Has Patch re-booted the forum?

I have been spending less time on the Forum over the past few years and had noticed that it was becoming slowly quieter and quieter; but I have to say I have noted a distinct up-tick correlation between Phil's return and the number of active and interesting threads on here

A new dawn or a short term nostalgia trip, the former I hope

Keep on posting

He has certainly been singing the praises of the coupe on Pistonheads and posting many photos of his current and ex-fleet on there lately. Might have something to do with it.

I frequent PH and seeing/reading a lot of coupe talk on there is what I blame for re-igniting my interest (not that it was ever truly extinguished).

Maybe the long-awaited resurgence of the Coupé has finally begun; glad I got in before prices go mad. Probably!

I really hope so

A number of ex owners have returned recently, some have also been drawn into coupe ownership but I agree that Patchy has increased the traffic on the forum, and possibly, single handedly, increased the value and coverage of the coupe as a now classic. (partly due to the fact that he is buying them all )

When I bought a red Plus about 5 years ago, It was going to be my keeper forever. It was to be restored and brought out on sunny days while the prices rose. Unfortunately I was about 4 years too early, clearly now is the time to get one if you don't already own one.

My beautiful Plus was for keeps too, but I eventually (regretfully) let her go. Now I'm probably about to re-join the coupé owning fraternity at a considerable premium over what I got for my pristine Plus. So I too hope prices are permanently on the increase

I think it's the time of year. Cold and boring ..... forum time Certainly nothing to do with me. Honest bruh!

Interesting question, and I think one for many forums in general (and it is great to see Patch back again!!). The FCCUK forum as has been said many times, almost transcends the marque with the number of people who continue to visit sans Coupe be it for the general chat, other cars or even to chip in about Coupe specifics despite having moved on, and then back, and then on, and back... It really is a credit to the car, but most definitely the forum, and clearly it says something about the community and how things are managed on here.

I know I post a lot less, it is not deliberate and certainly not because I have lost the love or am no longer tuning Coupes because I still do a huge amount with these cars! I have had some exciting Coupe projects in 2015, and currently have some really good projects on the go in 2016 with many in between. For me the problem is time and Facebook!! I was a very late addition to the Zuckerberg express, indeed I do not use it on a personal level, but for business it is a very fine tool that cannot be ignored. For my other main business interest tuning RS Fords, I know that it has all but killed very big forums, so it really is great to see FCCUK still thriving in relative terms. I will try to add more content, as it's a special place and one that I think I have logged onto nearly every day for nearly 12 years!!!!

Long live the Coupe, and long live FCCUK

Here here

And I've decided to keep mine.

Exactly Flea. This forum is a credit to those who use it, post on it and manage it. There is no trolling and no real silliness and even if there is, people stay civilised.

Great forum, great people and a great car. The Coupe will live forever because of people like us, the support from the traders and forums like this!

If it weren't for those pesky interfering Mods.....

Seriously though, I've been without a Coupe for nearly 10 years now but this is still the first place I visit (interweb wise!) each morning. It's quieter than in the past but it still has that homely, comfortable feel to it

And yes, Phil has livened it up since his return, but once he gets back to sowing seeds and pushing his lawnmower around a field, it'll return back to normal

Or will it...?!

No it won't, folks here love their coupes. Maybe everyone just felt a little sleepy. Jim's to blame also, not much happening in general chat at the mo

All forums' need people to post, no-one makes the effort and nothing happens. We are all, after all, content providers.

All hail the forum.

Get those cameras out people, get those minds thinking, get out there and do something with your coupe. It's not like there will be nothing to fix and talk about!! hahaha

Oi, I've been busy - buying a coupé!

But don't worry, I've got a stereo to install, so there should be a few "Help!" posts coming up.

Not to mention finally getting a new signature picture on here...

Firstly, I fixed that for you.

Secondly, do you think that we should speak to the BBC about the profile pic change. That's a massive scoop!

Nah, just a standard regeneration!

Nah, the mods are fine. It's the admins you need to worry about... <strokes white cat>

The Fiat Coupe is enjoying a bit of a renaissance. Not on a micro-level, but actually on a macro-level.

Over the last couple of years it has found itself on several car lists which of course has helped introduce it to those who perhaps otherwise wouldn't have known about it, given the fact that it had been largely forgotten in the annals of motoring history.

Now that it is over 20 years old, dwindling in numbers and on the road to attaining concrete classic status, when you couple these points along with the fact that actually, regardless of age, numbers or classic status, it is in any event a truly special car in its own right, one can understand why it would suddenly attract such widespread renewed interest.

As someone said in another forum. "The fiat coupe 'is' a classic as it has never been replaced". I like his thinking.

And from 2009, when I first really got back into coupes and joined the club (though I did own one in 2004; a lovely 1.8 16V - Left hooker) the chat about these cars has moved from sceptical and ill-informed to what seems these days, to be a real appreciation for the model.

We know how good they are, it's a matter of time before others make the connection.

Out of interest - Does anyone have a list of the coupes competition during it's early years? What was its supposed equal?

Car magazine, August 1995 Giant Test:

Coupe 16VT, Calibra 2.0i 16v 4x4 Turbo, Honda Prelude 2.2i VTEC, Nissan 200SX.

'A win, then - and a comfortable one - for the audacious Fiat'.

+ Rover 220 Turbo - Tomcat

I remember a great deal of forum rivalry with the 200SX people, back in he mists of time. Rather I'll-tempered, some of it!

Last time I had my tyres replaced there was a really lovely 200sx ahead of me. Metallic red with bonnet louvres and in perfect nick.

Probably not......

I have some scans of old reviews around on my HD somewhere, will have a hunt and post some later.

That would be really interesting, cheers Graham

Turned out to be a load of them, have put them all together here, 23MB download:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sinister/coupe/Reviews.rar

Toyota Soarer, no?

Downloaded

I was going to mention this...!

I bought my first 16vt after reading the reviews in Car Magazine and then bought a 20vt after reading a later review in the same magazine. I'll have to see if I can find it. Defiantly have it but it will be in the loft with about 20years worth of Car. From memory I think it was compared with the VW Corrado VR6 the second gen Honda Prelude, Alfa GTV and something else maybe the 200sx. Came out on top again.

Even back then all the reviews said it was a future classic!

Took me another 13 years before I bought my 3rd

Check out this video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUGUyHEODjU

Thanks JKD, usual stories of woe, only eliminated from what others said. Not the best reason, but better than being trashed by Clarkson. Who's job it is to find problems with cars or his programmes would be boring

On the other hand, this Clarkson review is positive....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBPex-zglew

Well it came third which isn't bad. Up against rear wheel drive and the chassis and engine from the Alfa. Nissan should of got knocked out earlier by its bland looks and the badge. As Clarkson said the looks are supposed to make you pant and whimper!!

The fact that this forum is active and thriving is the reason I’ve put the Coupe on my shopping list. Without it, I would have looked and thought oooooh that’s nice and then moved on.

It’s great that I know what I’m in for, and where to get information if anything goes wrong.

Thanks all

Didn't whatcar magazine name it best coupe 2 years in a row in the late 90's

Graham, I could not open that rar file. Will I could but it opens in VLC and plays like a movie and is too small, even when pausing, to read. (I'm old) Looked great though!!



I think if you took a look back at one forum users posts (could be anyone), and then looked at the problems they have had over their ownership (judging by posts) ....... I think (I am guessing) that the vast majority of posts would not be troublesome ones.

Strange, not sure why an archive file would open in VLC.

I've put all 9 here uncompressed, that should work OK:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sinister/coupe/Reviews/

Maybe because I use a Mac Graham? Thanks for the above, much better Some reading for me tonight

I found a few more articles but no more room on my webspace to upload them, so let me know when you're done reading/downloading the current lot and I'll delete them and put the rest up.

I'm done Graham, thanks! Next please

I found it interesting that Autocrat said (upon making the 20VT) that Fiat have put in a dreadful analogue clock ..... funny, as clock technology goes, the LCD clock in the 16V's has turned out to be the worst choice ..... IMO of course

Only because you can't throw it away and put in a boost gauge in its place Phil.

Yes Pete, done that on 1 of the 14 - My bad

A few more up now @ http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sinister/coupe/Reviews/

But basically, your opinion is wrong. It might be wonderful in other respects, but in the matter of clocks, it's wrong.

Just sayin'

Thanks again Graham. I love the owners comments in one of the articles. Need some of them for the Encapsulate thread

Graham, I can host them all if need be?

and the answer to my question is yes he has!

Whilst it's nice to see this Mark, it's not founded. The guys who post on here made the forum re-boot. That includes, me, you, and everyone else.

Long may it continue too.

Of course, fully agree, long live the Forum