1997 Fiat Cinquecento Sporting 1.1i petrol

Summary:

The only thing 'Sporting' about this car is its name!

Faults:

Trim rattled and very fragile.

General Comments:

I only had this car for a week as a courtesy car so I can't comment on its reliability or dealer service.

The car felt flimsy and poorly built, it had only done 6000 miles but it looked more like 60000.

The close gear ratios gave an illusion of quick acceleration, but this was quickly shattered when you looked at the speedo.

With a more powerful engine it could have been a canny performer, but with only 54bhp you can't expect much from it.

I suspect the non standard size tyres would cost a fortune to replace.

A good car for a young woman to pose in but little else.

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

Review Date: 27th March, 2001

26th Jul 2001, 12:21

Yeah it's a little tin box on wheels, but when you're paying pocket money prices, what do you expect?

I've just bought one. It's not fast and it doesn't handle brilliantly, but with a car as small as this, you can have just as good a laugh as you can in much more expensive machinery.

I bought a Cinq, coz I've just bought a flat in London, so don't have the money or need for anything better. Previously, I worked in the motor trade, and had a different company car every second day - among the usual rubbish, I also had an Impreza Turbo, Honda Prelude V-tec, MR2, 328i, etc. All cracking cars, but at a price. You drive them for a while and they're a good laugh, but the Cinq is still fun to drive albeit at lower speeds - still, with Gordy Brown shafting the motorist for everything he can get, the the police sticking up ever more speed cameras, who needs the expense and hassle of a 20K car. The only thing they did for me that my Cinq does not, is give me points on my license. Expensive cars are on their way out. Cheap and small is the way forward.

6th Aug 2001, 12:01

Fair enough, but I think Fiat missed a lot of potential customers by not fitting it with a more powerful engine.

1997 Fiat Cinquecento Sporting 1.1

Summary:

F.I.A.T. fix it again tomorrow

Faults:

Oil Leak @ 3,000 miles.

Wind screen washer reservoir leaking.

Seat belts don't retract.

Every part of the dashboard creaks.

Fuel tank had to be replaced (recalled by Fiat)

General Comments:

Not a bad car considering you can pick up a second hand one for next to nothing, but everything seems to go wrong with them, but then again it is a Fiat.

Aside from all that they're quite a nippy little car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 24th March, 2001

1997 Fiat Cinquecento Sporting 1.1i

Summary:

Faster than Saxos and Novas!!!

Faults:

I thinks it's a heat shield under the car for the exhaust, but it vibrates like mad!!!!

Sporting badge fell off.

Paint chips very easily.

Front left tyre wears down quickly.

Engine makes a knocking noise after a long drive. This comes and goes.

Lots of engine noise from under the pedals.

AND FINALLY, IT KEEPS GETTING BROKEN INTO!!!!!

General Comments:

I love this car because it's so much fun to drive.

It's great on corners and you always feel as if you are in control.

Someone had better come up with a tidy alloy package for this car because nobody seems to have clue.

If you buy light eyebrows then beware cause they don't fit and you have to spend ages cutting the damn things!!!

Stick a K+N induction kit and a Magnex back box on this little thing and listen to it scream at you!!!

It does 115mph, not 94mph like it says on the spec.!!! And 0-60mph in 10 seconds, not 13.7 seconds!!!

Just get one of these cars coz they're very hot!!!

Anything anyone wants to know, then e-mail me at a_super_taff@yahoo.com

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th January, 2001

14th Jan 2001, 14:31

I think you will find that being Italian the speedo is miscalibrated by about 25% so in fact you are only doing about 90mph.

Also with the three Fiats I have owned, a car following behind would have been nice to catch all the bits falling off!!!

17th Jan 2001, 15:46

I want to lower it on the standard alloys, but need to go at least 40mm, I can't find a spring set that will go lower than 20mm, what can I do?