do i get a bravo or not?

[davenottm]

buying another

I certainly would. I consider my 98 Brava to have been really reliable. OK, there seem to be a few weak points - I've had a new rear wiper, a new clutch at 50K and a couple of new fuel injectors. The ride's dodgy and the trim is made from the plastic that Fisher Price reject (although nothing has fallen off) but there's just a certain honest charm that would make me seriously consider another Fiat, maybe a Stilo 3 dr. Or there again maybe and Alfa 147..... I guess you're either an Italian car kind of person or you're not

 

[Roberto]

My 2 Cents

Hi Guys,

Well, I read thru' this thread and thought I should have my say (Don't I always !!)

Ok, my Bravo HGT is the 6th Fiat that I have owned (Tipo, 2xPunto's, Cinque & Sei) and it's been fine.
The point I want 2 make is that if u straw polled 100 drivers of a particular make/model, I guarantee that u will get an identical response 2 what u have read in this thread. U will always get people like me who swear by a particular marque and those who had a bad experience and will never touch that make again and will try 2 disuade every1 else from buying 1.

It doesn't matter what make of car u buy, be it a Lada, Skoda, Ferrari, Fiat, Ford, Peugeot or whatever, there will ALWAYS b people who have problems, some more than others.
Unfortunately, in this consumer led society, many people seem 2 expect a car 2 b perfect and NEVER EVER go wrong. That has been, and always will b, impossible. I challenge any1 2 name a product that has never developed a fault, never gone wrong or never dissatisfied some1 in any way. There is none.

My 1st FIAT was a 1.7DS Tipo. I had it a few years, in which time, the big end went, the thermostat failed, causing the cylinder head 2 warp and the heater matrix screwed up. It cost an arm and a leg 2 get back on the road, but when I eventually decided 2 retire it, I went straight 2 my FIAT dealer and bought a brand new Punto 1.7TDSX. That, along with the 4 other FIAT's I bought have been fine, with a minor niggle here or there. I have never had a problem with FIAT dealers, maybe coz I use the same group (Desira) every time.
And b4 u say it, yes, I must b lucky. I know, just as well as any1 else, that my luck might change and I might have no end of problems, but even so, what I love is FIAT and I will continue 2 buy them because I love their styling, the value 4 money and everything FIAT stand 4.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not trying 2 convert the converted back 2 FIAT. Every1 is an individual and u should all make ur own minds up. All I'm saying is whatever car u buy, there will ALWAYS b some1 who loves them and some1 who hates them. Make ur own mind up

There, that's better

Rob.

 

[Nuno]

Fiat reliability

Well, that's not entirely true. I had a fiat uno 60SX, then a Bravo 1.4 12v, then a JTD105, then an Opel Corsa GSi 16v and now i drive a Pug 206 HDi.

What can i say about all these babies ? Well, for starters, the car that gave me less problems is exactly the 1.4 12v. It gave me no problems at all. Nothing, Niente. Had it for over 2 years, made over 25,000kms on it and nothing bad happened. The uno had a few water infiltration issues and had to have the clutch replaced as well (at around 70,000kms) but i find it normal.

The JTD, ah the JTD.... Awesome engine, incredible fuel economy and excellent performer while being very silent and great to drive. I had a problem with this car and it was with the air flow meter. Somehow the car lost power but everything was repaired in warranty time and since then had no problems till the day i sold it.

The Opel Corsa GSi was the worst car i have ever had. It was by quite a while the best performer, ran like mad, and although a 1.6 litre gasoline engine, it was quite economic, but the problems it gave me were endless. I bought it secondhand (like the uno and 1.4 12V bravo) but i got nothing but trouble. EGR valve blew away (car turned itself off while driving LOTS of times), the exhaust got all ****ed up and had to be entirely replaced, the air conditioning gas tank had to be refilled as it was empty, brake pads had to be replaced after a short while....etc etc. I checked the car before buying it, obviously, and everything seemed fine - test drove it and all - but a few months after everything happened and i just had to get rid of it.

Now i drive (to me the best of the lot - although the bravo looks better) a nice Peugeot 206 HDi (2.0 litre) and for now i'm perfectly happy with it. Runs as fast (or almost) as a JTD105, it's even more silent, and spends less fuel (hardly noticeable).

Conclusion:

- Would i buy a Fiat again ?
- Definitely yes. A stilo JTD would be my current choice. I'm perfectly satisfied with FIAT and think their evolution has been great and they have excellent products in the market.

- Would i buy an Opel again ?
- Hell no. I hated my corsa, and the diesel engines (i love diesels) are the worst in the market currently. Besides that quality isn't that high, and price is insane.

- Would i buy peugeot again ?
- Yes. I loved the way i was accompanied throughout the whole "buy the 206" process. Much better than with Fiat. Assistance also seems to be much better. Also, i'm very happy with the 206 for now.

I had fiats for the most time in my life, i now own a peugeot and still love my old bravos (specially the JTD). I have a very bad image of Opels (and VWs for that matter - high priced and not "that good" anyway) and met a new great name (peugeot).

Besides all this nonsense i said (;P) opel diesels suck and don't even come close to an HDi or a JTD.

FORZA FIAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Petri]

May I respond?

I do han a Fiat 80 16V cool. (Finnish dealers named cool every versions with air condtioning). The car is 1,5 years of age and I've been driving almost 50000 kilometers. Here in Finland we do have long distances. We also have icy roads during the winter, which road authoritives try to reduce by salt. That salt with water is the most corrosive element at all. Included spiked wheels, which leave steel on the road, when the spikes hit the asphalt.

Anyway, I havent noticed any corrosion, neither any other things that makes Fiat a bad car to scandinavia. The front window has a big broken line, because of the sand, which is also used to reduce the slippery in winterimes and cars ahead throw the stones staight to the window. But clear windows are rare here in Finland, because of our severe conditions.

In Finland the guarantee is 3 years without kilometer limit. That was also one thing, why I bought Fiat. Problems so far have been in electric windows (Finnish icy winter, you know). That is normal in any cars during the winter. The rear side of the exhaust pipe is getting rosty from the welding lines, but all cars in Finland do have the same problem because of the salt during the winter. It also is obligatory to use headlights all the time and I changed firs time the right side headlight lamp one week ago.(almost 50000 driven and all the time headlights on). No other lamps are changed. (Suprise to me).

So the legendary electrical and corrosion problems have been solved (as far that I've noticed). At least in Fiats sold in Finland. There may be differences in Fiats sold otherwise (the heating system, the battery, the start engine, generator and so on). Anyway, I am happy to drive with Fiat!

 

[Liam]

Bravo Buyer Beware

I have recently traded my 1.8 hlx Bravo for a 1.6 Polo and I`m really glad I did. If you don`t mind living with SEVERAL niggles/glitches then the Bravo may be the car for you, but if like me you hate rattles, squeaks and bit falling of then dont bother