1999 Fiat Marea ELX 2.0 24 V

Summary:

Reliable car

Faults:

I just purchased my Marea 2.0 24 V with 127000 Km and I am using natural gas as a fuel. There is a 15 cubic meter cylinder on the trunk. You spend 1/4 in terms of money compared with regular gasoline.

General Comments:

Fellows from UK.

Just a small brief from a Marea owner in Brazil. Here in Sao Paulo, anyone who buys a FIAT (any model), changes the cam belt. And because of that, prices has come down a lot. You pay around U$ 150,00 for total service (part and labor) to change this belt, using OEM part. But I still prefer the old days...Timing Gears.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 13th October, 2005

1999 Fiat Marea Turbo 2.0 20V turbo (petrol)

Summary:

A handsome, reliable machine that seems to never run out of breath!

Faults:

At 60,200 kilometers the alarm system went berserk and I kept getting a warning light for the electronic fuel injection. Two days after this began the car wouldn't start altogether, and I promptly took it to the dealership. They changed the battery and a lead that grounds the cathode, and now the car works like a Swiss watch. The Dealership, however, took almost a full week to resolve this relatively simple problem.

The odd squeak comes out of the dashboard when the air conditioning is on and there is an occasional rattle coming from the passenger's seat when no one is sitting on it.

General Comments:

The 2.0 20 valve petrol turbo version is, I understand, only available in Brazil. This five cylinder engine yields 182 horsepower and plenty of torque, especially above 4000rpm. Below 3000rpm, the torque is really very disappointing, but as the engine reaches higher rotation, the car "wakes up" and jolts forward almost inconsequentially. The result is that when you shift into fourth gear, you're already at 120 kilometers per hour with still two gears left, that will end up yielding a final speed of 226 kilometers per hour.

The down side is fuel consumption. I have had to content myself with 7.5 kilometers per litre on the highway and somewhere around 5 in city traffic, which is very disappointing considering I never drive aggressively.

The seats are very comfortable, they come in very good quality Grey leather which constantly keeps the interior with a lovely smell.

Driveability is excellent. The car is easy to handle and feels very safe and stable.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th April, 2003

2001 Fiat Marea ELX 2.4 20V Gasoline

Summary:

Great performance and comfort at an excellent price

Faults:

Absolutely no faults on the car since purchased.

General Comments:

The local model comes with a 2.4 l, 20V engine (160CV) which provides excellent performance on the open road.

I can't agree with reports of high fuel consumption; I do better with the Marea than previous cars such as Vectra and Peugeot 405, unless I use my right foot too much, then consumption can be frightening.

Pretty nippy in the city traffic as well.

Full marks for comfort in the front seats, but the rear is a little tight.

Material used for interior trim is a little 'cheap' and the Darth Vader stereo is a real put-off.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th January, 2003