Well the Bravo will tomorrow pass the 100,000 mile mark
We purchased it in Oct 2007 (1.9 Multijet diesel 150BHP sport). It looks the part with a subtle body kit, 2 tone alloys and twin exhaust pipes. Its the deep red colour (Maranello red)
Its been a great car. It has been all over Europe (Italy 4 or 5 times, Monte Carlo and Cannes, skiing in the Alps and the Loire valley)
It has averaged around 50mpg, and uses zero oil in between services. It has been serviced as per schedule except I had the belts and water pump done at 72k miles instead of 90k, as I thought that was pushing it a bit!
It had 3 warranty jobs which were a replacement window seal (noisy), the usual EGR valve changed at 23k miles (has been fine since) and a fading rear badge was also changed.
The build quality of it is faultless, still no rattles or squeaks anywhere
The bad bits.
Not a lot really, it had a misting up problem which was traced (by me, not the dealer!) to a malfunctioning air recirc flap). This has (to date!) been the only expense outside of servicing and consumable items.
It also had rattles from the front calipers which I sorted with some copper slip.
The steering is a little lifeless, especially compared to my Alfa.
All in all very happy with this very underrated car
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Sounds good PR. I take it the car is comfortable on long journeys. Is the gearing fairly long with a six speed gearbox? I like the Grande Punto's as well. What's it been like in the snow?
It's nice to hear that you've not had many serious problems.
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It is comfortable, though I expect the "Dynamic" would be more so, as ours has the sport suspension. Seats are good too. We went from near Naples to Basel in Switzerland in one go (about 620 miles) without problems comfort wise.
Sixth does seem quite long, Ive not noticed that it isnt anyway!
In the snow it was good, though not a lot to compare it too other than my Alfa GTA which isn't brilliant!
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I cleaned a Bravo a few weeks ago. Nice car, very attractive, certainly feels a cut above a Focus inside.
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I know how a car looks is very subjective but the Bravo seems universally liked.
Inside it is also a nice place to be and is very well equipped. As I said a very underrated car!
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The Fiat Grande Punto, is a very smart, very pretty classical styled car. Not in your face but just plain good looking. It wont age in looks not one jot.
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>> The Fiat Grande Punto, is a very smart, very pretty classical styled car. Not in
>> your face but just plain good looking. It wont age in looks not one jot.
>>
>> pity the outside door handles bite you though
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I meant to add, the bravo is from the same pretty egg
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Seems to be a couple of reports on the FIAT Forums of trim falling of the Grand Punto :( Evo seems to be better though.
Bravo is a very good car, I could see myself buying one if I ever need something bigger. I reckon at two-three years old they must be a real bargain.
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Yes you can certainly get some bargains.
Agree Zero, its a very "pretty" car, very nicely proportioned.
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Interesting write-up, PR. All in all it sounds a great all-rounder with no obvious weaknesses. How is it with flat-pack furniture? ;-)
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Not had too much of that in lol. We do frequently take 2 mountain bikes in the boot (with seats folded down) to France though, without issues. Seats go almost flat, not quite but near as makes no difference.
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This is the same basic engine thats in the vectra is it not?
8v or 16v? And saab.
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It is indeed. Made in Italy I believe. This is the 16v 150BHP version
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Yes great got this in my vectra 8v the more robust engine as the 16v suffers with inlet manifold problems and the swirl bar snaps causing replacement of manifold.
But the basic engine is a good lump.
Your car should easily do another 200k taking it up to 300k should the body last in the older fiats this was the major problem i perfected my mig welding on these.:-)
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This diesel engine, along with the 1.3MJ were Fiats contribution to the failed co operation with GM. Fiat got GMs petrol engines for the Alfas (2.2 and 3.2 V6), both of which were unloved and not now available.
Body condition of the Fiat is as new. I had a good look around, all bits of trim (wheel arch liners etc..) are as new. It also seems quite resistant to stone chips, there are a few but not many considering the miles it has done
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The only build issue I noticed on the Bravo I cleaned was something in the bootlid had worked loose because it rattled when you moved it, this was an '09 model, but the paintwork was surperb quality and I can well see why they slap a 5 year warranty on them, it feels like it deserves one on the face of it.
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FIAT have been steadily building up their reputation for years - the Bravo, Panda, Grande/Evo Punto and Croma (the latter sadly dismissed by the British public, stuck in their prejudices) being excellent cars (not to mention Qubo and Doblo), and they risk blowing it all by rebadging Chryslers now.
I could weep.
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Lets hope Chrysler rebadge Fiats instead.
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There have been many scaremongering stories about the Chrysler re badging. If you are a Lancia fan there doesnt appear to be much hope, but as far as Fiat and Alfa go the story is much better.
The recent Fiat Freemont is an exception, it is a re badged Dodge. However, dig deeper into this and the reasons they are doing it are clear. As part of Fiat acquiring Chrysler, the US gov attached a series of goals to complete, which would progressively hand over segments of Chrysler ownership.
One of the stipulations was Fiat had to sell Chrylsers in certain numbers in Europe and South America. Now Fiat has large market share (infact, the largest) in Brazil. They planned to "persuade" their extensive dealer network there to also stock Chrysler. When this was blocked (or became difficult) Marchionne re negotiated this goal, to include re badged Chrysler group cars. Thus re badging the Freemont as a Fiat, which will be sold in Brazil has effectively netted Fiat Group several hundred million dollars by way of an extra 5% of Chrysler. Shrewd move? Time will tell.
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>> FIAT have been steadily building up their reputation for years - the Bravo, Panda, Grande/Evo
>> Punto and Croma (the latter sadly dismissed by the British public, stuck in their prejudices)
Yeah, I hired a 1.9 Jtd Croma in Turin. It was a very nice, comfortable, roomy, well equiped piece of kit.
They can be had second hand for peanuts on Autotrader, and they seem reliable - Its a good second hand buy. It was my secret 2nd choice buy if I couldn't get a good cheap Lancer.
Last edited by: Zero on Tue 19 Apr 11 at 18:47
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>> Body condition of the Fiat is as new. I had a good look around, all
>> bits of trim (wheel arch liners etc..) are as new. It also seems quite resistant
>> to stone chips, there are a few but not many considering the miles it has
>> done
I'm pretty sure that the bodies are galvanised on these.
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The Grande Punto is indeed very well styled (the Evo less so sadly). The problem with the Chroma is that it looks like a pregnant Punto.
Modern cars are generally so good all round that anything that can be criticized (such as being ugly) fails to sell.
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Sounds like it has been a great car PR.
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It has Cheddar, indeed still is!
Its on its original discs aswell
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Now that is an achievement!
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My Fiat 131 would have eaten 12 sets of pads and 6 sets of disks in time-frame! Fortunately there was no body left to fit them to at 60k miles
Last edited by: Zero on Wed 20 Apr 11 at 13:02
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Its on its second set of pads (changed at 54k). Looking at them now there is over 5mm left!
The front tyres (Goodyear Excellence) last 30k aswell which isnt bad going for the fronts.
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>> Fiats contribution to the failed co operation with GM. Fiat got GMs petrol engines for the Alfas...
FIAT also got the floor pan of the Corsa, which is the basis of the Grande Punto (and EVO).
It's a nuisance, because the PCD on the wheels are different, which limits the choice for a spare (can't use wheel from old Punto).
Then there's also the silly "conversion" problem where the scuttle drain (positioned to suit GM) fills the FIAT alternator with water, resulting in an expensive freeze up and snapped belt when the weather suits.
It took a lot of grief during the recent bad UK winters before they decided to change the drainpipe for a cranked version.
Also, there's the water trapped in the tailgate, which I believe is still an ongoing problem.
(either gets in the car, or empties over you when you open the boot).
Apart from that, it's OK.
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Fiat Bravo - 100,000 mile report - corax
