Technical Is buying a 2nd hand multipla a wise thing to do?

[Tuckson]

Hi,

because my familiy has grown too much to keep fitting in my Opel Corsa, I'm considering buying a 2nd hand MPV this year.

The Multipla seems one of the candidates. Actuallay I don't like the looks, but I have heard that it has most value for money and that it's a fine car to drive and use.

Now my major concern with fiat is the number of times I'll be back in the garage for defects.

So could you please tell me how reliable the multipla really is? Does a Multpla owner often need to do repairs? If so, what kind of repairs?

For dutch owners:
What are you paying for small and large maintenance?
And last but not least, the distribution belt, when does it need to be replaced and if this a difficult (expensive ) operation with this car?

Thanx in advance

 

[Tuckson]

someone please?


What's wrong with my question?
Are people so offended by the idea someone questions the value of a multipla that nobody considers commenting on my questions? I see plenty of activity in this corner of the forum, so if some of you would be so kind as to help me out a bit?

 

[koenie17]

Hello Tuckson,

I bought myself a secondhand Multipla last year, So I can tell you only about my opinion! I changed the cambelt right away because mine had 120 000 km. costed me about 350 eur. Further I know that lots of multiplas have a problem with the EGR valve(mine included), wich results in significant powerloss. to change this costs about 90 eur.
I have to say that i´m very happy with my car, and the only advice I can give you is to take it to the Fiat garage and have it connected to the computer for a readout(Cost me 35 eur).
Take it for a spin and see what u think! You didn´t give us any further information on the car, Model, Year, Kilometers, Gasoline or diesel?
I payd 3400 eur for mine. Multipla 1.9 JTD, 105 horsepower, year 1999.
So with the cambeltchange,EGR valvechange,readout and a good check from the garage it almost costed me 4000 eur.
I hope this helped you, good luck

 

[Dawes]

I bought a Multipla last August so I haven't had it long enough really to asses reliability bit certainly no problems in that time other than the electric mirrors can be tempramental sometimes but nothing to worry about really. We swapped from a Vauxhall Zafira as the Fiat was a FAR superior drive and made better use of the interior space.

 

[mjb]

We bought our multipla 2nd hand 4 years ago, and we've had a few problems, but then no more than we've had with our saab 93 over the same period of time. The multipla is a nice enough car to drive, but it would be nice if the supermarkets made the spaces slightly wider in the carparks! Our multipla will be replaced later this year, and we're considering the Grand Voyager...

 

[lanciaevo1]

Yes, Id say buy one. Great motor with tons of character.

Had ours 4 years. 1.9 JTD

= front springs replaced under recall - no cost to us
= both lower arms replaced due to wear.
= regular servicing at AllItalia Wrexham ( www.italianspecialist.com )

Thats it

 

[donnypongo]

Yes, they are fine.

Nothing is guaranteed !, but I'd say (from experience) that the reputation Fiats once had 30 odd years ago should be forgotton now. It's like comparing the old mini to the new one.

I had a fiat Uno 1.0 fire for several years (1993-1996) never let me down once and no rust whatsoever (I serviced this myself) . I had a multipla 1.6 elx petrol from 2003 to 2008 (Serviced by local independent garage) again never let me down* & no problems with rust. (Did once fail to start because of a broken engine earth strap but so easily fixed I don't think it should count)

I spent more on maintainence for the multipla however, but I believe this is mainly because it's a much larger heavier car and tends to go through more tyres, brake pads, shoes etc and the parts are obviously a little more expensive. But not frighteningly so. Many are shared with the Bravo/Brava e.g a new Radiator cost me £80 & was marked as a Fiat Brava)

I'd say buy in the same way as you would any other make/model of the same price range (ford/vauxhall/citroen etc) & expect similar issues to occur. If you choose a well maintained model you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

 

[MalcolmR]

I bought a 2003 1.9 JTD at auction last september with 123000 miles on the clock (it was very cheap and I needed a car urgently).

Initial problems were rear door release solenoid faulty, very slight clutch judder and ECU warning came on intermittently. Solenoid cost £35.00 to replace and ECU warning vanished after a couple of tankfulls with deisel jet cleaner in.

The only repair since then has been to have the clutch replaced. I was advised by the garage, which dealt mainly with commercial vehicles, to have the two-part flywheel replaced at the same time with a solid type as the rubber bushes between the two sections were very prone to failure on all Fiat, Ford and VW vans.

Since buying the car I have done 20000 miles (I live near Scarborough and work in Bracknell). The car uses absolutely no oil between changes at 9000 intervals and returns 48MPG if I stick to the 70 limit on mororways.

Summing up - a superb vehicle to drive, comfortable for long distance travel and very economical if you don't expect sportscar accelleration.

 

[fribby]

hmmm, buying any car is never a wise thing to do in my opinion. Firstly the Multipla is a great car from a usage point of view, 6 seats loads of storage space good driving position. Get to wave at lots of other Multipla owners

Problems seem to be pretty specific though, firstly take any Engine Management alarms with a pinch of salt, sometimes I think my Multi knows far too much about itself. PRoblems I have had all seem to be pretty standard for a second hand Multi, mine is a 52 plate 1.9 JTD 115bhp. So far the list of bits goes like this....

New Turbo.
New Dump Valve.
(Both eventually paid for by the garage I bought it from though)
Both Front Wishbones failed simultaneously (not pleasant)
New drop links on front suspension.
Boot pushbutton stopped opening boot.

Jobs I still need to do....

New anti-roll bar (front end clunks)
New cam belt (same for any car though)
Airbag fault light has decided to come on.
Glo-Plug light has started flashing warnings at me.
Handbrake dash light just stopped working.
LHS rear speaker makes popping noises.
Started being chewy to get into reverse gear.


Other than that no problems! We do love the car, it is great for our family (3 kids) but sometimes it feels like the car is conspiring against me.

Having said that, you can have major problems with any car.

 

[the frog]

You own a vauxhall/opel so I dare say it won't be back in the garage as often as one of those.

My dad had a vauxhall sintra and that was rubbish, my multipla whilst never trouble free is light years ahead. At least it didn't drink all of it's oil on a trip to the south coast!!!

 

[aeroadster]

I just collected a 54Reg new style Multipla Eleganza on Saturday which I bought on eBay for £4100. Yep, an absolute bargain.

It'll probably need the O/S drop link replaced (the N/S is already done) soon.

The car is in near perfect condition. At 73k miles, the clutch will need done in the next 10k - 15k miles (depending on how SWMBO drives it) and there's not even a scratch on the paintwork.

It handles better than most new cars due to it's wide stance and the 1.9JTD is more than powerful enough in 115bhp form thanks to it's huge low down torque.

I'm amazed that the front ARB bushes cannot be replaced.

I was hoping to install some polys in place of the standard ones too.

Normally polys would be split so they can be inserted around the bar, but I've not had a chance to inspect the ARB and it's bushes yet.

Go forth, buy and enjoy

 

[Emm]

I just collected a 54Reg new style Multipla Eleganza on Saturday which I bought on eBay for £4100. Yep, an absolute bargain.

It'll probably need the O/S drop link replaced (the N/S is already done) soon.

The car is in near perfect condition. At 73k miles, the clutch will need done in the next 10k - 15k miles (depending on how SWMBO drives it) and there's not even a scratch on the paintwork.

It handles better than most new cars due to it's wide stance and the 1.9JTD is more than powerful enough in 115bhp form thanks to it's huge low down torque.

I'm amazed that the front ARB bushes cannot be replaced.

I was hoping to install some polys in place of the standard ones too.

Normally polys would be split so they can be inserted around the bar, but I've not had a chance to inspect the ARB and it's bushes yet.

Go forth, buy and enjoy

Congratulations on a bargin!!
Wish i could buy mine im jealous! Post up some piccies of the beastie

 

[aeroadster]

I have to have 5 posts before I can put pics up, so here's the token 5th

 

[aeroadster]

Ok Emm, just for you

Hope this works, I've never done it on this forum before.

:slayer:

 

[Emm]

Ok Emm, just for you

Hope this works, I've never done it on this forum before.

:slayer:

Yey they worked!! Thankyoooooou!! Good colour choice!:yum:

 

[andmc]

Hi All.

I'm considering buying a Multipla JTD for my next car (budget is < £3k).

How do people rate it for DIY servicing and repair?

What are the common jobs that need doing and are the parts reasonably accessible in the engine bay?

I have previously owned VWs and a Citroen, and usually get my parts from GSF (german/swedish/french). Which independent retailer is best for Fiat bits?

Thanks
Andy

 

[aeroadster]

Andy,

I always prefer to work on my own cars too and although I've not found the parts network as widespread as for German/Swedish/French cars so I tend to scour ebay and buy whatever I need to add to my parts hoard.

I can't believe I've already got 8 glow plugs, spare plasticky trim bits, wheel bearings, crank sensors etc.

I'll be upgrading the brake pads to something a little more potent too. The Ferodo DS2500 !!! I've managed to find the right part as the brake pads for my 1.9JTD are the same as those used on another Fiat.

The standard brakes on a diesel Eleganza are fine and are well servoed. However, safety is paramount for me and if the car stops 15 - 30% better under all conditions when shod with the DS2500 pad, I'll be more than happy.

The DS2500 should cost about £95. This might be almost twice as much for standard pads from a dealer or nearly three times as much as some aftermarket oem replicas, but I value my family more than £100.