General Mot

[g8rpi]

Well after nearly a year of ownership , I put my Croma in for it's MOT today.
So just to show it's not all negative for Croma ownership, it passed!
one advisory for a scored front disk. I'll do that later in the year.
So the only "failure" in a year was a headlamp bulb.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[g8rpi]

MOT time. It passed again

. Just a couple of minor adviories that I was already aware of. Interestingly the "scored disk" advisory from last year has gone away (same MOT inspector). It's had new pads and removal of rust scale on the disks since, not new disks.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[BrianMcL]

That's good news

I've been the same for the last few of years as well, as far as MoTs go the only issues in recent years have been the odd track rod end which given the local roads isn't too bad.

 

[g8rpi]

Well not so good this year . I've got a broken front spring, one of the wheel bearings I replaced 18 months ago has excessive play and I need one rear tyre. Unfortunatly all of those are doubled as I won't change one spring or tyre when the other is a similar age and changing one wheel bearing is just asking for ABS issues. I'm also not in a position to do the work myself for a number of reasons, so that's £840 gone . Still cheap motoring, under £80 per month depreciation and maintenence/repairs and it does everything I ask of it.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[s130]

I loved my Croma.

Yes I had issues (springs, front wheel bearing, alternator, fuel filler cap push button mechanism and noisier banana arms on the rear suspension. All in all a fair deal.

The only really bad experience, which I have not seen reported/repeated here, was a GM Clutch Pressure Plate premature failure, at Dove on out way to Europe. This almost wrecked out annual trip to Italy. We managed to recover but is cost big bucks as we had to use a Fiat main dealer to turn the car around in a few days.

For me the Croma was great but with niggles (excluding my major issue I've not seen reported by others).

From a servicing/maintenance point of view my only criticism was the crappy location, with restricted access, of the oil filter housing on the back of the block, above the drive shaft, thus even more limiting access. And when you got there you got covered in oil as did the driveshaft etc. etc.

Still no real complaints from me

 

[g8rpi]

MOT time again,
Pass first time with no new advisories. Starting my 5th year of Croma driving. Total capital cost plus maintenance and repairs add up to less than £80 per month. If nothing major next year it's under £65 per month even with if you said no resale value. Hard to beat that for cheap motoring, less than 21p (typo corrected) per mile including fuel

Robert G8RPI

 

[s130]

I had my Croma for 10 years and as each year went by "things" got fixed, fettled, plus a little TLC and guess what? Yes fewer things requiring attention each year. For the first few years it felt like the car was built from poor quality GM parts (excluding Denso alternator) and as these GM parts were replaced reliability improved.

 

[g8rpi]

MOT time again today. Passed with no issues . Advisories on rear tires being bit worn. I was aware of that but wasn't going change before the MOT, That would be tempting fate.
Five years of Croma ownership next month. Any other current owner on here had their Croma longer? Ther were only 475 left on the road in the UK at the end of June according to How Many Left.

Robert G8RPI

 

[leew]

Hi,just sold my 2006 Dynamic for scrap a week ago after 10 years use.I did 183000 miles ,car in total 233000 miles.In that time I had 4 new springs 3 alternators a condenser and the power steering seen to twice.Plenty of life left in the engine but the radio and heayer fan hadn't worked properly for the last year then the front brake pads needed changing and finally "check glow plugs"message came up.It needed 2 new tyres anyhow so I figured time to go.But I can't complain or have I been very lucky?!!

 

[g8rpi]

That's pretty good going. What are you going to replace it with?

 

[leew]

I've got a 2009 Mazda 6 hatchback.I have to say the build quality of the Mazda is appreciably better than the Croma,done 93000 miles drives like new!But don't they say about Fiats, the engines are great just the rest of the car that lets it down?

 

[uksdsgl]

My Croma is now at 129,000 miles.

I’ve owned it for 9 years and driven 96,000 miles.

I have to get rid of the Croma before October 2021 when the London ULEZ (Ultra low emissions zone) expands.

 

[varesecrazy]

I've got a 2009 Mazda 6 hatchback.I have to say the build quality of the Mazda is appreciably better than the Croma,done 93000 miles drives like new!But don't they say about Fiats, the engines are great just the rest of the car that lets it down?

Its fair to say that the mess GM were in reflects in this joint venture..

And.. if you paid croma money for the mazda.. you did well.

My brother in law had a 6 from new in 2004

Excellent car .. the market for it at 10 years old spoke volumes.

Charlie

 

[leew]

Good to know.Thanks Charlie!!