Fiat Coupe 20V - The best coupe of the 90s! FACT
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- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
- In the early 90s Fiat needed a new halo car, and created one of the most striking copies of the decade - the Fiat Coupe, and then they fitted the 5 cylinder 20V engine to make it even better!
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I have mine from 2016.It is with 2.0 16v naturally aspirated engine,but with some mods.Eye catching beauty!
I own a 20vt coupe, had it resprayed in lime green, it looks beautiful and the performance is just insane, in fact its just as quick as some top end cars of today
Matt, great way to fix the sticky plastic in any car is to use g101. It’s usually only known by detailing pros, but can be bought by anyone.
When I bought my e55, stickies we’re everywhere and it felt nasty. That stuff with a cleaning brush and a microfibre made it nice again. Four years on and the sticky has not returned.
lol i love how you call it "the sticky"
When i was growing up, I had two posters on the back of my bedroom door, a Ferrari F40 and a Fiat Coupe Press poster of a Yellow Coupe.. After watching this i am going to look at Market place and facebook.
A excellent review as always Matt.
The Coupé is so iconic to me. A neighbour of mine has one, but I've never seen it in motion, it's always parked.
I had this engine in a Fiat Marea and was lovely and quick, sounded fantastic. Thirsty but great fun. Always like the Coupe and regret not buying when you could pick them up for 2 grand.. Nice work Matt.
Funny enough the 20V Turbo was really economical! Considering I had 340hp for many years, often doing 8.5l/100km is just amazing.
(My current 343hp Z4M Coupe needs 40% more petrol, being less fun than the Fiat)
I’ve not driven many 90s coupes, so I can’t vouch for your accolade! I have however driven a Coupe FIAT 20v Turbo - and it was bloomin’ quick, and great fun to drive!😊
Had the pleasure of borrowing from a friend and FIAT dealer back in the days, the top spec version of this (Turbo). I will never forget the sound, the handling, the acceleration and the stunning design. I have driven many nice cars since then, but the FIAT Coupe is the one that I will never forget. Thank you for a super ride down the 90s memory lane 👍👍😉
I never got the pleasure to take a Coupe for a drive, only admired it from afar. Fiat, do have that in spades though! That bit of "car magic", I wish the company remembered that, but I think they've forgotten it alas now :( For me, it was a little blue Fiat X/19 5sp 1.5, that'll I never ever forget driving, and still haven't forgotten it today as I post this youtube comment.
That 5 cylinder howl sounds soooo familiar to this Volvo driver ❤ the Coupe is arguably the coolest looking car - period. Shame it’s not blue, red or yellow as they really pop in those colours - dark colours really don’t show the wonderful styling. Great review Matt
The Volvo 5 pot is renowned for being unreliable, with the right exhaust the 20vt coupe sounds more like a V10 than any other 5 pot.
Wasn't is styled by Chris Bangle before he went to BMW?
@@cylturbskiewhat are u talking about 😂the t5 is extremely reliable
I love the Coupe. Clarkson brought one of these to the TG Police Car Challenge. Done up in Policia livery, the cars were supposed to look comedic but his Coupe just looked fantastic.
Beautiful car! Back in the 90s this was very exotic, a real gem!
1st! (ignoring the naked arse)
I loved my 20V Fiat Coupe - the poor thing died when the engine overheated and seized (Dumped radiator on the motorway) - in fact you have the numberplate off it hanging in your garage (B UK1970)
great review, I had a SAAB 900 that a friend borrowed so he could pick up a full size fridge freezer, he lent me his turbo version of this car, so much fun was had
These cars tick so many boxes. They are practical, they handle well, they are relatively reliable and they look fantastic. I really want one...
A colleague at work had one. He called it "The Money Pit". 😁👍
they were and rotted in the boot
Fantastic car ! Brave design but all the better for it :-) I saw this in the showroom just as you suggested the halo car - and walked next door to the Alfa garage and purchased a 145 1.8 ts - couldn’t quite afford the Fiat Coupe - fabulous car
Great video as always . If you fancy driving a 20v turbo vt6 ( 6 speed push button start etc ) feel free to get in touch.
These are so cool. Even standing still it looks like it's going fast with those slashes on the sides. Love the 5 pot sound, the turbo has the same horsepower as my quattro 20V. Great review Matt!
I'm a Celica fan as you well know Matt but that car makes my Toyota Celica look and feel like it's had a Charissa By-Pass operation 😂
Love these, was shopping for one when encountered a Bravo HGT at a price could not refuse. I'm glad my 2001 Bravo 155 HGT shares that engine, chassis, but hardly any of the sticky plastics. Only a small panel on the doors by the window switches
I remember going to the motor show at Earl's Court in the mid 90s when the coupe was launched and it stole the show. If I had had the money to buy a new car back then this the car I would have bought. Fiat was on a roll in the 90s with some great cars.
Another great car i was lucky to drive brand new at Fiat/Alfa back in the day, did 140 mph on the M65 in the bosses Coupé 20v Turbo (Short blast) 😁
Now that is a car I truly liked, starting with the fuel cap! I remember looking at one at a garage in Wateringbury, Kent back in the day, but just couldn't get insurance 😮.
I just bought this car last week! I LOVE IT!
I loved the review, probably because I own 2 20vt's, a plus in black, same spec as the car you drove, and one in yellow. That yellow dashboard looks great in that car, as mentioned, colour keyed things like that give a car character. Oddly both have different dials, including oil temperature and pressure. I had to deal with the sticky dash thing, but has been fine since. 220hp in that car with that sound track and being a manual, it is a fun experience. Thanks for showcasing what selfishly I think is an underrated future classic. As always great stuff...
Always loved these and always wondered how they compared to another 5-cylinder Coupe from the '90s - the Volvo C70! Another great review Matt and definitely a car that us petrolheads need to own during our lifetime.
I LOVE this car. I've always been drawn to its styling but only saw my first one in the flesh within the past year or so. I was completely stunned at how gorgeous it actually is. And my god, that engine sounds AMAZING. I'm one of those people who always has to have the stereo going when I drive but I wouldn't listen to it at all if I owned one of these. The interior is a thing of beauty as well... I love that painted metal band and the instrument cluster as well.
The soft touch plastic issue isn’t just 90’s cars. The buttons on my 2015 Range Rover are going sticky already - I’ve been wiping the coating off with make-up removal wipes!
Have had 4 20v turbos and now we just have a 20v normally aspirated albeit with the Variable intake system. Practically the non turbo is easier to live with and has the looks. Still miss the 3rd gear grunt on the turbo sometimes. Great video and you’ve done your research.
I’m more of a GTV man myself, but these little wedges are very nice
Well done Matt a brilliant review like you I have adored these cars for years since I was a teenager when I saw a bright yellow one when my dads tipo was in for service I treasure my brochure I picked up that day and when in Italy the hotel owner had one and let me sit in it
Such beautiful cars and reminiscent of Fiats of the 60s and 70s shame they are so rare now definitely must be room in the barn for one to keep the Alfa company lol 😂
A great design period in Fiats history. The 1990s Cinquecento, Punto, Brava/Bravo , Marea and the Coupe all distinctive looking cars as well as fun cars to drive.
Barchetta was nice too 👌
@@alphatrion100 oops, forgot that one , totally agree cracking sports car pity LHD only for UK
The seats are actually Recaro seats. They were standard fitment in the LE and Plus versions of the 20vt, but very unusual in a regular 20V. I've had a '96 1.8 16v version and a '99 20vt plus in moon grey. Especially the 20vt was an amazing car.
Recaro seats were fitted to many cars built by Pininfarina.
They are, well spotted. Much better than the Fiat leather seats. I’ve never seen them in another non turbo, but they were about £900 new! Someone spent a lot of money on this one new, including £850 on the alarm system…..
Someone in Manston, Kent has a yellow one, and a red one, the latter I think is a parts-bin. They are stunners!
Had these been available in the United States I would have been at the dealership waving my checkbook and yelling "TAKE MY MONEY NOW PLEASE"!
Always loved this design. Outrageous and cool. Still admire one around town here, used as a daily driver and ungaraged.
Beautiful car and very nice video! The Alfa GTV had totally different rear multilink suspension, by the way (and hence a very small boot)
Never thought these were beautiful but by god I love the way they look. Needs to be yellow though. That interior plastic deterioration reminds me, I've got salt and pepper mills doing just that, muat sort them out. Thanks for that 👍
For me the VW Corrado is the best 90's coupe. It was a bit more expensive, but they are both coupe's based on the everyday hatch (Golf / Tipo) so I'd class them as direct rivals. The Bangle styling on the Fiat leaves me divided. Sometimes i really like it, other times i think it looks a mess.
The 20v Turbo is fast in a way you can't even imagine... But i love the NA too, espcially in "Azzurro Portofino" with leather interior. One day i'll buy one (i was buying one 4 yrs ago, i haven't done unfortunately).
Just a word on the "406 ish" story... That was meant to be the Lancia K Coupé as the prototype Lancia Kayak suggest, but then became the 406 coupé. The Fiat coupé from bangle was one of the two choices for a sport car, the Marinara became the barchetta from Andreas Zapatinas, the Diavola the coupé itself.
Great to see this car on the channel!!
FCCS in Upton on Severn is the place to go. They only do Coupes, Ask for Joe
Yeah, the 220 horsepower turbo version is the fastest production Fix It Again Tony to this day. I wouldn't mind Tony fixing it again, though. Who wants to buy a banger? 😘
I’ve always thought that the shape of the airbag and textured grips on the steering wheel resembled a stylised bull face. Wonder who that could be a dig at?
My Design and Technology teacher at school had a blue one and put Ferrari badges on it 😂
Kinda sad
I am italian,and trust me was atroucious to be seen in the 90's.
My favourite little anecdote to those who like cars, but not enough to know the ins and outs, is to inform them that Ferrari was a Fiat company (though not the case anymore) . Blows their minds every time. 😂
This car is my guilty pleasure. I cannot help but going into the classifieds once and then hoping a good example turns up someday.
I remember my Mum, in the market for a Coupé in '99 or 2000, looking at these, with the 200sx & E46 as alternatives. Went for the E46 for its better practicality in the end, though my Dad did get a Bravo around the same time (which suffered the lizard-skin peeling of the soft-touch plastics BTW)
Bought a 20V like this last year. Adored them ever since launch, and adore even more now! Thanks for your fabulous review.
A friend has a red one mouldering on his driveway. He reckons he'll renovate it but I can't see it myself
This and the Alfa GTV of the same era for me 👍 lovely looking thing.
Love a 5 pot! Love the interior. I like seeing colour coded metal inside. Never liked the exterior styling, though. I think it's the side view. The rear is very nice! It's a divisive design.
Saw a new one of these whilst on a visit to the UK, back in the day, sitting in a Fiat dealership and was captivated. I looked at the viability of bring one back to Oz as a private import, but sadly the economics didn't add up. The fact that Fiat weren't in the local marketplace at that point was also a significant issue.
There's at least one here in the US. There was a video on CZcams a while back. Takes a brave customer to import a car completely unknown to domestic mechanics and parts suppliers!
Had a Marea weekend with that engine, sound was coool, wish I still had that
I’d love one of these. Or a Brera. But I’m lucky to have two classics and don’t have anywhere to store a third!
I’ve always loved these. I remember in period I felt it was a much more convincing steer than the fast GTVs - guessing the Busso is heavier. Love the external styling, can even forgive the general parts pin stuff, but the whole HVAC area has always let the side down. I don’t know if it’s just to my eyes, but I recoil in horror now as I did then. It’s not as if most rotary controls in the 90s for it were much different so just guessing it’s the contrast between and otherwise pleasing interior and then that monstrosity. If I could find a spotless 20v Turbo yellow broom one, I’d be all over it though. I’m sure I’d work out a solution. I imagine given it’s a Fiat there would be other things popping up the to-do list to take my mind off the it. Worth the hassle. I imagine most people who have got them now are in it for the long term!
I've got 2 really nice 16v coupes for sale. One NA one turbo. On car and classic. You won't find nicer ones. Thanks
We never got that car here in the US....in fact, I've never heard of it before until now. That's a shame, because it's one cool ride.
I had the turbo back in the mid 90s , and I lived in princess risborough at the time , , Did you drive that back and forth from longwick to Bledlow on your test drive
Hey Matt, great vid I’ve on,y just seen….I’ve owned many fiat coupes and still have an LE and a Plus….if you need a drive I’d be happy to get one along to you if I can! 👍
Thanks, where are you?
I love these and the GTV from a similar period, not soloing ago you could pick up a peach for under 2K
I had a 20V Turbo; one of the best cars I've ever owned.
I always liked these, I was seriously close to buying one in the mid 2000’s but I was put off by the horrific experience of my very first car…. A mk2 Fiat Uno everything that could fail in a car did with that one.
Around 2012 I took the plunge of getting into an Italian car again with a Alfa 156 twinspark with gorgeous white momo leather seats and it’s GT wood steering wheel…. All very nice to look at whilst wait for recovery when the engine blew on it 😢
Since then it’s been German cars for me
Imagine that engine in your Punto? That ought to be a lot of fun!
Air con was not standard, mine didn't have it from new. The central binnacle is stamped Lancia on the back. The black rubber coating was a stupid idea at the time because the whole car smelled rubbery inside from new. The electric volt meter was originally an oil temperature dial. These days, coupes are not fast, but I keep mine because it looks so gorgeous.
These days n/a Coupe's are not fast ...However a well kept stock 20vt can still compete and then we have tuned 20vt's , stage 2 onwards are still more than a match once rolling for their modern counterparts. Where talking 300 , 400 , 500 , 600hp monster Coupe's.......Wowzers!!! They're out there and the majority appear as stock 20vt's to boot.....Great cars , still to this day.
Amazing 🤩 this just has to be the next addition to the furious fleet.
thanks, ive been waiting for this to fall on your channel, I thought it'd be the car for this channel
Had a 20v Turbo for 6 years, great car, leather seats, sunroof, manual of course. Woule fly in 3rd once you got to close to 3,000 rpm, Turbo came to life. Turbo is only way to go!!
great review, but just a quick correction this is the "phase 2" version of the 20v NA engine with the VIS (variable intake system) which gave it 155bhp over the OG 147bhp. The seats are more than likely installed from a vt6/plus, the 20v N/A could be had with normal seats but also with bigger bolsters usually found in the VIS model. Aircon was also optional and not standard.
The seats on this were original, the owner found an amazing spec car with this one
My most favourite Fiat. I’d love one just for the noise ❤️❤️❤️
Back in the day when I had a 145qv i got a chance to drive one of these my opinion was at the time it felt less fun and quite a bit slower than the 145.
Cool looking thing, great interior too.
Chris Bangle described the Tipo platform as "awful".
Chris can describe what ever he wants i love to drove the coupe
I worked for fiat and alfa in 2000...the 20v Turbo was the choice for me... The sound... The power! Engine non turbo better in the bravo hgt
Love that engine, they should have put the exhaust out the side so it could be enjoyed 🤗
Saw a lovely yellow 20v turbo this evening in Burnley. Looked mint. Prefer these over the alfa gtv.
Lovely looking cars always wanted one but never got round to getting one ended up with an alfa gt
Brilliant 🎉 I was wondering what pinninfarina design fiat turned down.
The 406 coupe is nice, but I'm glad fiat went with Bangles origami ❤🎉
The head light covers were rumoured to represent a lady's bottom, apparently. Hence, to be washed 'con amore' ! Anyway I had the very rare 16v non turbo. Best car I ever had! If you ever pass a yellow one on the road it still looks incredible.
A genuine four seater coupé with a useable boot, better than the 2+2 coupe's that can take two adults comfortably in the front and rather cramped space that's more fit for children in the back.
A good comparison would be the early 16V 4-cyl Coupe vs the 2-litre T-series Rover Coupe..... they would have been rivals along with the older VW Corrado...
i had a 1997 na, Had it for 12 years, Cost me a fortune until it went to Coupe heaven
Got my 20vt for plus for a straight up no cash swap for the 520d I had at the time, love it, 400bhp, the beemer had only 175bhp lol.
But my damn apexi AVCR electronic boost controller has decided to stop working. So....the boost is doing what the hell it wants at the moment. Sometimes it gives me all the 1.35 bar of boost, sometimes its only 0.7 or 0.8 bar. :@
Further re jigging of your fleet required, this would be a great addition, even if the 145 has to go?
Like many of us here, I'm totally kicking myself that I didn't buy one when I had the chance. Little did we know that this was really the end of this kind of car (affordable, distinctive, powerful performance).
The Coupe was like nothing else, when launched. Still is. One of Chris Bangles greatest cars.
Mr Furious, what order would you put these 4 150 mph coupes in :- Rover 220 turbo coupe , Fiat Coupe 20v turbo , Volvo C70 T5 GT , Peugeot 406 coupe V6.
Excellent q
Fiat fitst then the Volvo then the Peugeot and the Rover last for me anyway.
Fiat once rolling first , then a toss up between the rest.
I hear you, but I'd offer up the 200sx turbo as a thorough rival
It definitely was a rival. The 20v Turbo edged the S14 in reviews but the S15 was the first car to beat it in a road test 👍🏻
Had a bravo HGT then a coupe 20V Turbo always felt the bravo more characterful and a great a car but obviously not as fast
Also, how could we forget Italians were experimenting with FWD layout and Ferrari V8 on a sedan car back in 1980s?
Interesting that you rate the 20v above the turbo as a couple of owners I know locally say exactly the same. Immediately defaulted to Autotrader to search for one and they aren’t even that expensive!
Said by all the non turbo owners.
The turbo is the one to have
@@ianjenkins4641 good point! I’ll have to have a go in one!
Beautiful car with a great sounding engine. Thoroughly enjoyed this review
I still loke the craziness of these. Ive had 2 5 cylinder cars and one was a fiat, but was a rather blobby Marea. At least the engije was good...... The 0ther was a diesel v40... they should still make atuff like this for fun...
Did u use the tea shelf?😊
Beautiful car and beautiful sound of that 5 pot.
Never had one always loved them - imagine a mainstream manufacturer today thinking yeah we will build that whilst we are also building a 2 seater roadster.............
How i miss the 90's 😢 cars with character great content Matt 👍
I loved this car since it was launched, such a challenging design but different is beautiful.
I absolutely love the design. It's like a poor man's Ferrari. I have owned other fiats in the past but somehow never considered owning one of these. What a shame
Love a 5-cylinder...
I’ve never driven this Fiat, but I have driven (owned) a Corrado VR6, and can confidently say that it can’t even come close to what I experienced with my VW.
Certainly roomy - I am 6'3" (and bulky!) and had no trouble in my 16v version. The boot is very big and, as I remember, had a small hatch through into the rear seat area for long items (skis, perhaps). I should never have sold it :-(
A bery nice car. I miss coupes, some great cars from otherwise quite ordinary manufacturers.
Had both 20v and 20v turbo back in the day. Both great cars with no problems, apart from soft touch paint on console which scratched too easily !
Had a Coupe 20VT for 12years.
First chipped (250hp) later new turbo/map (340hp). Best car I’ve had.
It often won the road tests against Alfa GTV, as it’s actually a usable 4 seater (GTV is NOT that😊) and obviously faster than the GTV, while the GTV had the slight edge in handling.
Actually, Coupe used no ”Fiat interior parts bin” so the buttons stalks etc were generally new with the Coupe but DID get shared with alfas, Maseratis, etc.
Those seats are Recaro’s not Momo.
Actually most Coupe’s had ACC so its not curious at all, neither is having a sunroof or plastic door handles, that was pretty std early 90’s. The chrome handles in Alfas were something else!
Its funny to see the non-Turbo Coupes with their narrow front track - the 20VT did look (and handle) a lot better
Still on my car bucket list, thanks for the review.