FIAT BRAVO HATCHBACK REVIEW

My car

I have had this car 6 months. I bought it because I previosly owned MGzr 160 vvc and a Peugeot 206 GTI so I needed a family car with the same power and this has not disappointed. It looks good and goes well. But even at my age mid 40s insurance is expensive but with the power and equipment it is well worth it. This is my 3rd fiat. I have done long trips on the french motorways and it was a real pleasure. If you drive carefully you can just get 40mpg which I managed recently touring in France but everyday I get 33 mpg. What can I say it is a good car . My previous car was a Mazda 6 which comes nowhere in the equipment stakes or power. I have no regrets its only a shame our roads does not give me a chance to use this car to its full ability. Enjoy it if you purchase one.

My car

Wow,some of these reviews have been really negative. All I can say is that you must have been really unluky. I bought my 07 bravo in 08 and have enjoyed owning it. Nice to look at, nice inside. Touch wood, no problems mechanically either.Quibbles? Not many. One is that my dog has to LEAP into the boot as the lip is very high resulting in some surface scratches on the way in (good job he's young and athletic!). The voice command on bluetooth phone dialling doesn't always work, but not a problem to me.The radio knob has to be held in for a long time to turn the radio off. It's a bit niggly at starting on ice cold mornings (although, strangely, 3 days covered in snow didn't bother it at all, starting immediately).All very minor stuff which, for me anyway, doesn't detract from the car itself. What do I love about it? The way the spotlights come on when I turn a corner (shallow, I know), the way the radio gets louder or quieter the faster or slower I go, the 6th gear which the dealer told me I'd never use, living on a small Island with only one dual carriageway, but which I in fact use all the time. And I also love the way it looks, and still think "what a nice looking car" 3 years on. My partner is over 6ft and loves to drive it, giving plenty of leg room and head height. Personally,it's a purchase I'm glad I made and would recommend one.

My car

Loved the style & was hoping the build would have improved having owned an old style Bravo that was forever in the dealers. Unfortunately it has been in & out of the dealers repeatedly, ASR errors, various electrical gremlins and DPF faults that made the car judder like an old tractor. As in other reviews brakes are poor & can induce heart stopping moments when allied with the sloppy handling. Avoid at all costs.

My car

Before you buy a Bravo please review the following questions:- If you answer “No” to any question then reconsider purchasing a Fiat.

Would you accept that fact that Fiat and its dealers may have your car for up to 10 weeks to repair an electrical fault on the vehicle? Would you accept that they would only supply a courtesy car for 2 of those 10 weeks? Would you accept that despite the vehicle been sold from new, with a full manufactures warranty, wiring harnesses are not covered from the second year onwards. Would you accept that you had to e-mail the chairman of Fiat UK to have your car repaired free of charge on a vehicle still under warranty? Would you accept that you lost £12,200 pounds depreciation in 3 years, effectively retaining 25% of its initial purchase value?

Concerning the Car Itself Performance 2 Stars Ride & Handling 2 Stars Refinement 3 Stars Buying & Owning 0 Star Quality & Reliability 0 Star Safety & Security 3 Stars Behind The Wheel 2 Stars Space & Practicality 3 Stars Equipment 3 Stars In Summary 2 Stars This has been the most negative car experience I have ever encountered during vehicle ownership, and I am now faced with undertaking the following actions:- Reporting FIAT UK to the Society of Motor Manufactures and Traders Ltd via its on line complaints scheme. I have raised the issue with Trading Standards.

I hope this information helps you in deciding if you should buy a Fiat