Hi guys, currently own a Volvo V70 T5 but going taxiing so thats getting sold and im buying a diesel for work and Coupe as my toy for the weekends. I think id prefer a none turbo model as i want it more for its looks than amazing performance or modding. Im leaning more to the 20V but would consider a 16V but what are the main differences apart from four valves and half a second?

If you like the engine in your T5 I'd go for the 20v personally, smooth, good sound and fairly reliable. Read the FAQs on here for all the usual buying tips, cambelt changes (16V is more frequent than 20v) and the things that go wrong with all Coupes.

Be aware though the non turbos aren't quick and you'll find it slow compared to your current car. If you are also doing lots of motorway miles the 20v non turbo is quite low geared compared to a Turbo. I like this though as it makes it a great back road car and easy around town.

There are 3 types of 20v non turbo to choose from:
20v up to 1998 (147 BHP)
20v VIS 1998 to 1999 (155 BHP)
20v VIS late 99 to 2000 (facelift model)

Barnacle on here is the 16V NA guru so if you want more info on them send him a PM, nice steering on those apparently.

I'd be inclined to agree with that excellent assessment by Wally. I'd suggest the 16v if you are after a "purer" coupé, after all it was the original, but the problem is that they are getting rarer, and there are issues with belts and cams.

The 20v is a good engine, although like the 20vt it has the same design flaw: a damaged auxiliary belt can slip into the cam belt and ruin the engine, so ensure the belts are inspected every six months and replaced every two years (that's auxiliary belts by the way!). Cam belt, inspect regularly and replace every five years/50k miles to be safe.

They are nose heavy, a tad slow considering the alleged power output (I always reckon that my Honda Prelude with 150BHP was, or at least felt, a *lot* nippier!).

As a relaxed Grand Tourer, the 20v excels and it has enough boot space for a weekend away.

Oh, and finally, it will *never* outrun a T5

Thanks for the advice guys. Ive loved the Coupe for ages now but would never expect a N/A car to match my T5 for power though in all honesty with the cost of fuel being so high plus the fact that i have three kids i very rarely thrash the Volvo anyway as when you do you might as well drive round throwing ten pound notes out of the window. The Coupe would be my Project/Toy/Pose thing and whilst ill want it to handle well, power will not be my main interest. Having it look awesome will.

You won't regret getting a 20v, that 5cyl engine sounds great and I don't think the performance is that bad.

OK it isn't Turbo quick but its fast enough, smooth and pretty good on fuel if you don't go too mad.

you can buy a turbo model cheap enough & you wont regret it , the insurance is quite cheap (im 31 pay less than £500 fully comp) & when driven sensible they give a good mpg.... best of both worlds.

Until you have a £1.5k bill for new oil cooler/pipes, clutch, manifold and turbo...will happen sooner or later with a cheap 20vt

labor prices are the same anyway & could happen with any car.. spend a little extra & buy a trusted 1 off here.

True, but manifolds, oil cooler and turbo aren't an issue with the n/a and tend to be the most costly items to repair/replace

Brakes are also cheaper for the n/a too as they are smaller discs & pads than the Turbo's set up.

Clutches also last a lot longer because they are not taking the same amount of power through them as the Turbos.

Manifolds are also a problem on the NA though, mine has a small blow when the engine is cold

Mine's for sale if you are interested?! :-)

How much mate?

Even with Stan at the helm of the 20v?

I agree with the 20v decision,style and a bit of performance without the main problems of the turbo,i`d go 20v too,especialy after the v70 as you WILL miss the 5 pot warble.

Dave
Ps my mrs runs a 20v vis

it all makes it worth while.... plenty parts available..
take one for a spin & see what you think thats all i did & now i have a red one & an ink black one, both 20vt's.

would say go for a 20v as a daily driver but as a weekend toy like your after go turbo.... you wont regret it.

20vt guy's you got to agree....

Here:

http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=83721&Number=1005916#Post1005916

HD3Coupe, Have you ever owned/driven a 20v na?
It`s all down to your budget and needs,a 20 vt is more expencive to maintain but super quick whereas the 20v is more reliable day to day and imo fast enough for fun.
but as HD3 says drive as many as you can and you will get a feel for what suits you best.

@ KOOP, sorry but thats about £800 over my budget.

And with only having a grand thats another reason why im looking at NAs

I'm willing to negotiate on price!

Not by 800 quid though id imagine

Whats all this this VIS stuff on the 20V anyway?

Variable Intake System - read the buyers guides in this section for info about different model

If you only have a grand to spend, an n/a is a far wiser choice. £1k turbos tend to be followed by big bills, regrets and tears!

That was my thinking. Dont want all the turbo hassles either as whilst its going be my toy its probably going be my wifes first car as well though we'll have to see how she drives before i let her get her hands on it!

At that budget your still going to find a car that will probably need some kind of work, even a cambelt change could leave you spending at least £400.

The sub £1k Coupe market contains a lot of rather bad cars.

I got a cheap Coupe from Nigel on the forum, as people at Brooklands can see it was far from perfect and needs money spending on it. I had to factor in a belt change, brakes and I've had bits of exhaust replaced so I've spent around £5-600 on it after buying car for a similar amount to your budget. It would benefit from other bits in the future.

Agreed ^^^ Even a £2k coupe (regardless of type) will likely need something sooner rather than later - even the newest coupe is now around 9 years old! They are not really cars to be run on a shoestring budget. I have to say, I would not have wanted a coupe as my first car - long, poor turning circle, poor visibility of end of bonnet and boot (speaking as a woman with typically female spatial awareness )

Ive been scared off many a car because of astronomical reapair bills and parts prices only to find with a a bit of resourcefullness you can run a supposed expensive car cheaply and well.

I'll get a nice 20V and it'll be run well and cheaply and it'll be improved beyond all recognition.

Looking longingly now and cant wait to get one.

i have driven a 20v about 5 year ago & like i said its ok but becomes abit boring ,i dont think i would buy a non turbo car ever again.....
as for a grand budget, it could be more expensive in the long run if a belt snaps or clutch slips...

the belts tend to be safer on the 20v na and i had my clutch in my na changed last year for a valeo one and in total including supply and fit it cost me £225 which i think is very good.

If not done in the last couple of years, budget around £400 to change the belts at a specialist

JBT does the belts for £290 and i can vouch for his work, he is an expert with the coops

i paid just under £300 including a service at twist,grip & spanner in huddersfield on my 20vt... im an old customer & he knows my car well , cant be much differance in it..

If I were buying a Coupé to run as an every day car, on a modest budget, I would definately choose one of the N/As. My preferance would be for the 5 cyl 20v though as I just love that five cylinder burble.

The Turbo Coupé can be used as a daily driver but your budget needs to be a bit more, erm flexible. The turbo's tend to get through oil, tyres, brakes, suspension and clutches just that little bit quicker than the N/As.

The 20v na is a great all rounder; quick enough, sounds fantastic, fairly hassle free and a really nice car to 'waft' around in, should you want to put your foot to the floor, it wouldnt embarass you either.

Well you might of already guessed but i bought a 16V as it came up reasonabley local at the right price and had been reasonly well looked after and was in good condition. For now im not really doing a great deal with it as ive got to wait to sell my T5 before i can do any work on the Coupe and that wont be till the T5s took us all to france beginning of July.

So far i am very impressed. Ive owned 5 Alfa 155s which share the Tipo floorplan with the Coupe and the Coupe drives very like a 155 which is great as they are like go carts. I may get bored with the power but my mrs has claimed this yellow one so i may just end up getting a turbo model for myself when finances allow. Until then ill just have to be happy posing in my Broom Yellow Coupe 16V.