Awkward decisions

[Toby]

I have around 10k to spend on a car. I've been looking at Bravo 155 HGT's, about V reg ish.
The thing that bothers me is that on this forum there are loads of people complaining about squeaks, rattles, unreliability etc. And yet this is supposed to be a fan site!
Basically, Just how reliable are Fiats? I remember the Tipos and Unos of this world, which fell apart.
Am I likely to encounter problems with a Bravo? Is the HGT 5 cyl engine a pain to get parts for?
The only equivalent fast hatch to the HGT seems to be the 306 GTI. But Peugeots aren't particularly reliable either.
I don't know what to get...

 

[fab]

go for the bravo

in 4 years and 51000 miles my fathers hgt has had two things go wrong with it the exhaust backbox broke at40000 and the power steering sprrung a slight leak which was cured with stop leak fluid,there are some groans and creeks obviously but i think youll find these types of things on most equivalent cars, but the trade off is youll have a great looking fantastic sounding hot hatch at the end of the day there are going to be expensive costs invvolved ie cambelt change ,but id go for the bravo everytime
hope this helps a bit...

 

[Nick]

Cambelts

Check the price of having the cambelt changed. Other than that a recent survey (I can't remember which!) said that newer Fiats were more reliable than average across all cars. Also check out the JD Power survey available on the BBC Top Gear Website www.topgear.beeb.com

 

[Nick]

Also...

Also try http://www.carsurvey.org/

 

[Martin]

Go for a Bravo....

I have had mine from new (1998 147bhp version) and it has now covered 66,000 (in just over 3 years) I have had it serviced at the normal intervals (12,000) and apart from the last one they were all done by Fiat dealers. The last service was done by a small private workshop because it was the 72,000 service and required the cam belt change, Fiat quote the best part of £1000 for the 72,000 service because the engine has to come out to gain access to the cam belt.
The reason so many people are questioning the cam belts is because Fiat recommend them to be changed every 72,000 which is a huge gap for a belt to last.

Anyway, in the time I have had the car the only things I have had to change are:
1. The overhead console with the map lights, sunroof switch and ultrasonics for the alarm was changed at 11 months because a relay/switch went up the shoot. This was done under warranty.
2. Rear box on exhaust fell off at 62,000 miles.
3. Battery failed at 60,000 miles.

It is on it's 3rd set of tyres and has been extremely reliable.
I cannot recommend this car highly enough. Yeah O.K so it has some rattles and squeaks, but what cars don't in this price range.
I was going to buy another in December but they don't make them any more

 

[Toby]

Not happy people...

Well according to car survey.org, and the Top gear JD power thing, The HGT AND the 306 Gti are both cack!
They were both 4th and 5th from last!
That doesn't help much does it?

 

[Paul Renowden]

Lex reliability survey

According to the 1998 Lex reliability survey, only 11%out of of Fiats in the survey broke down. They were one of the highest manufacturers - mainly due to the Punto and Bravo.

For more information, go to www.whatcar.com, search Fiat and you'll find something.

regards,
Paul
www.fiatbravo.org.uk

 

[Nick]

Depends...

Depends on what you mean by help.

Its telling you that by and large people are more unhappy with these cars than people who own the other cars. That doesn't necessarily mean they are cack. It could mean that owners have higher expectations of the cars than other car owners. However it could mean that by the standard of all cars, Fiats and Peugeots are indeed cack. But bear in mind that compared with new cars 10 years ago, anything these days is vastly superior in terms of relability. Also bear in mind that these surveys and comments are sweeping generalisations, and theres nothing to say that you can't find a car of any make that will be completely reliable - but how to find it? Why not look near the top of these lists and see if anything fits the bill? Are you going to be ruled by your heart or your head, or somewhere in between?!

 

[Martin]

Don't forget that some of these surveys go on what the dealers are like

And to be honest the 2 dealers I have had to use have been cack. They cost too much, are far too unreliable, took 9 weeks to get a replacement seatbelt The car itself is a peach but the dealers and the service dept's are crap.
I also had a problem with a dealer regarding my finance being made out incorrectly and the dealers were being complete idiots over it, so I got Fiat themselves involved and after 2 weeks of them dragging their heels over it they turned round and said sorry but this is between you and your dealer we can't help you, and that was customer services !!
But now all that is sorted I am reasonable happy as I don't have to deal with the dealers

 

[Steve D]

Another HGT

Along with tehothers here i'm also chuffed with my Bravo.
It's a 97 R plate and has covered 50 000 miles. The only problems i've had are;
- the rear speakers did not work when i took the car back in Aug 97. Poped back to the dealer and they swaped the radio over under warranty
- the rear box had corroded by 38 000, and was replaced but not under warranty.

Above all a supurb car and easy to live with. Like many other people hear the cam belt change over time (72 000 miles) and the cost (from a main dealer £1100) of this is the only thing that slighlty bothers us.

Tel us what you do decide

 

[Boorock]

Every rose has it's thorn...!

Just go for the HGT !
Mine is a 1998 (147 Bhp)at 25.000 Km. without any major problem. But yes, there are squeaks, rattles but a qualified & willing service can handle those stuff.
U'll love that roaring sound & the handling.
It's one of the best in the category.

Cheers

P.S. Get ready for the looks... U'll definitely be happy.

 

[Matt (Essex)]

Buy my HGT!

I have an immaculate new generation Bravo HGT 99/T.
Blue, 5100 miles, cd changer, 1 owner, FSH.
Yours for £10000 ovno. Serious enquiries only