Right, i've finally seen one I like but unfortunately I haven't sold my car yet so i'm hoping it doesn't sell before mine does.

Anyway, i'm really concerned.

I know you buy a car to use it and to enjoy it. And not as an investment.

Nevertheless, there has to be a certain level of sensible buying behind it ...

The car i've seen is a 2001 X-plate from a private seller with side airbags etc, Moon Grey. (Not my fave colour by any means, but otherwise it's just right).

The problem is, I can get it for a minimum of £7800. (It's fully serviced and on 46000 miles).

I don't mind paying that, if that's what it's worth. But i've looked in What Car's buyer's guide and Parkers, and the highest price it quotes is £5850.

I can see myself buying it, and then selling it a couple of years from now (as is about normal for me and many others) and finding that I can only get about 4 grand for it.

This would be a hell of a hit to take, and I think it'll ultimately be my fault for buying a car that was so #overpriced' in the first place. I always buy carefully, and the most I ever lose over a couple of years is £1000-2000.

Take the example of part-ex'ing it, even the day after buying it. Pay £7800, and then take it to a dealer ... he'll offer you £3500 for it. That has to say something. Dealers never say, "oh there's a market for them so i'll ignore the book", they simply get their copy of Glasses out and screw you into the ground, ripping your heart out at the same time.

And I have to stress again, I have the money, and i'm happy to spend it. IF i'm not being ripped off. (Which I honestly think we might all be)!

Atthe end of the day, it's a car, and we've all got families to support and bills to pay. I know there are more 'safe' buys out there, but surely it's possible to buy the Fiat and only lose a normal amount of money over a couple of years, rather than thousands overnight!

Can we all have the final discussion on this matter ... what is going on with the asking prices of these cars?

Well, I have a 2000/X Moon Grey Plus (on an X plate when the private plate is removed) with 70k, rebuilt engine, and I wouldn't be looking at letting that go for much less than £8k if I was selling. People ARE paying these prices, regardless of what the trade says - someone on here recently bought something in the same bracket, I'm sure.

I think with most relatively young cars, £1.5 - 2k depreciation a year is to be expected. The older and cheaper the car the lower the amount of depreciation will be, but then the maintenance costs will prolly be higher.

And the longer you keep the thing the lower the annual depreciation will be, averaged out.

There are a lot of long term owners on here and I expect many of us would say that at the end of the day it's a car, bang for bucks and all that. It won't be as good an investment as, say, an ISA; it might not even be as good an investment as standing in the street ripping up £20's.

But it'll be a little bit more exciting than either I hope

Is it a plus or 'just' a late 20VT?
Some people look specifically for a plus or LE model, which may help with resale values.

The value is also going to depend on whether the cars start becoming more saught after which is a distinct possibility - future classic and all that. If more magazines start writing about what a good value second hand sports car they are, that'll help lessen the depreciation.

OR you could do a lot of waiting and buy one dirt cheap off a dealer, like I did. As you say heinzeman, "Dealers never say, "oh there's a market for them so i'll ignore the book", they simply get their copy of Glasses out and screw you into the ground, ripping your heart out at the same time."

I bought my W Reg Turbo for £4,500 (probably needs £500 spending on it to make it mint). The dealer had already made his cut so he must have paid less than £3500 to the previous owner

But those cars don't hang around. That car was sold the day it was made available and I got it because my dad knew the dealer so had first refusal

Like you, I always buy my cars right and have only ever sold one car for less than I paid for it. I've just sold my 20V N/A for £600 more than I paid for it 15 months ago. I spent £1000 over that 15 months so I lost £400 really but then again, it's only cost me £400 on consumables + petrol money over a whole year. Money that you'd have to spend on any car

If you're trying to be prudent, get a 20VT(6) as they're better value for money in my opinion. Yes, I'd rather have a Plus but I can't afford one

No offence and i dont mean to wish you bad luck but if you buy it and it gets demolished what you going to get for it??? Its pointless planning it, you will be creating depreciation formula's next!!!

People who come up with these bizare buying plans honestly do annoy me!

If the car is worth 7k to you go buy it, not saying anyone else would buy it for that!

Are you putting risk factor into your calcualtion of depreciation and 3 year selling plan??? Do you make alowance for the engine to pop, gearbox or turbo to bang????

No offence again, but i have similar people coming to look at my cars, now are people not capable of deciding if the car in its prime condition is worth the price before they travel to view. Its very annoying when some clown stands there with a buyers guide and a book to tell me what the car is worth!

I sell one hell of alot of 16v's, now book on them is nothing, but 1800 buys a dog as per book price, 3500+ buys a proper coupe, at double book, but people will pay for a proper one!! Remeber book's are written with alot of tolerance to condition, they expect at that age dents chips etc but not many buyers are willing to accept.

Anything is only worth what someone wants to pay for it!

I'd suggest you go buy a BMW or Mercedes, may fit your style of purchase better!

As for being ripped off thats a stupid comment, if you want to pay it, are you being forced or had??? You can see the price, how can that be ripping you off???? Its your option to call and view and buy at that price!

No offence again but i have 2 coupe's on the trader at the mo in the wolves area, please dont call me!!!!!

Goodluck!

I agree...any car is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it...if it's not worth that to you, don't buy Cars depreciate fact, absolute amount wise a coupe will depreciate less as the starting price is lower...As carlt says, if you want a reliable car that will depreciate less buy a Golf or a Honda - a Jazz retains 70% of value after 3 years apparently.

Deep breaths Carlt.

(again)

carlt,

firstly, I resent that you see my post as evidence of a 'bizaar buying plan'; it's far from it. It's just an innocent suggestion creating an open forum.

secondly, yes I have made allowances for the engine to 'pop'. It'd be stupid not to, right?


Now look, this is what I said:

Quote:

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...I know you buy a car to use it and to enjoy it. And not as an investment.

...Nevertheless, there has to be a certain level of sensible buying behind it ...

...I don't mind paying that, if that's what it's worth.

...Pay £7800, and then take it to a dealer ... he'll offer you £3500 for it. That has to say something.

...IF i'm not being ripped off. (Which I honestly think we might all be)!

---

guys ... have a proper read of my thread. I'm not a cheap-skate, and I understand that sometimes the going-rate for a car is above the 'book price'.

What I needed was assurance that there is a market (so that if I wanted to sell it a day later, hyperthetically, it would be worth what I paid for it, and not three grand less as i'd been mugged).

That is important, because it's sensible.

I've been given that assurance from the members who understood my thread.

The reason I asked at all, is because i've been looking for months and as far as I can see, only one or two Plus's have sold. (both cheaper than the average 8k asking prices incidently).

That for me, was cause for concern, as it looked like if I was forced to sell mine (stress 'forced'; it's not my intention) i'd be stuck with it. And therefore i'd have been ripped off.

As if i'd paid only 6k, i'd get 6 back!

See the logic there?

I don't want to be the only bugger out there who buys one at top dollar. Just because they're advertised at a given price, it doesn't follow that they're selling.

I've worked out the answer to this myself now anyway.
It is ok to buy one at around the asking prices, because there will be a market if I was forced to sell. It will just be a very very slow sale.

Good enough for me. As long as there's a sale, we're quids in. The family and the bills come first, and if we're in dire straits (it can happen to anyone, i'm not at all poor) it would be unforgivable if I had tied up 8 grand in a car worth 5.

Sensible? Yes.

Too sensible for some of you on this forum? Quite possibly.




I'll buy the car regardless. As I said, a slow sale, is still a sale. I just wouldn't take it to a dealer to have it laughed at.

Quote:

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i'd be stuck with it. And therefore i'd have been ripped off.

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No you chose to pay 7k and at the moment your selling no one else does! Thats not being ripped off.

Your logic i think is bizare. Having owned both currently and previously more coupe's than 99% of the population, coupe's are not an investment, nor have any kind of logic.

Quote:

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The reason I asked at all, is because i've been looking for months and as far as I can see, only one or two Plus's have sold

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Wrong again, ive sold one plus, one 20vt6 and several decent top price 20vt's in the last few months. There is a strong market for the right car. Just depends what world the buyer is from.

I'd throw your money in a house!

I think, in short, all heinzman is saying is that he doesn't want to buy a car that's going to depreciate so much that he'll be stressing over having bought it in the first place

I can empathise with that. The Plus and LE Coupes are very appealing but if I ever bought one for the going rate it'd spoil my enjoyment of the car to be worrying about the money side of things. Which is precisely why I bought my car at the price I did

I suggest you buy the car you want at the price you're happy with

Found this on ebay, a good honest write up and a sensible price.

ebay 20vt LE

I personally can't see why your holding out for plus. IMHO they are overpriced.
There is so many Late 20VT Coupe for sale you can take your pick. Save yourself 2 grand and use it for mods instead

looks like dukes le on ebay

If he wants a Plus, let him get a Plus. I only looked for them when I was buying (and I paid a shedload more than £7k!).

I bought mine just over 12 months ago and "i paid a shedload more than £7k" too

No regrets

There was a cracking plus for 6k black 50k miles there is a blue one and a red one here.
plus's

I reckon heinzman is a bs

bs? humour me ...

The first '99 sprint blue (6) looks like a well maintained coupe, it has low mileage and I reckon you could knock him down to £4,700.

I like the red one on the second page.

Broke student?

back stabber?

bum stuffer?!

I don't, I think he is for real. But heinzeman, Jeez, loosen up! It's just a car at the end of the day (there I said it) Just pay what you are willing to pay and enjoy instead of acting as if lives are at stake!!
I bid on mine off ebay when drunk ( ) and it's been the best investment ever. But that's probably more to do with this forum than the car.

Here is a near plus plus 4 heinzman

Dont get me wrong i would love nothing more than to see you get a coop, just get a feckin move on

Heinzman,

From your posts you are obviously a worrier and a perfectionist so maybe the Coupe is just not for you!
Your current car has been up for sale for a long time so I sense that you paid top dollar for it and are now trying to minimise losses. Why even put yourself in a similar position with a Coupe when it obviously bothers you so much.
At the current time there seem to be a lot of later model 20VT for sale and the market value has dropped from what it was 12 months ago. However, many 20Vt are getting older and in 1 to 2 years time the market value (private) of any good 20Vt left could significantly increase.
If you just want a daily driver then dont waste your money on a Coupe, buy a supermini. If you want some fun and a 'hobby' then buy a Coupe, so what if you lose £1K to £2K a year, no-one bats an eyelid about spending this on other hobbies, beer or fags.
On another note, I have a good friend who was exactly like yourself and he 'planned' his Coupe purchase for 2 years boring myself and his other friends with calculation after calculation. Finally he bought one and never looked back - all his calcs went to ratshit but he loves it to bits.
Coupe ownership is great but there is a certain level of paranoia associated with it even if you buy the best.
As they say - shit or get off the pan!!

Some good points here, particularly Ponsonby's above. You buy one of these things with your heart not your head.

I like the smoking 'n drinking analogy above. Its a hobby thing for many of us and shouldn't cost more than a hundred fags and twenty pints a day

Buy a Golf diesel, it's more suitable .

You don't buy a Fiat Coupe with your head, it a heart and soul thing .

It's like being in love, sometimes the slaps and stingers are the attraction, it's worth it for a car with "soul".

The Fiat Coupe sort of "treats us mean and keeps us keen" but the returns in "fun" are worth it .

Buy a Golf diesel.......

The name Heinzman sounds rather German so perhaps he likes the idea of slaps and stingers while dancing in the Lederhosen?? If so, then the Coupe is for him. Masochists of the world unite. You dont buy a Coupe if you want an easy and painless life.

Or perhaps he likes baked beans. Either way, less of the personal digs please

I see you all had a bit of a party on my behalf when I went to bed last night! Don't know how it turned into such a bloodfest though, my last post seemed to close the thread with a thank you, and a conclusion I thought.

Contrary to what's been alleged, I always think with my heart, that's the problem! Trying to protect myself for once by gaining a bit of knowledge and perspective!


Please don't suggest i'm a bullshitter though, that's neither fair nor founded. I'm waiting for the car I want, and in the meantime just trying to learn as much as possible.

I adore these cars, that's why. Always have. It is the car for me.. i'm just not going to be rash.

And I bought my car for £7400 a year ago. Ironic, isn't it. Someone who was pricing it by the book, even though at the time it wouldn't have hung around at 10k. I just got there first! (Believe me, i've always known there was a market for some cars this way, I just wanted to know if the Fiat was really one of them).


... and for the guy who wants me to get off the pot, well, let's just say i'm constipated because the market's lacking an Electric Blue or Light Red Plus with lowish miles and side bags.

I know it's a tall order, and I know it'll keep me waiting. But i'll do that, as when it arrives i'll be 'appy as Larry.

And i've just spent £1253 on ICE this morning despite not having the car! So there's no turning back now.



But don't worry, i'll keep very quiet from now on.


danke , Sie haben alle gewesen sehr behilflich.

You do know that the side airbag seats weren't Recaro's don't you?

No I didn't know that, but they still look more supportive than the standard Coupe seats don't they?

Side Airbag seats: Coupe Turbo Plus

Yes, they are better than the standard seats, although the 20vt[6] had improved ones as well, just not that improved. I haven't spent any time in the airbag equipped ones so couldn't tell you if they are as comfortable as mine (Recaro in a late 99 Plus)

They do look very similar indeed. Are you certain they're not the same seat?

Non-Airbag Seat: Coupe Turbo Plus

Yes, the side airbag ones were "replica" recaros. They look very similar though. I wouldn't worry about it, in the grand scale of things to look for when buying a Coupe it's pretty insignificant

Quote
danke , Sie haben alle gewesen sehr behilflich.

That is a terrible thing to say, you cannot possibly use such language on this forum

Seriously though matey, no offence intended.

To me, it seems a bit odd to have been looking for a coupe for months, not having sold yours and hence not having the funds available to buy when you find one

BTW...should be "Danke. Ihr habt alle sehr behilflich gewesen" I can explain why if needed

Perhaps you could show the seller the parkers and "what car" guides and ask them to explain the difference. They should be able to justify it if the car is well looked after etc.

When I buy and sell any car, I always take the "guides" as just that a guide. To mirror the other comments here it's only worth what your willing to pay. If the car is well maintained etc then obviously its worth more. When I bought my previous 20vt it felt more together (due to festiduous owner) with 75K on the clock than two others I looked at with sub 40K and the seller knew it. When I asked him to justify the price, he could easily hence I paid more than the "guide".

Finally, IMHO owning any car is like walking around with your wallet open. unless you buy a classic, a car with a waiting list, a cheapo dog you will lose money fact! I just look at it as another car (coupe) tax, i pay a bit more to have a car I really enjoy and I intend to keep it for 3 years or so, so that costs me 1K a year rent (depreceation).

Unless you buy an overpriced dog I wouldn't worry about if its expensive or not, or resale values, just buy it and enjoy it.

As an alternative have you considered buying a well looked after cheapy? The less you pay the less depreciation there is.

Quote:

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You do know that the side airbag seats weren't Recaro's don't you?

---

Quote:

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No I didn't know that, but they still look more supportive than the standard Coupe seats don't they?

---

You did know that, I told you 3 weeks ago

sorry JimO.

I thought that, having looked at that Kayjaysite, that the side airbagged Plus seats were Recaros, but that you meant after a while, that they stopped fitting them, and started fitting the normal seats with sidebags again. Like the seats you had in your previous Coupe.

I though this also fitted in with the Fiat 'parts bin' thing that many people mention, i.e the Recaros ran out.

Sorry, my mistake

Out of interest, where did you and Scooby find out this information?

Thanks

I found out from Scooby

Your right about my old car seats they were not recaros, they were standard seats with side airbags, the side air bags being stuffed in the side added a slightly larger side bolster, but not like a recaro side bolster

I'm afraid that I don't believe the seats are different.
There's no evidence for that.

I think it's the same seat, with side airbags.

no sidebags

no sidebags

sidebags

But as someone said earlier, it doesn't really matter anyway. They look identical and i'm sure even if they are replicas (which seems far fetched) that they're lovely.

I'm sorry to undermine what's been said by people who are more experienced.

Have you considered an LE, they have the "Red Devil" engine - 20 more BHP

Think what you want, it don't matter, at the end of the day be it a recaro or not, it'll still stink if you fart on it

IIRC, it was Recaro that said it, but what do they know eh?

LOL @ Scooby

Remember with a little work you can get a genuine set of Vauxhall Senator grey leather bolsterless seats in the coupe and you can then skip the recaro's.

Take the seat out and bolt in a deckchair.

or a stool

How about heinz just imports from malaysia? I think that this is the only way he is gonna get a coop that he is 100% with.

the Fiat service manager who's helped me in the past (he's of 24 years fiat experience and actually inspires confidence when you speak to him (rare for a fiat man)) has just helped me with the recaro question.

he's been all over the parts lists for the various 20vt's including LEs; Plus's and Plus's with sidebags. He also has personal experience as he used to be an accident investigator and dealt with a coupe who's sidebag failed to deploy.

none of the seats (LE, and both Plus variants) are 'recaro', but all three have the same generic recaro-made frame. Hence Fiat's right to describe them as such.

The rest of the seat is Fiat and the only variations are in the fitment or non-fitment of the (siemens) side bag / the prescence of red-stitching / and colour of the leather (red&black for the LE).

Obviously this isn't 'proof' as such, but it's good enough for me. Recaro themselves know nothing about it (headquarters in Germany, very knowledgeable and perfect English). Whereas the service manager was very pausible and knew the answer straight away.

I know him personally from many weeks of dealings over an HGT that went pop, and he's very knowledgable and kind.

take it or leave it ... either way, it's unimportant I suppose!

how do you figure that, skint? I'm looking for an unmodified electric blue or light red Plus with sidebags, FSH and around 40k. Should be possible without going to Malayasioerssier?

It is rumored that they have unsold coops with delivery miles there.was a thread in the old forum i cant remember who enquired im sure they will own up. All rhd aswell.14-15k tho.

I wish I could afford to ...

I dont think you will get a 40k plus, i doubt many plus owners here have sub 40k. The price of a 50k on the trader 7-8k its likely if you do find one you will pay a good 9k. I'd be happy with the blue or red on the trader at the momment.

well i've been offered a 28000 miler in Moon grey for 8500, but it needs a full service including cambelt. and it's been standing for over 18 months so god knows what else will need replenishing. so it's really nearer a 10k car, which is probably a little excessive. and i'm not one for moon grey; if it was blue or dark red i'd consider it.

otherwise, 50k would be ok...

the red you mention's sold and the blue's my last resort if i don't find a sidebagged model.

cheers for pointing them out skint,

kerr

heinzeman, that's why I went for a slightly higher mileage car (58k) as I knew it had been driven everyday and is mechanically sound. I've got it booked into Powerfiat for a full service next week for peace of mind, but there are a lot of high milers for a very good reason.....they last the miles and don't break.

Moon grey really grows on you in the flesh. I wasn't sure fo rthe first 10 or 20 minutes. Thought it was too light. But after that you start to appreciate how well it suits the coupe inside and out and then the enthusiasm for it just grows as you compare it to all the others. I think it's the best colour by far.

Think that somneone is asking too much for a car that has been stood 18 months though. That's not very healthy

yeah it's a worry.

sounded like a gem at first, but over 18 months ... reckon there could be big freakin bills to pay after a while.

Much sooner have double the miles for a loved and maintained car

JimO, is there a link to pics of yours anywhere (and your old one too maybe? know you sent this before but don't know where it is) ... i'd love to see

Old car

New car

I don't know who the fisherman is, he just turned up one day

Cant you not knock the moon grey down a bit? 7k would be about right considering the work req.

Here are some pics of my old moon grey coupe.
Not obvious in the pics but you start to see all sorts of blues, greens, pinks etc. in it when the sun shines.

The colour works really well on the dash and inside the doors etc. too. Most others are too dark IMO including the Rover metallic dark red I had previously

I can see how the moon grey could be a grower ... they're lovely photos. Those seats do actually look a bit more chunky than the non-airbag ones don't they.

About knocking the guy down on the 28k car ... no. He's insisting he'll keep it garaged unless he gets 8.5 for it as it is. I offered him 7250 as it is and he declined. I mayhear from him in the future if he reconsiders. I appreciate it's rare at those miles, but I can't spend 10k+ when I can get essentially the same car with 50k for a 3 grand saving.

JimOs interior on the Y-plater ... that's pretty special for a Coupe; what's the story behind that then? I'd like that car very much, very tasty. Never seen a Y-plate before.

It was retrimmed by the previous owner, std seats nicer leather, one of only 3 seen Y reg's in the country. but do you know what it has over 50k on the clock, so no good for you

I paid £10k for that, when pluses were goinf for £9k, the guy before me paid £13k for it and had it only 6 months. As I say you pay for what you want

Not noticed before but those cream leathers are nothing like the 'recaros' are they. They look more like standard leathers with side airbags

edited: D'oh too late!

Thats because they are standard

yeah it looks like a really nice one, and the seller told me that L&M have completely rebuilt the engine too so you won't have to worry about the belts.

Good luck with the viewing

really? didn't mention that to me. i tried to get hold of L&M today but they're closed until after the BH weekend.

Hope one turns up for you soon!

cheers Dai,

I am looking every day but the market's slow. Rare cars eh?

Yeah i spoke to L&M at length about the car (with the seller's permission) but the only downside is the guy I spoke to was only going by l&m's records. He didn't know of anyone working there who was around when it was rebuilt a couple of years back.

But he said he does know the car itself, as it comes to them for servicing and didn't know of anything wrong with it, and he said according to the records it looks like there were no problems during the rebuild, it just had the belts tangle up with eachother after a rogue stone hit apparantly and destroyed the top end. think it had a new water pump too, can't remember. Ask the seller cause she said she had all the docs and receips from it... it was mentioned in her ad before which is why I asked her and l&m about it, just had a look and see it's not mentioned now.

oh well, seems like most of them have had a rebuilld anyway!

yeah alright, not 'most' of them, but all i'm saying is, it doesn't seem like it's unusual, so not to worry about it being done. especially as it's by L&M with a good rep...

thanks for the info heinzeman, i'll be sure to have a good check of all the paperwork. if it's been done at a specialists and has been running with no problems for a couple of years then there shouldn't be any worries, hopefully!

Regarding the rumoured cars stored in Malaysia:-
Unless you know the storage conditions are air con and de-humidified then you could just be buying a lump of rust! On top of the asking price you could still be looking at seized brakes, knackered tyres, not to mention what will happen when you try to start the thing up.
Attractive prospect, a brand new Coupe, and one I would certainly consider only if I knew the exact condition.

I know what heinzeman means about the rebuilds. When I was buying there were a few late model 20VT [6]'s on Autotrader where engine rebuilds were stated in the listings. Then again that's only about 3 or 4 cars at most. It was just most of the good one on Autotrader 'at the time'.

In the end I went for Moon Grey one that has been used every day. The colour really does look stunning in the right light.

DC

Its gone quiet has heinz got a coop yet?

I think he's probably touching himself over a Plus brochure. His mum may have walked in at a "Awkward" moment on page 12 (interior shots) and he feels dirty inside.

does anyone have a copy of issue 117 of Auto Italia magazine? I missed that issue, but if someone else got it, could they pdf the fiat coupe feature up onto this site?

Interesting to see that that's 3 Vinci Grey Coupes come up on here in a week

This fasiled to even make it's reserve Ink Black Plus

92,000 miles; it's lived most of it's life already!

Hardly. I'd rather buy a higher mileage coop thats been looked after properly than a low mileage sit around coop. IMHO Fiats do not like sitting around.

I'm in the buy a coop with your heart camp but just for fun here are some facts and figures on depreciation

Vauxhall Omega anyone

Stock market coops !!!!
Buy high, Sell low Heinzy!!!
Just had a look on autotrader and it does seem like a good time to sell your coop for a reasonable amount.
I remember some time last year thay seemed ridiculously cheap and i feared my coop would only be worth 2p this time next year!
If autotrader is anything to go by i havent lost a penny on mine since last year. nice.

Hmm as time goes on the same old subjects seem to be debated, 95%, or more, of cars will loose their value, the only thing that an owner may try is to keep it in top condition. Then the sale price is relative to the buyer and what he/she is willing to pay.

There is no substitute for experience/knowledge with regards to purchasing a particular type/make of car, each will have its pros and cons, mileage is not a wise indicator as to the condition. As mentioned previously some low mileage cars could cost a considerably bit more to get to optimum running order than a high mileage equivalent.

The Fiat Coupe is as with most performance turbo charged cars – if abused from new, not serviced correctly, oil not check, low quality consumables used etc etc then the engine will have a shorter life than most.

Modified cars could also throw up a few unwanted surprises if short cuts have been taken, or ‘high boost heroes’, correct way of any modification is mechanical first followed by software – ie not just turning up the boost and hoping for the best.

As for the comment that a 92,000 mile Coupe has just but lived its life – I think that will be relative to the points as mentioned above. How ever I have known quite a few high milers both modified and standard that have clocked near or more than 50% above that mileage and still going strong.

At the end of the day owning an Italian car such as the Fiat Coupe is really a trait as opposed to be sensible or ‘Joe Average’, they are not ‘quirk’ free, or great for commuting, big families – if these are your requirements then they may be better alternatives made by other manufactures that would suit better.

Herewith endith thy dribble………………………..

Pay what you are happy to pay and enjoy your car!

I bought my 20VT[6] for £9,500 when it was 4.25 years old - this was thought to be top price by some and even over the top.

The car was very low mileage and absolutely mint - I enjoyed it for 18 months and then sold it for £8500. New owner is very happy also - price guides are ok for run of the mill stuff but that is all!

And for my two penneth worth...

I love my coupe and I love driving it.

I don't care how much I end up selling her for because despite not being over flush with cash, it is sooooo worth the ride.