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Richard
Guest
I can`t wait ,its back this sunday BBC2 AT 8.00PM Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
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Currently reading:
TOP GEAR IS BACK!!!
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Mattywat
Guest
thanks for the reminder, i knew it was soon!!
Lets see what they have to say about the bravo!
Lets see what they have to say about the bravo!
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Richard
Guest
Start small, get bigger and Fiats get steadily worse. Let's have a fun look at the Fiat sliding scale from excellence to plop, shall we? Panda and 500? Class leaders and world beaters, characterful little machines full of sparkle and brio.
Punto? Well, not quite as brilliant, but still proper Fiat fare; nippy, cute, quick and instantly recognisable, a refreshing Latin antidote to the anodyne Polo or anything Japanese of a similar size.
Then we get to the car on this page, the new Bravo. We like it, quite a lot in fact, but it's slipping into slight mediocrity, holding on to some of the Punto's style and energy, but falling behind its rivals in other important ways.
Things are tough in this class, hideously tough, whether it's the value end of the market with kit like the Kia Cee'd and Hyundai i30, in the centre with Focus and Astra, or higher up with the Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3.
The Bravo is keenly priced, falling somewhere between Cee'd and Focus. It doesn't quite beat the Ford, but it destroys anything cheaper because it has proper character. And it's way, way better than whatever the larger Fiat is called. Er, I've forgotten. Cryo, Cromey, thing.
The new Bravo deserves to sell well on its styling alone. You'd have to be a pretty harsh critic to call it ugly. Park it next to its rivals and there's no mistaking its sleek, Maserati-esque nose with its elongated headlights and bold grille - more than you can say for the Focus/Golf/Auris/Cee'd circus, which are playing it way too safe.
The tail is neat and fuss-free, too. There's always demand for Italian flair and that's why Fiat is making such a tidy profit these days.
Hop into the Bravo and you're greeted by a fresh, bright interior with plenty of contrasting textures and materials. High quality it's not, sadly, but at least it's different to the standard German, bland, black/grey fare.
The dash has an organic sweep, with a driver-focused upper console and classic Italian-style embedded dials.
It's not comfortable behind the wheel if you're tall. The driving position compresses your legs - a result, it seems, of pedals that are too far from the floor. Your ankles and knees flex severely and there's no foot rest. Not good.
Still, the car rides well, points well and goes very well, especially this T-Jet 150, a 1.4-litre turbo with 150bhp. All of the engines are excellent, but the Bravo is too unrefined and unfinished to mix it with the best in this class. Maybe it's just too big to be a great Fiat.
Bill Thomas
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Punto? Well, not quite as brilliant, but still proper Fiat fare; nippy, cute, quick and instantly recognisable, a refreshing Latin antidote to the anodyne Polo or anything Japanese of a similar size.
Then we get to the car on this page, the new Bravo. We like it, quite a lot in fact, but it's slipping into slight mediocrity, holding on to some of the Punto's style and energy, but falling behind its rivals in other important ways.
Things are tough in this class, hideously tough, whether it's the value end of the market with kit like the Kia Cee'd and Hyundai i30, in the centre with Focus and Astra, or higher up with the Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3.
The Bravo is keenly priced, falling somewhere between Cee'd and Focus. It doesn't quite beat the Ford, but it destroys anything cheaper because it has proper character. And it's way, way better than whatever the larger Fiat is called. Er, I've forgotten. Cryo, Cromey, thing.
The new Bravo deserves to sell well on its styling alone. You'd have to be a pretty harsh critic to call it ugly. Park it next to its rivals and there's no mistaking its sleek, Maserati-esque nose with its elongated headlights and bold grille - more than you can say for the Focus/Golf/Auris/Cee'd circus, which are playing it way too safe.
The tail is neat and fuss-free, too. There's always demand for Italian flair and that's why Fiat is making such a tidy profit these days.
Hop into the Bravo and you're greeted by a fresh, bright interior with plenty of contrasting textures and materials. High quality it's not, sadly, but at least it's different to the standard German, bland, black/grey fare.
The dash has an organic sweep, with a driver-focused upper console and classic Italian-style embedded dials.
It's not comfortable behind the wheel if you're tall. The driving position compresses your legs - a result, it seems, of pedals that are too far from the floor. Your ankles and knees flex severely and there's no foot rest. Not good.
Still, the car rides well, points well and goes very well, especially this T-Jet 150, a 1.4-litre turbo with 150bhp. All of the engines are excellent, but the Bravo is too unrefined and unfinished to mix it with the best in this class. Maybe it's just too big to be a great Fiat.
Bill Thomas
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B
Buzz
Guest
wtf are you waffling about?
Gee, i thought i was bad...
Buzz
The champion of the Bravo 1.4 & now ex owner of a Bravo 1.8
Gee, i thought i was bad...
Buzz
The champion of the Bravo 1.4 & now ex owner of a Bravo 1.8
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Richard
Guest
That was top gears witten version of the new Bravo on their website !
not me waffling honest...
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not me waffling honest...
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stephen01
Guest
lets hope this years is better than last! oh well 48mins to go 
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Roberto
Guest
Back with a bang !!
Excellent show. Nice to see some of the local roads from back home
Rob
Mk.2 Marea Weekend 1.8 16v 115 ELX
Excellent show. Nice to see some of the local roads from back home
Rob
Mk.2 Marea Weekend 1.8 16v 115 ELX
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island dan
Guest
I doubt they'll even touch the new Bravo in the show, unless Captain Slow has a go
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Mark
Guest
Defo a good episode, and great to see the boys back on form...
Loved the sound of those supercars going through that tunnel.... droooool....
By the look of the trailers, there is gonna be some great challenges coming up.
Loved the sound of those supercars going through that tunnel.... droooool....
By the look of the trailers, there is gonna be some great challenges coming up.
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Richard
Guest
Yes its been worth the wait !
A great show that i don`t mind paying the licence fee for!!
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A great show that i don`t mind paying the licence fee for!!
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Wimmy
Guest
The image of May sitting naked in the Aston was very disturbing but at the same time very funny and unexpected.
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Ian
Guest
I'm really quite suprised at how slow the Aston was compared to the Lamborghini and Porsche - Afterall, the Aston as a true racecar - The one they stuck around the TG Track with Stig at the Wheel was about 750BHP and was a "rulebreaker" as you couldn't officially purchase it as a road-car.
I think it was the Aston Martin Vantage DBS? Or something! May be wrong!
Even so.. I'd still have the Porsche, beacuse you just know it works!
I think it was the Aston Martin Vantage DBS? Or something! May be wrong!
Even so.. I'd still have the Porsche, beacuse you just know it works!
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Wimmy
Guest
Lamboooooooooooooooooooooo - much more style
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Ian
Guest
/Slaps Wimmy with a wet kipper.
You know your heart is saying Lambo, but your head is saying Porsche.
You know your heart is saying Lambo, but your head is saying Porsche.
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Wimmy
Guest
Always follow my heart. I own a Bravo
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Ian
Guest
Only because you'd get sacked if you drove anything else
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Anonymous
Guest
Is it repeated?
K
Kate
Guest
It used to be repeated tuesday nights on bbc2 at 8pm, but i dunno if its the same with this series.
M
Mark
Guest
According to the TG website, repeats are now gonna be on Wednesdays at 7pm...
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Kate
Guest
That's close enough for me!