1998 Fiat Brava SX 1.9 turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

85,000 miles in 2 years - fleet car report

Faults:

Airbag warning light kept coming on - needed a new control module which took 3 months to arrive.

Clutch needed replacement at 45K miles.

Front washer motor packed up and has had 2 rear washers - kept breaking.

General Comments:

The car has been run from new as a fleet car up to the present day mileage of 85K miles. It is expected that I will keep the car until 100K before replacement.

Front seats are horrendously uncomfortable. Glovebox is miniscule but the boot is huge. Poor for tall drivers (I am 6 feet tall) and find that my legs are bent considerably even though I have the seat all the way back.

For the money, it is well equipped but the image is quite poor and the build quality is not up to that of its rivals.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 17th December, 2000

28th Dec 2000, 14:46

Further update: light switch has just packed up, leaving me with no lights on a long journey. Dealer did not stock the parts and have to wait about a week for them to come in - not exactly acceptable when you can't drive the thing in the dark.

This is just another fault in a long line of (especially) electrical faults; as before, dealers do not seem to stock the parts.

I hate this car and can't wait for it to go back to the leasing company.

13th Mar 2001, 01:02

The latest... car now has 94K on the clock and is, amazingly, still going. The engine overheated last weekend, needing a visit from the AA, who put it down to a radiator that was disintegrating, thus reducing its efficiency and causing the car to overheat.

8th Jul 2001, 07:35

Radiator got fixed at cost of £300 at the main dealer. Had to wait 5 days for the replacement to be delivered. It now has 104,000 on it (remember it's only 2.5 yrs old) and it's finally going back in 4 weeks. I CAN HARDLY WAIT. And my next car?? A Ford Focus.

17th Jul 2001, 15:25

105k miles in 2.5 years!!!

Don't fancy your job mate! Hope you get shot of it soon.

Focus next though... Fords are a bit hit and miss, you'd better get a good one.

5th Aug 2001, 12:31

I can never understand the delay for delivering parts that dealers give. These parts should be available next day - if they tell you any longer then they ARE LYING!

1998 Fiat Brava SX 1.6 from Norway

Summary:

Underestimated car

General Comments:

Great car, good design and very good engine for just a 1.6.

The car is spacious and takes a lot more luggage than many other cars in its class.

The biggest problem for Fiat in Norway is bad customer service at some of the Fiat dealers. Fortunately Fiat cars are so good today that I seldom have to visit my dealer between the service intervals.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th November, 2000

1998 Fiat Brava SX 1.4 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Bad, bad, bad, I'd rather walk everywhere, and I'm disabled

Faults:

Intermittent engine cut out at low revs, dealer unable to trace the fault. Despite more than 12 attempts at a remedy, inc. 4 TDC sensors, revs still drop off the bottom at idle.

Noisy, whiny, rattly engine - sounds like a diesel when cold.

Windscreen washer pump broken and replaced 3 times, needing a tailgate cover replaced first time as Fiat bonded it to the rear window.

Car pulls to left under braking.

Rattles and squeaks from interior trim.

FFSR drips.

Battery drained and went flat for no reason. Not repaired, problem went away.

Passenger side electric window slows and sticks.

Needed new exhaust at 10 months/8000 miles.

Another at 24 months/15,000 miles.

Radio suppression poor and deteriorating.

Gearbox clunky and difficult to engage 1st and reverse. It's often dropped out of 1st when pulling off.

General Comments:

Don't go near these cars. I've previously owned 3 Fiats - never again. It's underpowered, unreliable, expensive to run for what it is and has no redeeming features.

Hell, even visibility is appalling, rear mirror is useless with rear head restraints fitted, and the front pillars are so thick they're almost dangerous.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 24th September, 2000

14th Mar 2001, 13:50

Totally agree with comments on the front (and rear!) pillars. I've nearly taken out several other road users in a Brava, without ever seeing them coming. Scary!

26th Oct 2001, 19:30

Yup, I pulled out in front of a guy who was hidden in the Fiat's blind-spot/pillars. I now hate this car. Gearbox - BOOM - 40k miles??? That's bad.

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