rover turbo vs fiat turbo

bjrespect · Post by **bjrespect** » Sun May 07, 2006 9:51 pm

as iv posted before i will be getting a tubby in november but one of my mates will be getting a fiat coupe turbo which would you go for and has any one had any experience with them both
i think they could be closly matched but cant find any offical stats

Squaddiemodo · Post by **Squaddiemodo** » Sun May 07, 2006 9:53 pm

should be a reasonable match, but not knowing alot about the fiat i couldnt quote fugures, but i bet the build quality in yours will be better

r44flyer · Post by **r44flyer** » Sun May 07, 2006 9:55 pm

Fiat 20V coupe turbo is 220bhp, 0-60 in 6.5. 16V version is 195bhp, 0-60 7.3.

Quite tunable cars apparently, and internals are good for a lot more than the Rover as standard.

C2K · Post by **C2K** » Sun May 07, 2006 9:56 pm

Fiat has a T28 as standard IIRC?

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Sun May 07, 2006 9:56 pm

there are a few different versions of the fiat i think?

the 20v turbo i think is marginally quicker on the 1/4 than a standard coupe turbo?

T16 Dave · Post by **T16 Dave** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:01 pm

And whichever version you have, they're both a pain in the arse to work on!

I thought someone was joking when they said you have to pull the engine on the 20v to change the cam belt until I looked under the bonnet...

bjrespect · Post by **bjrespect** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:02 pm

my mate is after the 20v turbo been looking for figures not made up owners stats like 170mph iv found should be a good match i hope get them down donnington for a blast when we get them

r44flyer · Post by **r44flyer** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:13 pm

Fiat coupe is limited to 155mph.

bjrespect · Post by **bjrespect** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:15 pm

whats stopping the tubby at 150 just the gearing or just running out of steam and what speed would the fiat reach unlimited

t220cat · Post by **t220cat** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:19 pm

bjrespect wrote:whats stopping the tubby at 150 just the gearing or just running out of steam and what speed would the fiat reach unlimited

run out of steam, i'm sure i can remember someone on here saying the coupe(rover) has the gearing to do 167mph

bjrespect · Post by **bjrespect** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:21 pm

what sort of power figures would you be looking at to reach them sort of speeds

t220cat · Post by **t220cat** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:25 pm

andyr got 171/172mph with about 350-400bhp

could also have been a bit of gearbox trickery thrown in there as he is a whizz with gearbox's

t220cat · Post by **t220cat** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:26 pm

ohh and also a fully lightened/stripped interior

bjrespect · Post by **bjrespect** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:31 pm

i bet that was fun at 170mph is the car still stable at them speeds

t220cat · Post by **t220cat** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:34 pm

probably gets a bit hairy, mine isn't stable at 130mph(on a private test track of course)

bjrespect · Post by **bjrespect** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:37 pm

my 216 was stable at an indicated 130MPH speedos lie so probs about 120
but was lowed

220Si · Post by **220Si** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:40 pm

T16 can be a good relaible engine and good power from mods.

20V the SOUND!!!

I heard the fiats can be tempramental but only if you don't look after them they have a lot of midrange grunt I think std circa 230 ftlb of torque

Have been looking at these to maybe one day replace my GSi

bjrespect · Post by **bjrespect** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:49 pm

i sat my 1.6 coupe next to a fiat coupe in a car park once the fiat is a lot bigger car

Raistlin · Post by **Raistlin** » Sun May 07, 2006 10:54 pm

My mechanic has a 20v fiat coupe turbo which he lets me use as a courtesy car when mine is in for routine stuff as his garage is out in the wilds of hill billy Shropshire land.

Have to say it feels noticeably faster than a standard Rover turbo. Nice car to drive as well.

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Sun May 07, 2006 11:03 pm

i think some of them are 240bhp models.

Should be quite a bit faster than a coupe 200 once moving.

bjrespect · Post by **bjrespect** » Sun May 07, 2006 11:14 pm

just found some figures
fiat coupe 2.0 20v turbo 220bhp 0-60 (6.6) secs top speed 155 mph
whats a rover coupe turbo figures

zozzie_9t9 · Post by **zozzie_9t9** » Sun May 07, 2006 11:46 pm

bjrespect wrote:whats a rover coupe turbo figures

0-60 in 6.2.

What's the fiat's 30-70 mph time?

Si · Post by Si » Mon May 08, 2006 9:03 am

Stock vs stock the Fiat 20v turbo is faster, plus they sound ace on full boost.

BrackenFox · Post by **BrackenFox** » Mon May 08, 2006 11:53 am

I have a couple of friends with 20V Turbo Fiat Coupes, had one myself for a few weeks as well.

I find they're the opposite of the Rover turbos, in that they feel stupidly quick to drive, but really aren't as fast as they feel. Quick, certainly, but not as fast as you think they are when you drive them.

Bloody fun though! That engine note is really nice indeed.

However, as previously noted, absolutely horrible to work on. You'd be surprised what simple little jobs require the engine to come out.

Very, *very* sensitive to oil level too, need to be checked absolutely religiously, as when an oil leak occurs, it just seems to pour out, as one of my friends found out when his seized solid and destroyed itself on the M3.

Electrical system makes Lucas seem like perfection, too.

Fun cars, but not to my taste, really. I'd have a Rover any day, even just for the fact that I'd actually have a hope of fixing it when it went wrong without requiring a mortgage.

MGJohn · Post by **MGJohn** » Mon May 08, 2006 8:13 pm

Fitting MGZS 16" alloys and Mich Pilots all round, my 1993 220 TC was surprisingly stable at well over twice the legal limit.... with more to come.... much moreso than on the standard 15" alloys .... remarkable in fact.

Post by **Punx0r** » Mon May 08, 2006 11:10 pm

I'm not going to criticise the mechanicals, but those Fiat coupes are SO damn ugly! :puking:

Post by **IrishRover** » Mon May 08, 2006 11:19 pm

Had a 0 to 60 with a 20v Fiat turbo coupe, nothing much in it (standard Rover turbo coupe) perhaps Rover slightly ahead.

Have a look at this article: http://www.rover200.net/articles/rover_ ... _vtec.html

MGJohn · Post by **MGJohn** » Tue May 09, 2006 5:32 pm

IrishRover wrote:Had a 0 to 60 with a 20v Fiat turbo coupe, nothing much in it (standard Rover turbo coupe) perhaps Rover slightly ahead.

Have a look at this article: http://www.rover200.net/articles/rover_ ... _vtec.html

Nicely presented Irish .... enjoyed that Fiat v Honda v Rover Coupe article.

Two years ago, I'd never seen a Fiat Coupe locally, now they're a fairly frequent sight including a yellow and red one in my firm's car park.

Having read the peice, I now undertsand why my 620ti shaped up against one of those Hondas recently.

Regarding your comments on R-o-I vehicle tax on another thread, I never realised it was so expensive over there. What about fuel taxation - is it on a par with UK? If it is ...

-Alex- · Post by **-Alex-** » Tue May 09, 2006 6:56 pm

Just as a sidenote, the Fiat Coupe Turbo Plus has a 6 speed box and some other nice touches.

One going on fleabay atm - they are a touch pricey but are newer models.
Clicky

Always quite fancied one to be honest, and if it wasn't Â£5k when I was offered my 'ti for much much less, I may have had one

Post by **IrishRover** » Tue May 09, 2006 8:30 pm

MGJohn wrote:Nicely presented Irish .... enjoyed that Fiat v Honda v Rover Coupe article.

Cheers John

Having read the peice, I now undertsand why my 620ti shaped up against one of those Hondas recently.

Yeah, it goes some way to show that cars with vaguely similar BHP figures or power to weight ratios can drive and deliver their power completely differently.

Regarding your comments on R-o-I vehicle tax on another thread, I never realised it was so expensive over there. What about fuel taxation - is it on a par with UK? If it is ...

Ah well at least with fuel it is currently (and has been for several years) cheaper here. It was a little over 1 euro (70p) per litre (unleaded 95) until the recent price rises and now it is generally between 115 and 120 cents (79 to 83p). Diesel is generally a few cents cheaper (as it should be

).
So swings and roundabouts really. Funnily enough we seem to be one of the cheapest in Europe. While in France I saw prices range between 135 and 145 cents and I hear it is similar in Belgium and Netherlands.

Rover620Ti_MGTurbo wrote:Just as a sidenote, the Fiat Coupe Turbo Plus has a 6 speed box and some other nice touches.

The brembo brakes and strut brace and recaro leather seats do sound like nice touches. I am beginning to wonder about one now in a way, but emotionally I prefer the Rover

symonh2000 · Post by **symonh2000** » Tue May 09, 2006 8:39 pm

It has to be the Fiat every time.

The Fiat is Built by Pininfarina, NOT by Fiat so build is excellent, if you think build is poor you should look at one..

The gearbox is up to the job and more, no chewing Diff bearings.

They are far more tuneable, 300bhp+ is easy on 16valve and 20Valve models.

Servicing is reasonable as there are lots of specialists. I have seen 20 valve cambelt changes for Â£400.

Handling in standard form is a different league to the Rover, being much better.

The engine sounds better and is smoother (both versions, and does not eat head gaskets.

The Fiat looks better IMO, the Rover looks very conservative, similar to a normal 200 at a glance. Fiat looks good in red with big wheels

However the Rovers are cheaper. The above may be why.

Sorry about this Rover Guys..

tomcat · Post by **tomcat** » Tue May 09, 2006 10:33 pm

symonh2000 wrote:It has to be the Fiat every time.

The Fiat is Built by Pininfarina, NOT by Fiat so build is excellent, if you think build is poor you should look at one..

The gearbox is up to the job and more, no chewing Diff bearings.

They are far more tuneable, 300bhp+ is easy on 16valve and 20Valve models.

Servicing is reasonable as there are lots of specialists. I have seen 20 valve cambelt changes for Â£400.

Handling in standard form is a different league to the Rover, being much better.

The engine sounds better and is smoother (both versions, and does not eat head gaskets.

The Fiat looks better IMO, the Rover looks very conservative, similar to a normal 200 at a glance. Fiat looks good in red with big wheels

However the Rovers are cheaper. The above may be why.

Sorry about this Rover Guys..

Servicing and all parts in general are much more expensive on the fiats.
You also don't see many fast ones without a lot of money spent on them!
A littly fettled rover coupe turbo +20-30bhp will see off most.

I think only the later 20v 6 speed plus and le versions look good now the others look a bit cheap and dated especially the interior -which isn't a patch on the gtv's.

Handling std the rovers I admit are not good but with springs/shocks are pretty good.

I have a gtv (same chassis as the fiat and the handling around twisty roads is not as good as the rover however at high speeds it is a lot more stable and secure..
However I am frightened to gun it too often incase something goes wrong on it..or maybe I am paranoid

Liam Olf · Post by **Liam Olf** » Thu May 11, 2006 12:28 am

Styling would take a bit of getting used to if you ask me...

Weird how one of the minus points for the Rover was gearchange, but for the Honda it was a plus point. Didn't they use the same gearbox?

shaggy · Post by **shaggy** » Thu May 11, 2006 10:12 am

A bloke at work had one of the last 20v Coupe turbo + models.

Very nice car, build quality was v good too

Although prices to repair them are a tad on the high side

MGJohn · Post by **MGJohn** » Thu May 11, 2006 7:26 pm

Rover620Ti_MGTurbo wrote:Just as a sidenote, the Fiat Coupe Turbo Plus has a 6 speed box and some other nice touches.

One going on fleabay atm - they are a touch pricey but are newer models.
Clicky

Always quite fancied one to be honest, and if it wasn't Â£5k when I was offered my 'ti for much much less, I may have had one

SIX speeds: Apart from sales gimmick aspects, I thought the whole point of a turbocharged car was to reduce the number of gearchanges needed. If a car really needs six speeds, then possibly it's spread of torque and power is not as good as it should be. The flexibility of the T16 turbocharged Rovers is something I'll will never get tired of experiencing.

Considering they first appeared well over a decade ago, they still shape up very well alongside more modern stuff.

Fiat turbos must have reached an affordable value 'low' now - lots locally - couple of years ago never seen one locally.

Also, Calibras. Rare sight locally say five years ago then suddenly everywhere and three down my street. They've been turning up in local breakers far more frequently than similarly aged Rovers. I have never seen a turbo coupe there, only one 620ti and maybe a dozen Vitesse in the past two years. Three years ago my coupe and the Nurse's across the road were the only ones about. Now, they are a common sight but, never seen one in the breakers.

By the way, back in the 1960/70s, my MGBs actually had six forward ratios. A rifle bolt clicking H-4 on the floor with overdrive on 3rd and 4th operated by a smooth electric switch on the top of the gear knob. No five or six speed modern gearbox is as nice to use as that one was..