MikeRJ
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| posted on 3/7/07 at 11:43 AM |
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Fiat Coupe 20VT
I really quite like these (I know they are a bit 'Marmite' ), and my Civic VTi is getting a bit tired. Also getting a bored with having
to screw the nuts off it to get even remotely good performance.
Having scoured the owners club forums, they seem to be pretty good in terms of relibility, considering it's a) A Fiat, and b) a performance Fiat
 Fully galvanised shell means no rust problems, the 5 cylinder engine sounds great, and they go like poo of a shiney shovel. They even have nice
interiors.
Does anyone here own one, or has owned one of these? Thoughts?
[Edited on 3/7/07 by MikeRJ]
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ned
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| posted on 3/7/07 at 11:46 AM |
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I'm sure I heard something somewhere (nice and specific eh!) about the cambelt change was an engine out job or a real PITA and expensive if you
go to a stealer.
I might be lying, but worth checking out.
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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ReMan
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| posted on 3/7/07 at 11:53 AM |
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Not everyones taste, but thats to your advantage.
Looks like you can get quite a lot of car for £1000-1500
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vinny1275
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| posted on 3/7/07 at 12:00 PM |
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A mate of mine has one and really rates it. The only reason he'd get rid of it is if his band takes off and he needs to carry bigger amps around
with him....
His previous non-turbo coupe had a weird squeak that he just couldn't figure out, but the turbo's been bulletproof, he's had it
about 18 months now.
That said, he did look around for quite a while to settle on the one he's got. I think as its a performance fiat, I'd be inclined to do
the same if I were after one....
Stealers are pricey, but I think there are quite a few specialists about - not sure about Devon, but I'd be surprised if there wasn't
one.....
HTH
Vince
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Duncan_P
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| posted on 3/7/07 at 12:15 PM |
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This is what a main stealer would do, and of course you pay dearly for the privilege. However a Fiat specialist should be able to do it by removing
one (or more) engine mounts and rocking the engine.
quote:
Originally posted by ned
I'm sure I heard something somewhere (nice and specific eh!) about the cambelt change was an engine out job or a real PITA and expensive if you
go to a stealer.
I might be lying, but worth checking out.
Think that PPC did a buyers guide to them (I might be wrong). However my scanner is currently buggered so I cant forward it to you sorry.
[Edited on 3/7/07 by Duncan_P]
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 3/7/07 at 12:19 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by ned
I'm sure I heard something somewhere (nice and specific eh!) about the cambelt change was an engine out job or a real PITA and expensive if you
go to a stealer.
I might be lying, but worth checking out.
Ned.
It's a very expensive job if you take it to a stealer, as they remove the engine. ISTR it's around £1200 for a service with cam belt
change. The independants manage it without removing the engine which means it's more like £350-400.
However, I do pretty much all my own work on my cars anyway. My dad works in a local garage and I regularly fix the bosses PC's etc. so
he's happy to let me use a free 2 post lift at the weekends if my old man is there.
Spend the entire weekend taking an engine out of a Rover 200vi to put in my old mans MGF, as his developed a nasty bottom end rattle. Would not want
to do that job again! The subframe bolts shearing and/or captive nuts making a bid for freedom took me back to the days of changing mini rear
subframes!
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 3/7/07 at 12:23 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Duncan_P
Think that PPC did a buyers guide to them (I might be wrong). However my scanner is currently buggered so I cant forward it to you sorry.
No problems, I found the review in my collection of PPC's a few days back, appreciate the thought though. It's a bit of a brief guide to
be honest, but generaly very positive.
Things I know about include the manifold cracking (~£300 for a new one), turbo seals going (not exactly a coupe specific fault though!) and a few cars
with bottom end troubles. I suspect a lot of these cars have fallen into the hands of people who can't afford to/can't be bothered to run
them properly.
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Duncan_P
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| posted on 3/7/07 at 12:28 PM |
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Have to say that a jaunt out in a modified 20v had to rate as one of the scariest trips in a car I have had 
Think he really need to redress the power to handling/braking balance....but then FWD cars werent really designed to have 300bhp+
However standard ones seems well up to the job, have to say that im tempted myself
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scotlad
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| posted on 3/7/07 at 01:48 PM |
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I had one for a year. It fas a fantastic car and really pretty fast, even as standard. Only fly in the ointment that has no doubt been mentioned is it
is an almost engine out job to do the cambelt and tensioners. Its due at 72k and fiat dealers are astronomical. i had mine done for a very reasonable
£500 from a local specialist. They are also known for cracked exhaust manifolds near cylinder 5 end.
Overall i'd highly recommend one, as in 15 months of owning it never broke down once!!!!
Just make sure you get the red key!!
Wonderous is our great blue ship that sails around the mighty sun, and joy to everyone that rides along!
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Jubal
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| posted on 3/7/07 at 02:24 PM |
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I had a 20VT way back when it was new. Ran it for a year and 20k miles as my company car and it was fantastic. Being new meant I had to deal with the
Fiat dealer and that was the only real downside. In a straight line the car was ballistic (for its day) with superb overtaking ability, it went well
enough round corners but was always a bit soft and underbraked, even with the Brembos. It had an LSD so wasn't too bad laying the power down in
the dry but the wet was another matter
ETA the red key may be blue on this model. But defo make sure you get it.
[Edited on 3/7/07 by Jubal]
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UncleFista
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| posted on 3/7/07 at 04:44 PM |
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The 5 cylinder belt change is engine-out, empty wallet time.
Although there are specialists around now that somehow manage to change the belt with the engine in situ.
I think (not 100%) that they can only change the belt, not the idlers/tensioners.
I think Zilspeed has rebuilt one of these engines in the past, so he'll probably know more 
Tony Bond / UncleFista
Love is like a snowmobile, speeding across the frozen tundra.
Which suddenly flips, pinning you underneath.
At night the ice-weasels come...
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greggors84
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| posted on 3/7/07 at 06:59 PM |
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A mate has one and really likes it, his is 270bhp at the wheels though so torque steers and the lag is pretty bad from the hybrid turbo.
Chris
The Magnificent 7!
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andyps
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| posted on 3/7/07 at 09:13 PM |
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I've got one. I've had it for just over three years and done nearly 70k miles in that time. Have to say that I love it and it has been a
great car. Whilst touching wood it has also been very reliable, never letting me down and not needing much in the way of replacement. In fact, all I
have done apart form tyres and brakes has been the bottom front wishbones (£40 each), front brake hoses and last week, track rod ends. Passed the MOT
this morning 20K miles after the last one with no problems at all.
Mine has now done 103k miles, but there are plenty around with higher mileage. I had the cambelt done at Powerfiat in Essex soon after I got it as the
car was about 5 years old - cost £400, sorted within about 4 hours. Had it done again last year at my local garage, cost a bit more but saved me £50
in petrol and a day to get there and back so quite happy. Neither change needed the engine out.
Even though I do a lot of motorway miles I have been pleased with the tyre life, typically getting about 20k miles from fronts, and the rears lasted
over 40k.
Only other thing I have done is an oil and filter change every 6k miles. To change the filter you may need a tuna fish can, but that is another
story!
The price they are now is way too low so go for it, but pay over the odds and push the value up please
Andy
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 3/7/07 at 10:20 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by andyps
Even though I do a lot of motorway miles I have been pleased with the tyre life, typically getting about 20k miles from fronts, and the rears lasted
over 40k.
That is very impressive, are you a very restrained driver? I would have expected the fronts to last little more than half that.
quote:
Only other thing I have done is an oil and filter change every 6k miles. To change the filter you may need a tuna fish can, but that is another
story!
Totaly agree with frequent oil changes, I used to change the oil and filter in my MR2 Turbo every 3-4k miles. Very intrigued by the tuna can
though?
quote:
The price they are now is way too low so go for it, but pay over the odds and push the value up please
I had a look on the amusingly named FCCUK website and there seem to be some quite pricey cars on the classifieds.
[Edited on 3/7/07 by MikeRJ]
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andyps
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| posted on 4/7/07 at 07:11 PM |
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On the motorway there isn't a lot you can do to wear out tyres. When not on the motorway I do use the performance the car is capable of.... It
has surprised me how long the tyres last as I didn't expect the kind of life I have had from them so it has been a nice bonus. Bear in mind I
once wore a set of tyres from new to bald on a Mini in 3000 miles it shows how I sometimes drive!
The tuna can is a good way around getting an inaccessible oil filter off - basically you put a bolt through the can, put some filler in it and then
put it over the filter whilst the filler sets. Then using the bolt you can remove the filter - otherwise you need very strange shaped fingers!
FCCUK is a good forum, lots of really helpful people with plenty of knowledge. Prices on there seem to be higher than elsewhere, but maybe the cars
are better? Certainly a good starting place, there are plenty around so have a look at a few and drive more than one - the three I tried were all
slightly different, and mine was best of course
Andy
An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less
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