Well folks it's been an emotional, costly and, for large parts, a fantastic voyage owning and driving these stunning "baby Ferrari" cars.

As from tomorrow I will be Coupé free for the first time since (i think) 2005 and i've had heartbreak more than most could know - would i change it? You bet i would, i had 8 trips home on the AA with my Plus alone so that was memorable for the wrong reasons

For all that i've loved most of my ownerships and have been fortunate enough to have met some great people and made some good friends along the way. I hope to stay in touch with them and i'll certainly be hanging around the forum because it's a good community populated by (mainly) fine people with similar interests.

I've learned so much, had so many laughs and drank tons of beer with some of you that i feel at home here even though my presence has been less obvious of late. The AGM's, the local meets, the now rare seeing of other Coupés have been highlights of ownership but I have to hold special regard for Donington my local track for some good and bad days, but mostly to all the Spa Francorchamp experiences. Absolutely epic trips, and i'm happy to see they're starting again in 2014 - anyone who hasn't been on that trip and is a keen Coupé owner is selling themselves short. It's an expensive but awesome experience from start to finish, and I shall probably miss that the most. In fact the lack of a Spa trip this year was probably the final thing that made me decide to sell my two Coupés.

Finally my thanks go to those who've encouraged me when the thing broke, made it possible to fix by helpful pricing; you know who you are and i'm eternally grateful for all you did from day 1 of ownership right up until tomorrow.

I wish the very best to both Alex who's "stolen" my Plus off me, and to Chris who's collecting my pretty yellow 20vt tomorrow. If you enjoy them as much as I have, you've made the right decision...........

Sorry for the long post but I felt I had to express myself here, feel free to ignore it

Sorry to see you are now free of your Coupe(s) Proccy.
You certainly seem to have made plenty of posts so hopefully the withdrawal symptoms will not be too painful!
Best wishes

Can't believe it!!

But you'll be back in a Coupe someday. Anyway, stick around here amongst friends and to help advise newer owners.

I peaked at three current Coupes, but thanks to Leemcmini taking on the really low mile project, I'm down to two and the missus is expecting that to be just one soon. But I couldn't now imagine life Coupeless, even though I've only been driving them for two and a half years.

I've owned and driven a lot of cars in my time. In my younger days I had three Lancia Fulvia Coupes (not at the same time) and once owned a 4X4 Turbo Mazda 323, but the Coupe is the car I'm most smitten with, so I know you'll miss them, if not the expense and trouble they also can bring.

So really sorry that you've come to this decision and wish you really well for the future.

Thanks for the fun you've (been made of) added to the forum.

Good luck. I was coupeless for 7 years but I eventually came back. Maybe you'd like to try an NA?

All the best

That's no reason to get out of spa next year Steve..
Wouldn't be spa without that grumpy Blue Nose..
Seriously though, as it is back on next year come along for the laughs and usual beers..
Your wallet will start to love you again.

Nice to meet you today Steve. That plus of yours looked gorgeous, Alex will be one happy man!

On another note my brother is excited to be picking up the yellow Coupe tomorrow. I'm sure you will be back for more - you genuinely looked sad when the plus drove off.

Its been 2 years since i sold my last coop.
But im back in another electric blue plus!
What a brilliant 132 miles back home it was. Took the long way home too .

Ive gota say she drives sublime - a testament to Steves patience and devotion for making it a cracking all rounder... shes pretty quick too!

Steve you're a top bloke and I know you wont be coupeless for long. Debbie says have fun spending her xmas pressie money lol.

DanDan - nice meeting you. Hope Chris enjoys the broomy.

ignored , won't be the same without you at Spa next year Steve

nice to meet you steve, really cannot wait to come pick her up tomorrow.
I probably wont be able to sleep tonight, im too excited

Sorry to read this mate, as you have definitely been one of the Coupe owner "Characters", I have read your trials and tribulations with interest over the years.

I can understand why you are taking a break, but that doesn't stop me thinking it's a shame. Seeing another Coupe is now quite an event, I bought my first one in 2009, and I think I saw 3 other Coupes on the drive home from buying it.
Now I am lucky if I see one a month.

I hope you will still post on here as FCCUK will be a poorer place without you. Hopefully you will return to the fold soon.

Just buy an N/A for a few hundred quid and keep the itch at bay - you know you want to!

No-one can say you've not had your ups and downs as a coop owner Proccy but if you really are taking a "premium holiday" stick around on here at least and help keep the troops entertained

Hopefully it's "arrivederci" and the next coop with your name on is sitting round the next corner

Hi Steve,

Sorry to here about this, they do say a brake is as good as a change though. I know you not had an easy ride of it!
Hope you stick about the forum, place wouldn't be the same with out you.

Proccy I feel your pain, today is my first Coupeless day in a good few years. My first(dark red) I had from 2004 - 2010, my second(Yellow) from 2011 until yesterday. Although I had been using it as a 3rd car rarely driving it I still feel something is missing today...

My first Coupe caused me a great deal of grief. Was on it's third engine by time I sold it. I replaced the engine myself both times which is a learning curve, only possible by the assistance of various forum members. Some say you haven't properly owned a coupe until you have blew and replaced an engine or two. I also had the front wheel come off at 50mph when the bolts sheared at the hub! That was fun!

My second, who I have sold to a forum member was a joy, only once letting me down when the battery failed. When I bought it I realized it was a risk and put a lot of effort into finding a good one with lots of history. Although I am not one to attend meets (Just never enough hours in the day!) this forum, the knowledge and helpfulness of the people involved was, I guess one of the main reasons I bought the second one and returned to the fold. Dare say I may have another one again in the next few years.

I am currently using a Mitsi Legnum VR4 as my daily driver, which on winter tyres is an absolute joy to drive at this time of year. I may do a write up/review and comparison to the Coupe in the Other cars section if I get time.

Currently considering a Boxter or older 911 as a replacement for the Coupe though my Partner asked me as my Coupe was driven away, "What colour will your next one be?"

W

Steve, all the best, but I suspect that you have been wanting to do this for a number of years - sort of like getting divorced I suppose! You know you want to do it, just getting the timing right

Anyway, if you are going to still frequent the forum it's business as usual. All the best mate, but what will the replacement be???

Thanks for the good wishes guys, it's a genuinely sad time for me as i loved that Plus (in particular) like no possession i've ever had and way more than both my ex wives

I'm moving onto BMW M3 as from tomorrow so i'll see what that's like.

Phil, i did toy with getting rid after the 2nd (or is it 3rd?) engine failed at Donington but the glorious sound and performance always brought me back into line. As did a few people on here, for which I'm grateful.

I'm not ruling out getting another but i'll avoid the modding route next time

I will be hanging around the forum still, it's a bit like after chickenpox you still have the spots

Hi there mate, I see you posted on the M3 forum, I did reply back.

All the best with the next car, im sure it will be less trouble than your Plus and im sure you will enjoy it just as much.

All the best!

P.S Get some pics up of the M on here at some point!

Hi Steve, I , like you, have sold the coop and moved on to BMW M3.
It sure does take some getting used to not having the little Fiat around.
I owned mine since 2002.

Anyway, I presume you got an E46 M3 ? What's the spec? Coupe or convertible ? Tell us more.

I have had mine for 6-7 months now and to be honest have not driven it that much yet. ( I have done one track day though:-))
There were a few issues I had to sort out but I'm nearly there. I like to get my cars exactly so before I can start enjoying it. It's a terrible expensive habit as we all know being Fiat coop owners !

Driving the M is a completely different experience. My opinion is that you may be slightly disappointed at first but longer the ownership develops you will slowly appreciate the engineering that's gone into these cars.

I still miss my coop though.

Sean

Cheers Sean, I miss the Plus already - even the issues i had with it occasionally

The M3 is mapped to around 380bhp, 2004, smg ii box, charcoal black with every toy except the cabrio roof. I've driven it before for a few days and whilst it's solid and fine and all that........it's pretty quiet and dull

Good luck with everything Steve.
Allways great to see you mate.

Hopefully T will bend your ear enough to get you to come Spa. The cold beers will be in the fridge mate.

Liking this

"Under-steer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, over-steer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"

Sounds like you'll be back soon ....

Well well...

The purple headed monster has handed the keys over..

this is a sad day..
But sadly it happens to all of us at some stage..

Glad you sticking around mate, this palce would never be the same with out you..

mainly becuase your the resident ******* also a massive ****

i will let people fill in the blanks on that one.

But you are a good person mate, one i will always be happy to drop what im doing and come help at any given point at any time.

also, now your a M3 owner, i can annoy you on there now!
Double bonus!

But.. lets not forget..

They day Me & MCMike (McMullet) introduced Proccy to after shave...


keep in touch baldy!

Nightmare! If your anything like me you'll now go through a mental change that’s similar to child birth, for the next year or two every time you think of the coupe you'll remember the pain (frozen locks/handbrake, paranoia) and be glad that your BMW hasn't let you down once, in fact you've forgotten to check the oil this year ...after two years you will start drooling over your next coupe...you might get desperate and even consider a yellow one

Ah Proccy not good, I honestly feel for you, I've seen on here by your postings the troubles you've had over the years the relationship with the Coop. There was a time I would say I'd keep my Coop indefinitely, but every year that goes by now, I get that little niggle of doubt, for me it's not really about the money, it's a combination of no Coop expert up here & I don't have a garage.

This post is not about me but yourself, so I will wish you good luck for the future.

Typical,cars been faultless for last few years and now you sell it.

I see you and seanc have age and car preference against you both.

Anyway bye Steve .

Again, thanks for the latest best wishes guys, much appreciated

@JBT - if it wasn't running well i wouldn't have sold it, thinking i might have been inflicting on the buyer what i've had to endure

Know how you feel but you will move on and the memories will remain, don't try comparing your new cars with the coupe as it just doesn't work.

Only advice - keep in touch with the forum as I still think it's one of the best on the web

I initially put as that's the only emotion I had at the time, but I'd like to say how sad I am that proccy is now Coupeless

The yellow Coupe means nothing (no offence), but that Plus, well, caused a lot of heartache and cost a lot of money for you proccy and I really felt your pain, even though I was one of the people that talked you into extending that pain and to spend on it

You stuck with it, took me to the Spa circuit in it and even let me drive it
You loved that car so much, I didn't think the day of you selling it would ever come, but it has

Even though you fit the criteria of a BMW owner I really hope that one day, you'll come back to Coupe ownership and that the Coupe you buy will be a reliable one.

Don't forget the mates you have on here and the good times we've had and hopefully, that'll continue whether you ever get another Coupe or not

That's the nicest post about you that you'll ever see on here from me

Understood darlin
Bring the m3 to a track day Steven ,at least you'll have no problems with noise.

As for the M3 I will allow a few weeks next year to weld up the cracking boot floor,replace the clutch and flywheel,diff,gearbox and water pump.
Front wishbones are nice along with rear brake lines.

Ask seanc,and I even have a rear diff in stock now