Fiat Bravo 1.4

My first impressions of the Bravo 80SX 16V very not good. It was a Fiat. I didn't like Fiats. No real reason, except the reputation for Friday afternoon electrics, dodgy build quality, and a propensity for rust. I'd also had 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 Pete. Looking around the car, I couldn't help but notice the approving and downright admiring glances it was getting from my work collegues, particularly the women. Sitting in The Bravo for the first time only seemed to confirm the 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 later, and the rose tinted glasses have been removed. And I've decided that I was completely wrong to dismiss the Bravo, just because it's a Fiat. As a 'driver's' car, the Bravo provides excellent road holding, just enough power, and a rev range wider than the pacific - this engine LIKES to be thrashed!. As a cruising car, it's more than happy to sit on the motorway at 80mph all day and not bat an eyelid, and if you're of an average size, like me, you won't need the services of an oestopath afterwards.

Economy. Yep, plenty of that too. I'm not the most lightfooted of drivers, but 35mpg round town is normal, up to around 40 - 43 at a steady 80ish. The power steering is light and responsive, if a little remote, and the only time the engines small size shows up is when you're fully loaded with 4 adults, and you try accelerating in top gear. It's like waiting for the in-laws to appear - you know it's going to happen at some point in the year, but you're just not sure when.

The only other 'problem' I have with the Bravo is it's load space. OK, you'd have picked another car if you wanted to move a settee, but even with the rear seats folded flat, there just doen't seem to be enough room. Whilst we're on the subject of rear seats, the only way to fold theback rests fully flat is to lift the seat part to a vertical position. Trouble is, that to then fit the back rests down, you either have to remove the head rests, or move the front seats forwards. Not a major issue, but just a little annoying.

Generally speaking, it's the best small car I've driven. Men like it because it's all curvy and feminine. Women like it because it's small and cute. I like it because it always makes me smile when I go out to it in a morning, I can rely on it for an adrenaline burst when I need it, and it's just so easy to live with.