Hi i have a friend who is moving to the USA, anybody got any ideas whether he would have problems taking a fiat coupe with him?....ie, road legality etc

cheers

james

Don't think he can! This was discussed mnay a year ago on the original forum I do believe!

You planning on giving him your car as a leaving present?!?!

TipoBoy took his Coupé to Canada - different laws but it may give you an idea of what legalities are involved if indeed it's possible. Have a search on the Forum.

Link: http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=902988&page=1

I sold my Coupé before moving to the US. I don't think your friend will be able to, it wouldn't pass their regulations, take a look at the link below.

Also, even if he did - how/who would service/repair it? The last Fiat they sold in the States was either the 124 Spider or the X1/9, but in any case the 80s. In all my time/travelling around the US, I've only seen 2 Fiats, an X1/9 rusting in a field in Iowa and a 124 Spider in an Alfa specialist garage in San Francisco.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CARS/RULES/IMPORT/

i believe it was never crash tested in the US.... and i doubt he would want his car to be the first

I wouldn't hold your breath... from the list of non-conforming vehicles which may be imported, and the bit about how to pass the regulations:



The list of acceptable cars goes straight from 'Ferrari' to 'Ford'...

Time to stick those Ferrari stickers on it then

Fiat / Autodelta had a Coupe LE (black) imported to the USA to show on Fiat oldtimer meetings. Maybe there is a record of it somewhere? I saw a picture of it actually - which is why I know it was a black LE - but I really don't know where (if) I saved that somewhere.

I saw an old Alfa in San Francisco when i went there in 2006. It was a red convertible

Yes the US is full of Alfa's but not Fiat's

I wouldn't bother unless you really really love your car! If I were you I'd sell it and buy a newer better car in the US.

Now could be your chance to buy some big V8 powered monster such as the Camaro, my curent favourite especially in black. Cars are quite cheap here. You can get a top of the range 6.2L V8 Camaro with 426 bhp for 42k CAD.

I can't get even the basic parts for my car in Canada, plugs, oil filter, brake disks pads. Everything has to be couriered from the UK at great expense. I've found plugs in the USA and I think FRAM makes an oil filter but it would hav to be special order.

Your car will be RHD which is okay most of the time unless you want to overtake anything on a single lane road.

There are no specialists, you've have to trust the car to someone who's never seen one before or do the maintanance yourself.

Insurance will be expensive as it's a non US car.

Think about the costs involved in replacing the windscreen or bonnet.

I took mie with me because I'm nuts

John

Check out the annual FIAT Freak Out
Spot the barchetta