The Fiat Coupé Shows Everything That's Wrong With Fiat Today
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- Опубліковано 20 лип 2022
- Fiat Coupé 20V Turbo is unique and from an era when Fiat still made exciting cars. The design is controversial but there was nothing else like it and it drove well too.. it was the fastest Front drive car of the mid 90s but still handled the power pretty well. This exciting and daring design shows everything that's wrong with Fiat today.
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When I was an engineering student, around 2001, I got to spend a day at the Balocco proving ground with Fiat personnel. There, I was driven at high speed around the track in a yellow Coupé, with a Fiat boffin expertly driving the wheels off that base 1.8 model! The man told me that, because of those characteristic side slashes, the company thought about naming it "graffio," the Italian for "scratch."
Interestingly enough, the Alfa Romeo GTV had been designed earlier, but its launch was postponed to let the Fiat Coupé out first. The two cars share the same platform but the Alfa has a lot less room inside due to the extensive reinforcements the Arese engineers added to the base structure. The delay made it possible to design the multilink rear end for the GTV, complete with the aluminum subframe that allowed to bolt it onto the Tipo platform, which wasn't designed to take a multilink.
The rear subrame in the GTV takes up the space where the fuel tank could be, so the fuel tank is between the rear seats and the boot meaning neither is very useful 😆
@@ianstarcroft but they drove fantastic and a real GTV not those early 70´s GT veloce ,i had one with a 2.0L dual cam shaft engine from 72 not the junior ,drove it till the 90´s when i bought the GTV
One of very few nice design by Bangle.
I have a coupe 20v turbo so im going to LIKE this before even watching :-)
Love the 5 pot rumble. But in canary yellow is no no for me. And why aren’t the sills colour coded instead of black🤔. Looks weird.
The black sills are standard. No modification there.
@@rhondakerry9419 indeed. Lots standards got the additional front lips and side skirts from the LEs and pluses..I had a portofino standard and did that…I’ve still got and LE and Plus….awesome wee cars!
@@AlfaGTA156 the early cars all had black sills which do kind of give it a bit of a dated look - the later special editions like the LE, Plus and VT6 all had colour coded side skirts
My first 20vt was sprinty. My current monster dream 20vt plus is moon grey.
Loved my two 20vt. Very reliable, shocked alot more expensive sports cars. Looks alot better in plus spec. They should've all had that body kit fitted. Great GT car, did many trips over to France and back, never let me down. Chassis was a little flexy, but what an engine.
I always loved them, but missed the boat they are too expensive for me now.
I'm hoping my M140i will be a future classic, because (a lot like the Fiat Coupe), it's a marmite car some love some hate, gets criticism, but is unique.
I done a straight up swap to get my dream coupe. I had a 2009 e60 520d. Guy loved the beemer and i loved the coupe even more.
What a stunning car back in the 90s and now even more so. I nearly bought one.
Jack’s natural style and genuine enthusiasm makes for enjoyable viewing even when you don’t think you’re interested in the subject matter. Keep it up👏🏻
To be honest , that’s the primary reason I’m here and subscribed. While I’m not a car buff, I must say I’ve learned quite a bit about cars and in particular the styling aspect of them.
And I might add quite a bit of historical context.
Jack, it’s looking less controversial as the years roll on. It’s probably Fiat at its very best. The Fiat brand seems to be reserved now for small (electric) cars and the heavy investment is in the latest Alfa Romeo relaunch and Lancia which offer more potential to push further up market and bring more profitability. Thanks for reminding us was a great car they are.
don´t forget that Fiat owns ferrari, alfa-romeu, Lancia, and general motors brands ,all are Fiat, if in the computer you search for a part it appears the miniature of every car from all the brands that use the same engine, regards
they also had the Fiat 130 coupé from 1970 that was real fast and big ,the regular sedan is horrible
@@RUfromthe40s Fiat doesn't own GM. But they run the Chrysler Corporation.
@@damilolaakanni i was wrong i know that Gm ,the last time i heard was from daewoo, i meant chrysler
I remember first seeing one of these out in Spain, months before they were released in the UK. I thought it had landed from outer space! Absolutely love the design, and that of the Barchetta. Agree, the star in Fiats lineup at the moment is the 500, and ONLY the 500.
The rest of the range is pretty dismal………..disappointing, compared with the 80s/90s when they produced the mk1 Punto, Tipo (I was obsessed with this when it was launched), mk1 Panda, Uno, Brava/Bravo, Coupe, Barchetta, Cinquecento and Seicento, and the barking mad Multipla……….shame to see where they’ve ended up.
Nah. The Fiat 124 Spider. Especially the Abarth version.
@@Uvray Agree, that is a sexy looking motor (except with a black bonnet).
@@simondavis697 I can't make my mind up about the black bonnet and boot. But it is of course the original race colours of the car. But in the 60s it was because they used lightweight carbon to save weight. But on the new cars I'm not sure if I like the look of it.
@@simonhodgetts6530 cinquecento means 500 and seiscento means 600 that were similar in the 60´s
I had a 16v from new as a company car. OK, some dodgy electrics (slowing down prior to a roundabout with aircon and radio on it would stall) and the bootlid was thinner than tinfoil, but I loved it, sweet chassis, lovely ride and seats, and real looks. Distinctive and entirely individual.
I worked in a Fiat/Lancia dealership in the late 1980's and the range at the time was:
Panda 900
Panda 4x4
Panda 1000 Fire
Uno
Tipo
Regatta
Croma
Fiorino van
Ducato van
As most had various engine options there were effectively over 20 models to choose from. Fiat at the time worked with multi-manufacturers to cut costs on car production, e.g. Croma and Ducato. Technically as Lancia was owned by Fiat you could include all the Lancia models as well. We had a nice Lancia Delta Integrale Turbo in regularly for service, kept the technicians very smiley.
Back in the day, a work college bought a Fiat with a ‘Fire’ engine, He couldn't stop going on about this Fire engine, I don't think he really new what ‘Fire’ was in the case 😉
The X1/9 was manufactured up until 1989. I had one at the time (I was 19) and that was a really great little sports car.
Haha, I worked at a dealership in the 70’s with 500’s,600’s,124,125,128,132 & 130’s just to name a few and all of them had one commonality’RUST’. Then they got regurgitated in Poland & Russia and and were even worse, I’m afraid Fiat was the Italian BL but luckily have been saved by the chic 500 but that will only last so long. MG/Rover may have been saved by the Mini if it wasn’t asset stripped by BMW but that’s another story 😂.
@@Uvray I had a 1300 X1/9 in early 90's, common issues 70% rust, 30% holes, 0% structural integrity! Was going to buy a Lancia Beta Monte Carlo from one of our customers, until I duscovered at 6' 2" I physically could not fit, designed for 5' Italians!
@@smifffies X1/9s weren't built to last but when new they were fantastic little sports cars to drive. The Beta Monte Carlos were great looking cars but of course Lancia had even worse build quality issues. I would love a drive in an X1/9 now though, for nostalgia. They were so of their time - wedge shaped, the dashboard design the Veglia Borletti dials, the engine behind your head. Fantastic.
We are massive fans of the fiat coupe we specialise in them. Great video.
Hi, I’m in Bedford and need Coupe mechanical assistance. Can you help??
I`m half Italian & I also have a (huge) love of Fiats & all Italian cars, I`ve had loads, probably approaching 100, from the 127 & 131 up to my newest 500. I think the first sign Fiat had really departed from its roots was the introduction of the Panda in 2003. The concept was fine, but the fun factor had gone, primarily in its handling & feel, both things were a key feature right up to the death of the Seicento (Fiats last truly fun car to my eyes). I understand the implementation of stringent crash & emissions resulted in some of that, but they managed to take pretty much all the natural handling prowess out of them, mainly because they raised the centre of gravity & removed virtually all the feel from the steering. As a result small Fiats no longer appeal to more spirited drivers. Theres more fun to be had in a basic Suzuki Swift than any of the Panda/500 range, even the hot ones, and it sickens me to admit that..
I also used to know the DP of a (posh) London Fiat dealer, he once told me that Fiat just wanted them to concentrate on pushing Pandas & later 500`s. Fiat UK stopped adverting the rest of the range in the press, & it became a one trick pony. Buyers forgot the Punto, Grande Punto & Bravo was still available because of that, many assumed production had stopped years before it did, so they barely sold & production stopped. The middle class buyers who loved the Multipla in the high class London suburbs kept coming in for years after production halted, wanting another, but couldn't have one... This even led to prices of used Multipla`s going up significantly for a while.
The 500 has sold well in the UK, literally every street in London has at least one 500 in it (many have 3 or 4), you cant drive for an hour without seeing 10-20 coming the other way, & its residuals have stayed relatively strong because of that, but the ultimate result of that, is that, unless you want a 500 specifically, you wont even bother looking at a Fiat dealer because you assume they only sell 500`s, right? !
Alfa have done reasonably well in the UK in the last decade, because we do tend to love Italian cars & want to love them, I know I see more Mito`s, & Giulietta`s on the road now than I did 147`s & 159`s, in fact they outnumber the numbers of Grande Punto`s, new Tipo`s & 124`s I see out these days, although, just as people were realising these older small-medium Alfa`s were actually pretty good, long lasting cars, Alfa decided to pull out of those key segments completely, stopping production of them... Typical..
Speaking of the Tipo, that was a huge let down too, primarily because the interiors looked horribly cheap for that segment, full of budget plastic, small screens & you couldn't get stuff like leather trim on them, even as an option on the top spec models, so many people who wanted one, just walked away.. My Dad was one of them, who, as much as he wanted to go back to Fiat, couldn't bring himself to "go backwards" spec-wise after his Volvo V50 SE (after stepping "up" from a Tempra 2.0 SW SX years earlier), as much as he wanted to. A nicer "premium" feel interior + more (some? any?) marketing & they would have sold significantly more Tipo`s..
As a Fiat lover, its all quite depressing..
Unfortunately I can only give one like although there should be more for the multiple good points that you've pointed out!
great stuff here, hope some w power in fiat will read it
I think Stellantis group should relaunch the Alfa MiTo especially a 5 door too many ugly SUVs dominating the market! Also too much German dominance Italian competition much needed to keep the soul of automotive world alive! Lancia, Maserati, Alfa Romeo huge huge potential but not maximizing!
The Coupe was, and still is a stunning car. Unique.
Great era for Fiat this. Really hit home when you described the diverse (and appealing) model range you may have encountered if you had walked into a Fiat showroom at that time. When the new 124 came out a few years ago I had hope that Fiat would begin to try and rekindle some of that, but it was clearly just a flash in the pan. Now we are left with the gimmicky 500 and its weird spin-offs.
It took me 10 years to beat my Fiat Coupe Nurburgring BTG time (8.36) in my current Z4M Coupe (8.35, not nearly as fun). And; it was a fantastic, practical, comfortable GT too. Mine (20vt) had around 340hp.
A really well-built, reliable Fiat!
What happened to Fiat was Marchionne, sadly. He was never a car man, but from finance. He had no clue about Fiat as a brand. So he invested all Fiat-wealth in USA. Plus a little in Alfa.
My first car was a 127, then a Strada, then an X19 followed by a Tipo and a Punto. All great cars and they had a character too which I guess is probably Italian. Certainly the commonality between the 127 and the Punto in terms of thrashing a 900cc was unmistakeable. The new Ford Ka sorry 500 is a little more than a mobile phone with wheels in comparison. And as for the noise of the 595 Abarth loool sounds like a goose farting in the fog as someone Scottish once said.
Strada ? A special name for British market for which model ?
@@BenoitXVIII ritmo
over the years I have had a ton of Fiats. Several Original 124 Spiders and a series 2 coupe'. A 128 Coupe', a 128 Sedan, and a couple of X 1/9s. Being in the states we got none of the modern Fiat's until the current crop of 500s. I do have a current Abarth that I love, but not as dearly as my 1977 124 Spider I am slowly rebuilding.
I do wish we had gotten this coupe', it would have shown the rest of my country that the Italian's could make good fast cars, but fiat was long gone from our shores by that time.
Agreed - the coupe is a bit of a high water mark for FIAT - stunning looks inside and out. I had the pleasure of driving a 20v Turbo - it was an absolute scream! The Tipo platform was also, in my view, a really sound one - the Tipo, Coupe and Alfa 145 were all tidy handling cars, with some superb engines. So, what went wrong?
Love love the Fiat Coupe Jack! It's one of those iconic cars that for me comes under the same cool category as the Fiat Barchetta, Fiat Sedichivalvole, Uno turbo or ,Mirafiori! I wish Fiat would start to make fun and cool looking cars again (and Alfa for that matter) !
I totally agree on the fact that Fiat has a very limited and old range. Apart the Fiat 500 electric all the cars have more the 6 years each on their shoulders, however Panda and 500s still sell very well. I do not think that there is a market for coupe nowadays. I am in London and in the mid 90s, you were able to see many coupes from Mercedes, BMW, Audi , Peugeot, Alfa, Fiat and so on. But nowadays the roads are filled with MPVs and although some manufacturers do have coupes in their range, they are very rare indeed. However the Fiat Coupe is absolutely gorgeous.
I've always loved Fiat as a brand and the Coupe in particular, I think its an outstanding bit of design. Hell I pretty much love everything Chris Bangle did. We need people to push the envolope today. At the risk of sounding like an old man, all cars look the same these days!
You are not pushing on enough, Jack! Great vid. Ty.
Not seen one of these on the UK roads for a long, long time. Classic car already imo. Different, exciting and Pininfarina cool.
Great car, my 146 has the same chassis and newer cars get a nasty shock when they realise how quick it is through turns so definitely better than the sum of their parts. Fiat, Alfa and Lancia have almost no range now, it's got boring.
A dark Green W reg 20 valve turbo was my first performance car. Beautiful interior.
I had a 20v Turbo from new in 1996, one of the first in the country. I did 65000 hard miles in it over 3 years and it was a lot of fun. It was lowered slightly, but other than that it was a standard car engine wise, the different springs improved it when you were really battling the B roads, but I always found it a delight to drive. I only ever had one thing go wrong was a coolant hose that burst on a junction, after I took the back roads from Belfast to Dublin the weekend Princess Diana died.
The performance at the time was fabulous with 0-60 in around 6 seconds, unheard of in a front wheel drive car and well able to stay with a lot of more expensive stuff. Great video Jack!
I love these cars thanks for featuring.
I thought the red version with thinner spoked wheels looked like a mini Ferrari.
1993?! That’s crazy. It’s almost 30 years old? Man I feel old 😀
Great film Jack, keep em coming.
£300 cambelt change my arse ! my best friend had a carbon-copy of yours, got it cheap cos it needed a belt change. "nee bovver, al get ower friday neet after graft, tell your missus to cook summat nice for our suppa" i finished putting the engine back in [+ repairing all the breakages] on monday night... he still has a framed photo of that car on his wall, + when i walk past it [going to the bog circa 5 times] i always have a laugh + shake my head... keep up the good content young man
Power Development formerly Power Italia ( FC specialist ) charge circa 360gbp. Midlands Car Servicing ( another FC specialist ) charge 300gbp from memory.
@@rogerpayne5336 so the engine don't need to come out it seems, perhaps special tools have been developed, or was i just not trying hard enough, aged 18.....
@@paulriggers1558 Nope....My mate owns Power Development and he loosens the mount's , massive crowbar , coupe hrs , job done...He recommends changing water pump , etc...But still , hella cheaper than when Fiat wanted grands.
@@rogerpayne5336 please substiute "massive crowbar" for "specialist clearance providing classic fiat cambelt tool" before your mate kicks you in the nuts....
in the NE, early april, occasional hail showers, + working under a streetlamp i struggled a bit...
i now own one of those f**k-off big bars, best £70 i spent recently [showing my age these days]
@@paulriggers1558 Ye !! That's what its called :)
I feel your pain bro , every job in the engine bay of a 20VT can be challenging. That's , when you need that f&%k off bar.
I owned two Barchetta and a 1.8 '99 Coupe which I drove to Oslo and back (in January 😅) about 12 years ago.
The Coupé is still the most fun car I owned, it's has been rediscovered lately and has something of a cult following but it really warms my heart to watch someone review it in UK. 👏🏻
Bangle has done some great stuff that is standing the design test of time, this included.
I had a Coupé and a GTV and loved them both. I wish I still did. The 90's was a fabulous time to be into cars, especially Italian ones. Now all we get is boring SUV's and electric appliances on wheels. Manufacturers are led by the demand for the mass market and not the niche that brought people into showrooms. I now have an MX-5 RF. I love it, and I'm sticking with it! (Great review btw 👍)
my father liked Fiat so much back in the late 70s and early 80s, he owned two of them at the same time..... the 124 Sports Coupe 1.8 and the 131 Mirafiori 1.6 (rectangle lights)
Your enthusiasm is compelling watching Jack.....keep it up mate!
Brilliant video covering everything you want to know! I’ve just purchased one and already falling in love with it.
Great content as usual jack keep up with the unusual ones
Cracking stuff Jack as always bud👍
Hello Jack, I don't know how you find some of these obscure cars, but this one is appealing for some reason. It would probably take me 4 or 5 years but I think I could get used to it and just enjoy the overall drive. Thanks and keep them coming.
Had a Sprint Blue 1998 20v Turbo in 2004. Still my favourite car I've ever owned. Had to go when it developed persistant overheating problems! Stunning car to drive and visually!
I loved my 20V T in Portofino Blue....gorgeous design, great interior and always felt faster than its 220hp to me....
That'll be the : Gearing -( long gears, 70 in 2nd, max in 5th 174 at limiter , 6th 186 )...Weight - 1310kg.....Aero- 0.31cd ( slippery as )....Torque - 229lbft ....Put all that together and they use that 217bhp very well indeed. Tune it and DAM!!!!
Ciao Jack, love these videos - I had totally forgotten about the Fiat Coupe' ... brings back lots of memories.
My brother and I bought a Fiat X1/9 to get us to Scranton for college, it was a blast to drive, handling and way it would reduce Pirellis to slicks quickly even with 65 Horsepower. We grew up in NE Pennsylvania and it had perfect traction even in the snow as we went skiing. No problems regarding reliability other than the stupid way you had to jack up the car without drilling a hole 🕳 in the door, luckily as I was getting ready to replace a tire 🛞 I noticed an old thick sock 🧦 would prevent damage so we always had one with the jack.
I’ve always wondered why FIAT hasn’t brought it back!!!☺️
Now I own a Alfa Romeo Gulia and again the Italians had to remove the Manual Transmission option. WHY?? Because we are so incompetent?? I’m Italian. The Fiat had the smoothest shifter I have ever driven. It cost both of each $2500.00☺️for a grand total of ??
i own a 20vt coupe, had it resprayed lime green, amazing car with insane performance,even today its quicker than most hot hatches, together with its amazing styled looks its so unique on the road and grabs the attention of many. it has styling that is far different from any other car out there, from every angle its beautiful and unique.
How much power yours running pal?
@@cylturbskie its the standard 20vt but with a stage 3 turbo on it, due to get it remapped soon so that should add around another 40bhp to it.
Wow yours has shit loadsa kit added to it haha!
@@easydrive3662 yeh bud haha. Gunna be doing a walk around video, revving up, and under bonnet vid once my tubular manifold im importing from italy has arrived and been installed along with the 40mm aluminium radiator and air con delete is done.
Deleted the last vid as it was a cold start with squeeky belt idler tensioner/pulley - dissapears when engine is up to temp tho.
Yah its had pretty much all of it done. Ill be at 350bhp to the wheels with the manifold installed.
@@easydrive3662 its a damn chore in first and reverse tho. I mean 4k rpm or grind the clutch and then dont move anywhere at all because its grinded and let the clutch go completely forcing you to dip the clutch to get the bite again chore.
@@easydrive3662 but this is what makes it fun - obnoxious to drive xD because the sound of the car sounds exotic and gets everyone turning round to look. And mine is completely debadged so get people compliment me on the car and also ask me what it is everywhere and everytime i stop somewhere.
Yes an interesting car, I have two Coupes, both 20vt's, one is a Plus so six speed etc. I also have a BMW 135im, another Chris Bangel design. I love cars that are not just an appliance, if I had my way I would have about 100 cars by now, and they would all have their own character. I loved my Fiat Uno Turbo also. Thanks for reminding us that Fiat wasn't always crap.
Good video. I always wondered about them. My first to Italian cars were Fiats and I loved them. I had a 600D (a stretched 500) and I called it my Fellini youth period. After I beat it to death, I got a 128 two door berlina...and I loved it. What a great little box to toss around on the curves, and it kept up nicely on the freeways. To see Fiat dying is a real heartbreaker, because it is taking the entire Italian motorcar industry with it. At one time they were buying up failed Italian brands and giving them a second chance. Now, through Stellantis, they will all fade away. Alfa has nothing in the pipeline now that the Georgio planform is discontinued. Maserati will become an expensive parts warehouse as they continue to attract fewer and fewer enthusiasts, and fail to impress the general public. Ferrari will be consumed with "wokeness" and become an EV shadow of the name. Fiat, like Rome, will became a lost history...only to be remembered in Number 27 videos.
DON"T mention the Multipla 🥶😝 Nice review Jack, as always !
I agree with your comments on the Fiat range. Same applies to Alfa. But I do need to disagree with your comment on the 124. It's very trendy on UA-cam to call it an MX5 or a Fiata or whatever. Yes the interiors are basically the same, but the engines, body shape and many other important parts are very different. (I own a 124 and my wife owns a 500).
Back to the Fiat Coupe, it's a great looking car and one that I should have owned but never did. Looks great in yellow and the blue is cool too. I'm still tempted to get one as a weekend car. Keep reviewing these fun cars!
Dad had a black 127 around 83. It was unreliable and we never had another Fiat. He traded it for a black Astra GTE new shape in 86. I felt like Knight Rider travelling in it with the digital speedo 😂
A work colleague had one of those and was driving it at 80 mph on 70 limited road. A police car pulled alongside him and pointed to the large digits showing "80", at which point my colleague wished he had an analogue dial!
@@stevemawer848 Just as well that cop wasn't around when my dad was driving. The GTE was the first car I was ever in that went 100mph. My dad got it just over 100mph on a stretch of motorway on the way back from Somerset and casually mentioned it to my nan who was sat in the back with me. She started screaming for him to slow down. Funny thing was, we'd done about 5 miles before he told her and she had no problem with the speed until then :)
I've owned 2 vt6's & customer spec'd 20v n/a metallic blue with toffee leather.
Incredible value for money, way better build quality than your average Fiat.
Sound of the 5 pot turbo engine on full chat is amazing!
Great review of the coupe. Totally agree.
I always appreciate journalists, reviewers or enthusiasts who have the guts to take this approach, as opposed to 'celebrity' you tubers who ONLY review hign end luxury brands etc.
“In Italy, no one grows up wanting to be a train driver”: great marketing (clearly it stuck in my memory, anyway).
I'm one who likes the look of the little car - both because it is different and also because it all ties in well. If you cut the roof off and look at it from the side, I can see some resemblance of the late model Alfa Spider - especially in the rear haunches - and while the Alfa looks unbalanced and quirky (some might say hideous) with a top on...somewhat like the roof was a sudden afterthought...the Fiat looks in proportion and a complete car. The Fiat has a prettier face than the Alfa too - and this is coming from a bloke who has owned a couple of Alfas over the years and loves them a lot! I might have to go drive one of those - they are old enough now to be considered a modern classic and yet they aren't priced out of the ballpark......at the moment anyway! Thanks for that review, Jack. I'd forgotten all about this little bombshell from the early 90s! All the best
Enjoyed the video very much. I have owned a late model 20v Turbo for the last 5 years with 6 speed g/b, p/b starter and 180 speedo and very much enjoy driving it. Performance and handling is excellent and the looks are very distinctive, just the steering lock is a little limited.
Ciao Jack,
Absolutely love your vids, I must say, my first car at 18 years of age was a Fiat 124 CC coupe, loved it so much, 1972 edition, twin cam, 5 speed, went like stink with a little tweaking. I have a Fiat 500 2017 Competizione which is the the best day drive I have had in a long time considering I’m an AlfaRomeo fan and my weekend drive is a 4C…
Keep the Ferrari, love your vids
Cheers from OZ😬
Great review and they were beautiful cars it be nice to see you do a drive on the x19 the barchatta and 124 spider to see a comparison
The initial Coupe had the 2 litre 16v 4 cylinder engine from the Tipo Sedicivalvole, shared with Lancia not Alfa Romeo.
The 1.8 Fiat engine of the era was a peach, that was based on an Alfa block.
Also you forgot the Marea which was another excellent car in saloon and estate versions.
@G. Tano Yes you are probably right.. I knew the "1.8" engines shared the same block but I thought it came from Alfa not Fiat...
Im really looking into these cars rn and thing about getting one in the future. Nice vid!
Also, so happy you mentioned the Brava! We daily one with the 1.6 16v and its really reliably and fun to drive.
get one before they are too expensive....
Indicator stalks are also shared with the F355...
Similar but not the same.
I'll never forget Clarkson using one for his cop car... Hammond was like "You're nicked... And have you got a fan belt for an old fiat? It's back there somewhere" 😆
I had one of these about 15 years ago now. Great fun to drive as you say.. However, build quality was unfortunately poor to say the least, I particularly remember the crappy windscreen washer system was something that Fisher-Price would have been ashamed of. Brakes were a bit interesting, the front discs warped like mad and breaking from high speed down was an experience to say the least. The ridiculous turning circle was a complete joke, they got that very wrong.
On the plus side though, the turbo lag was great and when the turbo finally woke up it took off like a bat out of hell and as you say in the video, just felt like it would never stop pulling. Expensive Porsche owners would be mighty hacked off when I left them for dead and tended to come back on me with real venom which was quite hilarious I remember. All in all a quirky vehicle but as I said great fun to drive and held the road like it was superglued no matter how hard you pushed it. Nice video, thanks for the memory.
Great video, Jack. Fiat coupes have been on my bucket list for ever, had a GTV for many years but haven't got round to these. Yet...
Great styling and somewhat timeless, amazing they shifted over 70,000 of these considering it was at the time a niche halo car.
I was waiting for the “Jack” on this one and thought you were going to disappoint. And then there it was: “Steering circle” 🤣
Great work Jack, love your accessible, engaging style and these background insights combined with road tests. You remain (in my opinion) the best of your genre 👍🏻
Great car especially with the 5 cyl 20v engine. The looks outside and in, front and back could not be ignored. I love them, but I am a Saab fan, so quirky rules!! Thanks for video
Great vid Jack. I agree on the Coupe: I like it because it's different from all the lookalikes but, yeah, I don't know if you could really call it pretty. I've always been a bit interested in them as I had a GTV V6, which was an utterly magnificent, thrilling beast, obviously made by passionate Italians who love design and driving. Yeah, it's a pity that Fiat seem to have lost their mojo, hopefully they'll find it again one of these days.
remebr looking for 2nd hand coupes with my dad in the late 90's/early 00's...test drove a gtv and a fiat coupe (as well as a 406- - which was way too ordinary inside)..eventually going for the Alfa....but always liked the bravery of this design and Chris Bangle work in general.
Ciao Giacomo,I have seen this video today and I agree with you.This is a car that you hate or love.But she is great if you are behind the wheel.I think that this 5 cylinder turbo is one of the best engines produced by the Fiat group in the last 30 years.I had it on a Lancia k coupè,an elegant but ugly car that nevertheless has been one of the best cars I have ever had. If we talk about Fiat,what it was and what it is,we must speak about Sergio Marchionne.He was a fantastic financial manager,infact he saved the group from bankrupcy,but he was a disaster when he imposed himself as the man who decided the cars to produce.You said that the 500 saved Fiat: true. The 500 is a planetary success,and was presented at the Geneva motor show in 2003 as the Trepiuno.Marchionne made a strong opposition because he didn't believe in her.It was a hard task to convince him that was a sensational idea.He said no to the car that could have saved Lancia,the Fulvia concept,of 2003,that still is fantastic but was never produced.Instead he had the great idea to produce the Lancia Thema 2,the Flavia 2 cabriolet,and the Voyager,three Chrysler models rebadged as Lancias.To the Voyager they were even unable to change the name. All these three models were a complete disaster and nobody wanted them.Dozen of them were scrapped new,after some years that they were waiting for an owner. And look Alfa Romeo,in the Marchionne era: they were able to have just two models,the Giulia and the Stelvio. Fiat invented the compacts with the 127,a worldwide success.Than came the Uno,a planetary success.Then the Punto and the Grande Punto,sold everywhere. When the Grande Punto went out of production they had no projects to substitute her. Is this normal ?? This is mainly why Fiat is never the same of the 60s,the 70s,the 80s or the 90s.
Brilliant review. ( Again...😄).
I owned one of these some 20 years ago in the exact same colour.
Now I miss it a lot after watching the video...😿😿😿😿😿
Ace video Jack as usual the lights came from a Masser Barcheta Si from Bath
The body design that Pininfarina got rejected actually ended up becoming the Peugeot 406 Coupe . I’m glad Fiat chose Chris Bangles design. It was a breath a fresh air , much like the Barchetta
my father and i enjoyed zipping around in his fiat bianchina 16 2/3hp back in 59 when he bought it for about 1000usd right off the showroom here in the usa i think that was about 200quid in those days
I had a 20VT which was a brilliant car …. right up until a piston melted 😆 Fortunately I got a fresh engine under an aftermarket warranty. Love Fiat’s idea of traction control - limit boost to 3000rpm then give you it all! Nothing would touch it from 50-70mph. A friend in Italy’s brother used to test for Fiat and the Coupe used to lose its bonnet at over 150mph. And, you’re right, the Alfa has the multilink suspension and the Coupe had the rear seats and boot. They drink oil - need to check every week. Switches would disappear into the dash and they all corroded around those lovely rear lights. A strut brace would help the steering. Cambelt on the 20VT was designed to be engine-out but specialist do it in situ.
Wait, your piston melted, and not the connecting rod left the block as ususal with the 20v versions (and 16v TS on the Alfas).
@@Isus666999 Yup - just one piston but it killed the engine. One of the knock sensors seems to have died.
Considering mine does 187mph and havnt "lost the bonnet" i think your talking rubbish in that respect..
@@Isus666999 again. Thats aload of crap. These engines are know to take 400bhp no problem on stock internals. Like the jz engines of the day, this was over engineered with 80% of standard componants good for 700 -800 bhp
@@meanredspider that certainly doesnt help anything
Very true about fiat, manufacturers just can't compete against the likes of VAG. French and Italian were rubbished years ago by the press but VAG cars aren't known for their reliability now like they use be Jack.
Nice one - should be on your "candidate" list of fun/leisure/yet usable cars. Was on ours too, but finally we went for a Ford Puma.
Also on the list: Peugeot 306 convertible, or the 406 coupé. Yes Miata.. MR2... that kind of stuff. Maybe we'll get one of these still.
I really like these. They’re a tad awkward from sone angles, but great from others.
My uncle and has best mate had a string of them between them because they were such a bargain back in the day; I remember both complaining about the size of the turning circle though.
A wonderful car and a great review. I always loved these and the Bravo HGT which shared that same 5 cylinder engine. Fiat seem to have gone the same way as Vauxhall (whilst you can't really compare), they also produce nothing exciting of any interest anymore. Back at the time when the Coupé was launched, there was or the back end of, quite a slew of interesting vehicles, now it's just a dreary collection of crossovers and SUVs.
Fiat's range is really depressing these days, I was thinking the very same thing the other day; the 500 is what saved it, but it's also now becoming its undoing. They've relied on it heavily for too long and a myriad of different versions haven't helped keep interest in the brand as it currently stands. I think they're trying to be a 'Mini' but not quite succeeding.
They’d be better off being. ‘FIAT’! One of the greatest automotive innovators of the 60s - 90s. Sadly, I don’t think that the engineering or design expertise exists in Italy anymore to support the industry. Most of the design houses have either closed or been absorbed into car manufacturers (ItalDesign in particular, which is now owned by VAG), and sadly, there do not appear to be the engineers that there were in the 60s and 70s.
Most manufacturers in the 70's had their own brand styling, and actually made cars to be unique.
Nowadays they are all mostly generic, like white goods.
I bloody hate the SUV trend, they are too big, and ugly.
The FIAT 500 (modern one) saved the company, but they are nothing like the original version, and are bloody huge now, same as the MINI.
My last car was a BMW E91 touring (a 3 series estate), and I parked it next to a MINI countryman, the MINI was the same length and taller !
The new Vauxhall Mokka is the dogs for small cross-over type cars. Great design I think.
I treated my Girlfriend to an UNO Turbo for her 21st Birthday back in the day, we loved it, she changed it for a MG Metro that had great interior but was inferior to Drive...but then we bought a Renault 5GT Turbo....wow ....fabulous
Well - I think the Fiat Coupe is one of the most stylish, beautiful and desirable coupes Ive ever driven. The turbo sounds sublime and performs superbly.
I remember taking a 16v for a test drive in the mid 90s, although the design was cutting edge for the time, I found the suspension set up too stiff even for a sports coupe, hence I didn't buy one, I remember I was looking to replace my 520 series so probably an unfair comparison.
My first car was a Coupe 2.0 16v, it was in rough shape, but only €700. I miss it at times.
I remember trying to convince my father buyig one of these back in the 90s while he was more fond of the Open Tigra. I was still going to Elementary school in Milan and we eventually ended up in an Opel Astra SW! XD anyways, I really like your reviews, I share the same passion o vintage cars and engines in general, I am a big fan of cars from the 80/90s especialy GM vehicles and now in the States I live the dream pretty much as you do with occasional "cheap" buys that give me joyful headaches. Anche io sono Italiano by the way, if you ever think about visitig Miami just let me know, you have a room! We may do a video on my vintage cars if you have any interest (currently a 1985 corvette and a 1995 Geo Tracker). Cheers from the 305 pal
Great car, still looks amazing now
I'm Canadian and have never seen or even heard of this car. I'm 56 years old so essentially an 80's kid so I suspect this affects my impression on the styling. I like it a lot. Like you I enjoy the "weirdness". Corrado, Europa, Montréal, and TJ Criuser are among my favorites in the styling department. Thank you for introducing this to me. The 5 cylinder version sounds right for me. Lol. More weirdness please!
Another Italian automotive curiosity which still looks great. You are correct, Alfa had multilink at the rear, the one that had that rear steering effect. And the same sticky s**t at the center console.
I had a green Fiat Coupe when they first came out and loved it. Since then I’ve had all manner of exotic cars including Porsche, Ferrari but NOTHING turned heads or stopped traffic more than that little fiat. Fortune favours the brave…Fiat need to rediscover it
I had a 20V Turbo, they were insane cars, that beautiful 5 cylinder engine, they put a huge smile on your face or sheer terror when the horrendous understeer catches you out.
I agree.
Lovely looking car, always wanted one, but there's no denying it's a Tipo in a dress, and the Tipo wasn't ever a 'great handling' car.
Uh no...sheer terror when gunning it in tuned monster mate
People focus on handling too much. Who cares what its based on. Its a great car in its own right. And when its this fast..what does handling really matter!
@@cylturbskie It was fast in it's day.
Slow now.
I'd still like one though.
Handling is 90% of driving, unless you're a tool who can only boot it from a set of traffic lights.
@@DjNikGnashers slow at the standard pwr lvl try driving a tuned one
I owned 3 Multipla’s back in the day, under rated masterpiece!
Hi Jack, was really into these for a while...unfortunately discovered how good they are too late ....Sooo easily tuned and the great diff handles it well 400/400 easy to achieve and yes, great sound pre-smog stifling
Would love that 5 pot + Tranny in a 916 GTV, which hasnt been Bangled up - easyish swap but never found an affordable offer..
If this car was RWD it would have been regarded as the Dino of the 90s and maybe gained legendary status. The FWD layout cheapened it somehow and didn't let it out of the mass production category
I regret that you are right. BUT…at the same time it gave the poor (me) an opportunity to afford a unique and quick car
I always fancied one of these back in the day .
I thought they looked great inside and out and what an engine , they sounded great 👍🏻
I owned a Fiat Tipo 1.8 16V in Spain. The electrics were abismal in a humid environment. In Madrid it was ok, but when you drove it somewhere near the sea the dashboard warnings would light up like a merry go round in the morning. My 1.8 engine had a strong harmonic vibration around 3500 rpm but once you pushed it beyond it would smooth out. If I can remember corectly it would like going beyond 180 km/h in top gear. The inside room was excellent.
I have one also but brought in from the UK and needs suspension rear and front to be restored. I'm the 5th one in Australia that has the 2.0 16v.love it
Fun car. Nice video. Keep up the good work.
Merging with other car makers has made Fiat a rather bland sort of brand. For instance, the Fiat Tipo is the same car as the Dodge Neon. But did you know the Fiat Cronos is currently the most sold car in Argentina?
In general, I think - and I echo something I hear more petrolheads say - the eighties and nineties were a kind of Golden Era for cars, where you’d have stuff like the Peugeot 205 GTi, Audi RS2, Volvo 850 T5-R and Ford Escort Cosworth coming along. When you think about it: when was the last time there was a Peugeot or Volvo to get excited about?
I really enjoyed this episode! Back in the days Fiat used to come up with some great models - I still remember cruising in our family Regata or the Croma of my cousin. Great memories from great times! I wouldn’t buy a new Fiat nowadays though, they just lack the charisma, innovations , passion of their predecessors! Jack , compliments for your perfect pronunciation of the Italian car brands and models. I am tired of people trying to pronounce in English way Italian words - laan·see·uh instead of ˈlantʃa for example 🤣😂
I think that in a few years Fiat as part of Stellantis will be much more significant than they are today. However, it is clear that the French influence will be massive, but in this context I think this is a good thing for the Italians. The big uncertainty is that development is moving towards electric cars and with this more style and design than technical sophistication and integrity. Otherwise, I love the design of the Fiat Coupé and not least what Chris Bangle later did at BMW with, among other things, the E85 Z4.
Yes, Bangle seems to get slated a lot, but compared to BMW's styling these days, Bangle's designs are actually rather good...
@@TassieLorenzo I completely agree.
A great looking car, especially in that yellow, love it. Thanks #27 👍
Brilliant vid,good for all viewers
Can't help myself but there is some guff in this video - the LSD wasn't an LSD, it was/is a viscous coupling and while it does, sort of, do the same job it is not the same thing. 90s Fiat dealerships? Not quite the rose tinted view presented - the Uno and then the Punto were good sellers, the Barchetta less so and lets not mention the Marea (£1000 major service charges sort of put people off when the car was only worth that much after 3 years). In terms of excitement though - the two Uno turbos, Punto Turbo (and then HGT) along with the Coupe (and even the Cinquecento and Seicento sporting models) were all ridiculously fun to drive and on the performance/pound(GBP) scale were just mental. Then came the Stilo and it all started going wrong. The 2.4 NA version of the 20v lump coupled with a lazy MTA gearbox and massively unreliable electrics meant only the brave/mad would touch them. Best example of the 20v turbo powertrain was actually the Lancia Kappa that showed how it should be done but for some reason it was never sold in the UK. The key point really is something that has always held true with Fiats - you pay for the drivetrain and everything else comes free, it was true in the 70s, it was definitely true in the 90s and still holds true now...
The 5 cylinder has a unique sound and is very smooth.
I have a more boring Stilo 2.4 but it is a practical 5 door car that goes well even if the styling is not as daring as the Coupé.
I had two 20VT, quirky cars... frosty cold days the hand brake used to freeze..... always had people staring at it. No issues with thieves or baddies, a plus !