Comments: 1-15, 16-23
Boot wouldn't open with the key.
Slight turbo problem recently.
Such a terrific car, power to enjoy (or fear at the beginning), nice Recaro seats, very smooth gearbox.
Going 0-100 in under 6.5 seconds is really great. Every time, it's so tempting to press that pedal down. Braking is very impressive.
Pininfarina Ferrari-like design.
Porsche eating, Scooby eating,... tyre eating.
http://www.coupefiat.com
I owed one, too, and generally agree with you, but Porsche eating?, Scooby eating? No way on either count! Sure, you'll have a LOT of fun trying to stay with them, but the minute they turn a corner your under-steer will leave you dead on the road by comparison. Get an F355 and try again - I did, and it works!
Dave, UK.
Oh come on! Compare like-for-like. The Coupe costs £20k and leaves BMWs for dead (and Mondeos come to that). It's a bit silly to suggest the Coupe is a Porsche-eater, but it is fun to try...
Within its realm the Coupe is sheer brilliance. And its realm is real-World affordable - that's what makes it great.
Steve' E.
A standard Boxster can be beaten with a 20VT coupe, no problem. Also standard scoobys in a straight line; need 4wd for the bends.
On the whole I agree; it is an enthusiast's car which happens to provide sensible space for 4 and great fun. For a much more detailed survey of its strengths and weaknesses see http://www.coupe-sport.co.uk/ where nearly 1,500 owners compare notes. I have owned a Subaru (legacy) turbo and have to say the ownership satisfaction is much greater with the Coupe.
I believe that my Fiat coupe is one of the best all-round cars I've ever had. Handle-yes, ride-yes, perform-yes, enjoy-yes.
And my goodness don't the girls love it!
I own a coupe turbo that has been chipped, and is now at 390 hp. The suspension and steering has been heavily modified to eliminate under-steer, the car was then track tested and can now do 0-60 in 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 175 mph. To get the top speed I had to add sequential turbos, but I have done over 15000 miles with these mods and the engine is solid. Yes this car will take on even Ferrari's and to 150 mph will easily stay ahead.
I have a 20v turbo which has been played with by myself. Lowered 30mm, body kit,tarox brakes, induction kit, dump valve, s/s exhaust, chipped and nitrous oxide, great fun handles well and brakes well, over 400bhp when running on nos. Any questions phone me on 01202 824244. ANDY...
Nice car. A friend of mind got one. He had couple of problem with it. Sorry no way that they leave scooby or porche stand. Reason I got MR2 TURBO import rev2 and we had a try on a dual carriage way and he couldn't keep up, he was way behind. I also got an import scooby it was even worst.I don't tell you the history around the bend. not bad for a front wheel drive.
17th November 2003, how much did you spend on your twin sequential turbos and chassis mods to eliminate understeer? (by the way, if that were possible, every chassis engineer in the world would be kicking their door down)
You could almost certainly have bought a proper sports car for less. Nothing wrong with the Fiat Coupe, but it's no more designed to compete with the Porsches and Ferraris of this world than a Ford Mondeo or a Nissan Micra.
Why waste money trying to make it?
Maybe because we are italian car fanatics??
What the hell are you talking about a porsche isn't that faster when you tune up your 20v turbo and a normal porsche 911 will have to go all the way to the red line to stay ahead and this is a car twice the price!.a coupé is a lot cheaper to buy and run even included the tuning up.600 euro's for 260ps and that's just for starters. so bye bye stock 911 porsche against a modified coupé you will not convince me that a 911 is a better corner taker due to the engine being a dead weight in the back.
A stock 20v 1998 against a stock subaru 1998 no problems here. when you can drive it will be close either way and don't forget is goes a real 250/kmh a impreza can only dream of that...
It's the italian answer to japanese sprint cars and will give much more expensive cars a go for their money.
Give the car the respect it deserves.
Some hot air balloon fans in the comment section. Coupe is a great a 'max buck for max whizz' car, but its not in supercar league, more a very fast tourer. Real (5x price) sports cars leave it behind around the first bends. Anybody who's taken one down a track (not just straight line through timing gates) gets very familiar with understeer and application of opposite lock.. having said that it's a car I drive with a permanent idiot grin..
One of life's little pleasures is finding some sales rep in his red braces, mirror shades and BMW 318/318/320. These guys think they have a cool fast car and hog the outside lane. Move your Repmobile over Declan: there's a fast Fiat behind you that needs to get by. Toast anybody?
I always wanted one since they came out of Turin over 10 years ago, and now I have one! A 20V Turbo and I'm not disappointed in the slightest. Sure, neglected ones will bite your wallet, but keep an eye on the fluids and get the cam-belt done at 5 years by a specialist and its not really any different to any other motor out there!
Except the fact it looks fantastic and pulls like a train, you can't get much more bang for your buck than this Italian baby Ferrari !!
Still smile when I reach for the keys!
Hi! Call me Fuzzy from Malaysia. I am considering to purchase a Coupe 2.0v T brand new. Over here, we still have some old Year2000 brand new stock.
Need advice should I go for it! Have driven an Alfa 146 ti before... Advice and comments highly appreciated.
Contact me at harfaz@pos.com.my
Well let me just say that I was never ever keen on the fiat coupe 20v turbo (all fiats come to that!) than one day I was given one for my company car, and then I soon changed my mind. I had calibra 4x4 turbo when I got the coupe and I would never have put money the coupe being the faster car, but it left it for dead (and I really do mean dead!) this was just the start of a long long list of cars I raced in the 2 years, 42,000 miles and speeds hitting 153mph of having the coupe, I'm not going to tell about cars I smoked in this mighty fast fiat,but just tell you that there was only 3 cars that beat me to claim the Win!!, this was a porsche 911 turbo, skyliner and a friends £60,000 subaru WRX with fitted nitros and every thing else can add to a subaru for £60,000. the fiat isn't the fastest car on earth by all means, but please don't knock it untill you own one cos it scared the hell out of me! my car had to go 5 months ago I and I really miss it! thanks...
Hi,
I have just come across this site and its ace - I always wanted a fiat coupe - I had to wait until I was 21 to insure the thing, but it was worth the wait!!! I absolutely love mine - 20v turbo standard and the other comment was right - 2 1/2 years on I still have A SMILE ON MY FACE every time I pick up that key - my mates have an s2000 and civic type r and all have done around the 60,000 mile mark - and driven right I am faster in places and they are faster in places - but we are all much of a muchness - the difference is they paid 15000 and 18000 recently - mines cost me 5000 2 years ago - and I have a bigger grin when I get out of mine - i love it - if you haven't had one - drive one - even if its just once - I don't care if you have a Ferrari - you will love a play in one of these no matter who you are or what you drive... - Thanks.