General My GPS has departed...

[auto_blanco]

Well I said goodbye to my GPS this morning, quite sad about it tbh, was very attached to it, 41.5k miles since new, all done by me, including some continental trips and lots of happy memories, it was my 1st brand new car so it will always have a special significance among the many cars ive had.

There was no way on earth I was keeping it past warranty though, I could just see too many huge bills coming and to be honest, 2.5 years is long enough to own any car!

It was in as good condition as it was the day I picked it up, bar a couple of stonechips and I had a great time with it, quite alot of annoying niggles but nothing that ever caused me concern about making a journey so for that im thankful!

I will still be lurking though as we still have the 500 of course, but my main form of transport is now the 520i. I have done 4k miles in it in 2 months and to be honest, its nicer to drive than the Punto but I do miss 40mpg and group 4 insurance! See you all around....!

 

[1.8Stilo]

all the best with the bimmer mate 170k WTF

remember when you first got your GPS back at stanford hall when i had my stilo

 

[Garree001]

I personally think you have made a good call. A very good call in fact. If you can't trust what you are driving, decisions have to be made. I am seriously considering not keeping my one now and running as far away from FIAT as possible. Shortly after I got it the steering rack and a track rod end needed replacing at a cost of about 420squid. Now the power steering motor has clapped out - this will be a £590 bill if FIAT aren't willing to make a goodwill gesture. I also know that one or two other things are going to cause concerns, one of which is going to be another £5/600 bill. It's just lunacy.

This is on top of the recurring niggles such as the fact the cable for the gears keeps popping out of its bracket and causing a squeaking noise whenever I change gears or switch off the engine. Or how about the one that usually renders the handsfree useless because people can only hear buzzing?

Not bad for just under 6 months of FIAT ownership! I think the term "never again" is very apt. It's a shame because you appear to, on the face of it, get a lot for your money - good looking, well equipped car with reasonable insurance and power. Shame indeed.

 

[T14086]

Shortly after I got it the steering rack and a track rod end needed replacing at a cost of about 420squid. Now the power steering motor has clapped out - this will be a £590 bill if FIAT aren't willing to make a goodwill gesture..

I assume you brought it secondhand with no warranty?

 

[Garree001]

It was brought second hand with the remainder of the manufacturer's warranty which I used to correct some things on it - but as is the way with these things, the expensive stuff only rears its ugly head when it's too late. A scenario I have read a number of times on here.

The stuff that was done was an engine mount, a new wiper something or other and the popping of said cable back into aforementioned bracket.

I shall be hoping for the best with the "goodwill gesture" that the garage have agreed to pursue for me. Hopefully something will come of it soon as the car is quickly becoming impossible to drive as the steering is getting to be dangerous. Let alone noisy.

It is hard to turn in one direction, very light in the other, makes a noise like a loud electric shaver, vibrates and pulls wildly to the left. Fun fun.

 

[T14086]

the expensive stuff only rears its ugly head when it's too late. A scenario I have read a number of times on here.

a number of times compared to how many thousand sold in UK? A few collegues & I were talking recently about how GP's are 'flying' through there MOT's...infact between them only one failed (number plate bulb why dont people check!) and a advisory for a radiator.

 

[Garree001]

Well we all talk from our own experiences don't we. Mine is that of seeing people having to shell out for crap that they perhaps should not have. Component failure of a number of items on a fairly new car isn't really awe-inspiring now, is it? This is especially the case when you factor in the fact that the mileage is below average for the age (25k). So a steering "box" (is what the receipt says), a wiper arm, a track rod end, a power steering motor, the blue and me - all things that have gone wrong.

I don't claim that this forum is a representative picture of the 'real situation' but it does appear to be a core group of things that seem to cause issues on here - steering and suspension. Just my thoughts of course...

 

[T14086]

Component failure of a number of items on a fairly new car isn't really awe-inspiring now, is it? So a steering "box" (is what the receipt says), a wiper arm, a track rod end, a power steering motor, the blue and me - all things that have gone wrong.

question 1 - how many of the parts you listed above are made by Fiat?
question 2 - how many of the parts you listed above are shared & used by other manufactures?

IMO Fiat's reliability is no poorer than the majority of other mass produced manufactures who share components from outside sources. I'm fortunate (or unfortunate?) to be in contact with people from other makes and the majority are reporting terrible problems (something anyone can do by checking other forums) with reliability, one thing I will say in Fiats favour is most faults are 'known faults' which is handy when buying secondhand.

A further point is incorrect diagnosis which can give false impression(s) of reliability. A good indication of Fiats reliability (IMO) is warranty claims of which I think you will find are much lower these days. Lets see how the Grande punto Evo fairs?

 

[Tris Harris]

although ive sold mine, i had complete faith in it running for ever and ever. Well, except for the gearbox anyway!

 

[punto_matt]

You cannot use a forum to determine the reliability of a car as it will always be biased towards the negative stuff as people are only going to post when stuff breaks not when stuff is all fine and working.

Electric power steering failing isnt just a Fiat problem, it happens to the majority of cars that use it.

You have had 6months with the car and been unlucky but as we all know regardless of the manufacturer you do get the odd car rolling off the production line that has more problems than the others but this cant really be helped. Ive had Fiats since i started driving 3 1/2 years ago. Started with a 3yr old mk2b. Had a few issues but its a 2nd hand car so to be expected. I know people that bought cars the same age as mine at the same time and they had a shed load of problems that cost alot more than mine did when Fiat were supposedly the unreliable car.

My experience of my 2b gave me full confidence in Fiats which in turn made me buy my GP. The GP has gone on to further this confidence in Fiats and without a doubt i would buy a new or 2nd hand one again in the future. Probably not for my next car as i want something that is properly quick out the box which sadly Fiat dont really offer imo but i will try and stick with italian. Mita GTA anyone?

 

[Tris Harris]

Probably not for my next car as i want something that is properly quick out the box which sadly Fiat dont really offer imo but i will try and stick with italian. Mita GTA anyone?

no, i'll have a MiTo GTA though

 

[punto_matt]

oops

 

[Garree001]

I don't know where the parts come from Mr T. I am not a designer at FIAT and thus don't need to personally manufacture or source components. I am sure you'd be all to happy to enlighten us... It would be worth saying that if FIAT don't make all the items they put in their cars yet there are a core group of things going wrong - it is still FIAT's choice to use the parts, regardless of how many other makes of car they are in. So suggesting that it is not FIAT's fault things go wrong is a bit short sighted as it is their choice to use them in their cars.

And I wasn't using the forum to determine the reliability of FIATs. I did in fact say:

I don't claim that this forum is a representative picture of the 'real situation'

I have just found that the same series of core issues seem to be going wrong in a number of cars. And what about looking at it from another way? You suggest that people will only come to a forum to moan - that's not always the case. Not even close to it. Loads of people are here to say they love their cars and share in that fact with other like minded people. There's certainly no shortage of people who'll stand up for FIATs here when someone is critical of them, believing they are the best thing since sliced bread. Maybe a forum is more representative than you give it credit for...

 

[T14086]

I don't know where the parts come from Mr T. I am not a designer at FIAT and thus don't need to personally manufacture or source components. I am sure you'd be all to happy to enlighten us... It would be worth saying that if FIAT don't make all the items they put in their cars yet there are a core group of things going wrong - it is still FIAT's choice to use the parts, regardless of how many other makes of car they are in. So suggesting that it is not FIAT's fault things go wrong is a bit short sighted as it is their choice to use them in their cars.

And I wasn't using the forum to determine the reliability of FIATs. I did in fact say:

I have just found that the same series of core issues seem to be going wrong in a number of cars. And what about looking at it from another way? You suggest that people will only come to a forum to moan - that's not always the case. Not even close to it. Loads of people are here to say they love their cars and share in that fact with other like minded people. There's certainly no shortage of people who'll stand up for FIATs here when someone is critical of them, believing they are the best thing since sliced bread. Maybe a forum is more representative than you give it credit for...

Hang on i'm not arguing or trying to dismiss what you are saying, just pointing out a few things which I believe should be known.

Yes I have a 'good understanding' of Fiat cars, do I think they are the best? Of course not but I believe many of the models in the range provide good value for money and fair well against similary priced competitors.

In reference to steering columns...yes they are expensive but a visit to citroen forums (there is a thread here about it) shows columns costing over £1K. I know that doesn't make the Fiat owner feel any better but there are alternatives.

Designing parts is a expensive business, this is why manufactures still put old engines into new shaped models or share door locks,interior trim for example throughtout the range. Its talks a bold move by any manufacture to design a 100% new car because of the fear of failure could cost the company more than its bank balance.

No shortage of people who stand up for Fiats...I think thats great especially for a company that was at deaths door a few years back. Of those people there will be a large percentage who defend the car because thats the car they own & are protective in that way...once they can afford a subaru then the Fiat is forgotten but until then they make the most of what they have.

This forum is actually very laidback when it comes to anti-Fiat, its a subject that we have discussed many times (on many other car forums if you slag that forum make of car you get flamed rotten until you leave!) here but we know Fiats are not perfect but that doesn't mean a similar priced competitor car is better because its not.

 

[Garree001]

I'm sorry that I was appearing to be aggressive in my post - not the intention, Mr T.

I am not someone who sl@gs off FIATs here, there and everywhere by the way... I bought one! Just that it becomes a bit more difficult to be measured in my comments when I think that there's the potential I would have spent over £1000 on mine since I bought it in February. That's all. Then you come here and see that a lot of people are having very similar issues to you and it makes you think even less of something you were very fond of not so long ago!

I agree that they are a good alternative to some makes - the reasons I got mine were it looked good, cheap to run (as in fuel economy and insurance, but clearly not maintenance!), it's pretty nippy but clearly not a hot hatch and for some reason I just wanted one...

And I should hope that I wouldn't get flamed as I think I'm being pretty reasonable in what I am saying given the circumstances I have found myself in

 

[T14086]

Not at all, everyone has a opinion (as a good forum member you certainly are entitled to it) & if I had a forthcoming £5-600 bill I would be pis5ed off to say the least...but there are always alternatives

 

[Garree001]

Hmmmm, do I read that as alternative cars or alternative means of repair?

And Mr T thinks I am good too. What more could lighten my day?

 

[T14086]

Hmmmm, do I read that as alternative means of repair?

And Mr T thinks I am good too. What more could lighten my day?

you cause the moderators of the forum no trouble, remember I read just about every new post in GP section (and others I mod over) daily so you get to 'know' people in a sense. Some people you have to constantly watch others you know are no problem.

 

[wellfan]

I'm sorry that I was appearing to be aggressive in my post - not the intention, Mr T.

I am not someone who sl@gs off FIATs here, there and everywhere by the way... I bought one! Just that it becomes a bit more difficult to be measured in my comments when I think that there's the potential I would have spent over £1000 on mine since I bought it in February. That's all. Then you come here and see that a lot of people are having very similar issues to you and it makes you think even less of something you were very fond of not so long ago!

I agree that they are a good alternative to some makes - the reasons I got mine were it looked good, cheap to run (as in fuel economy and insurance, but clearly not maintenance!), it's pretty nippy but clearly not a hot hatch and for some reason I just wanted one...

And I should hope that I wouldn't get flamed as I think I'm being pretty reasonable in what I am saying given the circumstances I have found myself in

Really good post and reflects my own views. I have a love / hate relationship with Fiat cars. They do seem to come with more than a fair few problems. Just wears you down eventually.

 

[GPSPORTING]

in the end it boils down to... MONEY...if you have the dosh who would buy a fiat!