1988 Fiat X1/9 1.5 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Terrific and exhausting

Faults:

Brakes, electrical, RUST... all are problems. Engine is super reliable.

General Comments:

Best car I've ever owned. It's so much fun - it really is hard to put into words how much I have loved and hated this car. I bought a rough one and even with all my efforts it just never got too much better, you really need the facilities to fix this car. It's not a mechanically complex car, it's just that they rust and need to be fixed right! Having said that, it only ever broke down electrically and any faults were ones I inherited.

If you have a garage to store it and are handy with tools, they can be beauties! And the drive - better than anything on the road at 10 times the cost. Really terrific and infuriating.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st October, 2007

1988 Fiat X1/9 Grand Finale 1.5 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Open top sex on four wheels!

Faults:

When I first bought it, things seemed to go wrong often.

Problems with the electrics, such as the windows and indicators.

Speedometer died.

Exhaust needed replacing.

General Comments:

The X1/9 is an amazing car for all its minor faults. I think the Italians weren't really concerned with the idea of interior build quality as things are always falling off.

BUT, it's a great car to drive and the handling is amazing, but could do with an extra 20 HP or so.

Its hardtop id great for the summer and it looks so slick, especially the Grand Finale, with its metallic paint and spokes wheels.

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

Review Date: 27th June, 2004

1988 Fiat X1/9 1.5 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A fun mid engined 'true' sports car

Faults:

Rear brake seized on one side.

Rust everywhere, from the inside out!

Accelerator cable frayed and jammed on full power!

Drivers seat fraying.

Various electrical faults.

Replaced archaic points ignition with an electronic unit from a Fiat Uno making a massive improvement.

General Comments:

Never really let me down apart from the snapped accelerator cable, but considering the car needed constant maintenance I'm not surprised.

Rust was the biggest problem, a small bubble of rust can turn into a major repair, the suspension area was the worst affected.

The brakes are non-servo but have good feel.

THe steering is excellent as is the handling, a good introduction to sports cars and repairing in general, if you don't repair/service it yourself it could end up costing a fortune.

Don't expect to be able to keep up with GTi's though, it looks faster than it is, but it'll certainly out corner many other cars. All in all a fun little 'true' sports car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th April, 2001

14th Jul 2001, 08:17

I will agree with the points you mentioned, rust can be a real problem with these cars, I have just restored one to a good standard.

However knowing the right places to purchase parts i.e x1/9 owners club, can considerably keep the running costs very low.

I guess the only downside to running the X1/9 is the insurance being rated at group 12.

Absolute fantastic fun car.

4th May 2003, 19:04

I had an X1/9 for several years along with a 124 Spider (which I kept 14 years). The X1/9 was a car you "wore" rather than drove. The man/machine connection was first-rate—indeed, it was really unity—and today in the US market there are no offerings like the classic Fiats.

Too bad they didn't have the quality right. That sort of problem is the death sentence in America. Other manufacturers can get the quality right, but only the Italians can make an Italian car with all the glorious Italian attributes.

Every time I see the rare Spider or X1/9, my heart jumps.

27th Jan 2004, 14:21

I think they are one of the most desirable cars ever made. The size, italian styling, revvy engines, noise etc make their faults, rust and everything else, minor. If I won the lottery I would buy a tuned one tomorrow. They are so cheap - £500 upwards that they should be everywhere, rescue one before they all rust away and are unaffordable.