Fiat tipo - What to do to it?

NarChaDBaueR

NarChaDBaueR

NarChaDBaueR

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Hi all!

Well im getting a Fiat tipo given to me when i pass [hopefully in just under a month :D] and its a bit of an eye sore. It's big and green and i dunno what i can do to make it more 'respectable'. I could leave it completely standard and just live with it, but thats no fun and as im having it for free it doesnt really matter. I dont want it to be a chavmobile, but subtle stuff could be cool.

The stuff i was hoping to do to it anyway was, Headunit, new seats[ones in there currently are knackered] and i was thinking about maybe lowering it and putting some 'nicer' wheels[nothing flashy].

Any ideas!!?!?

Jack!
 
The phrase you can't polish a **** comes to mind

Use it, ding it, get some experience and then trade it in for something better in a years time
 
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Leave it like it is and drive it till it dies or you want something better. Only think worth doing is replacing the headunit because you can transfer it to another car.
 
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K.C. Leblanc said:
Leave it like it is and drive it till it dies or you want something better. Only think worth doing is replacing the headunit because you can transfer it to another car.
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Spot on, and exactly what I did with my first car which was given to me.

Whether your first car is a heap of crap or not, getting it and driving it will feel ten times more awesome than any future car upgrade.
 
Saytan said:
wash it and polish it so it at least looks its best.

drive it until it breaks.
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If you have a low budget this is perfect, stick a nice head unit in and keep it in showroom condition. Exactly what I've done with my 1st 2 cars.



If you want to make it go/handle there are a few options (some would be expensive):
1. Drop the Coupé 20V Turbo engine and drive train in the front, it'll fit right in.
2. Fit the Engine and drive train from a Lancia Delta Evo, it too will fit with almost no modification.
3. Keep the standard engine and ask owners of the Coupé what to do with the suspension.

It's a terrific floor pan for handling, used in:
FIAT Coupé
Lancia Delta
Fiat Tempra
AlfaRomeo 155
 
29919-DSC01257.jpg


This kind of green? ;)
 
What are all the white stickers about on the side windows? They look stupid. Well the overall car looks stupid. Not one bit I like about it really.

As regarding the 'OP, just keep it as it is. Keep it clean and take care of it. Sell it on when you have some cash to get another car that you will pick. Then you could think about 'doing' things to it. Depends on the car though.
 
BigglesPiP said:
2. Fit the Engine and drive train from a Lancia Delta Evo, it too will fit with almost no modification.
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Point one, if he just bought a Lanica Delta it would be a lot less hassle and he'd end up with a car that isn't a Fiat Teapot.

Point Two, Lancia Delta Evos arn't ideal first cars (I'm sure the insurance industry would agree with me).

I do in some ways like the Fiat Tipo, it's a very well designed car (it's silhouette looks more the like a Mk3 Golf or a Focus then the cars that were available at the time the Tipo was unvieled). But they were poorly built and they are now ancient. It's not a car worth investing in.
 
K.C. Leblanc said:
Point one, if he just bought a Lanica Delta it would be a lot less hassle and he'd end up with a car that isn't a Fiat Teapot.

Point Two, Lancia Delta Evos arn't ideal first cars (I'm sure the insurance industry would agree with me).

I do in some ways like the Fiat Tipo, it's a very well designed car (it's silhouette looks more the like a Mk3 Golf or a Focus then the cars that were available at the time the Tipo was unvieled). But they were poorly built and they are now ancient. It's not a car worth investing in.
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lol, I never said it would be easy, or cheap, or any better than the delta was.

Option 1 is something I'd love to do one day, a Teapot that can give a vanilla 911 a run for its money.

Trouble it the kind of UK buyer who bought a Tipo didn't ever service it.
 
NarChaDBaueR said:
penski, talk to me :D
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Tipos are 4x98 aren't they?

Keep an eye on eBay for some interesting wheels...

Or go for 4x100 and fit them with wobble bolts.

100 quid should get you a set of wide Mattig steels off ebay.de.

As for lowering, if they are coils all 'round, snip a couple of loops off...If it has a leaf-based rear then use lowering blocks.

*n
 
If it's the 2L Sedicivalvsgigggodgwhateverthehelltheycalledit (16V) version then look after it, they're fairly rare AFAIK, if it's just a scabbier old one yeah just put a head unit in it (careful where you leave it), maintain it and drive it till you can afford something better :)
 
penski said:
If it has a leaf-based rear then use lowering blocks.
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FIAT is an Italian company, not American.

Coil sprung MacPherson stuts all round.

The 156 (Tipo derived floor pan) kept the rear struts and went for double wishbones on the front, and the GTV/Spider kept the struts on the front and went multilink at the back.
 
1. Stand back and admire the fact that it ain't gonna rust.
2. Sit in it and admire the fact that its actually pretty spacious?
3. Admire the LCD speedometer that take 2 seconds before it matches the speed that the car is actually travelling at :D Oh come to think of it, the 1.4 didn't come with LCD instruments... :(
4. Get to the gym and work on your arms. You'll need to have some muscle to push that 1.4 up the hill :p
5. Lament the fact that it isn't the 16v version which was a good car at the time....

As a disposable runabout it aint bad though!
 
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