Hello Everybody. CAN U HELP ME??

[Hoyle, Tony]

Hello people. This is the 1st time ive visited this site, and i'm well pleased i've finally found a fiat dedicated, and helpful site. I drive a 2000(X)Fiat Bravo Trofeo 1.2 16v. Its a limited edition with all the extras, electric everything, 6 stacker cd, colour coded bumpers and mirrors, front fogs etc and is generally a very nice looking car. The thing is its not the fastest car around, and to be honest, the handling sucks. B4 the Bravo i had a nova sri which was pretty quick and the handling was very good.
Now i'd like to uprate the suspension on my Bravo, so i have a few questions. Now i know the the suspension on the 2.0 HGT is uprated, what i want to know is...does the HGT have the same suspension mounting points as my 1.2? eg, top mounts under the bonnet, and fixings to the chassis??? If so in theory i would be able to transfer the HGT suspension over to my 1.2 with no bother... is this the case?? Also any suspension parts (shockers/springs) for a HGT should fit my 1.2. True??
Really need to know the answers to these questions, any help is much appreciated. P.S im off to buy a Haynes manual when i get a chance!

 

[Ph1l]

Suspension

Don't use HGT suspension, it will probably cost the same to get a proper suspension setup.

I have an HGT, and have uprated the suspension because as standard its pretty pants and there is a lot of body roll.
I have used Leda adjustable dampers and have custom springs from demon tweeks.
Its only about 5 - 10mm lower so it doesn't look different and become a target for theives etc, but goes nicely and isn't too stiff so it becomes uncomfortable.

demon tweeks is a bit on the expensive side though, I get a 10% discount so its not so bad, but it gives you an idea of what to look for.

 

[Chris B]

FAO: Dug

You'll have to help this guy out, he says the handling on his 1.2sx sucks!

 

[Anthony]

Thats a bit harsh

Hey Chris, Don't write off the 80SX'x just yet. They are faster then the 1.4's and do better MPG (and heaps more). Just becuase they have a 1.2 engine you shouldn't write them off. If the guy (like me) is new to modding cars then there is a lot more you can do to the 80sx's then there is a to the HLX's. At the end of the day you can drop a new HLX engine in an 80sx, you can't with the HLX. Before you say it, my mate owns a HLX and there is not a great deal of difference.

My advice is to, fit a strut base, KN and some bad boy allows on.

 

[Dug]

handling

There's not a lot wrong with the handling of the 1.2. It tends to understeer very slightly at turn-in, and if you keep it rolling, you can experience oversteer. You can invoke oversteer easily whenever you want, so overall, it's a very neutral car: it's easy and forgiving to master.

The ride isn't great, but it's better than the older models (it's a lot less prone to bump steer, and isn't as easily unsettled on rough surfaces).

I don't find it rolls much either, even at the limit of traction. Are you sure you're not confusing grip with handling? Are you taking corners properly? I find the Firestone tyres are pretty poor, and give too much understeer in the wet. However, with the light 1.2 engine, it's easy to perform 4-wheel drifts, which isn't something that's easily done in other cars in this class.

I'd check your suspension isn't worn, and that you have decent tyres, before spending a lot of money on modifications.

 

[Dug]

handling

There's not a lot wrong with the handling of the 1.2. It tends to understeer very slightly at turn-in, and if you keep it rolling, you can experience oversteer. You can invoke oversteer easily whenever you want, so overall, it's a very neutral car: it's easy and forgiving to master.

The ride isn't great, but it's better than the older models (it's a lot less prone to bump steer, and isn't as easily unsettled on rough surfaces).

I don't find it rolls much either, even at the limit of traction. Are you sure you're not confusing grip with handling? Are you taking corners properly? I find the Firestone tyres are pretty poor, and give too much understeer in the wet. However, with the light 1.2 engine, it's easy to perform 4-wheel drifts, which isn't something that's easily done in other cars in this class.

I'd check your suspension isn't worn, and that you have decent tyres, before spending a lot of money on modifications.

 

[John]

Check this out, I know it's Lax power and all that but this is what a lad over here in Ireland done to his 80sx, http://www.maxed-ie.net/gregh.html
I'm well impressed with the way he got rid of his door handles and where they were is completely flush with the rest of the car.

 

[Tony]

Thanks for the prompt replys-Im grateful for the responses, but my questions havnt been answered. Anthony-Thanks for the support, the car is is'nt actually mine, its our lasses.
Someone ran into the back of my Nova and wrote it off, so im driving the Bravo until I get round to replacing mine. The car isnt actually an SX, it has exactly the same engine and box as the 1.2 16v SX, but the Trofeo has everything the HLX has and more in looks and extras.
Anyway back to the point, I see where your coming from Dug. Grip was to blame in part for the poor handling. I have just replaced the two front Firestones with Goodyear Eagles and this has made a good improvement on cornering. However, I still feel that the car wallows a bit when taking corners at speed. Also the car sometimes feels like it moves sideways when cornering this is usually accompanied with a bit of oversteer.
The overall ride is smooth and comfy, exactly how it was designed to be. Its just cornering is no fun with the car how it is.
The reason I asked the original questions, is that shortly i will have in my possesion a full set of Brand New Bilstein shockers. They are designed to fit the HGT, but I'm hoping they will fit on my 1.2???
DOES ANYBODY KNOW IF THEY WILL FIT????? Thnks in advance
Tony.

 

[Anonymous]

I meant understeer on that message above. Also i cant get that link to work.

 

[John]

Re: Re: Hello Everybody. CAN U HELP ME??

Works for me everytime. Try just going to http://www.maxed-ie.net and go from there, it's this months car of the month.
I know what you're saying about the Trofeo, I think people just call it an 80sx because it's the same engine. Over here it's called a Special Series but it's still an 80sx on the insurance cert. I think you get more on the Trofeo than we do, nothing new there. I got the nice 15 inch alloys, front fogs, rear spolier that's on the HGT, leather gear knob and steering wheel, electric and heated mirrors and the salesman threwin the CD changer and the car's more or less debadged, no horsepower stickers on the side and all it has on the back is Bravo, hopefully people will think I'm driving a real HGT ! Had to pay for the sunroof myself. We usuall get lower spec cars because of the high rate of verhicle registration tax(VRT) the goevernment charge over here on cars.
Just as a matter of interest, what did you get that I didn't ?

 

[Tony]

Hi John, where is "over here" where do you live?
The spec of my 2000 1.2 16v Trofeo:
1242cc 16v engine
Body coloured bumpers and mirrors
Front Fog lights
Rear spoiler
Electric windows/mirrors/sunroof
Height adjustable steering column and seats
Sport interior/seats
Leather steering wheel/gear-nob/handbrake gaitor
6-stacker CD player
central locking
Rev counter

I think thats everything, I dont know how much of that comes on base models but i think it matches the HLX.

 

[John]

Re: Re: Hello Everybody. CAN U HELP ME??

Oops, I meant Ireland. I got everything that you go so apart from the sunroof.