New user

[Robbie]

Hi All,

Was made buy a 99 Bravo 1.2 16V last night due to my other car a Peugeot 205 GTI being off more than on the road recently..
Have a bit of Fiat history already behind me, learned to drive in a 131 Sport in the early 80's, first car was a 127 1300GT in 89, perfect learner car in my opinion, nippy enough, dangerous enough to learn about limitations in braking and cornering . Next up was a 1.6 Tipo DGT, still miss her, would do 113MPH all day long and show 117 downhill + 30+ MPG and the best seats I have ever sat in for long journeys. After that I got the big Tipo, my beloved Sedicivalvole. When I moved back to Ireland from England I got a bit of a shock with Insurance costs, the cheapest quote I could get was £2700IRL verses £385 Sterling so I had to leave the Fiat world for a while (9 years).
So picked up a 1.2 16V Bravo in light blue last night. Blue key only, 95000 miles on the clock. Total cost for car, fully comp insurance, tax for year = €1127 so perfect for a runaround.
Looking for new brakes, suspension wheels and tyres. Had a laugh last night in the wet with it sliding everywhere but that will wear of soon I think. I was looking at moving to 15' wheels, 195-55-15V GoodYear Hydras or Michelin Exaltos. Living in Ireland so wet grip a must!
Brakes - Brembo disks and pads, change the rubber lines to goodridge.
Suspension - Koni Sport kit or does anybody have experience with the FK stuff, have not heard of these before?
Max budget €1200 or roughly £950

 

[Buzz]

If you can stretch your budget to FK coilover kits, and intend keeping the car a few years, do it, as everyone who does, raves....

Buzz
The champion of the Bravo 1.4
& now ex owner of a Bravo 1.8

 

[Carroll]

Nothing wrong with that plan fella - my pref. would be 186/60 Goodyears or Dunlops for lotsa wet driving, mixed with Koni dampers and Black Diamond discs/pads no matter how/where you drive.

 

[Carroll]

..Make that 185/60's, lol.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies.

I was on a site yesterday that had all the Fiat gear but cannot find it now. Any recommendations?

The FK stuff, ?, not to take the P&ss or anything but are they rock hard that will have you skittering at the first sign of a bump or are they the dog's b&%locks where I can drive on a road that would be classed as a C road in the UK fairly hard? Eibach spings will be used, lowered by 30mm.

My 205 is a lot nicer to drive on 185's but they are difficult to get hold of these days (especially in 14' variety) so that was the reason to jump up to to the 195's. The Goodyears are highly rated by the Germans for wet weather stuff and the Michelins are extremely good in Dry and Wet conditions.

Also need a clutch manufacturer replacement recommendation, current one is juddering a bit.

Last but not least, the 1.2 is a howl to drive, lovely little engine, sounds a bit gruff low down, clears its throat at around 4200 and starts to sing -- could get into this environmental friendly driving stuff.
Steering is really light, not much feel through the wheel itself but you can feel the car moving through the seat of your pants. Idiot proof setup like the Tipo. Very wallowy though hence suspension upgrade. Brakes are snatching a bit, but at least not overservoed like newer cars.

My girlfriend has a Golf Mk4 1.4 and the Bravo blows it away performance wise - Faster, more economical and quieter - Golf at the moment is better handling due to new shocks and tyres but it does have a nasty issue hidden in its personality, it grips and grips then lets go totally - No Warning - Hate driving the thing. 205 GTIs are supposed to be dangerous, they are pussycats compared to a Golf letting go.

The lack of the red key thing. Does the ECU hold onto the key coding for a specific time without the battery? i.e. if i'm doing a bit of work and I have to disconnect the battery do I have a time limit before i'm digging really deep for a complete Fiat fix or buying a decoded ECU?

 

[Matt]

Never needed the red key in 7 years of ownership, wouldn't worry about it.