I came across an interesting article about Tipo's in South Africa. The Tipo was the most driven car of its class over there last year and its reliability is rated.

Nice to see some positive news about the Tipo, even if its not in the UK.

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/motoring/fiat-tipo-most-driven-hatchback-south-africa/

Hi, new member here, my 2017 Tipo SW is coming to the end of it PCP this year. I like the car and was impressed with the first news of the Tipo Cross. But disappointed that the Tipo range is now very limited in trim levels and only one engine the 1Ltr 100hp in the UK. I guess this is due to poor UK sales.

Nicktrackside said:

Hi, new member here, my 2017 Tipo SW is coming to the end of it PCP this year. I like the car and was impressed with the first news of the Tipo Cross. But disappointed that the Tipo range is now very limited in trim levels and only one engine the 1Ltr 100hp in the UK. I guess this is due to poor UK sales.

Click to expand...

There's probably likely to only be one engine anywhere now
Diesels are dead other then commercials
Fire engines are dead once current stock's are used up so that only leaves the new firefly engine's in some form or other

Boltonbloke said:

Could you Tipo owners offer some buying advice please?
I had decided on a 1.4 lounge but motoring press seem to slate the engine saying it's under powered and rough.

What are owners experenace of the 1.3 Diesel, is it worth considering or should I seek out a T Jet?

I'm really looking for value for money first and foremost.

Many thanks

Steve

Click to expand...

Compared to other 4 cylinder cars I have had, the 1.4 is free revving and never sounds strained. I would not say it was particularly noisy either. That is compared to a Golf, our other car.


As for power, in normal town driving it is fine. It will sit at 70-80 on the motorway fine. It starts to show its lack of power on country roads for overtaking, steep uphills and on the motorway, if you drop down to 50mph, accelerating back up to 70-80.

Nicktrackside said:

Hi, new member here, my 2017 Tipo SW is coming to the end of it PCP this year. I like the car and was impressed with the first news of the Tipo Cross. But disappointed that the Tipo range is now very limited in trim levels and only one engine the 1Ltr 100hp in the UK. I guess this is due to poor UK sales.

Click to expand...

ICE are disappearing all over. There is no point in manufacturers developing and producing large ranges of engines.

Tipotwo said:

Compared to other 4 cylinder cars I have had, the 1.4 is free revving and never sounds strained. I would not say it was particularly noisy either. That is compared to a Golf, our other car.


As for power, in normal town driving it is fine. It will sit at 70-80 on the motorway fine. It starts to show its lack of power on country roads for overtaking, steep uphills and on the motorway, if you drop down to 50mph, accelerating back up to 70-80.

Click to expand...

I bought a 1.4 t-jet in the end, I've had it 12 months now and think it was probably the best choice although it feels very underpowered compered to my old Bravo 150 sport and the build quality is no where near as good. I cut my finger on a sharp edge while wiping down the door shuts after a wash!!

I was planning to re map it ect but never bothered. I've decided to accept it for what it is, a cheap runabout. Its never going to be as dynamic as a Ford Focus for instance so whats the point of spending hundreds on it trying to achieve something it will never be?

Its been utterly reliable over the last year, only a perishing breather hose (£9 from Fiat) being picked up during its major service. I was shocked at the price of service parts for such a hum-drum car!!!!

I plan to keep it for at least another year but doubt it will be replaced by another Tipo mainly because the engine choice looks poor on the new model and I would prefer a little more power. I may look at a 500 Abarth of a Alfa Guilietta

I went from an Abarth 595, the last of four! to a Tipo 1.6 Diesel. Ww needed a four door.

The Tipo does what you expect, its ok but the lack of performance is getting to me now. The poor turn in and lack of steering feel is also taking its toll, after 2 and a half years.

We're thinking of getting an Alfa Stelvio next, when we're allowed in the dealerships or waiting for the Tonale.

The Tipo was always a stopgap to an Alfa. Maybe could have gone for a Giulietta, but the drivetrain is the same and it was a lot more money when the gain is only handling.

Having said that, I think the Tipo is good car, its not a drivers car. But an excellent A to B car, if that's what you want.

If it was a Volkswagen Group car, the press would lap it up.

Boltonbloke said:

I plan to keep it for at least another year but doubt it will be replaced by another Tipo mainly because the engine choice looks poor on the new model and I would prefer a little more power. I may look at a 500 Abarth of a Alfa Guilietta

Click to expand...

595 over a Guiletta any day. No foot rest in Guiletta. The Guiletta 1.75L Veloce model ( Cloverleaf ) only comes with a automatic gearbox as manual was dropped some time ago. 595’s are a hoot to drive and easy on your wallet. Depreciation is also very good as well.

RichardH13 said:

....
Having said that, I think the Tipo is good car, its not a drivers car. But an excellent A to B car, if that's what you want.

If it was a Volkswagen Group car, the press would lap it up.

Click to expand...

I think you are right. It would be praised as the entry level, budget car in the range that trounces the Dacia. Our other car is a 2017 Golf 1.6 diesel bought new, and the Tipo beats it for
- space
- seat comfort (even without the optional lumbar support)
- infotainment system
- build quality and reliability

matches it for
- visibility
- heating/ventilation/climate control
- interior storage
- features
- refinement

loses out for
- performance
- handling

If Fiat advertised and promoted it better, we would see as many Tipos as we see Dacia Sanderos and Logan MPVs and a few less Skoda Rapides and Octavias.

I have both the 1.4 petrol and the 1.6 diesel Tipo. The diesel produces 120bhp and pulls amazingly in almost any gear. Certainly does not lack performance.

The 1.4 I purchased new (pre reg) in Spain and it is very smooth and quite. The spec is different to the UK ones but as is suggested OK for getting from a to b but nowhere near the power of the UK based one I have (Elite eco model).

So far zero problems with either. Considering the price you can pick a Tipo up for they are a real bargain.

Derek

Looks like I spoke too soon about keeping the Tipo for another year.

My next door neighbour has the builders it at the mo and they have had a cowboy put some scaffold up which collapsed on my car while it was parked on my driveway.

The damage is extensive and all across the front end, fortunately my CCTV caught it all and they do have public liability insurance so the car is currently being assessed by the insurance company.

I intend to fight tooth and nail to insist it is repaired and only genuine parts are used.

Im absolutely gutted to see it in such a state

I own the 1.6 Diesel , goes very well ,done 53000 miles now , Will be getting the cambelt changed next , So far , all good plenty of power , very good MPG , Only problem is the Radio reception , comes and goes , Have been told it may be the Ariel base unit being damp ?? will check this out ,Overall this Fiat Tipo is for me a hidden Jem , Do not see many of them in the area , But they are not bad , I would recommend this car as a 1.6 Diesel when the car gets used more , DPF needs a good motorway drive weekly to stay clean .

Kopfschmerzen said:

Only problem is the Radio reception , comes and goes , Have been told it may be the Ariel base unit being damp ?? will check this out .

Click to expand...

Common problem with 500 / 595 models. The amplifier in the base gets damp. Easy to replace by dropping the headliner at the rear to access the nylon nut that normally secures the base.

Well what happen next to my Tipo is beyond belief.

A repair was eventually agreed but while the car was in the workshop something fell on top of the A pillar causing yet more damage, as you can Imagine I was less than impressed.

This was also repaired but they had the car 3 weeks in total and lent me a dreadful MG3, I seriously didn't think companys still made cars that bad!

I had made a decision I would trade the car in when I got it back as I felt it had too many body repairs and I would never be fully happy with it.

2 weeks later a young girl in a Merc A class pulled out of a side street hitting me side on and knocking me sideways across the road. The impact caused my head to hit the side window knocking me out, incredibly she drove off but witnesses and my dash cam captured her red handed.

Turns out she was drunk and works as a solicitor which will be handy as her firm can defend the law suit I've filled against her....

The car is damaged beyond repair and has been categorized as a cat S total loss.

Churchill insurance have been amazing, waiving my excess and paying me out just short of 7 grand within a week of the accident which I have invested wisely in a 595 Abarth.

Wow talk about bad luck
Was the car cured?

Glad you weren't badly hurt and she was caught.

I had 4 Abarths after our original 500 TA was written off, love those little cars.

Loads of fun to be had