Technical Croma info

[sebasteeno]

Hi everyone, im a private hire driver in Hull and currently drive a Pug 407 SW but im gonna be hopefully changing this over the next few months and im looking at the Croma or Citroen C5.

Does the Croma JTD suffer from any clutch related issues ie does it have a a dual mass flywheel and if so how are these lasting? Does it also have a diesel particulate filter as im trying to avoid these as they are costly (as i know from the 407)?

Ive looked at the buying guide but couldnt see anything on these issues so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Seb

 

[notorious]

Yes it has a DMF and DPF like any other modern diesel car (no aditive goes into the DPF unlike the Peugeot). Its impossible to avoid these two these days as they are all made this way. My DMF and DPF have not made any issues on my used end of 2005 that came with 146000 km from Italy and will turn 190000 km next week.

 

[bobbyblue]

Hi Seb,

I have owned my Croma 1.9 8v Dynamic for 3 years now, I don't think the DMF is particularly troublesome and they do have an exhaust gas particulate filter but I am not sure if there are any exceptions to this. The main troubles seem to be EGR valves becoming blocked but it is an easy fix, they also suffer from alternator failures due to heat damage. I have had both the front and rear road springs break, this seems quite common as does the upper rear radius arm outer bushes wearing, this is a simple and cheap fix. The vehicle itself is comfortable and spacious and ideal for taxi work, it has great fuel economy especially on the motorway and is not a bad car to spend a lot of time in. I read on this forum that a taxi company in the Bristol area ran a small fleet of Cromas, I saw one of those up for sale recently with 207,000 miles on the clock. Overall the Croma is a good car but you need to keep on top of the maintenance. Hope this helps.

Everyone I know who has owned a Peugeot SW has said they have had problems with the DMF on them

 

[sebasteeno]

Thanks for the info. None of the issues there seem to bad or expensive which is good news as id much rather have soemthing Italian than French as i do have a love for Alfa Romeo having owned nine previous to going taxiing.

Anyone pull a caravan with a Croma as i bought one of them in October last year too and if so how is it as a tow car?

 

[Doofer]

It's not really Italian - it's basically a Vauxhall Vectra with a Fiat body on top. That does at least mean that you can get nice cheap GM parts for most of the oily bits, instead of Fiat's rip-off prices. Still preferable to French though.

There are caravanners on this forum. I think a caravan magazine gave it an award as a tow car a few years ago.

 

[s130]

Croma is an excellent tow car. Goes like a train.

we take our caravan to Italy every year. 1000 miles down (or should I say up) into the Dolomites. 1000 miles back to UK. Another 500 to 1000 touring around the mountains with no caravan attached.

Typically average 30mpg for the whole journey.

Fitting a towbar yourself is fairly easy if you are any good at car DIY. I've posted info about doing this somewhere here.

 

[BrianMcL]

They've certainly had their fair share of problems but I think that many of the problems I've had have either been caused by or exacerbated by the main dealer. If you've got a good independent mechanic you should be OK.

Having said that you should fit an EGR swirl mod gasket to protect the EGR valve as they fail. Mine suffered a huge problem which was solved by the guys here as a dodgy EGR valve after the main dealer effectively wanted to write it off due to a failed engine and DPF. About the only sensible thing the main dealer had to say on the topic was that I should be grateful I didn't have a cit / pug as they're much worse.

I've also been through 3 alternators so far as they've each failed at about 25k miles Where it's situated at the back and top of the engine definitely doesn't help.

Be wary if you get one with the panoramic sunroof - it makes the cabin extra light and airy but the motors aren't great so make sure it works, especially when driving.

Other odd things to watch for are delaminating wing mirror lenses, rusting tailgate struts and the rear wiper motor as they are all fragile.

Having said that they are great to drive, dead easy to get into and out of and the boot is pretty large which could make it good for taxiing.

They're pretty solid (mine hit a deer at 55mph and it only suffered a slight crease to the front passenger wing - I had a friend who hit one in his golf and did over £2k of damage to his front end) which is also good to know if you do a lot of driving.

Given the prices they go for they represent good value but do make sure you've got a good mechanic and a copy of ECUscan (and the interface lead) as you'll more than likely need both.

And be very wary of main dealers.

 

[BrianMcL]

I've used mine to pull a trailer and a trailer tent and the biggest problem is remembering they're there. Performance and fuel consumption aren't hugely affected and you don't feel it when braking either as the car's pretty heavy itself.

Don't know if they're all the same but the way my clutch bites makes it very easy to pull away on muddy ground when other cars get stuck, with a bonus that it's also very good on ice / snow as I've found out during the last few winters (although if it's very snowy the ABS sensor reports an error and stops working).

 

[buster]

Hi there,i run the 2.4jtd croma,before this we had a very rare stilo with the 140hp 1.9 jtd,Which is a very similar engine to the croma 1.9jtd.The stilo covered vast miles with the caravan behind it.It was awesome in every respect and apart from a bad remap it was 100% reliable.
We then expanded the family and we needed a larger car.It had to be a croma.By chance i dropped on a 2.4mjet locally unbelievable.I had looked everywere too.£4000,42k,18months ago and 3 months warranty from a dealer.A steal.
From the view of towing a caravan.I tow 1350kg.The only problem is they sit a bit low at the back,but i like that stance.As for pulling power the 1.9jtd is a flyer,the 2.4jtd is amazing.Its relentless on the hills.Mines fitted with a steinbauyer p box.Its been on the rollers at 240hp and 350 lbs ft of torque,one thing with the jtd is they are bomb proof.Credit were credit is due,Fiat wrote the rule book were diesels are conserned the rest followed.
As you,ve probably noticed on the forum,it always seems to be the same faults that raise their head,well documented now and cured.With the help of fiat ecu scan and these brillant lads on here you,ll be well sorted.Get one!

 

[sebasteeno]

Thanks for all the info folks. Very uesful and i think im gonna start looking for one now. I really want the 150 16V 1.9 i think as my 407 SW is the 110bhp and i now need more grunt having bought the van. Tbh my 407 has been great but ive had its dpf removed, its been remapped and the clutch went a month ago at a cost of £700 but apart from that its been no bother having covered 38K in eighteen months. As i said previously i have a thing for italian metal though so time to move the 407 on and get a Croma!

 

[sebasteeno]

Couple of further questions if you dont mind folks?

Do all Croma variants come with the full glass sunroof as my 407SW has one and i like that feature?

Also looking at various models on ebay/autotrader theres one interior that really stands out but it doesnt seem like all eleganza models have it. Was it an extra or special in some kind of way?

Link to interior pics - deoesnt seem to work - try link below

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Crom...0380302?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3a69a2cd8e

 

[bobbyblue]

I stand to be corrected but I think they are only fitted to the Prestigio as an option, my Dynamic is the poor man's entry level and doesn't get one, I don't know about the Eleganza though. I believe the drive motors on these sunroofs are a bit on the weak side and their operation should be checked when looking at the car. I have looked at the Croma on the Ebay link you added, I have never seen an interior on a Croma like that, for a start the ignition switch should be located in the centre console not the steering column, maybe the seller has put the wrong picture on the ad?

 

[notorious]

I think its a BMW 1 series interior, at least that,s what it looks like to me. The restyling Croma from 2008 did have that type of sporty fabric on the seats but you guys didn,t get it in the UK as 2007 was the last sale year.

 

[buster]

Is that not an Alfa interia?I think you can get a bit more for your money than that.Millage is nice but no roof bars.

 

[turbo_pib]

Couple of further questions if you dont mind folks?

Do all Croma variants come with the full glass sunroof as my 407SW has one and i like that feature?

Also looking at various models on ebay/autotrader theres one interior that really stands out but it doesnt seem like all eleganza models have it. Was it an extra or special in some kind of way?

Link to interior pics - deoesnt seem to work - try link below

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Crom...0380302?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3a69a2cd8e

Leather option is a rare find on croma but seller put wrong picture as thats an alfa mito interior!!!

 

[Doofer]

I reckon used Cromas are actually increasing in value now. Mine was a 2.5-year old car, 1.9 16v Prestigio with roof bars, 39k miles. It cost £6000 2.5 years ago from a dealer (it was over £20k new, so ouch for the first owner).

So at current values all of them look expensive to me. Or perhaps it's a market of deluded sellers with high asking prices, but nobody's buying.

 

[Caravadossi]

I reckon used Cromas are actually increasing in value now ...

Mr Money’s Christmas bargains
Since Saab declared itself bankrupt earlier this week, now might be a good time for sentimental folk to pick one up as a bargain everyday car or even a potential classic. A 9-3 less than a decade old can now be had for as little as £1,200 – not bad for a big if dull saloon that's now entering exclusive territory because, as things stand, no more will be built so rarity value will increase by the day. Mike Rutherford. telegraph/motoring 17.12.11

111230

 

[sebasteeno]

Is that not an Alfa interia?I think you can get a bit more for your money than that.Millage is nice but no roof bars.

Wasnt looking at the actual car but just the interior though yeah your right it is an Alfa one - you can even see the Alfa badge on the steering wheel!

Anyway ill be spending about 3K on one and will be wanting a 56 reg. No rush, ill wait for the right one to come along.

 

[s130]

There is a much more gloomy note to this Saab event.

I've never owned or driven a Saab and unlike my cold shoulder to the likes of Ford and others, they are/were a car maker that won a little respect and appriciation from me as being basically independent and different. Call it local country culture investment.

Volvo may be rubbing their hands with glee but in reality 'gloomy' must be taken seriously by everybody.

The SAAB name may live on but like Skoda will be just a brand name submember of the VW/Audi Group. Or is it the Audi/VW group.

This is all kind of possibly worrying for you motorhead purists out there.

Fiat Group - own Chrysler, Lancia, Alfa Romeo and other brands
VW/Audi - own Audi/VW, Skoda and other brands
Ford - own ??????

Bascially the global car market, espcially here in Europe is slowly and surely being consolidated into a bunch of car parts designed and sourced from who knows where.

Being a Croma owner I'm disgusted at the bad design, reliability etc. of all the GM bits that my Croma was built out of.

My Fiat history (600D,127 Sport, Strada 75CL, Strada Abarth, Uno 1.3, Uno SX, Tipo SX, Tempra 1.8ie, Punto HGT, Coupe 20V and Barchetta .... that I can quickly recall) were all pure Fiat till my Croma. From my point of view the Croma was my first step into the Brand dilution path and it has been totally awfull!.

I can't but help think that more brands/makes are going to go under in the next few years and then we will all be stuggling to find a "trusted, long term respected and reliable" to invest our money, faith and trust in.

Lets hope the New Year brings the Fiat Group renewed life and they stick to their old and traditional Fiat 'in house' design and manufacture.

 

[Doofer]

I can't but help think that more brands/makes are going to go under in the next few years and then we will all be stuggling to find a "trusted, long term respected and reliable" to invest our money, faith and trust in.

Sadly, I don't think we'll be struggling. We'll just be buying cars made in Japan/Korea/China/India instead. I had a Kia for a couple of years and it was rock-solid and 100% reliable. Which is why you now pay a premium for a used Kia, a brand that was once a joke.

Us bargain hunters are now restricted to euro brands - I knew buying european was a risk, but hoped I would save more on purchase price than I spent on repairs. Now I'm not so sure - you notice a grand up front, but it's easy to spend a lot more on the odd repair every few months.