I know lets all hate Fiat

[Bob in disguise]

i was just looking at an auto express magazine at work and they had a readers poll of the most unreliable cars on the market. Number one was the Fiat Punto! and 8 was the Bravo/ Brava and number 9 was the stilo. I think people that enter that poll for the magazine must be real idiots. All French brands are worst and i had a mechanic turn round to me once and say he thought puntos were the most realiable small cars around. I think I should write to them and complain lol sod them we all know the truth

 

[Emm]

eh French cars are reliable!!! my 205gti is the dogs!!!! why you say that?!! that makes you as bad as them lol!!

 

[Bob in disguise]

well all my mates who have had saxo's, 106's, 206's and clio's have all moaned how bad they are and all the problems they have had with them. So that just put me off buying any French cars. Thats my opinion of them.

 

[pinin__prestatyn]

I know you don't want to hear this but the Top gear JD power survey is conducted every year, And it's compiled entirely by owners. The survey is broke down to performance, fuel economy, customer care, dealer charges, mechanical charges, mechanical problems, electical problems, body and interior problems and miscellaneous problems.

There where 114 cars reviewed in the one I have in front of me, Here is how fiat did:

60/114 - Fiat marea

88/114 - Fiat cinquecento

90/114 - Fiat coupe

94/114 - Fiat punto

103/114 - Fiat Bravo

109/114 - Fiat Ulysse

So not a good showing from fiat! This was from a '99 edition of top gear, no idea how Fiat is doing now.

 

[gaz.d]

we all love fiat....end off lol

french cars are poo its well known, dont listen to surveys cause they only interview a small percentage

 

[pinin__prestatyn]

Oh yeah in bottom place was the Ford galaxy

 

[Emm]

well my 205 aint poo

 

[gaz.d]

i thought it was your hubby's

 

[Emm]

tis 'ours' !

 

[Steven]

Auto Express has always been anti-Italian. They promote British/US manufacturers shamelessly! I avoid it like the plague.

 

[Guzzi Steve]

I never read the auto press, or bike press come to that.I would rather make up my own mind.I have owned several Italian vehicles cars & bikes,Three Fiats a 1987 X/19 owned that for six years & no major probs,also had briefly a 1980, 127Sport 1050 top little cars, bought as a £50. winter hack.Now I have my Sei Sporting.All three cars have been reliable,I have also had two Peugeots a 405,& a 106.Not bad cars but when they go wrong.They do it in style & boy do the dealers know how to charge! I got badly ripped off by a pug dealer. & that was it, I got rid & bought my Sei,no probs so far,just loads of fun If you look after you cars it's rare that you get probs.In my my family,my Bro,has an Alfa 156 v6,& my niece has a Barchtta.Non of them have given any probs.You pays yer money & takes yer choice.I will stay with my italian cars & bikes thanks.

 

[Donk]

I think a lot of these surveys also take into account other things as well as reliability. Things like dealer service and aftersales and warranty etc etc. I remember the JD power doing anyway.

My fiat's been about the most reliable and definalty the most fun thing ever even tho the dealers have been a bit lax at times.

 

[JonnyBoy]

Reliable or not, just take pride in knowing that your Fiat is better looking and more fun to drive than the miserable French/Japanese/American/German equivalent!

Although I have to admit, I do quite fancy a C2...

 

[wolfracepunto]

My Punto's only ever broke down once (as in not been able to move) But I forgive Fiat for this, as I got free tow and free 'courtesy' car while it was being fixed, which only took about 2 hours!

But I cant forgive them about the clutch they put on this car It totally ruins driving the car. Been back numerous times but the problem is still there......wouldnt be surprised if thats what all the Punto owners complained about in the survey.

Edit- I wouldnt buy another Punto, its good for my first car, but im sick of rattles/squeaks and the crappy clutch.

 

[sammiboo]

punto broke down all the time - i ended up hating it and i wouldnt buy another now

bravo - great love it, never let me down yet even after 103k miles

 

[roby76it]

I know you don't want to hear this but the Top gear JD power survey is conducted every year, And it's compiled entirely by owners. The survey is broke down to performance, fuel economy, customer care, dealer charges, mechanical charges, mechanical problems, electical problems, body and interior problems and miscellaneous problems.

There where 114 cars reviewed in the one I have in front of me, Here is how fiat did:

60/114 - Fiat marea

88/114 - Fiat cinquecento

90/114 - Fiat coupe

94/114 - Fiat punto

103/114 - Fiat Bravo

109/114 - Fiat Ulysse

So not a good showing from fiat! This was from a '99 edition of top gear, no idea how Fiat is doing now.

Ok, but Fiat Ulysse isn't a real Fiat... It's assembled at Valencienne (France) and is made by Sevel, a factory 50% Fiat and 50% PSA...
PSA makes and assembles VAN (Fiat Ulysse, Lancia Phedra, Peugeot 807, Citroen C8), Fiat makes commercial vehicles (Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Jumper) and assembles them at Atessa (Italy)...

Then Ulysse is much more French then Italian.... ;-)

 

[Steven]

Fiat finished second overall in the 2003 JD Power survey!

 

[pinin__prestatyn]

Re: Roby, Appreciate this, Was just quoting from the mag.


Good to hear such a massive improvement for the 2003 survey, let's face it, They couldn't have got much worse

 

[Steven]

What JD Power survey are you reading? It's different from the one I read!

In 2003 Ford, Mazda and Fiat were the top three!

 

[Steven]

No, wait. Apologies, that was in a Warranty companies survey!