2 years ago when I told everyone I was getting the dads old Bravo, I had to withstand a shed load of banter from my mates etc... which I expected given FIAT's reputation. In the two years the car has had its fair share of parts, but they were all due to me, or general wear and tear. New rad, clutch slave cylinder, accel cable and wishbone. As well as this car not costing me as much as I initally anticipated (I'll dis-regard insurance mind) To top it all, due to afore mentioned bell end insurance companies, it has been sat on my front, all through the winter, under X amount of foot of the snow, the freezing conditions, and once it had passed I went outside and it fired up, first time, no problems. In all fairness I had took the battery out due to the amount of theives we have had around here lately. Done 92k does sometimes feel a bit odd, but all in all for an 11 year old motor, not too shabby.

Got me wondering, anyone had a FIAT that lives up to it's long-lived rep?

great! another happy fiat owner glad your getting on well with it.

alot of people joke around that cause i own a fiat im gonna breakdown all the time..i bought the car back in feb'10, and it stood for 7/8 months, got it back on road, all it needed was new discs and pads, and eventually in the first week of driving it, it needed a slave cylinder, and since then it has never needed anything apart from petrol of course. ive put 6,300 miles on it in 3/4 months and has never missed a beat
Long live FIAT!!!

ive had fiats of all shapes and sized for the last 5 years.... never ever been left on the side of the road.

My trusty 1998 Brava and 2004 Punto never let me down all those years either. Only thing they need is petrol, clean air filter, brake pads/shoes if need be, timing belts at designated intervals and easy driving style. The latter does help towards low fuel consumption too.

Lol, I have to say I have been left on the side of the road once with mine. I'd just took a lass to the cinema (6.5/10) she asked me in when I dropped her off, but when I got in her fecking sister was sat at the table, so after an awkward coffee I left, went to set off home and the accelerator cable snapped on me, it was late at night, couldn't see a thing, went back to hers to use the phone, got a kiss for my troubles before a long walk to the dads house. It may have broke down, but my car that night was my winglad

To make matters funnier I drove home the next day using a shoe lace and pulling it with my hand for acceleration.

Bravos: Probably the best car on the road....?

My old 1.2 let me down once in 3 years after I put in a wonkey alternator. Broken diff, sagged arms, bent front, crappy bodywork it didnt matter it still kept going. Never let me down any other time. Hope my new one lives up to that reputation

Afraid mines did in 2007, timing belt snapped Had to get a new engine in her.
(I have to be honest though, I have had no luck with engines in any car, even with the proper maintance, lost the Stilo due to camshaft pullies jamming, lost a Rover that way too and another rover just blew up)
Wipers did their none park thing for a while but it fixed itself, which was very handy!
Small electrical issue on the side lights that was easy fixed.
Other then that it has just been wear and tear.