General how good is a bravo?

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General how good is a bravo?

einahpets

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Im thinking of upgrading from a cinq to a bravo lol are they any good do you get many problems with them?
 
Re: how gud is a bravo?

hi iv got a brava 1910 td much bigger in the back
i would like a marea 2.4 jtd next
 
Re: how gud is a bravo?

I havent had any complains with mine,has never left me standing and (touch wood) has never given me any major trouble apart from the common rear wiper its a 1.6 HLX i still get about 34mpg combined driving and i dont drive like an old lady.
 
Re: how gud is a bravo?

id say HGT is the way forward mate deffo, ive had 2 now and loved both, the 1.4 isnt that bad mine never really gave me that much trouble but it was quite firsty TBH, i would go for a 1.6 though to start with as the HGT is very fast compared to a chinq and its best to take these things a step at a time, there nis plenty of mods out there too for it.
 
Re: how gud is a bravo?

As an upgrade from Cinq, you will love every minute!

Compared to a cinq they are "proper cars". Much better ride, much better engines, much better interior, much more comfortable etc.

They are generally quite economical although for me, the pick of the bunch (bar the diesels) would be the 1.8 16v. The 1.6 16v is a good engine but isnt all that economical. The 1.8 16v gets roughly the same mpg as the 1.6 and gives out more power (115hp).

If you can afford the insurance and the fuel then go for the HGT everytime. Amazing engine and such a laugh to drive but very expencive when things go wrong or need servicing and did I mention the insurance and fuel?

If you can find one though, the 105 JTD is an excellent option. Avoid the 100 TD if you can. Nowt wrong with it but the 105 JTD is a much better, more refined engine. silly MPG and a very quick motor with lots of tuning potential (remap?).

Avoid the 1.4 12v like a plague. Poss the worst engine Fiat have made in recent times. You might get lucky and get a goodun but its not worth the risk when the 1.2 16v is in a class of its own compared to the 1.4. More power, more economical and much more reliable. Just watch out for the head gasket as it is a FIRE engine afterall.

So, Depending what you want, 1.2 16v for town fun with cheap insurance, fuel and a car thats fairly nippy. 1.8 16v for an all round compromise between cheapness and power. And HGT 2.0 20v for out right expencive mental fun :D.

As for everything else. The interiors are very comfy. They are good looking inside and do everything they should with good storage and a nice size boot. Build quality is a little to be desired with quite cheap plastic and alot of trim flex but compared to a cinq it will be like a Rolls Royce!

Electrics can be a little tricky sometimes. Make sure all the electrics work properly. Electric windows can fail (due to the relay switch) as can dials. Also the sunroof can leak if the seals are perished. All fairly easy things to sort but still quality issues.

Exterior wise, there can be some rust issues. Mostly in the arches where dirt builts up over time on the inner arch lip. Simple to avoid but most owners dont clean in the arches. Also at the end of the sills on the inner lip too. Rest of the body is generally free from any common rust problems.

Mirror base paint is prone to pealing but easily sorted by stripping down and respraying matt black (or colour code?). The door handles also tend to perish and can look cracked and pretty nasty. Can get replacements on ebay but they tend to be expencive as everyone wants them. Can replace with colour coded Marea items or even Alfa 147 chrome handles too (bling!).

As with all cars, they have down sides but in general they are excellent, cheap cars. You can get amazing bargains now for really well looked after cars. Just make sure you get a goodun or you could have no end of troubles.
 
Re: how gud is a bravo?

To correct bushboy, the JTD100 is the better one to go for than the JTD105. If you can get a JTD100 HLX you'll have the power, the speed and the luxury all in one. Cheap road tax, only group 8 and plenty MPGs to out run any of the other Bravo's.

Also all Bravo's aint that comfy, the lower spec models have horrible seats, where as the HLX has a more hugging seat, plus they're heated. :)

There are a few other points bushboy has missed but he's got the majority right about the Bravo.
 
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Re: how gud is a bravo?

If you are tempted by an HGT don't be put off by the stories of high fuel consumption. Driven normally I regularly get 33mpg+ from my 155 which is about on a par with the 1.6 and 1.8. Has to be well maintained to achieve that but easily achievable. 147 HGT not as good though and usually 27-28 mpg.

One thing to beware of though, you will miss the Go-Kart handling of the Cinq (they are soooo much fun to drive) but as said before, the Bravo is a bigger, more refined car.
 
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Re: how gud is a bravo?

There should be no rust problems as all the panels are galvanised, unless there has been some damage or replaced with spurious parts! I have never seen rust on a Bravo/a
 
Not much to add to everyone else's posts!

I went from a Seicento Sporting to a Bravo 1.2 SX and even though the Sei was more fun to drive, the Bravo is certainly nippy. Take your time looking because there are plenty out there. My sister now has it as her first car and she loves it. Just remember that width restrictions don't have as much room to get through! :p

I've now got a HGT and it is a beast. Petrol isn't as bad as I heard it would be.
 
Re: how gud is a bravo?

There should be no rust problems as all the panels are galvanised, unless there has been some damage or replaced with spurious parts! I have never seen rust on a Bravo/a


They still rust in the arches if dirt is left for years in there without being cleaned out. Ive seen it on various bravos including my sisters which hasnt had any accident damage (or atleast not to that particular arch).

All cars are galvanised now adays (probably since the mid 90s at the latest) yet, they still rust. Cinqs rust and they are galvanised :p


The HGT CAN be ok on fuel if you really dont push it atall. But even then, you'll be luck to see over 400 miles to a tank (which is easily £65+ with current petrol prices). Then again, whats the point in getting the HGT if your never going to take it over 50mph and only tickle the accelerator. Might as well just get the 1.2 16v and get the same MPG flooring it everywhere :p

So is the 105 the TD and the 100 the JTD? I always thought it was the other way around?
 
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@Bushboy,
as far as im aware, the TD75 and TD100 was mark1, at S and SX levels respectivly. Then the JTDs came in for mark2, the JTD105 was an SX, but the JTD100 was at HLX level. :) so for that tiny bit less performance (if any?), you get lots more toys. :)
 
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To my best knowledge this is how it went,

MK1 (1996-1998/9)

1.4 8V Trim - S, SX
1.6 16V Trim - S, SX
1.8 16V Trim - HLX
2.0 20V 147 Trim - HGT

1.9 TD75 Trim - S, SX
1.9 TD100 Trim - S, SX

MK2 (1999 - 2001)

1.2 16V Trim - SX
1.6 16v Trim - SX, HLX
1.8 16V Trim - HLX
2.0 20V 155 Trim - HGT

1.9JTD105 Trim - SX (CF2)

Later replaced with a more enviro-friendlier

(2000-2001)

1.9JTD100 Trim - SX, HLX (CF3)

Also there is no loss in performance, the changes made had no affect on the figures, but it did make it a tad greener to the enviroment, if you get a 2001 JTD registered after March 01, then road tax is only £120 per year. It was £115 each year till the budget came.

Also the JTD100 can be remapped to over 175BHP infact alot more but the clutch can't handle the power and no uprated clutch is available so if you wanted a remap the best tuning compaines can give you is a 35% increase. The JTD105 if remapped can do approx 150BHP max but again will not handle the power therefore a 35% increase is given, you'll find the JTD100 to be much more quicker than the JTD105. It has something to do with the Turbo on the JTD100, I heard it was bigger but don't take my word for it.
 
Bushboy has a point about the arches, give them a check. My HGT has signs of rust forming, although my previous was fine. Doesn't hurt to just give them a check
 
Yes bushboy is correct about the rust helz had rust come back on the rear arches after her car was resprayed..:) thats me done back off to the panda and stilo sections now ..By by ..:D
 
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I stand corrected..new one to me! But if someone doesn't even clean the wheel arches and it leads to rust then I would start to think what else has been neglected and what kind of regular maintenance has been done on the car!! Living in the country in Ireland with some terrible winters and rubbish roads I haven't seen rust on a Bravo/a! I'll have to keep any eye out for it!(y)
 
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