LE over the Plus in my opinion.

Looked at both before making my purchase all those years ago. The Plus doesn't stand out enough for me. Its too subtle and a little boring in my opinion. The Coupe has a distinctive loud design so the LE parts suit it.

I'd have to agree with that, subtle=refined, loud=garish

From inside maybe. From the outside apart from the lens cups, fuel cap and wheel colour (on the rather sad single spoke 20VT wheels ) the LE looks no more special than a plus/20VT6, unless you know what you're looking at.

Given the average punter doesn't even understand the range from 16V NA - 20VT the subtleties of some colour highlights won't mean anything. So the crux of the matter is the interior, which is where the marmite factor kicks in.

The devil is in the detail - most sought after wheels = Plus, jizbag recaros = Plus, proper push-start = Plus vs silly red Lego button

I think it does make a big difference in terms of colour. Anthracite wheels, grey light cover, petrol cap and grill.

All of those things stand out to me on the LE compared to the Plus.

I like the interior, I think it suits the car especially the colour chosen for the LE.

Again to be difficult I disagree Stevette. You have knock off Recaro's. I prefer a red button to the silver. Feels more like a nuclear button when you press it

For the wheels I just don't like the Plus one. I know I should but I just don't. In anthracite I do prefer them, but plane jane grey. I'd take the LE ones.

I have owned both an LE and a Plus. I prefer the LE overall but I have put Plus clocks in the LE and would also take the grille and wheels over the LE ones.

I think both have their appeal...its down to individual taste really, having owned both I think they are both nice.

Plus' have lovely alloys, love electric blue with the red stitched leather too, particularly like the later Plus's, different seat trims & Airbag 'Recaros'

LE's slightly more aggressive and modern looking IMO, anthracite detailing looks great, Red/Black leather looks great on the correct colour exterior...Vinci...say no more!

just lovely cars in general IMO, in all their various guises....

at the end of the day we all drive bangers now. It's just the same car only one has a plaque and red seats. You go for whichever you like best.

Which sets Anthracite off nicely..

If an LE and Plus were both available at the same time, price and with the same service history etc, etc... I'd still go for my Plus... although a Vinci LE might convince me otherwise

Having owned a 20VT6 and purchased this when an LE was sat next to it in the garage, I confess I do like the LE's and mileage of the LE v the 6 probably put me off the first time (100k v 40k on clock) even though I know people say it shouldn't.

However the Plus alloys and more subtle styling are what I prefer... both versions are stunning though

I used to think that the Fiat Coupe was special. A semi-exotic, semi-classic car. A car that was beautiful, rare and quirky. A car that engaged all the senses even when it was standing still. A car that defied it's badge and age by being so unique and breaking the mould of what it was expected to be. A car that punched above it's weight. And perhaps most important of all, it was a car that had tons of something lacking in most modern cars and indeed cars from it's own era - soul.

And then I read this...





It's all coming back to me now...
Jeremy Clarkson destroying that Coop with the Boudicca wheels...Fifth Gear's 'Cheapskate Alternative' feature...and PistonHead's Shed of the Week article.




















Still......I wouldn't get rid of it.

And nor would I! I love these cars. I'm just playing devil's advocate. I can't believe the LE/Plus argument still rages on.

If we are talking totally original cars then a Red or a Black LE has always looked the best. That said there is, for me, one huge dislike of the whole LE series. The silver Grey elements, especially on the dash & door strips

On standard cars I have never really liked the look of the black painted lower sections. Despite warming slightly I still prefer it when they have a kit or are just painted body colour.

As for a plus...
Well I don't like the seats, don't find them comfortable
I don't really like the wheels
And why a push button start... when there is still a key

So, for me, it has to be a standard car but with subtle mods. Over my years here most of the nicest Coupés I have seen have been in this catagory..

Ruspers Porto...
Sparkymans Sprinty..
Ian??? (From Ireland) Scotts Green..
Tipoboys nouvelo blue...

Best Standard car I have seen was a Scotts Green (with Sand Interior) S 593 HGX

Having driven both standard 5-speed 20VT and Plus/6-speed, give me the 5-speed any day of the week. The extra cog in the 6 takes some of the "ooommph" out of the car, that much is true. Just when you need it as well, from 70 upto ... 75.

Having driven both, I find I enjoyed the 6 speeder as I wasn't constantly taking the car out of 5th to put it back into 5th It makes the car quieter and smoother while cruising, which in reality is where most of my driving is done.

In order of preference based on looks

Plus
late 20VT
all the other models except LE
LE

Reading that from where you're based puts the LE top

LE

I love my 'luxury' plus but I do miss the harpooned shark feel of my old 5 speed porto…time for a flea remap me thinks….

Love any coop in standard outfit leaving the Pininfarina factory.
IMHO the LE's appeal to the ones who want their car to stand out of from the rest of us: some like it hot.

@Barmybob: those Plus seats are comfortable all right.
If only you were 20 years younger

I gave careful thought to this when I was looking second time around and the relative dearth of genuinely clean and original LE's put me off along with a nagging doubt about the Miami Vice interior.
The subtlety of the Plus wins it for me!

I was very happy with my plus, at the time when I was looking to buy, it was the best car around. I would have only bought a Plus or an LE and I consider both to be at the top of the range. The plus can get you a newer car by a couple of years but I do feel the LE to have that 'more special' touches, albeit marmite to some.

Personally, I don't find the LE interior garish at all and has some really nice touches with the alloys and fuel cap. Although not real Recaros, my old plus had the jizzbags which IMO are better than the standard Recaros, they're deeper and a snug fit. However I bought on condition, so would have bought either a Plus or an LE, which ever was in the best nick, I'm sitting on the fence, I'd be happy with either.

If I was going to go back into a coupe it would be a Vinci Grey LE no question, I've done the Plus and I loved it a lot. However like Duffy said (above), decent standard examples are hard to find. It's a limited edition car FFS why butcher it

If I was going back into something Italian, it would be a Maserati 3200GT though.

See I love my Plus and was glad to get a mint low mileage ex forum car with tonnes of history in the folder, and all that together was my primary reason for choosing that car.

Now if I had my coupe and an LE with a comparable folder sat in fromt of me I think I'd struggle.

Like most a Vinci is just porn and I would sell my child for one! - offers invited!

A plus because I just washed my dirty
Little 12 year old
Italian

Can't argue with that...

I miss my Vinci LE

One for all you Plus owners.........

You know you really wanna be an LE!!

How to make your interior look hideous without the expense and effort of fitting LE seats!

Simple solution - buy a nice VT6! Pretty rare and pretty pretty........