Happy new year everyone, I'm back again and though I haven't actually left this time, I purchased a low price 20 valve non Turbo a year and a half a go, it was really a taster to see I still liked them after having 3 E46 BMWs in a row. My son and I have been using it at weekends to go on our adventures exploring old abandoned WW2 stuff. However it was in a fairly bad way bodywork and paint wise and would need to be lovingly restored, so after he and I decided we both loved coops again, the NA has gone off to a new home it was time for an upgrade back into the turbo fold:-
Modications were not on my planned purchase and having ownly owned standard coops I'm a bit in uncharted territory, but after seeing the car on my daily excercise was only 1 mile up the road and looked good on the advert I thought we could meet in the car park of a local park for a chat and a careful test drive with Masks at the ready and windows open.
After an hour and a half of a chat the deal was done at the price of £4250 which I'll be collecting once the plate has been changed back , here's the advert:-
"Fiat Coupe VT6 in Ink Black – 5 Cylinder, 20 valve turbo, 6 speed. First registered in February 2000 on a V-plate Current mileage 118,500 (increasing on dry days) MOT expires 21/12/2021 I have owned this car since June 2012 Includes Chrome Key, Red Key, Valet Key & 2 x Alarm Fobs
The VT6 model was one of the last variants produced and comes as standard with a 6 speed manual gearbox, push button start, 180mph dials, ‘Plus’ edition wheels, Plus front grill, LE headlights, colour coded bumpers and skirts, Sparco strut brace, Brembo 4 pot front callipers and a full leather interior in Tan.
Car has been serviced at regular intervals since new with multiple cambelt and tensioner replacements (last one @ 114,000 miles)
The standard spec more or less stops here as the car has undergone the following upgrades since rolling over 100,000 miles.
Engine - Garrett GT28rs ball bearing turbo, Pro alloy FMIC, Blueflame turbo back stainless exhaust system and manifold, alloy straight inlet pipe (SIP) and cone filter, Bosch 440cc fuel injectors, Forge dump valve, Silicone induction and coolant pipes, Helix organic clutch (not paddle), Stage 3 re-map with Gizmo electronic boost controller, Vibra Technics engine mounts. Result of these upgrades is a smooth and very useable 331bhp with 295lbft of torque – must only be run on 99 Octane fuel, I use Shell V-power.
Handling - BC racing coilovers and top mounts lowered to a useable height, hunter 4 wheel alignment set for fast road, Toyo proxy R888r tyres (less than 1500 miles driven), Whiteline front and rear anti roll bars, 16mm hub spacers, Weight saving - Battery relocated in boot, headunit and speakers removed (looms remain), rear wiper removed, MTec drilled and grooved discs.
Cosmetic – Full exterior respray in original colour Ink Black 820, HID headlights, centre console spray in body colour, wheels refurbished in chrome powder coat, rear badges removed, front badge monochromed, boost gauge in clock position, rocker cover refinished in black and silver.
ICE – The 5 Cylinder exhaust note is all you need, sounds best with windows down a few inches! There is a tray where the headunit used to be which is quite useful for keeping your phone. Aftermarket Cobra alarm system fitted.
Along with all the upgrades has been normal maintenance like the cambelt mentioned, many oil changes and numerous other parts and sensors replaced as you would expect on a 20 year old vehicle with most of the receipts in the log book. It has been looked after by Rog at Power Developments (was Power Italia) since 2010 and those guys have really made owning this car a real pleasure.
***This car is a CAT C WRITE-OFF due to ‘engine damage’ sustained in August 2003, after proper inspection it was only the sump that was impacted and in need of replacing. It was repaired and sold on again in 2004 with 49,000 miles on the clock with no problems reoccurring for any of the owners since***
Any other known issues? Yes but fortunately they are trivial and if bothered can be cheaply rectified. Indicators sometimes self-cancel, Wipers stop where they happen to be when you turn them off, Wheels rub arch liners on full lock, Lumpy at idle due to the SIP, 1 small carpark ding on passenger door (paint not damaged). The car has never been raced or driven on a track and has rarely been used in wet weather since 2012.
***Please note the current registration will not be included for sale, it will shortly return to a V plate.***"
It's always nice to be able to trace the history of a car. I'll find out more once I get all the paperwork Very excited to say the least, I'm looking forward to keeping up the good work of the previous owner.
And most of the things you mention are very easily fixed. Some of them -non cancelling indicators for instance are something to live with. You can fix them. But they break again.
Welcome back to Coupe ownership. Looks like you have a nice, base of a rare model from which to sort out all the niggly bits.
It was a Saturday morning pickup before the Beast hit thankfully although I need to wait now before I give it a proper long drive.
I was wading through the paperwork and worked out although the it's been driven very few miles over the last few years it's not has a Full Service and Cambelt since 2016 , I'm going to book it in to Poweritalia for another Full Service and look over then go from there. Start as I mean to go on.
R.e the battery, not too worried at this point apart from not having the spare wheel and it may make little jobs under the bonnet more accessible
Just booked into PowerItalia for a Full Service next week and check over, checking the history shows that although only 3000 miles have passed since the last service and Belt changes, it's been 5 years!
Just booked into PowerItalia for a Full Service next week and check over, checking the history shows that although only 3000 miles have passed since the last service and Belt changes, it's been 5 years!
Yes not worth risking the engine over a belt that's gone dry, and running some extra powa you want to know it's all good.
Just booked into PowerItalia for a Full Service next week and check over, checking the history shows that although only 3000 miles have passed since the last service and Belt changes, it's been 5 years!
Yes not worth risking the engine over a belt that's gone dry, and running some extra powa you want to know it's all good.
Have you got aux protection?
Shameless plug for one of my fixed guards
Ha ha, I don't think that's a shameless plug, I think every coupe owner should have this in place, I've been off the forum for quite a few years, so the guard has been perfected? I know there were a few ideas floating about years ago.
Just booked into PowerItalia for a Full Service next week and check over, checking the history shows that although only 3000 miles have passed since the last service and Belt changes, it's been 5 years!
Yes not worth risking the engine over a belt that's gone dry, and running some extra powa you want to know it's all good.
Have you got aux protection?
Shameless plug for one of my fixed guards
Ha ha, I don't think that's a shameless plug, I think every coupe owner should have this in place, I've been off the forum for quite a few years, so the guard has been perfected? I know there were a few ideas floating about years ago.
Yes I've now developed a kit that can fitted at home very easily, video link below.
Took the coop out for a local drive/blast and I have some observations which I'll bring to Rog on Wednesday which are:-
1. Idle is very up and down once warmed up, I know it was described as being the SIP in the advert but I'm not sure.
2. There are 4 modes on the Gizzmo boost controller preset to :- 1.8, 1.0, 1.5, 0.7
By default it's set to 1.8 but there is what only can be described as a 'hole' in the power delivery mid way through 3rd before the car catches up and accelerates off. (In the lower mode of 1.0 it's smooth throughout the delivery and feel like a lightly modified coop)
So after speaking with Rog last week, I worked out the car was owned by someone called Lloyd (Basildoncope) who used to post on here years ago before he sold it to Kyle who I bought it off.
@Trappy you may remember it from local Essex meet up's years ago?