Owning a Fiat Coupé is like buying a horse: it’s not the purchase price you
need to worry about, it’s the cost of looking after it. Horses throw shoes,
eat food and destroy tack at an alarming rate. Fiat Coupés can do the same
with fuel and spare parts. But just like its equine equivalent, you’ll
forget all that the moment you take the Coupé out for a gallop.
With used prices at an all-time low, what was never a hugely expensive car
when new now looks like a real bargain. Less than £3,000 lets you join the
club and for around £5,000 you’ll have the pick of some very tasty examples.
The Coupé was introduced to Britain in June 1995. Initially two engines were
offered, a four-cylinder 2 litre injection unit producing 142bhp and a
turbocharged version with an extra 53bhp. But in November 1996 both were
replaced by five-cylinder units, adding 5bhp to the normally aspirated car
and 25bhp to the turbo. The earlier four-cylinder engines are often
described as “16 valve”, whereas the five-cylinder ones are known as “20
valve”.
With 220bhp on tap, the 20v Turbos are genuinely quick. The 0-60mph dash takes
a tad over 6sec and the car continues to pull like a train all the way up to
the 155mph top speed.
The Pininfarina-designed body is both elegant and aggressive. Inside, the huge
slab of body-coloured metal that runs the width of the dashboard looks
fantastic. The thick leather steering wheel feels perfect; the low,
supportive seats hold you snugly. Only the offset pedals (positioned
slightly towards the centre of the car rather than dead ahead) lose the car
marks on driving environment, but it’s a feature you soon get used to.
The car’s elegant lines are matched by superb driving dynamics. Even the
non-turbocharged models are a hoot to drive. With plenty of grip and
superbly accurate steering, the Coupé can carry speed through corners with
little drama. The gearchange is sweet and the brakes powerful, particularly
on models with the Brembo system.
Being a driver’s car means that correct maintenance is important, so running
one on a shoestring isn’t recommended. Essential maintenance includes cam
belt changes every five or six years and monitoring the engine oil weekly.
Brakes, exhausts and suspension need to be replaced when they show signs of
tiredness.
Used values can vary enormously on cars of similar age and mileage so take
your time when buying. Colours and specification can affect values by 25% on
a car costing around £5,000, with leather and air-conditioning both
virtually essential on Turbo models to retain value. The early four-cylinder
cars without ABS are least desirable and as they cost only about £1,500 less
it is a false economy. Of the five-cylinder 20v models, the Turbo cars,
which cost more than £2,000 extra new, will usually fetch no more than £500
over the equivalent normally aspirated engines.
Check your insurance premium before you get wrapped up in the romance of
ownership: non-turbo models are group 17 and the 20v Turbo a hefty group 18;
for some that can equate to an annual premium of up to half the car’s value.
Most Coupé owners are enthusiastic about their cars and you’ll have no problem
finding one who is happy to advise the would-be buyer. The Fiat Coupé Club
UK (www.fccuk.org) is a good place to start.
VITAL STATISTICS
Model: Fiat Coupé 20v Turbo
Engine: Five-cylinder, 1998cc, 20v
Power: 220bhp
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel: 28.8mpg (combined)
Acceleration: 0-62mph: 6.5sec
Top speed: 155mph
Leather upholstery: Leather was a popular option and suits
the car well, but second-hand will cost around £400 extra
Turbocharger: If hot, idling engine produces blue smoke, this
could be a worn turbocharger
Engine: Engines tend to use oil, so expect to put in about 1
litre every 1,000 miles
Cam belt: To be changed at least every 6 years or 72,000
miles. Expect to pay a specialist £600 for this, or a dealer twice as much
Brakes: Front brake discs are prone to distortion, so check
for shuddering under hard braking
Traction control: The system works well through the bends but
struggles to handle 220bhp from a standstill
Models: Turbo models cost in excess of £2,000 more when new,
but now the premium is down to £500
Service history: Only buy cars with full histories and
original receipts. Cars with large service and repair bills are the ones to
consider
Boot: Decent-size boot is one of the Coupé's virtues
Keys: There should be three keys: silver, blue and red. The
red key carries codes for the ECU; replacing it and the ECU can cost £1,000
Total UK sales of all Fiat Coupé models 1995-2000: 5,482
Exhaust manifold: Ticking/tapping noise at idle indicates a
cracked manifold, which could cost £450 to fix
Suspension: Lumpy ride signals worn front wishbones and
track-rod ends
Air-conditioning: Not standard on many turbocharged cars but
worth paying extra for
THE ONE TO BUY
1998 R-reg Fiat Coupé 20v Turbo five-speed manual with 50,000 miles. In
Portofino blue with black leather and air-conditioning. Pay £5,150 at a
dealer with 12-month warranty, or £4,500 privately.
OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY...
1997 P-reg Alfa GTV 2.0 TS Coupé
1998 R-reg Nissan 200 SX Turbo Coupé
1992 J-reg Maserati 222 Coupé
1990 G-reg Porsche 944 Turbo Coupé
1989 F-reg Lotus Esprit HC Turbo
VALUES
Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. ‘Trade’ is
what a dealer would pay to buy your car; ‘Retail’ is what you would pay a
dealer Owning a Fiat Coupé is like buying a horse: it’s not the purchase
price you need to worry about, it’s the cost of looking after it. Horses
throw shoes, eat food and destroy tack at an alarming rate. Fiat Coupés can
do the same with fuel and spare parts. But just like its equine equivalent,
you’ll forget all that the moment you take the Coupé out for a gallop.
With used prices at an all-time low, what was never a hugely expensive car
when new now looks like a real bargain. Less than £3,000 lets you join the
club and for around £5,000 you’ll have the pick of some very tasty examples.
The Coupé was introduced to Britain in June 1995. Initially two engines were
offered, a four-cylinder 2 litre injection unit producing 142bhp and a
turbocharged version with an extra 53bhp. But in November 1996 both were
replaced by five-cylinder units, adding 5bhp to the normally aspirated car
and 25bhp to the turbo. The earlier four-cylinder engines are often
described as “16 valve”, whereas the five-cylinder ones are known as “20
valve”.
With 220bhp on tap, the 20v Turbos are genuinely quick. The 0-60mph dash takes
a tad over 6sec and the car continues to pull like a train all the way up to
the 155mph top speed.
The Pininfarina-designed body is both elegant and aggressive. Inside, the huge
slab of body-coloured metal that runs the width of the dashboard looks
fantastic. The thick leather steering wheel feels perfect; the low,
supportive seats hold you snugly. Only the offset pedals (positioned
slightly towards the centre of the car rather than dead ahead) lose the car
marks on driving environment, but it’s a feature you soon get used to.
The car’s elegant lines are matched by superb driving dynamics. Even the
non-turbocharged models are a hoot to drive. With plenty of grip and
superbly accurate steering, the Coupé can carry speed through corners with
little drama. The gearchange is sweet and the brakes powerful, particularly
on models with the Brembo system.
Being a driver’s car means that correct maintenance is important, so running
one on a shoestring isn’t recommended. Essential maintenance includes cam
belt changes every five or six years and monitoring the engine oil weekly.
Brakes, exhausts and suspension need to be replaced when they show signs of
tiredness.
Used values can vary enormously on cars of similar age and mileage so take
your time when buying. Colours and specification can affect values by 25% on
a car costing around £5,000, with leather and air-conditioning both
virtually essential on Turbo models to retain value. The early four-cylinder
cars without ABS are least desirable and as they cost only about £1,500 less
it is a false economy. Of the five-cylinder 20v models, the Turbo cars,
which cost more than £2,000 extra new, will usually fetch no more than £500
over the equivalent normally aspirated engines.
Check your insurance premium before you get wrapped up in the romance of
ownership: non-turbo models are group 17 and the 20v Turbo a hefty group 18;
for some that can equate to an annual premium of up to half the car’s value.
Most Coupé owners are enthusiastic about their cars and you’ll have no problem
finding one who is happy to advise the would-be buyer. The Fiat Coupé Club
UK (www.fccuk.org) is a good place to start.
VITAL STATISTICS
Model: Fiat Coupé 20v Turbo
Engine: Five-cylinder, 1998cc, 20v
Power: 220bhp
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel: 28.8mpg (combined)
Acceleration: 0-62mph: 6.5sec
Top speed: 155mph
Leather upholstery: Leather was a popular option and suits
the car well, but second-hand will cost around £400 extra
Turbocharger: If hot, idling engine produces blue smoke, this
could be a worn turbocharger
Engine: Engines tend to use oil, so expect to put in about 1
litre every 1,000 miles
Cam belt: To be changed at least every 6 years or 72,000
miles. Expect to pay a specialist £600 for this, or a dealer twice as much
Brakes: Front brake discs are prone to distortion, so check
for shuddering under hard braking
Traction control: The system works well through the bends but
struggles to handle 220bhp from a standstill
Models: Turbo models cost in excess of £2,000 more when new,
but now the premium is down to £500
Service history: Only buy cars with full histories and
original receipts. Cars with large service and repair bills are the ones to
consider
Boot: Decent-size boot is one of the Coupé's virtues
Keys: There should be three keys: silver, blue and red. The
red key carries codes for the ECU; replacing it and the ECU can cost £1,000
Total UK sales of all Fiat Coupé models 1995-2000: 5,482
Exhaust manifold: Ticking/tapping noise at idle indicates a
cracked manifold, which could cost £450 to fix
Suspension: Lumpy ride signals worn front wishbones and
track-rod ends
Air-conditioning: Not standard on many turbocharged cars but
worth paying extra for
THE ONE TO BUY
1998 R-reg Fiat Coupé 20v Turbo five-speed manual with 50,000 miles. In
Portofino blue with black leather and air-conditioning. Pay £5,150 at a
dealer with 12-month warranty, or £4,500 privately.
OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY...
1997 P-reg Alfa GTV 2.0 TS Coupé
1998 R-reg Nissan 200 SX Turbo Coupé
1992 J-reg Maserati 222 Coupé
1990 G-reg Porsche 944 Turbo Coupé
1989 F-reg Lotus Esprit HC Turbo
VALUES
Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. ‘Trade’ is
what a dealer would pay to buy your car; ‘Retail’ is what you would pay a
dealer
