[joeymannero]

I'm thinking about getting one..

they go for anywhere from £800-4k for a really sorted one..

the plan is to buy at the lower end with 2k in reserve for bringing up to scratch.

pininfarina designed and the 5 cyl 20v turbo is pretty quick from the figures..

and frankly I love the look of them although I understand they are not everyones cuppa.

any advice from thiose of you that have owned,worked on or driven one would be much appreciated.

cheers


joe

 

[alfa 4 ever]

had one ,loved it enough said:thumbs:

 

[bazza]

Had one, loved it. Enough said. :thumbs:

Genuinely, the 20VT Coupe is a truly lovely car.

 

[DanGTV6]

Had a 20vt for about 6 years, sold it and bought a GT 3.2v6. Missed the coupe so much I bought another one - 20vt Plus this time. I still have the GT as my daily hack but use the coupe for weekends and special occasions.

Try to get a plus or LE, if only for the better seats. The leather seats in the standard 20vt are not great, especially compared to the GT.

 

[bazza]

I think the later 'standard' ones might have got the uprated seats (and later wheels) too. It was a long time ago I owned mine though, so might be misremembering.

You're going to be very hard pressed to find an unmolested example nowadays, so you're going to have to research well to ensure that what you get is molested to a high standard, if you see what I mean.

 

[joeymannero]

well it seems you are all echoing my feeling about the car..hardly surprising as being Alfa owners we all share a love of italian automotive design...

chaps seeing as you have all owned one could you give me an idea of running costs...? any particulat things I should look out for?

have decided on a 5 cyl 20v, colour wise the dark grey, black or british racing green, at a push the burgundy is nice as well. leather is a must also.

Fiat coupe 20v turbo (very rare) | United Kingdom | Gumtree

something like this one.

 

[alfa 4 ever]

as with most cars the timing belt ,fiat said the engine needs to come out to do change it but i seem to remember some garages do with the engine in

 

[DanGTV6]

chaps seeing as you have all owned one could you give me an idea of running costs...? any particulat things I should look out for?

The oil cooler pipes corrode and are no longer available from fiat - some specialists do kits but they are expensive. Exhaust manifolds crack - later ones with a cut on the fifth branch are better. Lift the boot carpet to check for corrosion. If you buy one, make sure the pininfarina badges are well sealed - if water gets in it can lead to corrosion which is very difficult to repair.

Cambelt change is about £500 at a specialist.

 

[bazza]

Yes, I'm sure I remember the good specialists can do it by tipping the engine. There was something about the turbo you had to look out for ... can't remember what.

It was 8 years ago I sold it (for the GTA) I'm really struggling to remember!

If FCCUK still exists, they had a very good buying guide.

Oh, It's nothing particularly to worry about, but most of them, if you look closely, have a bit of the rear bumper missing around the exhaust. This is because the original tip was spot welded on. It would fall off, and the now too short exhaust would melt a patch. A lot of cars then just had that patch cut away, and unless you're looking for it, you can'treally tell. Just an amusing foible.

The headlight covers are supposedly modelled on Chris Bangles wife's bum - but if that's true, she was a fairly lopsided lady.

 

[t3yls]

I'd rather swap your 2.0 GT to a 3.2 GT, than buy a fiat coupe. I don't think the years have been kind to their shape.

Good luck finding what you want.

 

[SimonB17]

Had a 20v then a 20vt then a 20vt+, daily drivers for nearly a decade, loved them all the plus had 140k on the clock when I traded it in for the GT. Still wish I had put the money into restoring the coupe really. Don't get me wrong the GT is a great car and is a step up in terms of dynamics but the sound of a 20v turbo beats the V6 any day in my book.

Few simple things to look out for:

Rust! these are all at the age that if they have not been pampered then there will be some, rear wheel arches are an easy place to look first. Also try and get a look at the brake pipes, Fiat seem to make them out of tin foil.

Brakes are 305 Brembos, if in good nick then they are fine but will probably feel weak compared to the GT, not as much servo assistance I seem to remember. They have a mechanical rear brake compensator that can stick reducing power to the rear brakes which doesn't help. The handbrake cables are also a service item, I had to replace mine most winters because they freeze up once the seals split.

If you actually find a car with a standard exhaust then check he condition of the tail pipe, directly behind the rear wheel it rusts quite badly, if it drops off the bacbox will them fire hot gases at the bumper, melting it by he time you get home.

Low oil pressure (lower than 1.5bar hot) may mean worn big end bearings, my 140k engine showed 2bar when hot and 3+ when driving. Shouldn't be an issue if its been looked after.

Usual disposable suspension parts as fitted to most Fiats and Altfas, nothing that can't be fixed easily.

Go for it, you will love it.

 

[bazza]

What that 20VT does have over the Busso is that on long motorway journeys you actually get really good mpg. The revs drop low enough that the turbo doesn't spool and it's very economical. That doesn't happen with my GTA! :lol:

 

[bazza]

Oh, It's nothing particularly to worry about, but most of them, if you look closely, have a bit of the rear bumper missing around the exhaust. This is because the original tip was spot welded on. It would fall off, and the now too short exhaust would melt a patch. A lot of cars then just had that patch cut away, and unless you're looking for it, you can'treally tell. Just an amusing foible.

If you actually find a car with a standard exhaust then check he condition of the tail pipe, directly behind the rear wheel it rusts quite badly, if it drops off the bacbox will them fire hot gases at the bumper, melting it by he time you get home.

Told you! :cheese:

(can't agree that the 20VT sounds better than a Busso though (although it's immeasurably better than a 4 pot.)

 

[SimonB17]

(can't agree that the 20VT sounds better than a Busso though (although it's immeasurably better than a 4 pot.)

Personal taste I guess, maybe its just the coupe had less sound proofing. That and after driving coupes for so long I found it hard to let go!

 

[trem3412]

Had two a 20vt and a na 20v nice cars a pain to work on I would actually go for a 16v turbo if I was to get one now bit better to work on and plenty of tuning potential and seemed to be cheaper to tune than a 20vt but this was about 5-6yrs ago

 

[joeymannero]

some interesting and useful info... as i knew there would be!...

I am going to view three or four of them over the next week......so will get a feel for them.

expected disposable suspension parts as with the GT but am surprised and glad to hear the fuel economy is not too bad on a long run....the main reason I ruled out the 3.2.

will probably keep the GT I have as the diesel is a sensible every day car..if the job changes then it will go and the fiat will become my daily.

wish me luck..

i'm in no rush and will wait for just the right car,in terms of colour, condition and price.


car shopping is always great fun

 

[bigjim]

my mate had one like the one in that link - scotts green, tan leather, a true italian car.

 

[joeymannero]

thats what I like about it, it has all the hallmarks of an italian sportscar with the only compromise being the badge

if indeed that bothers you at all...I thought I might be mad even thinking about one and although i'm not influenced by opinions when it comes to the look of a car I have to say my Mrs ,mates and who ever I have asked has said, what a great looking car....what is it?

they are always surprised when I say a Fiat, expecting it to be something much more expensive and exotic.


looks great, sounds great drives great and has similar performance to a porsche boxster without driving around in something obvious and common.

i'm sold on this now, all doubts have been cleared..and only serious mechanicals would have scared me off anyways...

 

[alfa 4 ever]

mine was yellow ,when my misses first saw it she said it looks like a bloody big banana :lol:but she loved it:thumbs:

 

[joeymannero]

mine was yellow ,when my misses first saw it she said it looks like a bloody big banana :lol:but she loved it:thumbs:

I was working with a harpist yesterday who has a keen interest in cars...she loved the yellow..but wasn't sure I could carry it off!...

I tend to agree..takes a real man to drive a yellow car, not sure I have the stones...:lol: