USED Fiat Marea Estate (97 - 03)

My car

WE HAD A 1.6 PETROL ON A V PLATE FROM NEW AND WE LOVED IT.IT WAS FAST AND COMFORTABLE.WE CARRIED LOADS OF STUFF INSIDE....EVEN A FRIDGE-FREEZER.THE ONLY TROUBLE WE HAD IN THREE YEARS WAS THE PAINT FELL OFF ONE OF THE SILLS WHICH WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY. WE REPLACED IT WITH A MERCEDES A140 WHICH WASN'T FIT TO WIPE THE FIAT'S EXHAUST. I AM SERIOUSLY THINKING OF GETTING ANOTHER FIAT BEFORE TOO LONG.

My car

have had my fiat for two years now and covered 35.000 miles taking the mileage upto 126.000. it is used mainly as a workhorse that is always full of tools and always has a ladder on the roof. it has been 100% reliable and is a hoot to drive with a good turn of pace i wish i could keep it but find the 25 mpg just too little expensive. trim is cheap and dose damage easily but for the price i paid im not too botherd. im looking for a replacment now and like the look of the stilo estate if its as reliable as my marea i think ill get one.

My car

I bought my 2000 2.4 JTD 130 HLX estate 2 years ago and have since added another 30000 miles. Mine has the optional leather trim and sunroof as well as all the usual top of the range HLX goodies.

Undoubtedly the best thing about my Marea is the engine. Basically the same as in an Alfa Romeo 156, it is a five cylinder powerhouse which sounds absolutely sublime from tickover to the redline. Think original Audi Quattro for an idea of the sound it makes. A stunningly fast car if your foot is planted to the floor and can be driven sedately too without any difficulty. Incredibly effortless motorway cruiser and handles well on the twisty stuff too.

Running costs are reasonable but some repairs can be costly. For five cylinder Fiats, changing the timing belt is more or less an engine-out job and so is costly in labour. Otherwise, even when thrashed I am seeing 40mpg and have seen 48mpg on a long gentle run.

In terms of value for money, this is, bar none, simply the cheapest way to own a diesel car with an engine of more than 4 cylinders. Mine when new in 2000 set someone back nearly £20000 (inclusive of leather trim & sunroof). In 2006 I picked it up for less than £3000. What a bargain. Fiats, especially larger models, continue, to be vastly underrated. Nearly 20 years since the launch of the Tipo, Fiat are stilltrying to shake off their rustbucket image in the UK. One question - When did you last see a rusty Fiat?

My car

I have owned my 2001 Y-reg Marea for two-and-a-half years. It has now done 68,000 miles, and it has been very reliable.

This Fiat is a very underrated car - the boot is a very practical shape and design, the interior is sturdy (apart from a couple of minor parts) and everything electrical works fine.

The engine a gem. I have also got a brand new Vectra but I would get rid of that before the Marea.