I've a 98 1.4 S with showing a mere 64,000 miles.
Being a S model its a bit basic, no rev counter and self windy windows and IMO ugly grey bumpers.

I really like the way the car drives, I thought about upgrading parts on the car, but it being the "dreaded" 1.4 I've considering selling it and buying a
higher spec model.

Which brings the next question
Buy a 1.2 16v (as the 1.4 was supposed to be a cheap run about)
Or go for more performance and get a 1.6 or 1.8 and higher VED, Insurance wont be much different, old fart with 10 years no claims

Thought I'd add a photo
And I've changed the wheel trims since the pic was took

Not meaning this in a bad way by any means but while the car is still a runner have you considered http://www.fiat.co.uk/Content/?id=17415#scrappage/home ?

Not taking the pi55 just beng honest.

I've got the 1.4 SX. My bumpers are painted but they flake and peel and don't look as good as yours after 9 or 10 years. If you're still thinking economy, I'd keep the 1.4, at least if it's in good shape and has a good history of frequent oil changes and flushes (to negate the gumming up oil bar issue). I get a preposterous 60mpg on the motorway at 60mph with the tyres up at fully-laden (not normal) recommended pressures (better for handling too, I reckon).
You could always replace the bumpers with SX bumpers?

Tom_B said:

I've got the 1.4 SX. My bumpers are painted but they flake and peel and don't look as good as yours after 9 or 10 years. If you're still thinking economy, I'd keep the 1.4, at least if it's in good shape and has a good history of frequent oil changes and flushes (to negate the gumming up oil bar issue). I get a preposterous 60mpg on the motorway at 60mph with the tyres up at fully-laden (not normal) recommended pressures (better for handling too, I reckon).
You could always replace the bumpers with SX bumpers?

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Tom, the 1.4 is renowned for poor fuel consumption against its rivals so yours must be a one off gem.
QBTO, if it were purely fuel then id advise a diesel, however for ease to work on i'd suggest best of both worlds would be a 1.2

Citizen Smith said:

Not meaning this in a bad way by any means but while the car is still a runner have you considered http://www.fiat.co.uk/Content/?id=17415#scrappage/home ?

Not taking the pi55 just beng honest.

Click to expand...

Can see your point there, but if I had £5k to spend on a car I wouldnt be driving an 11 year old Fiat

Tom_B said:

I'd keep the 1.4, at least if it's in good shape and has a good history of frequent oil changes and flushes (to negate the gumming up oil bar issue). I get a preposterous 60mpg on the motorway at 60mph with the tyres up at fully-laden (not normal) recommended pressures (better for handling too, I reckon).
You could always replace the bumpers with SX bumpers?

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60mpg @ 60 mph Dont think I've ever got that.....oh hang on I've never went 60 ......more like 70....or 80

Dont think mine is to bad on a run on mpg and recently on a trip to Edinburgh and back with a boot load of shopping and four of us in the car I was supprised at how torquey the little engine is for m-way work.

But most of my driving is all city streets and then it returns a best of 25mpg

bridges said:

QBTO, if it were purely fuel then id advise a diesel, however for ease to work on i'd suggest best of both worlds would be a 1.2

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I'm leaning towards a 1.2 as I do all of my own spannering and given the driving I do dont think there would be much difference in mpg compared to a diesel and of course the 1.2 doesnt have the clatter.
But finding a 1.2 Bravo seems to like picking lottery numbers, do see ocassionaly a Brava.

My plan for now is to get my Punto back on the road 1.2 8v so yes it needs a head gasket

Sell the 1.4 Bravo and wait for the right car to come along....HGT

bridges said:

Tom, the 1.4 is renowned for poor fuel consumption against its rivals so yours must be a one off gem.

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That's what I thought, for a second or two, that I've got a good one. Then I thought I must be mistaken! I'm doing a longer term record of my fuel cost and mileage just now, for more accuracy.
That said, I know the 1.4 is meant to be poor for mpg but I see in the brochures the 1.4 claimed 31mpg (urban) and 54mpg @56mph (slightly better than the 1.2 brochure claims) so 60mpg might be about right, if my engine's losing horsepower and getting more economical in its old age maybe? That's if the brochure was correct, which I suppose is a major if.

i have had 3 1.6sx and loved them. It might be worth giving the 1.2 a test and the 1.6sx.

I sold my 1.6 in feb but the insurance was about £300 F/C and i am 27 with 8 years NCB

sammiboo said:

i have had 3 1.6sx and loved them. It might be worth giving the 1.2 a test and the 1.6sx.

I sold my 1.6 in feb but the insurance was about £300 F/C and i am 27 with 8 years NCB

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Out of interest what mpg did you get from your 1.6 ?

Just ran a few quotes through those confused people.
I paid £178 for my 1.4 fully comp with protected no claims.

Quoted £211 for a 1.2
£221 for a 1.6
£231 for a 1.8
£261 for a 2.0

QBTO said:

Out of interest what mpg did you get from your 1.6 ?

Just ran a few quotes through those confused people.
I paid £178 for my 1.4 fully comp with protected no claims.

Quoted £211 for a 1.2
£221 for a 1.6
£231 for a 1.8
£261 for a 2.0

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:idea: or save yourself the hassle, stick with a car you know, and give it a good service?

get a new injector, clean the carb, oil etc, air filter, chuck some red ex in it and it should be mint,

QBTO said:

Out of interest what mpg did you get from your 1.6 ?

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around 40mpg. But thats steady driving on mainly A and B roads. I hardly ever go into town.

Rob in Notts said:

:idea: or save yourself the hassle, stick with a car you know, and give it a good service?

get a new injector, clean the carb, oil etc, air filter, chuck some red ex in it and it should be mint,

Click to expand...

The fuel issue isnt a service problem, but a bad design by FIAT, even brand new the 1.4 12V was a guzzler.

Factory issued MPG figures are slightly biased

fair play, mine does not seem bad at all consumption wise...

but then i have been running the volvo t5 and a cav gsi... so the fiat will seam alot better mpg wise lol

good luck with what ever you choose to do

Rob in Notts said:

fair play, mine does not seem bad at all consumption wise...

but then i have been running the volvo t5 and a cav gsi... so the fiat will seam alot better mpg wise lol

good luck with what ever you choose to do

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I'll use my ZZR1100 147bhp 175mph 0-60 3.3 secs 60mpg

QBTO said:

I'll use my ZZR1100 147bhp 175mph 0-60 3.3 secs 60mpg

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whoo nice i was thinking about getting a 600cc bike soon