- Joined
- Apr 12, 2012
- Messages
- 30
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- 8
Last Saturday I collected my Bravo (I P/x'ed a 2006 Mk5 Golf). It is absolutely perfect inside and out – not a mark on it (so far as I can see at the moment).
When I started looking for one these were the common complaints I found:
Noisy engine
Noisy cabin
Awful steering
Poor handling
Poor ride
Cramped rear leg room
Hmmmmmmmmm..... but the reader reviews really rate this car and no-one is complaining about the above (much).
I found a 2009, Black, 2.0 Multijet, Sport, 24000 miles. It came with rear tinted glass, rear reverse sensors, dual climate control, 18’’ alloys, rear electric windows.
It looks fantastic IMHO and even better on those 18’’ wheels (tyres for it are reasonable too – I checked prices before I bought the car). Everything works as it should, there are no creaks, rattles, bits of trim falling off, anything loose. The car (at the moment, fingers crossed is perfect). I have had it a few days now and I thought I would give it a review so here is my summary...................
Looks: Fantastic, I turn back and look at it, park it outside my window and stare at it. It looks like a proper car – the Golf was just a box on wheels. It is far better looking than an Astra, Golf, Focus. Better looking than a 147...hmmm.....maybe!??! A Giulietta............maybe???!? Also comes with red painted callipers as standard, tiny roof spoiler and skirts, front fogs, and twin chrome tail pipes– looks great.
Interior: Why do people say it is not on a par with class leaders like ‘the Golf and the Focus’? I don’t get it
First of all the Golf I had had faded plastics inside and plenty of rattles from the dash area and passenger seat. There was lots of hard plastic and the usual standard VW dash. Functional but oh so boring. The Bravo is like getting into an updated 147 – sure the dash MFD is a bit dated but those lovely recessed dials, nicely appointed and finished central console with a slight angle towards the driver make it a treat. The dash is finished in a carbon fibre effect and dash top in a soft plastic material. Nice too look at and touch. I do miss the arm rest from the Golf however and think Fiat should have included one as standard. The glove box is a good size and there is a storage unit under the passenger seat too. The interior seats are finished in black Alcantara with red inserts. The doors cards also feature red inserts. The seats are a little short at the front – I have long legs and it is taken me a little while to get comfy and I have found a good position now. There is no foot rest – slightly annoying too. The car comes with Bluetooth and a USB port – hurrah – I so missed them. The Bluetooth works better than in any 159 I have had, with no need to shout and a clear reception on the phone. The USB port is playing my 32GB stick just fine and is more random with its random function than the Alfa. The Blue and Me paired first time with my Samsung Galaxy Note (got that 2 weeks ago – wow what a great ‘phablet’
Rear space is slightly less in the legroom section but there is more boot space than the Golf. The doors shut with a ‘thunk’ instead of a weedy hollow sound as on the Golf – once again the Bravo comes across as well built and well screwed together.
Driving it: Plenty of poke from the 2.0 Multijet. The gearbox is a 6 speed (bye bye 5-speed Golf) and is slick and precise (the Golf felt like you could feel every gear change). Clutch is just right. Brakes need a firm dab – don’t know if this is something common to the car or something I should get investigated. The car stops well enough but requires a good squeeze on the pedal. The steering is one area the car is heavily criticised on. First of all there is a ‘City’ button on the dash that makes the electric steering finger light for parking in town etc. However once this is turned off the steering is fine to me. The wheel does a slight tendency to self-centre but it is not overly light as has been reported and it is far better than the Audi A3 I once test drove. In that thing I couldn’t feel a thing. There is plenty of feedback from the Fiats wheel but not quite the same as the 159 but nowhere as bad as the popular press would have us believe. The ride is well, erm, firm!! Obviously the 18’’ wheels make this a little worse but yes over the rutted city streets of Liverpool it is crashy – no worse than a 147 Ducati Sport or a GT Cloverleaf – so you get the idea. The chassis is from that era so not up to the refinement of the 159. Some of that feel does transmit into the cabin so although I can cope with this my children might not appreciate it. Cornering is again no worse than a 159 and better than the Golf which had lots of understeer and body roll.
The Golf was probably the most comfortable and laid back car I have ever driven however. Having said that the Bravo is relaxed on the motorway. The engine is quiet and refined and does not intrude; even at idle it is at acceptable levels of ‘dieselness’. The only obtrusive sound is tyre roar – again the optional 18’’ wheels and tyres don’t help here and I wonder if a change of rubber might help.
The stereo is the best I have had in a car – I don’t know what make it is but it looks like perhaps a Sony. The finish on it is lovely too; sort of a rich red/brown. The sound is rich and full even using the USB stick. CDs sound even better. No DAB like in the Golf – that was a nice touch to be fair as all CD song titles came up and the same with songs on the radio stations. The loudness function means is adjustable to a number of levels meaning that the audio rises and falls with car speed – I know the 159 stereo has this but it was either on or off. As I said before the Blue and Me paired first time and phone call quality is good, far better than in my 159’s. There is two cup holders front and rear and dual zone climate control which works just like the 159. Nice touches are the sport alloy pedals, full set of Bravo branded car mats, tiny lights recessed into the interior door handles and also two in the overhead light console, giving a nice warming orange glow at night. White instrument dials in deep set individual settings too, electric windows all round.
So as you might tell I am very satisfied with my purchase and think this is a car I can run for a few years before looking around again (I always say this however
). It feels like I am in a proper car again, one that turns heads and stands out from the norm and is quietly confident in itself. The Bravo is very under rated. I don’t know what the ride is like on the non-Sport cars but besides this and the wish I still had an auto dipping rear mirror and wipers I am happy. Oh and it is giving me 46.5 mpg at the moment. The Golf was giving 50mpg per tank; both are in the same tax band too.
When I started looking for one these were the common complaints I found:
Noisy engine
Noisy cabin
Awful steering
Poor handling
Poor ride
Cramped rear leg room
Hmmmmmmmmm..... but the reader reviews really rate this car and no-one is complaining about the above (much).
I found a 2009, Black, 2.0 Multijet, Sport, 24000 miles. It came with rear tinted glass, rear reverse sensors, dual climate control, 18’’ alloys, rear electric windows.
It looks fantastic IMHO and even better on those 18’’ wheels (tyres for it are reasonable too – I checked prices before I bought the car). Everything works as it should, there are no creaks, rattles, bits of trim falling off, anything loose. The car (at the moment, fingers crossed is perfect). I have had it a few days now and I thought I would give it a review so here is my summary...................
Looks: Fantastic, I turn back and look at it, park it outside my window and stare at it. It looks like a proper car – the Golf was just a box on wheels. It is far better looking than an Astra, Golf, Focus. Better looking than a 147...hmmm.....maybe!??! A Giulietta............maybe???!? Also comes with red painted callipers as standard, tiny roof spoiler and skirts, front fogs, and twin chrome tail pipes– looks great.
Interior: Why do people say it is not on a par with class leaders like ‘the Golf and the Focus’? I don’t get it
Rear space is slightly less in the legroom section but there is more boot space than the Golf. The doors shut with a ‘thunk’ instead of a weedy hollow sound as on the Golf – once again the Bravo comes across as well built and well screwed together.
Driving it: Plenty of poke from the 2.0 Multijet. The gearbox is a 6 speed (bye bye 5-speed Golf) and is slick and precise (the Golf felt like you could feel every gear change). Clutch is just right. Brakes need a firm dab – don’t know if this is something common to the car or something I should get investigated. The car stops well enough but requires a good squeeze on the pedal. The steering is one area the car is heavily criticised on. First of all there is a ‘City’ button on the dash that makes the electric steering finger light for parking in town etc. However once this is turned off the steering is fine to me. The wheel does a slight tendency to self-centre but it is not overly light as has been reported and it is far better than the Audi A3 I once test drove. In that thing I couldn’t feel a thing. There is plenty of feedback from the Fiats wheel but not quite the same as the 159 but nowhere as bad as the popular press would have us believe. The ride is well, erm, firm!! Obviously the 18’’ wheels make this a little worse but yes over the rutted city streets of Liverpool it is crashy – no worse than a 147 Ducati Sport or a GT Cloverleaf – so you get the idea. The chassis is from that era so not up to the refinement of the 159. Some of that feel does transmit into the cabin so although I can cope with this my children might not appreciate it. Cornering is again no worse than a 159 and better than the Golf which had lots of understeer and body roll.
The Golf was probably the most comfortable and laid back car I have ever driven however. Having said that the Bravo is relaxed on the motorway. The engine is quiet and refined and does not intrude; even at idle it is at acceptable levels of ‘dieselness’. The only obtrusive sound is tyre roar – again the optional 18’’ wheels and tyres don’t help here and I wonder if a change of rubber might help.
The stereo is the best I have had in a car – I don’t know what make it is but it looks like perhaps a Sony. The finish on it is lovely too; sort of a rich red/brown. The sound is rich and full even using the USB stick. CDs sound even better. No DAB like in the Golf – that was a nice touch to be fair as all CD song titles came up and the same with songs on the radio stations. The loudness function means is adjustable to a number of levels meaning that the audio rises and falls with car speed – I know the 159 stereo has this but it was either on or off. As I said before the Blue and Me paired first time and phone call quality is good, far better than in my 159’s. There is two cup holders front and rear and dual zone climate control which works just like the 159. Nice touches are the sport alloy pedals, full set of Bravo branded car mats, tiny lights recessed into the interior door handles and also two in the overhead light console, giving a nice warming orange glow at night. White instrument dials in deep set individual settings too, electric windows all round.
So as you might tell I am very satisfied with my purchase and think this is a car I can run for a few years before looking around again (I always say this however
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