Fiat Coupe Club UK
New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V
Posted By: Andrew20V
New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 03/08/2022 17:57
Hello everyone,
Thanks for letting me join this group, also paid my membership fee.
I've bought a 20V none Turbo. I've loved the styling of these ever since I saw my first one in Diss, Norfolk, before they'd been officially launched. Then in 2000 a test drive in a 20V Turbo made a huge impression. The way they look like nothing else is absolutely wonderful, with the fabulous detailing and the body colour strip on the dashboard a masterstroke of design. My car needs a few things done to it before I can drive it, therefore I've enlisted Italicar in Norwich to take on the work. Interestingly my current classic is a S124 Mercedes estate, so this will be quite some change, just the way I wanted it.
PrevIous Italians owned - Sud 5M, Fulvia S2 and Alfa 101 series Giulia Sprint.
Looking forward to meeting some of you in person, perhaps at the Brands Hatch Day.
Cheers,
Andrew
Posted By: Theresa
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 04/08/2022 02:11
Hi and welcome
Posted By: Andrew20V
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 04/08/2022 07:41
Thanks and Hi. Coincidentally I've found a photo of my exact car on Flickr.
Posted By: Countrycruising
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 04/08/2022 08:44
Congratulations on your new purchase Andrew, welcome to the fold
Posted By: Sedicivalvole
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 07/08/2022 11:42
Congratulations and welcome!
Posted By: Andrew20V
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 07/08/2022 19:07
Thanks. This is my first Fiat.
While looking through the service history receipts I found two club window stickers so the main owner from 1998 to 2016, or a subsequent owner, has been a member. And all the receipts are present from that period of time.
Posted By: Sheepshead
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 07/08/2022 21:40
Welcome and good choice you'll love it :thumb
Posted By: Master_Mariner
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 11/08/2022 14:29
Welcome on board,
There are a couple of us hiding out in God's own County -your about 40 mins away from me down the Bury Road of death (143)- the locals tend to be friendly!
Italicar have quite a passion for coupes - I have used them a while ago.
MM
Posted By: Andrew20V
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 11/08/2022 21:01
Thanks MM,
Are you east of me? Discovered the floorpan needs some welding but otherwise it seems a good car. Luke has suggested a drive it to make sure I like it, before spending much on it.
Posted By: Master_Mariner
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 16/08/2022 10:13
Hi Andrew,
Yes over to the east from you. Lukes advice makes sense- these coupes do have a tendency to get under your skin.
There are not many cars like a coupe left on UK roads - in fact most car design is rather boring in my view to the Coupe. So hopefully some drives in your new machine will cement your relationship with it!
Here's hoping that little extra is needed other then standard maintenance after the welding!
Regards
MM
Posted By: Andrew20V
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 16/08/2022 21:37
Thanks MM,
I'm aware just in front of the rear whees arches is bubbling a bit, the rear bumper is damaged and there's some rust at the front of the rear nearside sill. Which model is yours and what colour is it.
Cheers,
Andrew
Posted By: Edinburgh
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 17/08/2022 06:17
Thanks MM,
Which model is yours and what colour is it.
Cheers,
Andrew
Click on his forum name and all will be revealed
![smile smile](/forum/images/graemlins/default/smile.gif)
Also (useful when answering technical/maintenance questions) having an appropriate avatar is a giveaway - to set this click on your own forum name at top right of page/Edit Profile
Posted By: Andrew20V
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 17/08/2022 12:25
Thanks, I had noticed people's Avatar probably indicated the car they had but just hadn't totally absorbed it! Now to the very clever person who devised the indicator to show the colour car each of us have, that's a brilliant masterstroke I hadn't noticed. Now updated my Avatar.
Posted By: Edinburgh
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 17/08/2022 13:18
I would suggest some credit is due to Kayjey, a now shadowy figure across the watre whose footprint pervades most of this website
Posted By: Master_Mariner
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 22/08/2022 13:29
I've got the best colour ...just ask all the other owners ha ha
![coat coat](/forum/images/graemlins/default/getmecoat.gif)
Nothing on your car sounds too hard to get sorted!
Regards
MM
Posted By: Andrew20V
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 09/09/2022 11:26
Thanks MM.
Five weeks after buying my car today's the day I at last get to drive it. Collecting from Luke at Italicar in Norwich, who has carried out all the work apart from the paintwork, which was done by Airport Car Care, Norwich. Excited doesn't even cover the way I'm feeling now!
Posted By: PaulL
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 09/09/2022 18:44
Have Fun !
Paul
Posted By: Andrew20V
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 09/09/2022 21:30
I think I'm in love with my eccentric Italian.
Posted By: Master_Mariner
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 12/09/2022 10:25
Trust you have had wonderful drive back home with your Coupe!
Well worth lowering the widow to hear the noise- it can get addictive!
Trust the body work on top of he servicing has got your car to a very good place. Its perfect driving weather at the moment!
Regards
MM
Posted By: PaulL
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 12/09/2022 18:48
I'm addicted to lowered widows !
Posted By: Andrew20V
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 13/09/2022 21:18
Thanks MM, I did. Been out in it 3 times in less than a week. Feels very nice, still getting used to it and absolutely adore the the sound of the engine on start up. I'll get a strut brace fitted when I find one while a whole new exhaust is on the cards. Needs a couple of new tyres too at which time I'll have the wheel alignment checked.
Roll on more fine weather.
Posted By: Cooperman
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 16/09/2022 20:47
Enjoy your NA and a new stainless exhaust will add to the soundtrack of that lovely 5 cylinder burble
Posted By: Andrew20V
Re: New owner in Suffolk - 1998 20V - 16/09/2022 21:31
Thanks Cooperman. At the moment I'm likely to go for an MTS full exhaust, not stainless steel, from AlfaShop. Does anyone know what the MTS exhausts are like?