General Pro's and Con's of Multipla
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General Pro's and Con's of Multipla
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Pros- loads of space and great to drive!
Cons- they will always need money spending on them, well they are getting old now...unless someone has done it for you!
Cons- they will always need money spending on them, well they are getting old now...unless someone has done it for you!
It has the same space with rear seats removed as a transit connect. And they do have common problems but they are cheaper than other people carryers to fix and they r a fun drive and good work horse the really good thing is u don't ever see them broke down because only little things break either that or I have been lucky bearing u are looking at a diesel model I have seen them still pulling like trains with 200 thousand plus on the clock hope this help
Boilermansab,
even when someone has replaced all the bits that need doing - It's a Multipla!
As you've said, they're getting old and whilst parts are reasonably priced, they do need constant fettling.
If I was looking at a 00/01 Multi newish clutch is a must, cambelt change ditto and I'd be very attentive to knocks, dashboard lights, noise and vibes on a test run.
Really need some one familiar with Multi's on a test drive.
even when someone has replaced all the bits that need doing - It's a Multipla!
As you've said, they're getting old and whilst parts are reasonably priced, they do need constant fettling.
If I was looking at a 00/01 Multi newish clutch is a must, cambelt change ditto and I'd be very attentive to knocks, dashboard lights, noise and vibes on a test run.
Really need some one familiar with Multi's on a test drive.
Where are you Minus2? I have an 03JTD (why go for an 01??) going on ebay tomorrow.. (See classifieds..)
To be fair, that applies to pretty much any vehicle in existence
If you need six seats (and/or the capacity with the rear seats out), without having the added size/weight of a seven-seater, go for it.
If not, to be honest, I'd look at something else.
Economy isn't great, even on the diesels, they're just so un-aerodynamic it's not funny.
I got better mileage from mine when towing a highly-loaded (weight and height) camping trailer, and the rear screen stayed spotless during an hour-long downpour on the motorway without using the rear wiper, because the trailer filled the performance-sapping 'black hole' behind it
Cons =
Upholstery made from tissue paper.
Suspension bushes made from marzipan.
Other than that, a truly good car...
Upholstery made from tissue paper.
Suspension bushes made from marzipan.
Other than that, a truly good car...
In my experience (6 months worth of a JTD 115 ELX) I would say:
Cons - When they go wrong, boy do they go wrong.
I'm currently looking at:
(Mechanics and Electrics)
ABS Sensor,
MAF Sensor,
Speed Sensor(Fiat only Part),
Airbag Fault (Fiat only Job).
MPG is a dubious thing.
(Exterior)
Pain Oxidizes off wing mirror mounts (easy repair and only a few £)
Door Handle "bumpers" chip and scratch easily (mine look like a dogs chewed them - again, only a few £ each on ebay)
(Interior)
Upholstered in Tissue Paper,
General build quality is iffy, plastics fade, become brittle or just outright break.
If you have the two sunroofs, the seals constantly come off if theyre not regularly used,
The sunroof switch comes out of the headliner on a weekly basis (which reminds me to find the superglue)
Pros
They are even more practical than a date with a nice bird,
Great fun to drive,
Turn heads wherever they go,
Parts are inexpensive and easily sourced,
With the back seats removed, you have a Van with more than ample room.
Even the most basic of mechanical knowledge is enough to work on them,
I had mine mapped (150 ish bhp) and its fun watching TT's, ST's and MR2 Tbar's being left behind with an absolute look of disgust.
I would say do it.
I intend to have a little play and maybe go Euro with mine but I may just continue with a Sleeper....
Cons - When they go wrong, boy do they go wrong.
I'm currently looking at:
(Mechanics and Electrics)
ABS Sensor,
MAF Sensor,
Speed Sensor(Fiat only Part),
Airbag Fault (Fiat only Job).
MPG is a dubious thing.
(Exterior)
Pain Oxidizes off wing mirror mounts (easy repair and only a few £)
Door Handle "bumpers" chip and scratch easily (mine look like a dogs chewed them - again, only a few £ each on ebay)
(Interior)
Upholstered in Tissue Paper,
General build quality is iffy, plastics fade, become brittle or just outright break.
If you have the two sunroofs, the seals constantly come off if theyre not regularly used,
The sunroof switch comes out of the headliner on a weekly basis (which reminds me to find the superglue)
Pros
They are even more practical than a date with a nice bird,
Great fun to drive,
Turn heads wherever they go,
Parts are inexpensive and easily sourced,
With the back seats removed, you have a Van with more than ample room.
Even the most basic of mechanical knowledge is enough to work on them,
I had mine mapped (150 ish bhp) and its fun watching TT's, ST's and MR2 Tbar's being left behind with an absolute look of disgust.
I would say do it.
I intend to have a little play and maybe go Euro with mine but I may just continue with a Sleeper....
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150bhp??
Bet you was doing a clutch a month!!
Bet you was doing a clutch a month!!
Devious, some airbag faults can be solved without recourse to a Fiat dealer.
EcuScan work well with a laptop and gives you airbag fault details which OBDII readers don't, also if you have side airbags have you tried eliminating the orange connector under the N/S front passenger seat (front/left).
EcuScan work well with a laptop and gives you airbag fault details which OBDII readers don't, also if you have side airbags have you tried eliminating the orange connector under the N/S front passenger seat (front/left).
Going back to 'disgusted of Tunbridges' comment, the later 'crazy paving' fabric is much more durable and easy to clean as well. Looks like in came in from late 2003 - I've got it on my 04 plate round nose, built April 04.
From your description, it would appear that we're driving around in Mr Kiplings Fondant Fancies
From your description, it would appear that we're driving around in Mr Kiplings Fondant Fancies
I agree with all the comments so far (Apart from the references to tissue paper upholstery? I think ours has stood up the abuse it's had rather well, no tears or worn out bits, despite small kids resting their feet on the dash..)
But things like the clutch and cambelt are valid concerns for any second hand diesel. I just had a £1k bill for a new clucth kit and Dual Mass Flywheel on a 57 plate galaxy.. That was supposed to be our newer, reliable car!!
I would say that the handbrake mech is crap and it's a must to check the handbrake works okay. Don't assume it just needs adjustment!
Maybe I've been lucky, but provided you search around for a good deal on replacement parts (rather than buying from FIAT) and don't get repairs done by FIAT, it's been cheap to run. Certainly cheaper than the Galaxy was..
The interior looks awful and the exterior doesn't get much better in my opinion.
The telegraph even wrote about it being so ugly...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1500440/The-10-ugliest-cars.html
The telegraph even wrote about it being so ugly...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1500440/The-10-ugliest-cars.html
I would love to see the Multipla leave behind the cars listed above... and the reason it turns heads must be because they are so damn ugly!
What don't you like about the interior? I think it's quite striking, and utterly practical, and certainly makes riding in most other cars a bit like being submerged in black plastic. (albeit better made plastic..)
There's no denying that the front in particular is ugly, and definitely weird, but I think the design is very clever and I think the back end is imposing and the details very neat. I'd rather be considered weird and drive the 'pig, than be bland and have a picasso..
Austin Mini
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My neighbour has a Y plate Multipla and its rust free. If anything needs doing he does it himself. I wish now I had gone for the Multipla instead of buying a Y reg Punto. It always passes its test and its a diesel, a fine motor to own. Three seats abreast was a good idea I think.
What don't you like about the interior? I think it's quite striking, and utterly practical, and certainly makes riding in most other cars a bit like being submerged in black plastic. (albeit better made plastic..)
There's no denying that the front in particular is ugly, and definitely weird, but I think the design is very clever and I think the back end is imposing and the details very neat. I'd rather be considered weird and drive the 'pig, than be bland and have a picasso..
Actually you're quite right. I may take back my comments as I have realised that actually the Picasso is far worse, however the newer model C4 Picasso was a little better.
With regard to the interior, I don't like all the bubbly circular shaped stuff and also dislike any car where the dash is offset to the centre. For example, the Mini with it's huge speedo in the middle of the dash, that would put me straight off buying one straight away, even if I loved the rest of it.
I also dislike the fabric on the dash and the door handles. Can you get one without the fabric dash?
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Cons,
Its a multipla, a head turner but in the wrong kind of way. Thats about it.
Pros
Its a car my 2 children have never been travel sick in as the can both sit in the front while my wife can sleep peacefully in the back.
Its shorter than a golf and very easy to park ( the width is never an issue)
I can get 4 bike racks and a ski box on the roof at the same time( bit of a squish).
Decent MPG
Its a van with the back seats out.
Wet weather indoor picnic spot, with two tables.
Etc etc
Great car, love mine to bits, so much better to use than scenic/ picasso/ zafira types of car.
Its a multipla, a head turner but in the wrong kind of way. Thats about it.
Pros
Its a car my 2 children have never been travel sick in as the can both sit in the front while my wife can sleep peacefully in the back.
Its shorter than a golf and very easy to park ( the width is never an issue)
I can get 4 bike racks and a ski box on the roof at the same time( bit of a squish).
Decent MPG
Its a van with the back seats out.
Wet weather indoor picnic spot, with two tables.
Etc etc
Great car, love mine to bits, so much better to use than scenic/ picasso/ zafira types of car.
Nope, she's doing well, had a new clutch fitted at time of ReMaP and its still the same and doing just as well 6 months later. :slayer:
MoMoe - Muchas Gracius, I've seen a few posts about the location of the squib and dreaded connector. I'll makesure to decharge the system first though. I doont fancy a tic tic boom incident lol
