Faults:

Broken anti roll bar.

Lambda sensor fail.

Exhaust replacement.

General Comments:

Hmm. Thought I'd done a review on this years ago, so forgive if it's a repeat.

Truly versatile. Is it a car or a van? For a hatch it's certainly got more room in the back than the average estate, both when the rear seats are up or down.

Seated five no problems with plenty of room, although underpowered and didn't pull them too well.

That said, did an eBay run once with an oven and a freezer in the back, and double glazed porch sides on the roof up a 45 degree hill (I kid you not, go to Croydon!), and granted in second gear, but it did it!

Sadly these are expensive to repair, and all the above mentioned came at once so it wasn't cost effective to continue. The lambda sensor was fun though... if you don't mind regulating speed by dipping the clutch rather than pressing the accelerator!

Faults:

Broke down 11 times in the space of 2 years.

Stereo stopped working and had to be replaced twice.

Interior was very fragile and easy to break.

Gearbox had to be replaced at 50,000 miles.

General Comments:

Great to drive, spacious and comfortable, but let down by terrible build quality and reliability. Dealer backup was even worse.

Faults:

Very little apart from routine servicing.

The front windscreen delaminated.

Central locking never worked.

The balancer shaft belt broke, but that was my fault after a standing start at Santa Pod.

General Comments:

The Tipo 16v is an incredible car. Ultra rare, mean looking, fast, fun - and the most amazing engine noise you can get without shelling out for a Ferrari.

Words can't adequately describe how much enjoyment this car created even on the humblest of journeys. A flex of the ankle on the accelerator provoked a gorgeous latin bark that sang right through the rev range. The engine sounds so good and is so smooth that it's impossible not to drive in a lower gear than is necessary. This is accompanied by a willing chassis and fast steering and also a very decent ride quality.

OK, so it's based on a very ordinary and ageing Fiat, but that is part of it's appeal. You'll never see another, but if you do, you'll most likely get a flash of the headlights and a wave from someone else who 'knows.' In the 1990's Fiat seemed to know how to create a hot hatch - understated styling modifications which somehow left you in no doubt about the car's potential (but left others in the dark), a characterful engine, combined with a useable car.

Since then they've lost their way. Even the later 3 door Tipo 16v's had lost some of their urgency and rawness, in favour of an attempt to spruce up build quality. I regretted changing my five door for the later version, and I still wish I had kept the car 3 years on.

Please keep it a secret, and don't buy one unless you understand what makes this car so great! There are a few sad looking 'MaxPowered' ones skulking about now, and it really isn't that kind of car. They don't NEED an induction kit to sound great for goodness sake...