LeighPing yeah but yours is a diesel, small wonder you got 52 mpg on the motorway, it will always do better mileage than a T-Jet. My record was 46 mpg @ 60 mph with a full tank only on the motorway.

LeighPing said:

Almost 120k on my 2007 1.9 Bravo Dynamic. No real issues, other than a clutch change. It's been a good motor. Driving from Birmingham to Bruges, Belgium, I got 52 mpg @ 80 mph most of the way. I don't bother using the cruise control.


Around town, 50 mile round trip to work and back, I get 42 mpg. My lead booted wife, who forgets that it has 6 gears, gets 38.

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Hi mate ive got the same car but i was wondering how much did it cost you to change your clutch? Thanks

MoS110 said:

Hi mate ive got the same car but i was wondering how much did it cost you to change your clutch? Thanks

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£600.

Depending on tour needs, maybe you could also consider the Chrysler Delta (if you need a little bit more space than the bravo), which is basically a slightly lengthened bravo, same technically. Though i do not know anything about prices and availability in the UK (since i am from Holland).
I ended up with one, and appreciate the better materials, larger interior space, extensive standard equipment, and styling of course, for a price that is equal to the bravos (in the netherlands).

Rcl said:

Depending on tour needs, maybe you could also consider the Chrysler Delta (if you need a little bit more space than the bravo), which is basically a slightly lengthened bravo, same technically. Though i do not know anything about prices and availability in the UK (since i am from Holland).
I ended up with one, and appreciate the better materials, larger interior space, extensive standard equipment, and styling of course, for a price that is equal to the bravos (in the netherlands).

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Chrysler Delta= Lancia Delta, more or less an upgraded Fiat Bravo, and it shares much with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta as well...

Cadabena said:

Oil itself about £30, and about another £30 in labour at any garage? This place does it for £65.

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That's a really reassuring price!

attilab said:

there was no evidence that the timing belt was replaced even though it had been due when it got serviced last (due to its age not mileage)

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How often should the timing belt be replaced out of interest? and should the water pump be replaced at the same time?

attilab said:

I think it cost us around £850

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Ouch, but worth it I guess.

attilab said:

The only thing I don't like is the gearbox as sometimes it struggles to engage in 1st gear. To tackle this I try 2nd gear first then put into 1st immediately after then it works OK. I guess it has crappy bearings as many others have.

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Is there any way to fix that without getting a new gearbox? Can't you just have the bearings replaced?

attilab said:

Now it's time for another service but I wager it's going to be the usual oil and filters change only but we'll see.

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Do you know what the rough cost of this will be?

attilab said:

Re climate control issues, it only is a problem with Dynamic models, get one with the Sport trim which has manual air con and the problem goes away

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Ah perfect, thanks for the heads up, I'll steer clear of the dynamic models!

LeighPing said:

Almost 120k on my 2007 1.9 Bravo Dynamic. No real issues, other than a clutch change. It's been a good motor. Driving from Birmingham to Bruges, Belgium, I got 52 mpg @ 80 mph most of the way. I don't bother using the cruise control.

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That's pretty damn good, but I guess it is a diesel after all!

Rcl said:

Depending on tour needs, maybe you could also consider the Chrysler Delta

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I've not seen any available in my price range in the UK, I'll definitely have a look for them though.

MattH2580 said:

How often should the timing belt be replaced out of interest? and should the water pump be replaced at the same time?

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According to the manual it should be replaced every 120k kms (75k miles) or every 5 years. I was told it is recommended to replace the water pump with it as well.

MattH2580 said:

Is there any way to fix that without getting a new gearbox? Can't you just have the bearings replaced?

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No idea. I might ask about it next time I take it to the garage. I saw a "reconditioned" M32 gearbox on eBay here, not sure how longer this would last though. Anyways, it's not an urgent issue to me, I can live with it.

MattH2580 said:

Do you know what the rough cost of this will be?

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Nope. Will update once I got it back.

With so many questions, I wonder if the Bravo is the right choice for you at all.....

attilab said:

According to the manual it should be replaced every 120k kms (75k miles) or every 5 years. I was told it is recommended to replace the water pump with it as well.

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Perfect, cheers!

attilab said:

No idea. I might ask about it next time I take it to the garage. I saw a "reconditioned" M32 gearbox on eBay here, not sure how longer this would last though. Anyways, it's not an urgent issue to me, I can live with it.

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Ok cool, good to know!

attilab said:

Nope. Will update once I got it back.

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Great, thanks!

Peter Pick-Up said:

With so many questions, I wonder if the Bravo is the right choice for you at all.....

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Why so? I don't like going into things blind... not sure why that means the car isn't for me. Should I not ask questions before I buy something?

You can get the m32 bearings replaced, some places in UK do it in one day (with previous appointment, diagnostics etc) takes from 4 to 8 hours (as long as nothing causes problems.. stuck/snapped bolts..etc)

As far as i know it's around 6-800 GBP, ( add to that the price of the clutch if you need/want that as well)

aurick86 said:

You can get the m32 bearings replaced, some places in UK do it in one day (with previous appointment, diagnostics etc) takes from 4 to 8 hours (as long as nothing causes problems.. stuck/snapped bolts..etc)

As far as i know it's around 6-800 GBP, ( add to that the price of the clutch if you need/want that as well)

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Ouch, expensive but expected.

FYI I got the car back from annual service and MOT and it cost me £290. Included in this were filters and fluids, spark plugs, full checks according to schedule and MOT. From this bill £130 was the cost of labour. I am sure this could have been carried out for a lower price elsewhere but I trust this garage and that's the most important to me.

The engine consumed about half a litre of oil over 13 months and 12k miles, that's not bad at all. It passed MOT without advisories.

I didn't ask about the gearbox as the issue hadn't been prevalent (or I might have just got used to it LOL)