1999 Fiat Bravo HGT 2.0 20v from UK and Ireland

Summary:

The nicest sounding engine since the Audi Quattro

Faults:

The passenger electric window works intermittently. The dealership who have looked after the car since new have never found the cause. I've given up trying to get this problem fixed.

Upon delivery, the rear windscreen wiper didn't work on its intermittent setting. This was replaced under warranty.

In Winter, the rear brake calipers froze on to their disc's. This prevented the vehicle from being moved until it had defrosted. This was caused by a split rear brake-cable hose. Water had got into the cable and had frozen. This required new brake cables, new disc's and pads to fix. Apparently this is a common fault with the HGT.

Brakes have always squeaked, even after the new ones were fitted.

Gearbox has always felt notchy. Dealership say this is normal.

General Comments:

I bought the car because I liked the noise of the engine. Its not disappointed.

If you are looking for a "hot hatch", this is probably not the car for you. Its not all that quick, but it is smooth.

You've also got to watch the rev counter. The variable valve timing doesn't start to kick in until above 3000 revs, so acceleration is very slow until then.

Fuel economy isn't as good as I hoped it would be.

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

Review Date: 9th September, 2002

3rd Jan 2007, 12:50

I have a Bravo Hgt and it seems to be very sluggish when the engine is cool and doesent seem to have the power it should have any ideas?

1999 Fiat Bravo SX 1.6 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

If I could turn back time, I would never have bought it

Faults:

My front windscreen leaks after wet weather.

My wipers are not as good as other cars I have driven, meaning they hardly wipe the windscreen at all.

What does not help is that the rear windscreen washer's timing with the wiper is wrong.

There is a fault with my gearing, because the gear stick always crunches on second gear or does not shift into second gear smoothly. All other gears are fine.

The wind noise from this car is loud.

General Comments:

Uncomfortable seating, and a very high dashboard makes it unpleasant for journeys with my younger brothers whom in every other car, can see perfectly well outside.

The car is slow on picking up speed between 0-60mph, due to the stick shift being awkward.

However, the car can handle speed over 60mph with no problems, and does not rattle at high speeds.

I bought my car from a car supermarket where you cannot test drive the car before you buy it.

I recommend that you test drive the vehicle before purchasing it, however cheap the car seems, because the gear shift problem has been there since the day I bought it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 4th July, 2001

28th Feb 2002, 13:39

I have a Bravo and have the same problem with the changes from first to second. It's not a fault with the gearbox, it's because the gearbox oil has not reachws the optimum temperature.

My wipers are fine, use screen wash.

1999 Fiat Bravo HLX 1.8 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Had too many problems to appreciate the car properly

Faults:

Only had the car a couple of months and it wouldn't start - this was something to do with fuel system. Back to the garage to be fixed.

Less than a month later the same problem re-occured - back to garage to fix it.

A week later, same problem - back to garage - assured me it was fixed.

Three more times over two months and in and out of the garage - garage say i is definitely fixed now!!

Rear screen wash stopped squirting, only dribbled.

Sony CD autochanger kept turning itself on & off at will - back to the garage!

My car seems to have spent most of its first year of life in the garage.

General Comments:

Although I have had loads of problems, it is a nice car to drive when it decides to start.

It is quick off the mark and holds the road well.

It is a nice looking car - mine is Margaritta orange and is stunning.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 8th February, 2001

16th Mar 2001, 07:46

The rear screen wash dribble is, apparently, a common fault in the Bravo. It is caused by the hose from the pump detaching itself from the wiper mechanism (through which the screen wash squirts).

A consequence of this fault is that the screen wash also dribbles over the rear wiper motor and it's electrical connections. As anyone who has tried making toast while having a bath will tell you, water and electricity don't mix.

It is therefore important to take off the rear interior trim panel on the tail gate and have the hose popped back into it's attachment point before further damage is caused.