R33BAZ

Right folks, after having owned 3 scoobys and a variety of other motors i am now considering venturing to something different.

My last car (R33 Skyline 400+ bhp) was pretty quick and for now until i sort my new house out iv settled for a mint 325i beemer. However, all being well when the BM goes and the house is finished i will have spare pennies to get a new motor.

Has anyone had a Coupe Turbo and a Scooby before?

Verdicts on which to buy?

Iv never been in a turbo'd coupe but i have heard they are pretty quick and can handle too. (okay its a fiat but is it possibly the first good car fiat have made??)

DrunkenPikie

Fiat Coupes are sh1te, 1K engine out job at dealer for cambelt. Some numpty will tell you they can do it for £500 with the engine in- big ******* deal still sh1te.
Faster than you turbo'd 'preza tho>>>>>>>>>>

andy99turbo

Hi

I currently own a 99MY Scooby and have previously looked at the Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo

Great looking car, I liked the metal dash surround and interior design.

Performance wise, it went like stink, with a great 5cylinder sound track, in fact for me, it would be almost a deal clincher.

However, reliability I believe is an issue, also the 60K cambelt is very very expensive, hence why you see so many cars for sale around the 50K mark.

In a straight line on a dry road, I doubt there is much between a 20VT and a classic UK impreza, certainly top speed the Fiat will be quicker.

However, throw in some corners and a damp road, the subaru would romp away.

My suggestions, take a drive of both and see what you prefer.

kammy

I have been a passenger in one when driven hard and driven one relaxed. Found performance good, but I found the handling very poor. Too soft and the car felt at un-ease when pushed; I felt the car needed more rigidity to cope and was a little un-balanced at the nose. Engine was great, nice torque from low down and sounded great aswell.

Test drive one, you either will like it, or you wont.
Kam- Have a look at a 2.2 Prelude VTEC, 5th Gen, late spec with 220bhp. Did a track day and was very impressed.

DrEvil

Owned both in the past, except I had the 16v Fiat Coupe from new, which was slightly slower than the 20v.

Hmm.. at the time it looked very different to other stuff on the road, and was a nice enough car to drive. In fact, I test drove the '95 Impreza Turbo and Fiat Coupe Turbo in the same week, and opted for the Fiat due to the much better interior and at the time stylish looks (IMHO) (although slower than the Impreza).

In hind sight, the Fiat was fun enough to drive, but not the best handling car, and the build quality was awful - electrical faults were common.

I've owned a few Imprezas now, and the two cars are like chalk n cheese really.

Got to be honest, I would go for the Scooby instead out of the two now.

Andy M3

Thats what i was thinking. Owning a Fiat turbo is more about owning a Fiat turbo rather than a fast car or a decent handling car etc. It is one of those stunning italian mater pieces and in turn a much better car than the scooby.

However the scooby is a no frills back lane monster - it will seek and destroy everything in it's path. But you know all about that from previous experience ?

Go with your heart on this one ?

stefan_01

I've owned a Fiat Coupe 20V turbo and found it to be a good car. Quite quick but not as quick as my 02 STI is. I used to drive it up the M3 everyday for about 6 months and didn't have any problems. It seemed to be a lot better on fuel than my current 02 STI is.

mozzaITA

My friend used to own a 20v turbo, i drove it many times and i really disliked it, the handling wasnt up to scratch when you begun to push it i felt!.. The whole car didnt excite me atall, he spent alot running it including that nasty cambelt change!

I wonder how its performance compares to a wrx?

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

The cambelt is not a grand to do, half that tops at a specialist, I had one and it was a pain in the **** but I bought one that had been run short of oil at some point, it did go like the clappers but it never felt that robust, a feeling of impending mechanical doom whenever I drove it. It was quicker once rolling than the Terzo I nearly bought.

It handled ok but not in Scooby league.

Still one of the most striking looking cars on the road, not to everyones taste but if you like them, nothing comes close, there are many badly dented ones due to the shape, difficult and expensive to get put right.

They all use some oil to a greater or lesser degree, can get expensive if you put the proper fully synth Mobil one or Selenia racing in.

Mine did 27 mpg on average (on petrol), and towards the end, about the same on oil.

They are getting on a bit now, buy a bit more carefully than I did and you will be ok.


I now have a Saab 9 -3 and that will put up with plenty of hammer and feels like its built to take it.

RS Grant

Out of interest....... Can you remind me how much an Impreza Cambelt costs at a reputable Subaru Specialist my Pikie friend??


Cheers,
Grant

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Check the Fiat Coupe website, www.FCCUK.org, good bunch on there.

If you want a cambelt doing for 100 quid, buy a Nova, not something with 5 cylinders, 20 valves, no space, variable valve timing etc etc.

DrunkenPikie

Wouldn't have a clue I don't have one my stupid friend.


Also I already mentioned some specialists will change the belt for a mere £500 notes without removing the engine- sounds like a bargain eh?

slimtim

I've got a 20vt and without hesitation i would go for the coupe over a 93/94 Impreza. Ive owned mine for over 2 years its done 84,000 miles and in that time mechanically the only thing to go wrong has been the clutch which was the original.

They are fast and better handling than you would expect and standard for standard in the dry would beat a impreza on a track.

Cambelt can be done for £399 including all auxillary tensioners etc at http://www.powerfiat.co.uk

There is also no question which looks better on the roads and it still amazes me the amount of compliments it gets. I doubt you'd get that about a 12 year old Subaru.

RS Grant

Sorry, I must have made a mistake........ From the Quote below, it appeared that you were the font of all knowledge when it came to Impr.... sorry 'preza's.

For your information, it costs around 5/600 for a cambelt change on an Impreza Turbo, hmmm, is that a bargain.. specially as a 'turbo'd 'preza isnt even as fast as a Coupe 20v Turbo.






Cheers,
Grant

DrunkenPikie

That's a rip as well 'rant why not go 'uck a 'uck you 'unt?

Actually though going back through some invoices from when I did have a 'preza the cost was around €300 for belt, tensioner and labour, you 'wat

RS Grant

Are the Schools on their Summer Break already?!


Cheers,
Grant

DrunkenPikie

BBS Cliche #432 sad tw@t asks if exams have ended early or schools broken up after his bluff is called and his ignorance exposed.


Here's a message for you sh1thead if you paid £500 for a cambelt alone at a Subaru specialist you got raped. Which doesn't surprise me as you seem weak and feeble minded.

RS Grant

I've enjoyed your time as part of the community my friend.... however I fear the end is nigh, obviously you got the chance to expose my total ignorance first, so well done for that..

Hopefully this will all be deleted by a Moderator shortly so that this thread can get back on Topic, and for my part in feeding this Troll... I apologise.


Cheers,
Grant

DrunkenPikie

Troll is as troll does arsegrant (phonetic-loooooool) talking BS about the cost of a cambelt change on a 'preza is trolling itself.

All joshing aside I cannot believe you think it costs £500 notes to change one, I was quoted that sum for a 60K service and belt change by a specialist. The Fiat belt is a well known costly item minimum £400-500 for the belt alone, if you are lucky.

Jap2Scrap

£400 - £500 for a belt? Foooooooooooooookin get real!
Maybe if you include some labour!

DrunkenPikie

I meant for the belt change alone rather than the £500 for the 60K service and belt on a 'preza>>>>>>>>>>>>
Hope that finds you as it leaves me.

vindaloo

If you want to know more about FIAT Coupes, try www.fccuk.org

No-one in their right mind would entrust one to their local FIAT dealership therefore it's worth finding out if there is a specialist in the vicinity.

Issues:
Cambelt change must be done right!
Front wishbones and bushes get a hammering and may need replacing.
Brakes may need TLC even though they're Brembos.
Oil level: Dipstick isn't the best and the turbo can 'use' oil (probably WILL use oil if decated). Oil level MUST be monitored and topped up.
Oil cooler: Pipes corrode and may leak/fracture.
Interior: Stylish but can squeak. Some of the switchgear isn't attached too brilliantly and can disappear into the depths.

Having written that lot it might sound as if I'm not a fan. (I've never owned one but have driven a few). There are few cars today with a genuinely inspiring exhaust note, the Impreza is one, FIAT Coupe is another. Nothing else looks like it, it's fast and will cruise effortlessly on the motorway.

J.

pete1977

Saw one of these cars engine go pop the other day and lots of **** came flying out the exhaust,i was very impressed by the little fiat!

ben1413

iTrader: (5)

Back on topic......................................

I've got a 1994 WRX Impreza with a s/s backbox and induction kit and no other mods. A friend of mine has a 1996 Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo. We've had a few races on some lovely private roads and although the Fiat is more than capable, my Impreza does always have the edge, albeit in a straight line or road the twistys.

As far as owning one, he's had no trouble with it so far in 18 months of ownership although he found today that clutch is starting to slip - been quoted £600 + vat from a reputable garage.

As for looks...........The Fiat gets it every time. Pinifarina must be doing something right (something about Ferraris?)................... but I didn't buy my Impreza for the way it looks (not completely!)

My 2 pence worth anyhow.

Ben

4ndy

iTrader: (7)

I owned a 20VT about four years ago and still think about the fun i had leaving cars that never thought i'd keep up never mind over take ie BMW M3's

Owned it for two years and drove it hard , v hard and it cost me a fookin fortune as the turbo blew which was my fault for fitting a bleed valve and knocking boost to 1.1 bar

The oil stick is a nightmare and you find yourself checking every day. They just eat front tyres and the brakes need TLC.

But after all the expense i found myself looking at 20VT LE 's on autotrader bout a month ago , they are the ones to go for with full red and black bucket leather, bodykit and titanium goodies

Took my mate on at the lights in his jdm95 wrx with full decat and he did beat me off the line but after 1-1 1/2 mile he was topping out and I was catching really fast untill road ran out

Try and get one with full history inc cambelt and one that is standard.

I used to drive from sheffield to a guy in Wigan who is a wizard on the coupe and bends over backwards to help you ie courtesy cars etc... , Think he goes by the name of WiganPaul on the FCCUK Never use FIAT they are ****E!!!

Wouldnt change my ra for one at the moment tho

andy

catalunya199again

the **** end is horrible on the fiats, my brother had one and it was quick but the handling is shocking it was scary sitting as a passenger.

a very renowned specialist not far from me charged me £350 for a cambelt change and did some minor repairs (sorting out oil leaks) i once got charged £550 at a subaru dealers for this + fitting some braided hoses top tip dont go to subaru cause they will pull your pants down

GC8

F*ck me; if it isnt NACRO back again.....

DrunkenPikie

Venga gang-bang!

mozzaITA

Official stats would help... 0-60, 0-100 and top speed... im thinking of getting my first impreza wrx and have driven a 20 vt and was dissapointed with its handling and performance.. ive got a bad feeling i will end up being dissapointed with the impreza aswell if its not as good as the 20 vt... mite have to save up for a sti then!

jonc

0-60 is 6 seconds, 0-100 is 14.5 seconds, 30-70 is 5.4 seconds. I had a 20VT LE, great looks and it did turn heads, great engine and sound. I didn't have any problems with build quality, not even a rattle. I went through front tyres every 9000 miles and about .5ltr of oil every 1000 miles. Also got and average of 29mpg. Not bad for a car with that sort of performance. I didn't have any problems with handling, comes with viscous front diff as standard and LE with strut brace, although ride is hard. Engine is very tunable, the standard airbox is quite restrictive, so its quite easy to get a further 10-20 bhp with a modified airbox and exhaust, (someone on Coupe BBS did RR before and after). Oh and go to a specialist to do the cambelt and water pump with engine in situ and not the expensive dealership engine out jobbie.