Rant: What is it with the bravo

[Rant]

Today I sold my Bravo.

I've had enough. Paid 1800 for it 1 year ago with 40,000 1.2sx in that time I have had

water pissing in everywhere
squeaking wheels
new brakes
2 x accelerator cables
1 x clutch
1 x exhaust
1 x broken radio
2 x broken electric windows and sunroof
1 x broke passenger seat adjustment
1 x a boot that will not open.


The clutch went again last week and I nearly took a crow bar to it.

Sold today for £500 quid with 48,000

It's a joke I'll never drive a Fiat again ever ever ever again.

Anyone with similar problems. I didn't abuse the thing I look after cars.

 

[Bill]

I think you have just been very unlucky, perhaps the previous owner didn't look after it. The exhaust and brakes are wear and tear items, so they will need replacing in any car, but for all the rest to happen at once, I think you were unlucky.

When I got my Bravo I thought it would be unreliable, but I've only spent £300 on it in 2 years.

 

[Mike]

Ive hardly had to spend anything on mine in almost 5 years,

2 front shocks (every day over stupid big speed humps)

front discs/pads + rear pads

had a problem with the crown wheel but that was easy to fix.

1 new clutch (that didnt need doing, symptoms of the crown wheel problem made it feel like a slipping clutch)

overall i dont think thats too bad for a 5 year old car as the majority is just wear and tear from everyday usage.

 

[Wimmy]

Ouch! Sounds like your name is Mr Unlucky from Unluckyville. Do you park under a ladder every evening?
I've had my 1.2 for nearly 5 years now. It has an astounding 128k on the clock and still going strong. The usual wear and tear items have been replaced in that time but nothin major.
As yours
1 x accelerator cable. My own fault - slammed foot down
2 x clutch
1 x exhaust
1 x a boot with key that will not open (catch in driver seat works fine tho).

 

[stephen01]

i felt the same way i thought it was just my car!! but after finding boo i love my car even more now,lol.

and the problems i have had other people have had and 99% of people who come on this site are very helpfull and share there problems/solutions with you. since i found this site i don't want to get rid of my brava anymore.

i said i would never buy another fiat but after seeing the new stilo pics i may be tempted.

stephen01

 

[Sabre 23]

1998 1.6SX - 100k miles, had none of those problems initialy listed by Rant, except boot lock is jammed, if that's what he means.
Original clutch, exhaust and accelerator cables.
The common denominator could well be one single component; The nut behind the wheel. No offence.

Mark.
Council estate lad.
And proud of it!
Member of the Guild of Experienced Motorists.

 

[RR]

I've had 3 Bravo's; a 1.6SX and 2 MK11 HGT's.

the 1.6 was a piece of sh*t and the first HGT was only marginally better. The second HGT was faultless in the month that I owned it.

Fiats aren't renowned for their reliability and your is an all too familiar tale.

 

[david]

i think they are great i've owned 3 first was a 1.6 trofeo and that was ace till i wrote it off was well gutted so i went and bought another which were a HGT now that i had to have a full engine rebuild and 3 maf's got shut of that cos it were costing a bomb for a (cough) rover 25 turbo diesel which i have to say is an abserlute piece of crap at the mo i have another HGT which is off the road at the mo as im saving up for a turbo engine to go in her cant wait

Fiat Bravo forever

 

[Bravo Chav]

I've had my 100sx 7 months. 34k when i bought it. Only major Item that has failed is the clutch, which i had replaced at 36k miles. The car now has a problem with the clutch hydraulics however..
The car's had loads of niggly little faults, but i suppose its the same with any car (back wiper stopped working, annoying rattling noises, etc)

 

[RR]

All cars suffer from faults, bith big and samll. It's just that the Fiat Family suffers quite badly in comparison to those from the Land of the Rising Sun.

The choice is yours beautiful and unreliable or boring but reliable. If only there was a happy medium.

 

[LooseCannon]

I kind of know what you mean...i feel the same way at the moment!
I bought my 1.6 Bravo in march 05, and since then have got new:

brakes, discs
injector
temp gauge..thingy
o/s/n flexy(or something)
slave cylinder
and theres still some things needing done to it, apparently

Only thing that's stopping me from selling is the fact that i love her regardless of the faults, and i believe once these are fixed, everything will be fine and hopefully reasonably smooth a coupla years

 

[RR]

A pound to a pinch of sh*te it won't be.