I agree with Stuart that FIAT's still, quite unjustifiably, suffer from a bad image problem that harks back to the day when FIAT's regularly vanished in a puff of Ferrous Oxide. My dad, who was born not too far from Turin, home of FIAT, who's first car was a 500, had a very bad experience with a FIAT and has detested them ever since. Every time I pitch up in a new FIAT, I get a lecture about how rubbish they are ! in 1978, him and his business partner bought a pair of 132 Supermirafiori's. 2.0L Twin Cam engines which were superb, 5 speed gear box (remember, this was 78, not even the latest Ford Cortina had 5 gears !), Electric windows, pull down red perspex sun visors (very cool) and loads of other toys, all costing less than the Ford Cortina Mk IV.
4 years later, it had corroded so badly that he could only sell it for £275 !! Now, that's what I call depreciation !
Since the introduction of galvanised steel with the Tipo and the success of the Uno and subsequent Punto, I don't think FIAT have made a "bad" car. There have been some design faux pas (Stilo, anyone ?) but we all know that FIAT's no longer suffer from the problems that gave them this reputation and that they are no worse than any of the other major marques.
Sadly tho', reputations in the motor industry are terribly difficult to shrug off. Rover had the same rust problems and never got over that. Skoda only managed it with VW money and a very clever reverse psychology ad campaign. These reputations get passed down from generation to generation with fathers telling their sons not to buy this car or that car based on their experiences 20 years previous.
I've had 7 FIAT's now, my step dad has had 3 (still has Marea saloon), my kid brother drives a Punto, and none of us have ever had a major problem that was down to the car alone or wasn't sorted immediately by FIAT. My Tipo had to have the head skimmed and a new big end, only because I let the bloody thing overheat and ignored the faulty thermostat. My Punto Diesel and Cinq Sporting had a couple of tiny rust bubbles which were fixed with no quibble under warranty, my Punto Sporting had a burst heater matrix, again sorted with no question free of charge OUT of warranty because FIAT said that it must've been a defective component and should have lasted at least 100K. My HGT gave me no problems at all, neither did my Sei Sporting. I now have the Marea Weekend and anticipate no major issues (touch wood) but certainly don't feel that I have a car that suffers from the things that FIAT have a bad rep about.
Like Stuart says, I'm quite happy for people to steer clear of FIAT if they want. It makes them more unique and less prone to becoming a rat boy racer car. I'm happy in my choice and feel no need to justify that by having a pointless argument in a forum on the internet.
Arguing on the internet is like being on Big Brother. Even if you win, no one will remember you tomorrow
Rob
Marea Weekend 1.8 16v 115 ELX
