these.

Yeah, my point about the moon 20vt6 or whatever it is......it seems very cheap to me, or am I mistooken again?

Rusper's coop

thats mine for sale !

Well guys thanks to the buying guide and the advice of my mechanic mate I finally bought 1.

It's a red 16vt, the one with the black wheels on the bay. Such a genuine seller who knew what he was talking about and a very very well maintained car and engine.

I drove it back last night 150 miles from Leicester sitting in leather and it didn't skip a beat and what a drive it was. The dash is simply beautiful aswell as the whole styling of the car and interior. Just amazing!

I've just woken up this morning to see it parked out front and I'm over the moon, what amazing cars these are!

Look forward to meets and chatting on these awesome beasts!

DidCoop,

Congrats on the new car, still looking for mine, funny thing is you bought one just around the corner from me and I can't find the right one for me for miles...lol Still I'm sure the right coupe is just waiting to be had any minute now!!!