Hello All!

Well, some of you might remember me, some not. I'm considering returning to the FIAT family after spending some time with the Alfa clan.

Can you guys give me an evaluation of the Bravo 150 Diesel Sport, I am contemplating buying one. I'd like to know what to look for, any known problems or niggles and wether you guys think I should bother with one??

I look forward to your feedback.

Cheers

TC.

Ours (150MJ Sport) has now done close on 67k miles in 25 months so has worked hard!
Its a great car, it looks great, the interior is a nice place to be (which I guess will be important coming from an Alfa!).
Ours has had one or two niggles, the main one being a caked up EGR valve which was sorted under warranty. Aswell as that the drop links dont tend to last very long but are cheap to replace.
The third thing is a recent one, where the brake pedal was solid, has happened twice in a month, both on cold days and only the first time it was used, so may have been weather related.

All in all though, its quite quick, can be very efficient if you need it to be (I once got 57mpg average on an 18 mile journey into work, mixed roads - but was trying ) and is good to drive. Ok the steering does feel a bit numb but its generally good. What Alfa are you coming from?

Hi

Thanks for the response, I was expecting a better rate of opinions than just one!

I'm coming from an Alfa GT, it's time for something more practical, I'm considering FIAT Bravo, VW Golf or Alfa 159, still searching, still undecided but these are my weapons of choice, just need to find one that I fall in love with.................................

You need to test drive them all, as well as reading commentaries and comparisons.

Fiat bravo : nice looking, reliable vs vulnerable body
Alfa 159 : nice looking vs rattles so much it's a shame for its class, fragile interior
Golf : it's a fugly golf

i have the 150 dynamic multijet...

its fast enough (did 135mph on a track)... returns 50mpg plus if driven steady.... and ive not seen any less then 44 when i was pushing it... an average tankful gets me around 500 miles and i have seen 650 once...




its relatively cheap to insure and tax...

theres plenty of space for the driver and even though the boot has a high lip... i managed to fit 3 big suitcases in and several travel bags...



although rear seat space isnt the best (its better in width wise then say a golf/focus etc iirc)... but for legroom a little poorer.. passengers can however stick there feet under the seat though... this is my drivers seat normally (im near enough 6ft)




you also get nifty features in the cabin (dont know if the sport differs in soem bits from the dynamic - i know it doesnt have the climate control and fridge/heated compartment as standard... and also leccy rear wondows)





blue and me is also good.. no longer are cds required with an 8 gig memory pen

they have too many doors mate

I drive a basic 1.4 (90) so I can only comment on the body details .
I find visiblity to the rear/sides poor compared to the Stilo . The Bravo has big side mirrors though. Internally I miss the sliding rear seat I had on the Stilo (you may get this spec on your target car), the boot on the Bravo is smaller and the height of the tailgate is an inch or two higher (higher to lift in heavy parcels and bags and higher for my dog to jump into. ) One minor but irritating point: there is no way of fixing a 500ml bottle of water upright without it falling over - this used to fit in the side door pocket of the stilo and in the bravo the pocket is too narrow.
A few minor criticsms I know but you asked for opinions!.
Otherwise its a great car to drive and Im happy with my purchase.

Some good comments you've got here. I've the 2litre diesel and for me it's been a total peach, lovely drive. Agreed they're a little dull on feedback, refined ride though compared say to my carshare's 307 diesel.

For me I've found it to be a bit of a rattle bucket which is a real shame becuase perversely it feels well built (!?). Mainly from the seats in the back (over bumps in the road, though mainly quiet), the area around the climate control unit constantly squeeks (dealer said it doesn't - go figure, my ears work) and more recently the front interior roof pillars - holding the windscreen, passenger side has begun to click all the time.

I used one as a hire car last year picking it up at Rome and driving to Almalfi, Sorrento, Positano then back to Rome over 10 days. I was impressed with it especially the interior finish and ride. There was quite a bit of body roll when cornering but the Amalfi coast road is very winding. It was fine at motorway speed for long stints.

Swift76 said:

I used one as a hire car last year picking it up at Rome and driving to Almalfi, Sorrento, Positano then back to Rome over 10 days. I was impressed with it especially the interior finish and ride. There was quite a bit of body roll when cornering but the Amalfi coast road is very winding. It was fine at motorway speed for long stints.

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I went from London to Salerno and back ( just past amalfi,positano) in my 150 MJET.
A absolute pleasure, comfortable, economical averaged about 50mpg(with 4 people and full boot), 80mph cruise control on, quiet, and when i needed to hammer it there was plenty of pull. Those winding roads was a ok in mine but there was a lot of weight in the car so i let that pass and would say the bravo is stable and sporty at the same time.
The passengers were comfortable to especially in the rear as the rear armrest was down and the seats supportive.

A nice motorway cruiser, only niggles - rattles from trim, cup holders only hold 1 cup not 2, knee room in front passenger seat not to good, rear leg room tight, headlamps output poor, can eat front tyres.

Plus: Pretty,quick,economical,cheap to run,comfortable,the 17"alloys in sport trim, the red brake calipers,chrome exhaust,the leather interior is sublime,good radio,bluetooth/usb function and the text message reader, oh and a massive boot.

Thanks people, going to test drive one fully loaded this Saturday, hope it's as good as my Alfa, going to miss her, but time to be more practical...............................

twincamms said:

Thanks people, going to test drive one fully loaded this Saturday, hope it's as good as my Alfa, going to miss her, but time to be more practical...............................

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what about the new croma? looked at them latley? one that was over 20k new 4 years ago you can now pickup for under 6k blooming bargains

dave said:

what about the new croma? looked at them latley? one that was over 20k new 4 years ago you can now pickup for under 6k blooming bargains

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Dave, with respect, unlike you, I'm not a hundred and forty twelve yet, so I'll reserve the Croma until that day comes.........................

The new Croma with the Bravo nose, as seen on the continent, is a stunning car, and has masses of the interior room the Bravo so lacks. It is also more handsome, believe it or not, and has real presence on the road. But it isn't sold here, so forget it.

Hi Twincamms - what, you're trading a GT for a Bravo!Whats wrong with it?

9 months ago, I did the opposite of what you are considering and traded in my Bravo (150 T-Jet Sport) for a GT.

I am a big Italian car fan - I've owned 7 Fiats and am on my 3rd Alfa - and I was expecting great things out of my Bravo, but it is not IMO the great leap forward from the Stilo it is touted to be. In fact, I found the Stilo much a more practical and honest car.

First the good points:
A secondhand Bravo is really good value for money.
The sporty ones are not really all that quick, but the handling is nice and tight.
Equipment levels are good and Blue & Me is well worth having.

BUT If you think the Bravo is more practical than your GT, think again. The boot is taller, but not as deep. I use my car for boxes in the week for work and band equipment at the weekends and I find the GT is actually better. Room in the back of the Bravo is better than the GT if you want to carry 4 people regularly, but no better than average for the class.

Looks wise, the Alfa GT is one of the most beautiful cars on the road whereas the Bravo is just another (albeit quite good looking) anonymous hatchback. Much is made of the Bravo's quality. Well mine was well built but some of the plasics and trim (eg:lower console/cupholder/boot) are way below what is acceptable in an Alfa. Sure, it's more modern than a GT, but nowhere near as modern as the newer Alfa's.

I could go on, but suffice to say, I think you'd be deeply dissatisfied if you went from a GT to a Bravo.

If you have convinced yourself that you want a small hatchback, then go for it 'cos the Bravo is a good one. Unfortunately, as an all round ownership experience, it isn't even in the same stratosphere as a GT.
Don't do it! - And Bravo owners, I await the fallout!

twincamms said:

I'm not a hundred and forty twelve yet,

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why you driving a too many door car then

because its well styled for a 5 door

and a GT isnt really the same price as a bravo is it

there more into somthing like mid/upper end A3/1 series money

The GT has brought me much pleasure but it's also given me headaches.

My kids moan about the rear seating space, my mother in law moans it's too low, my Mrs hates taking it anywhere in case it get marked/scratched, it just hasn't fulfilled my everyday use expectations, it's a toy car, a Sunday car.

It's going to hurt me to get rid of it but I need something more practical so I thought rather than a bland Golf or Focus, a Bravo, fewer of them on the road.

I'll have to see if I can find a 159 witin my budget as the feedback seems reasonably negative...............................