20 v LE or Plus?

Okay, perhaps its time to make the plunge.

I'm after a mint LE or Plus. Pref under 80k mileage.
Must be in excellent condition with all the usual re keys, reciepts, service etc.

I dont mind the usual mods, but not into dump valves, body kits, etc.

Pref colours are black, deep (rosso?) red, dark grey...but I havent seen enough coulours to know for sure

Whats the damage likely to be?

Between 4 and 5k maybe a bit more for a perfect one. Black, red and silver are (relativley) easy to find in the LE, vinci grey and chronos grey are the rarer colours.

over to the plus experts now.

Cheers Sugerbear

Am I right in saying that both models will have air con?

Guess it depends (as usual) on your take on the word "mint".

I'd say you need at least what Sugarbear is saying for a Plus, "arguably" more.

Anything less than 4k and I think you'll be struggling to get one within your criteria, either way/ car.

Yup. Climate control, in fact...

Fair point Hedge

By mint I guess I mean near perfect, if I'm being honest with myself.

Will there be a price difference between the LE and Plus? Am I right in saying that the Plus doesn't have the v popular Recaro seats?

The Plus DOES have Recaro seats

Plus will cost you more than the LE for similar mileage/condition

Proper minters are pretty rare, in truth. There will be a slight difference in price between an LE & a Plus, yes. Not much though, and less nowadays, I perceive...

The Plus has recaros - albeit they're copies, not strictly straight original recaros.

Some Plus's have side airbags; these are consequently a slightly different shape to standard Plus recaros. They're otherwise known as Jizzbag Recaros....

Jizzbag Recaros.....grow up, me!

Am I being silly on insisting on an LE or Plus?? Wouldn't a 20v with Leather etc, simply do? Not meaning to ask others what I want, but will I be getting subtantially more for the extra £1500???????????

Jizzbags, alone, are worth it, IMO!....

The whole "is it worth it" arguement is one only you need to decide upon. Plenty of owners on here for and against.

Do a quick search, suss out the differences, and then make your choice.

I'd say it's worth the extra. If you like the bodykit, the different interior (Loads of red bits on the LE, red stitchings and silver dials on the plus), the starter button, etc..

The LE and Plus seats are genuine Recaro, except for the late airbag ones. They have the same recaro shape, but Fiat modified them to fit side airbags (wasn't available like that from Recaro at the time).

Yes, the red stitching does look nice from the pictures I've seen.

Thanks for the explanation about the seats.

Le drivers wear fish nets when driving - plus drivers wear studded thongs. (with studs on the inside)

I guess wat I'm saying is ...le interior - brothel
plus is a seedy gentleman club...

You'll get satisfacton in both...depends what floats your boat...

ive a standard 20v turbo in porto with sunroof and air con ,black leather interior,for my personel preference i dont like the red inserts,but wish the seats were a bit more suportive, i like my interior as it is just would like the crome rings for the dash sometime soon

How about a late 20vt 6 speed.Some came with the extras of a plus- wheels,dials,push button even recaro's(not red stitched tho) but not far from a plus.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/FIAT+COUPE/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146-236,N-240-4294965248-4294967253/search.action?&sort=p_VehiclePrice|1&postcode=dy49rt&radius=1501&showMoreOptions=&page=2&googleQuery=FIAT%20COUPE%20sales&adtype=autotrader-uk

cheap plus?Maybe, if you do buy a coupe hpi it also.

You'll be unlikely to get a mint 20vt for £3000. Could look for a 20vt[6] instead. LE will be older than one of these or the Plus

You just missed a very nice Plus... Mmmm

if you really want a mint one then find a good one and get some work done, respray would be about £2000 for a windows out jobby, maybe another £200 to get the wheels sorted out, time and money will make any car mint. then you will have to sort out the leather seats (wear on the bolster is common) then you will want to make the bits in the engine compartment mint etc etc etc..

How much money do you have ?

Possibly, possibly not. It depends if you want to do what many VT owners do and spend the next few years tarting your car up so that it looks like an LE or Plus. Although that may sound like a negative comment I suspect that a lot of enjoyment is to be had from that process. It would be easier, and ultimately also probably cheaper, however to buy the real deal in the first place. It depends what you want from your ownership proposition. Are you a "want it now" person or someone who wants to create something special for yourself and who has the time, money and patience to invest in that?

I would not get too hung up on the airbag recaros. They add bulk and that's about it. Not many steering wheels look better for the inclusion of an airbag and that, in my view is true of the seats as well.

I suppose I'm a "want it now" person. I have huge respect for people who take the time or money to turn something good into something great, but as I dont have bags of either, I'd rather fast forward to the end product if I can even if the initial spend is more. Also, I can justify the spend with my wife once, but if I keep having to come back to the joint account again and again......

I've set myself a budget of around £3750 but am patient and will stretch a little further IF I see something which ticks all the boxes. I think this reasonable, but let me know if it isnt???

Although I'm not married I know that I would find regular and significant forays into my bank account difficult to justify.



I think that's a bit light TBH for what you are looking for. My plus is a 1999 V plate on 112k in really nice condition. If I were to sell it I would not be willing to go under 4k and would probably ask 4.25. I am also a realistic owner. That said, there have been pluses that go for less than this which, AFAIK, were in reasonably good shape.

If I were you I would budget either an additional £500 in either purchase price or because the car you find for £3.75 might need belts/clutch/suspension+tyres.

For that budget you'd be better off getting a really nice standard car rather than a rougher Plus/LE/6.
Having said that, I don't think you'll get a TRULY mint car for that money. Mine's not far off mint having spent a small fortune on it and I'd be looking for way more than that if I was selling (which I'm not).

no way would i let my plus go for less than £4250 even though she's done over 115k miles. i think if you manage to get a decent looking one for your budget it will be disguising a host of problems....in your position i'd go for a well sorted, slightly lower mileage than mine, standard 20vt. still a very nice car if portofino is avoided.....

Well, I suppose feedback like this supports asking the question...
Sounds like I need to up my budget as I think I really want an LE, plus or late 20v(6). £4250 or thereabouts it is. That will delay the purchase, but like I said before I'm patient and the coupe has to be mint.

Time to raise some funds. Anyone need an Audi A4 Avant?????

I'm sure you could get a mint LE for £4k? Or have I underestimated this 'increase' in second hand car prices?

Does anyone know what CivicLegend's ex-MrChambers LE sold for? Probably a little over £4k?

I agree that LE prices are slightly below the Plus for the same condition and mileage. This may reflect them being older cars, but other than that hard to say why really. Perhaps the burlesque interior puts some buyers off.

Limited Edition is the way.

If you cannot find one or control the beast of the interior. Then a blander Plus is the way for you.

yup that's about right.......

Erm yes that is what I meant to say thanks for the correction Proccy

as an example of the plus and it's price for a decent one...

http://www.eclecticcars.co.uk/vehicles/1/321/Fiat+Coupe+20v+Turbo.html

hey proccy leave them portos alone

oops sorry steve....baby...

Here is what you want.

http://www.eclecticcars.co.uk/vehicles/1/321/Fiat+Coupe+20v+Turbo.html

LE's are for winners!

Too right lad.

You boys speak the Truth LE = no. 1

Come on guys. You know the only reason you have the LE is because you could not pull together the extra £500 for the Plus!

Seriously though, I like the LE, particularly in Chrono Grey - had I seen this colour when looking for a coupe I would probably now be driving an LE.

Plus wheels are in a totally different league though and the interior is, IMHO, better.

Yes much lower than the originals!

Why do LE owners always feel the need to defend their cars, is it some kind of minority complex?

But seriously, I love both. The LE for the loud Italian style (Italians aren't subtle anyway!) and the plus for the more subtle stylish touches.

I'm not defending the car, I'm defending the wheels! And I wouldn't say its just LE owners anyway!

Feeling the LE love at the moment

Good to see you post evo its been a while.

Plus wheels are in a totally different league though and the interior is, IMHO, better.[/quote]

Wow, I've really starting something with the LE v Plus banter. Keep it up people.

That car in the link looks absolutely awesome. I'm even more in love with the Coupe than I was before. thank you everyone for your kind and funny advice. If money permits, (and I can stay patient) it will be a mint Plus for me I think....but either way I wont go wrong.

When I see one I want to view, is there any chance of getting some help re viewing? The wisdom of an owner is invaluable.

Have a look at the members willing to view cars section.

If its in SE London or North Kent I will come along with you (I'm knowledgeable ish, but not massively technical).

Forget the harsh words from the owners of the less classy LE. The Plus is what you need.

Steve

A Plus or an LE will retain its value more, so I would definately get one over a standard one if I had the money and was in the market.

But please, don't get hung up on 80k.....

W.

I always thought you knew your stuff eldinho, but your credibility has just dropped significantly.

Admin can we have a poll:

"Given the choice I would prefer:
(i) a Plus;
(ii) an LE"

Would be interested to see the view of non-LE or plus owners on this one as well....

fwiw i chose a plus as, at my advanced age, i didn't think the extravagant interior of the LE was appropriate and i stand by my decision. i love the car.

having said that i think the LE is also a special car and if i was sedici or eldinho's ages i'd deffo have gone for one.

maybe the whole thing is age related, in that the plus appears classier (to me!) as it's a little understated.

certainly at auto italia recently, sedici's and the black one that was for sale (£6.4k?) looked absolutely stunning....

I wouldnt vote - its too crude for me...

So the vote will clearly be won by the folks that need the reassurance....i need none.

How old are you Proccy?

You drive a Plus cjh, which says everything one needs to know about both your confidence, intelligence and manhood.

the wrong side of fifty, provided the ambition is to stay alive...

To a plus owner "sexy underwear" consists of the grey range from BHS.

To an LE driver "sexy underwear" consists of an Orange and a Plastic Bag.

LE all the way, its a car that others comment on.

for £5000 i could be tempted to get rid of my near mint plus in the super rare broom yellow.

then again no i can't

if it were me to buy another i'd have the LE because they are cheaper and i really love the red and black leather

tidied that one up......

You missed this one though...