...4, (which I've also reviewd so if you're interested, go look that up) my mum picked me up from the hospital in the Fiat.
I was impressed from the minute we drove out of the carpark, obviously this car is miles ahead of my old Sunny so that goes without saying.
I have been driving this car ... Read review
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Advantages: Excellent speed and acceleration, looks great, feels great. Disadvantages: Engine faults are fairly common.
...This is one thing that Fiat (in general) drivers need to keep an eye on. They are notorious for engine trouble after a certain amount of years and/or mileage.
BUT, this car has NEVER let me down. Not once have I ever broken down, not once has my engine failed to start. Even though my car is having all these mechanical issues, it is not a constant thing by any means. It is something that pops up often enough that I feel obliged to tell prospective ... ...for, but it rarely compromises my journey, and like a cramp, she can stretch it out when on a long journey.
The main thing that she rebells against is the stopping and starting in long traffic.
So, while I would reccomend this car to speed junkies and family people alike, i would say to get a full service history ( i know this sounds standard but you would not believe how many people deglect this), get a full service regulary, ... more
I've seen a lot of people give bad reviews for this car and I thought that I had to jump in and rescue the Bravos reputation, if I possibly could.
First off lets have a look at the main sellers for this car: It has Power Steering-I don't need to explain why this is a good thing. It look great with its streamlined bonnet, coloured bumpers, low grille and narrow headlamps, giving it a sporty and aggressive look. For such a small litre, the engine is huge! Electric front windows. An engine that has more sensors that you can shake a stick at. Airbags. Central locking.
All in all, this car looks great on paper and to drive it's even better.
I first got this car the very day that I had my accident in my previous car, a 15yr old Nissan Sunny 1.4, (which I've also reviewd so if you're interested, go look that up) my mum picked me up from the hospital in the Fiat. I was impressed from the minute we drove out of the carpark, obviously this car is miles ahead of my old Sunny so that goes without saying.
I have been driving this car for over a year now and I feel like I know it like the back of my hand, which I say gives me more than enough experience to write a defensive review on it.
I first started driving this car on an island where the speed limit was 40mph and the roads are short and bendy, which suits the Bravo just fine. You could quite happily drive around all day in 4rth, changing gears every other second and the Bravo wouldn't bat an eyelid. The clutch on this car is so smooth you hardly feel you're changing gear at all, except for the very satisfying growl made you accelerate. One thing that i feel deserves particular notice is the gearstick. I wouldn't usually draw attention to something like this, but the Bravos gearstick, although standard in some people's opion, is a thing of beauty. It is shaped in such a way that you barely need to touch it to be able to slide it into gear, which makes for a very satisfactory experience.
The handling of this car is absolutely brilliant. I take a great deal of delight in zooming around bends because this car feels so brilliant when you do. It is utterly balanced and grips the road with confidence. The steering is as responsive as anyone would want it to be, meaning that you don't have to yank the wheel around when circling car parks, or manoevering around traffic.
One of the best things (in my opinion) about this car is the way it feels to drive! This car is all about confidence. It looks confident, it feels confident and as a driver it is fantastic. Driving fast along a long motorway is an absolute joy. I have read people complaining about the acceleration speed for this car and all I can say to that is that they can't have been driving properly, or that their particular car wasn't up to spec, because I can assure you, there is nothing wrong with this cars acceleration. In fact, when I first got this car, i had to keep an eye on my speedo because if i blinked, i'd miss it scooting up to 50 when I thought I was doing 30!
Considering the age of this car, the acceleration is surprisingly good. It takes absolutely no time at all to get to 60 and getting there is fun! I feel i may be coming across somewhat as a driving rookie. I'm not. I have driven a great many cars in my time, but this car is by far my favourite. Not only does it accelerate fast, but it has a brilliant top speed. I have had my car up to 120 before, so cast aside any worries that you won't be able to go fast, because trust me, you will! Whats more, this car will quite happily cruise along at 80+ and not give you any agro for it. It feels like this car was meant to go fast and more than that, it likes it! It growls in a magnificent way that, as i have said above, exhudes confidence. Like the car is challenging you to push it!
We're all familiar with those speedy know-it-alls on the motorway fast lanes that think that just because they have a merc you should get out of thier way. Well what I have to say to that is that those aggressive idiots look at this car and underestimate it. One second their up your bumper, the next their looking confused as you put your foot down and laugh. This car is so much fun to drive! It never fails to deliver the adrenilin rush that some people look for in a car.
But, and theres always a but, this car does have a big flaw to it. The onboard computer is very impressive for the age and lets you know exactly what is going on and when, but sometimes it's sould destroying to know. I'm referring to a fault in the computer which i hear is fairly common in this model. Now, i wish I could tell you here what this fault is, but to date, after 7 months of looking for it, no mechanic can yet tell me. The problem relates to idle speed, loss of power during driving, stalling in neutral, misfires and 'hiccups'. All of these have plagued me for so many months that I barely notice them anymore. The red injection light comes up on the dash and the ECU registers more faults than is plausible. This is one thing that Fiat (in general) drivers need to keep an eye on. They are notorious for engine trouble after a certain amount of years and/or mileage. BUT, this car has NEVER let me down. Not once have I ever broken down, not once has my engine failed to start. Even though my car is having all these mechanical issues, it is not a constant thing by any means. It is something that pops up often enough that I feel obliged to tell prospective drivers that it is something to be on the lookout for, but it rarely compromises my journey, and like a cramp, she can stretch it out when on a long journey. The main thing that she rebells against is the stopping and starting in long traffic.
So, while I would reccomend this car to speed junkies and family people alike, i would say to get a full service history ( i know this sounds standard but you would not believe how many people deglect this), get a full service regulary, keep an eye and ear on what your engine is doing and sounding like, and report the issue as soon as humany possible.
As to the other things, i cann't help but roll my eyes when I hear people complain about the amount of room this car doesn't have. I'm sorry, are you transporting the entire cast of 'The Sound of Music' or something? This car has MORE than enough room. I once took 7 people in my car (including myself) and granted that myself and my front passenger were the only comfortable people in the car, it goes to show that this car is actually huge. The rear seating comfortably seats three as standard, and granted that the car is a 3 door, so leg room is naturally limited, this was never a problem! Boot space isn't that huge, given the car's shape, but is more than big enough to fit in a full load of shopping. I'm a student who travels across the ocean to get home every holiday, so i literally take pretty much everything i own (which is more than i can believe every time i have to pack up) and I never fail to fit it in as well as using the back seat. So lord knows what those people who complained were trying to transport. Bodies, maybe? In which case yes, you're going to have a problem.
The driver has an airbag, but the passengers do not, which is a downside. Also, this cars fuel consumption is very good for the age. I often drive cross country to visit family and I can usually get about 300 miles out of a full tank, and i could be wong, but i reckon thats pretty good.
Despite what people like to say, this car does NOT rust easy. I can testify to this because last year a stolen car went into my rear left and took off the paint, leaving a lovely stretch of metal, and it has yet to rust. So don't believe the critics.
This car is consistent. It lets you know what its doing in sound and feel. It packs a whallop in no small degree. It is reliable and it is fun. If you've got your eye on one, heed my advice but get it. You will not regret it. I still have this car, despite the problems because the benefits far outweigh the issues. I love this car.
Advantages: Small size, economy, Good looks Disadvantages: small load area
...a test drive in a Fiat Punto Sport 1.2 16V earlier in the day, and i was still missing some fillings from the hard riding suspension. I was also running late, and didn't have much time to really look it over. "I'll bring it to your work", said Pete, the salesman who, having spend the best part of 2 hours with me, was now almost desperate to sell me something. "Ok", said I, and a time was arranged.
The time arrived, and so did the aforementioned ... ...my preconceptions about this little Fiat might just be wrong. The test drive began leisurely enough with a steady potter through the local town until we got to an open road. Things got significantly more frantic as it became apparent that the Bravo was capable of delivering an adrenaline rush on a par with much bigger cars. "You're sure this is a 1.2?" I asked. "Yep" was the reply. "I'll take it!" and the deal was done.
Six months, and a service ...
Andy0468 16.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Fiat Bravo 1.4
Advantages: I look sexy in it, it is a good looker like myself Disadvantages: a modern car should do better miles to the gallon
...on...
I bought a Fiat Bravo 1.4SX in 1997. It looked the real business- flame red, low-slung, cd multi-changer, and it moved liked sugar off a shovel- great. The model was one-up on the base spec. It was a three door hatchback with the following standard features:
Power Steering
Colour-Keyed Bumpers and Mirrors
Electric front Windows
Electric Sunroof.
As I stated above, I purchased a CD autochanger for the boot as this was the first time that ... ...The height-adjustable seat and steering wheel were a good idea for me as I am abnormally tall, and I could just about find a comfortable driving position. The supplying dealer was St Leonard's Motors of Hastings and I cannot fault them at all in their customer service. They are polite and helpful, and are not just there to take your money away from you! By the way, I must add that my big brother used to work for them, but as they made him redundant, ...
Nolly 11.03.2002
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Fiat Bravo 1.4
Advantages: Urm... relatively cheap to buy? Disadvantages: I dont want to waste my life listing them
...head gasket. I thought the Fiat Bravo 1.4 sx was cool. I wanted something sporty looking without the big price tag. I thought Id died and gone to heaven when I got the fiat - swirly dash, cool headlights, tail lights and smooth lines.
The 1.4sx was the cheapest I could find other than nasty cheaper looking 1.4 s's. (Sx has colour bumpers and electric windows and sunroof). I got mine from a dealer, seemed fine at the time, it drove well, stiff-ish ... ...checked out by my local fiat dealer who said the pistons had seized and blown the rings out, head gasket and just about everything else.
To cut a VERY long story short, I had it fixed and took the dealer to court who paid up eventually. Since that happened, I had every problem under the sun with the car. The fuel consumption went down to roughly 20mpg - a full tank maybe lasting 250 miles. It wouldnt go above 80/90 and took about an hour to do 60. ...
Samwell_rules 07.05.2006
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Fiat Bravo 1.4
Advantages: Easy to drive, economical Disadvantages: Interior could be better finished, that rear seat.
My first new car for 15 years, and quite a contract to my old Citroen Xantia - an expensive mistake which cost a fortune to maintain, while its value dropped like a stone. The family having grown up we don't need a big car any more. I originally wanted a Punto , we hired one in Italy last year and was delighted with it, but my better half preferred the extra space and comfort of the Bravo.
It is very light and responsive to drive, the 1240 16v engine ... ...returning an overall 48 mpg in the 3 months I have had the car.
Comfort is pretty good, even in contrast to the Citroen, although you are more aware of the road surface. Equipment level is a sensible comprimise, not too many expensive and rarely-used gimmicks that add to the list price, and burn holes in your pocket when they go wrong.
With the rear seat folded there is a surprising amount of space - great for those end-of-term trips to university ...
ae359 23.06.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Fiat Bravo 1.4
...since I am taking it to Ireland). All that it cost was the service costs; there were no other faults. When I decide to trade this car in, I would definitely consider buying another. With this being my third Fiat you could definitely say that I rate them really highly. ...
Lad 16.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Fiat Bravo 1.4
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Advantages: Low cost, comfertable, and high spec alternative. Disadvantages: Poor depreciation, and unjustly poor street cred.
thanks.
BOTH: Despite seeing a couple of cars I was interested in, the dealers were rude to me (young, so therefore will not buy anyhing kind of attitude), and really messed me about. You know the sort, my custom doesn't matter as its such a piddly amount, sort of thing.
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