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Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
#1630912
22/03/2019 19:48
22/03/2019 19:48
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095 Berkshire
AnnieMac
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095
Berkshire
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Traveling quite fast to overtake a lorry, there was a sudden loud BANG! and then the front of the car seemed to be floating or as if on ice and the car did some spectacular shimmying. There was a terrible smell of burning rubber but the steering came back and apart from the occasional knock on the nearside front, all seemed OK once I got back control. Meanwhile a man in a van started to come along side me waving and pointing. I wasn't keen to stop for a stranger but I eventually pulled into a layby. The rubber surround inside the edge of the wheel arch was poking out about 3 feet. The knocking was this rubber thing whacking the passenger door as I went along. The van man very kindly pulled it off and I kept it and went on my way. He had been trying to get me to stop because he thought the rubber waving around was a shredded tyre.
This morning I called out the AA just to have a look and make sure it was safe to drive. The whole of the front nearside wheel arch inner lining has come off and is on the A34 somewhere. The metal edge of the wheel arch has also buckled. The AA man has used a cable tie just to secure the edge of what is left of the the lining and prevent it from rubbing on the tyre. The tyre on that side is badly worn along the inner edge and he told me to get it replaced. He said the coil spring is not broken.
Needless to say I was pretty shaken up. Somehow I instinctively did what you should do in a skid, and just took my feet off everything and tried to get control back by steering. I dread to think what might have happened if I had braked, as the wheel arch lining must have been jammed beneath the nearside front wheel. The road was very busy, it's a dual carriageway and if I had spun around there would have been a pile up.
I was on my way back from having a new cam belt, water pump, aux belts, and rocker cover gasket fitted by Gaz at Just Right Autos. (Sorry Nigel I decided to go to the nearest expert.)
Thing is, coupes are such powerful cars, even a mere vis like mine, but they are so old that things can actually drop off and compromise safety.
I'm not sure I will ever feel safe in it again.
Been looking at Drover, where you lease a new car and one monthly payment covers everything except fuel. They have some nice little small engined turbo Fords that do 60 to the gallon.
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1630917
22/03/2019 21:17
22/03/2019 21:17
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783 In the coupe.
magooagain
Club Member 259
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Club Member 259
Forum is my life
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
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Glad you are safe. Would the garage be at fault ?
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1630919
22/03/2019 21:29
22/03/2019 21:29
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,527 Aldershot
PeteP
Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
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Hon Club Member 005, Membership Secretary
Forum Fossil
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21,527
Aldershot
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Things drop off new cars too. Glad you are OK Annie.
16VT and X1/9 1500
We must all do our part for the planet. I unplugged a row of electric cars that nobody was using.
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1630922
22/03/2019 22:49
22/03/2019 22:49
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 420 uk
OnlyItalian
Enjoying the ride
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Enjoying the ride
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 420
uk
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A bet you felt alive in that moment when you were speeding towards death. What a buzz!
Just took a look at drover. Looks ridiculously expensive to me. If you really want a new car just get a loan or save up if you can. It'll be much cheaper in the long run and you'll own a car at the end of it.
"Proud owner of LE141 and a 99 VIS broomie "
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: magooagain]
#1630924
23/03/2019 00:34
23/03/2019 00:34
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095 Berkshire
AnnieMac
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095
Berkshire
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Glad you are safe. Would the garage be at fault ? I did wonder about that, but as far as I know, it wouldn't be something you would remove to do the jobs mentioned above. If someone knows better I would be interested because if this is the case, they really should fix it for me. Does seem a bit of an odd coincidence?
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1630929
23/03/2019 09:17
23/03/2019 09:17
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783 In the coupe.
magooagain
Club Member 259
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Club Member 259
Forum is my life
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
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I'm not a professional but for a cambelt change I would say it was a good chance they removed the nearside inner arch in order to carry out the work.
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: magooagain]
#1630933
23/03/2019 10:20
23/03/2019 10:20
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095 Berkshire
AnnieMac
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095
Berkshire
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I'm not a professional but for a cambelt change I would say it was a good chance they removed the nearside inner arch in order to carry out the work. Oh no! But the cam belt is on the other side of the engine bay? Where is the rocker cover?
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1630934
23/03/2019 10:23
23/03/2019 10:23
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095 Berkshire
AnnieMac
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095
Berkshire
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I'm not a professional but for a cambelt change I would say it was a good chance they removed the nearside inner arch in order to carry out the work. Oh no! But the cam belt is on the other side of the engine bay? Where is the rocker cover? I don't think Gaz would have made such a basic mistake. He used to be the main man at Solo Italia so he definitely knows what he is doing.
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1630935
23/03/2019 10:57
23/03/2019 10:57
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chipped
Unregistered
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chipped
Unregistered
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1630942
23/03/2019 12:50
23/03/2019 12:50
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783 In the coupe.
magooagain
Club Member 259
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Club Member 259
Forum is my life
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
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Sorry Annie I got myself in a fuddle. It's being all Frenched up is my problem.
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1630943
23/03/2019 14:04
23/03/2019 14:04
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 420 uk
OnlyItalian
Enjoying the ride
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Enjoying the ride
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 420
uk
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How about a two year old Fiat Tipo. Would still feel new, done a load of it's depreciating. Start at about £7k. Great looking car. Probably still be worth over £5k in two years time. Cheap motoring for a car that new.
"Proud owner of LE141 and a 99 VIS broomie "
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: magooagain]
#1630951
23/03/2019 20:06
23/03/2019 20:06
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095 Berkshire
AnnieMac
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095
Berkshire
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Sorry Annie I got myself in a fuddle. It's being all Frenched up is my problem. You been to French France?
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1630954
23/03/2019 20:53
23/03/2019 20:53
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783 In the coupe.
magooagain
Club Member 259
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Club Member 259
Forum is my life
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 6,783
In the coupe.
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Yes I live there with my rhd coupe also my wife.
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1630960
23/03/2019 23:44
23/03/2019 23:44
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,723 Brisbane, Australia
Possum
My life on the forum
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My life on the forum
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,723
Brisbane, Australia
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Quite fancy a Kia Stonic. Seven year warranty. Not to be sneezed at. Annie, sorry to read of your "close call". Last month we did 2000km in a Hertz Hyundai Kona whilst travelling in Victoria (a southern state of Oz). It did everything it was supposed to do but lacked grunt. I think I'm spoilt with having two factory turboed Fiats in my garage. the Coupe and our 500X.
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1630961
24/03/2019 02:00
24/03/2019 02:00
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,645
JKD
Forum is my job
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Forum is my job
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,645
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Annie, I think that the fright you got from this experience is greater than your enthusiasm for the Coop. And when I say 'the Coop,' I don't just mean your Coop, but the Fiat Coupe in general. I think even if you bought another one that was a mint example, you'll probably now always be thinking, 'I wonder if something is about to fall off?' Are you going for the Kia because of the practicality or have you just gone off sports cars altogether? If you haven't totally gone off sports cars may I suggest the Toyota GT86? I think this is the nicest looking, reasonably affordable new sports car at the moment. And with the Aero kit?
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1630966
24/03/2019 09:16
24/03/2019 09:16
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 203 Tasmania
Grigio
Making a profit
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Making a profit
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 203
Tasmania
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I had the left hand guard liner part company not long after I bought the car 3 years ago. Fortunately I was only travelling between traffic lights in central Hobart, could have been a different story at speed on the highway. They're held in place by a few plastic clips and screws, it doesn't take much to check all fasteners are in place, which I now do whenever I'm playing around near the front end. I've always driven old cars, my 2000 coupe is the most contemporary vehicle I've owned, no chance in hell I'd give it up to drive a soulless modern Asian car.
2000 grigio moon 20VT Plus.
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: Grigio]
#1630968
24/03/2019 09:23
24/03/2019 09:23
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095 Berkshire
AnnieMac
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095
Berkshire
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no chance in hell I'd give it up to drive a soulless modern Asian car. You are right of course. But maybe an Alfa 159 sportwagon might do me and my dogs OK ...
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1630974
24/03/2019 10:37
24/03/2019 10:37
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 420 uk
OnlyItalian
Enjoying the ride
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Enjoying the ride
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 420
uk
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I love the looks of the 159. Stunning. Only problem with them is the GM engine and gearbox. Very disappointing to drive.
"Proud owner of LE141 and a 99 VIS broomie "
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: OnlyItalian]
#1630985
24/03/2019 18:29
24/03/2019 18:29
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095 Berkshire
AnnieMac
OP
Enjoying the ride
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OP
Enjoying the ride
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,095
Berkshire
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I love the looks of the 159. Stunning. Only problem with them is the GM engine and gearbox. Very disappointing to drive. GM? General Motors?
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1630995
24/03/2019 20:51
24/03/2019 20:51
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 420 uk
OnlyItalian
Enjoying the ride
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Enjoying the ride
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 420
uk
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Yep, petrols too. All except the TBi introduced later on but that still had the GM gearbox. TBis are a lot of money for a car that age. Shame they never used the Busso in the 159.
"Proud owner of LE141 and a 99 VIS broomie "
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Re: Almost died in my Coupe yesterday!
[Re: AnnieMac]
#1631189
29/03/2019 08:50
29/03/2019 08:50
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76 South Wales
DavidRobot
Reaping the fruits
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Reaping the fruits
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 76
South Wales
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I have been looking at the Alfa GT JTS 2.0 petrol. Why are they so cheap? Autolusso, one of the marque specialists have been known to slate them, and claimed the diesel was the better car. I ran a jts for 5.5 yrs and 75k miles with no issues. I actually went to buy a diesel to replace a diesel Renault Megane but having driven the GT jtd I then tried a jts and preferred the JTS.
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