Fun
Floor pans rusted. Typical for Fiats. Soviet steel.
Not the best electrical system. The headlight (plastic toggle) switch would over load and melt. I added relays for high and low beams and cured the problem.
Fun Car. Not much power. Good memories. The French Blue Shaggin' Wagin'
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 21st June, 2007
Not a daily driver, but nice to collect and show
Needs a lot of work and maintenance, do not think to drive this car in the mountains or if it is too hot, all 850 will overheat.
Only Fiat will install a radiator with the motor in the back, I'm thinking to set up a radiator in the front like the X1/9.
With today's traffic, this car is too slow
Still, this is a good Italian car and it will turn heads when I drive it, or I take it to the Italian car shows.
It handles like a race car (but without the speed).
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 19th September, 2003
A low cost, quirky Italian classic
Car needed a lot of maintenance when I received it. Gearbox synchro needed replacing, belts, oil seals, carboretta rebuild, brake rebuild, gaskets, heater valve.
This was a fun and relatively easy restoration project for a beginner. The car is now reliable and fun to drive at weekends so long as you stay on top of the small maintenance needs.
It's quite nimble, small and light and handles quite well.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 11th April, 2002
Practical yet loads of fun
Rust, rust and rust.
Minor electrical faults.
Overheating.
Blown head gasket.
Leaks from the convertible top.
Brakes seized or leaking.
Great, fun little car. Reliable enough for daily use, if maintained well. Practical little Italian classic.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 30th August, 2000
11th Sep 2004, 08:45
I ran an 850 Sport Spider in the 70's. I have never driven a car with more under steer; this car desperately wanted to go backwards. Being 20 at the time, this meant several nose bleeds for the Fiat. The last hurrah for the car for me was in 76 when the generator casting failed and the generator fell off the engine. I now own 2 Lotus Europa S2's.