There is no reason to buy a car with low mileage for lots of money if you are going to use it. Just buy the one above or similar if you are want to use and enjoy. If you want what must be one of the lowest mile examples out there to keep generally off the road as an investment ...... then look at the 10K one. This would be my thinking....

Interesting views all round I see. This is one of the reasons I joined up before buying my first one as all advice helps. Didn't make it down south on Weds due to man-flu but plan to try again this coming week. Will update with some pics (and possible that I am the second owner) When I do. Also intend to look at an LE a bit closer to home before then

Any car is worth what you are willing to pay, so is it over-priced......you decide. Here is one priced at 11K........

Fiat Coupe 2.0 20V Turbo Limited Edition 2dr
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/a...il_a_friend_car

Hmm, Pondman's old LE which has been up in this neck of the woods (almost) for a bit. Think it's been for sale a while, perhaps due to asking price?

Update- took to 3 1/2 hr journey to see this one on Friday ( a journey to forget due to congestion/roadworks!) but didn't end up buying it.

I am a newbie so this is my opinion and I will try and be objective:

1)its a beautiful car- inside was like new (no tacky console) and outside in very good condition

2) a few marks on the front bumper- looked like something going on underneath paint but not sure

3) some corrosion on the rear wheel arches and front drivers side but didnt look excessive to my untrained eye. everywhere else the forum advice gives checked and nothing seen

4) engine sounded really nice- wasn't making strange noises- oil pressure didn't drop below 3bar at any point and no blue smoke.

5) all electrics worked without issue

6) history appears genuine

I didn't purchase for the following reasons

I wasn't able to take it for a test drive unless I committed to buy the car. Like I say I am new so don't know if this is usual practice with a classic, but to be honest it wasn't the most relaxed viewing of a car i've ever done- got the feeling I shouldn't be looking too hard around and under the covers etc.

No red key-seller said it wasn't important these days

There was no negotiation on price whatsoever

The pictures on the advert had been updated on the website and some things I had picked up as potential issues on the original pictures were no longer there but no touching up had been done I was told.

I would never rubbish someone elses property and this is an excellent example with great condition and low miles- it was a beautiful car but I feel that is wasn't worth 10k to me, rare example or not.

That's not to say that it won't be to someone else.

So the search continues...

Having been in the motor trade for 19 years and working for Fiat for 17 of them the Red key issue people have different opinions on but from a dealer the red key is still very important. As for not been able to drive the car that's one of the most ridiculous things I ve ever heard, oh here you go all my heard earned money don't worry I don't want to drive it!!! Never buy a used car without a test drive, sound like something is wrong when they won't let you drive, esp a 20 year old fiat (again I ve enough experience). You should always poke and prod a used car, you could be the potential owner so you want to know the ins and outs simple as ask away, if there reluctant again it sound like something to hide

Agree with Daley Pete. I'd never buy a car I couldn't drive beforehand

When I was looking for a Coupe in 2013/14 he had that in stock then - asking c£5.5k IIRC. It disappeared off and has obviously resurfaced. Maybe it's an SOR as that is a long time to sit on a car.

Trying to sound positive on this it sounds like a lucky escape.

As above the sealing argument is the inexplicable refusal of a test drive, on top of the vague history.

I've been keeping an eye on proceedings regarding this from the background. Obviously I had no idea of what would happen, but why am I not surprised by this. Hope you find a Coop that you'll like Pete.

Not allowed to take it for a test drive? Never heard of that before from a reputable dealer. What's he trying to hide?

And for £10K I would want it to be mintier than polo flavoured toothpaste, not shabby under bonnet and a worn drivers seat. That handbrake looks like it needs adjusting too......

I'm certainly not privvy about what's what about the car, but like others I've seen this vehicle for sale for some time now & reading between the lines it hasn't sold for a very good reason & by all accounts, it looks like it will stay that way.

I was rather taken aback by the general attitude, and the no test drive without commit to buy and a 2 grand deposit topped it off. The reviews on line of the dealership were the total opposite to my experience.

Going for a slight change of tack now and got a couple more to look at next week, higher mileage but allegedly sound and unmodded. Only trouble is they're down on the south coast again!

Get the feeling it will all be worth it once I find the one...

These Marco Polo type expeditions are not uncommon....

Well done for keeping your nerve. Until I grew myself a pair, I used to be all "ooh look at that, isn't it shiny" and my drooling kept me away from a car's bad points. Lesson learnt.

I bought a Peugeot many moons ago. Looked all round the car, bottom of doors, general finish. As I did the seller was eyeballing me and said "what you looking for". Should have been a massive gong going off. Only when I had a bump (after I purchased it), did the filler at the bottom of the door fall off. Lol.

You live and learn. Anyone being that pushy and wary would be an instant red light for me as well. Dealers should leave you to it. "Come back to me when you've had a look around", etc. Nice long test drive and "tyre kickers" are part of their business. If he does not like it, get another job.

It took me 7 hours on public transport to get from North to South to collect mine, well worth the trip though and a lovely drive home! :-)

Yes I've been to the other end of the country to buy the right Alfa once. Worth it if its the right car...

It's good to hear you got the one you wanted otherwise its a long journey back to reflect on things if empty handed...

Potentially up in Edinburgh's neck of the woods tomorrow to look at one and hope I am as lucky - low mileage but no cambelt history that I can see so if it is the one it might be an interesting drive back...

I invested a day and £70 return train ticket to view my dream Coupe (20v na, scotty with tan interior) to view a 'totally rust free car'.
The cambelt had no record of being changed so I peeled the cover back and it looked crack free and the coolant was clean.
It was rust free, until I opened the passenger door to reveal extensive welding, then rust spreading half way up the rear quarter. He wouldn't come down in price to cover the welding, and so I was was a long train journey back from Leeds

I once did a train to Gatwick, then a flight to Belfast followed by an overnight ferry journey with the car to Liverpool and a drive to home in Hampshire to buy one of my cars.

5:30am on a Tuesday to 1pm Wednesday for the round trip, and then I had to pick up my original car from the station car park later.

I still have the car, it's now 37 years old. A combined 68 years of Fiats on the drive right now.

I tend to tempt Mrs Magoo with a chance of a quick shopping trip to the uk,after buying her a one way plane flight,then just let it slip that she has to pick a coupe up while she is in the uk.

I am hoping for similar luck. Tomorrow for me is 04.45am car to Leicester then train to Luton, Plane to Glasgow, kick my heels for a few hours until seller finishes work, then hopefully 5 1/2 hour drive back to Leics by 10pm rather than miserable train journey with three changes

Snap! Well almost: 32 + <1 = 32+years in the garage at home plus 20 + 16 = 36ish at garages around the corner = 68 years give or take a year or so, but spread across 4 cars...

Good luck Ballypete! Hope storm Doris doesn't blow you off course. Hope also that the car is as described and you get to drive it home

Good luck Ballypete!

After a 23 hr round trip which involved the bumpiest plane landing I have ever had and scenes of M6 motorway carnage on the drive back I am now the proud owner of a 1998 Porto Blue 20v Coupe!

Super job! Great buy! Congrats ...... Now the fun starts

Thanks!- think I might have to call her Doris under the circumstances

Nice one - although that's a bit of a mouthful, just shorten it to "Doris"

Glad you got something sorted Pete - Enjoy!