Conference terri::cars_uk

    I've been driving a Tempra 1.8Ie SX for the last year.  Comments:
    
    - engine very willing and revs very freely to 7000 plus RPM
    - it has an annoying boom/resonance around 3500 RPM - see next
    - gearing is quite low @2oMPH/1000 RPM therefore revs are quite high
    cruising on the motorway and is annoying between 68 and 73 mph because
    of the resonance
    - fuel economy is OK but not brilliant - I get +/- 33 MPG however it is
    driven
    - interior is very plush with lots of little goodies & electric widgets
    - headroom is limited - I'm 6' 1" and the headroom is zero
    - the drivers seat/pedal/steering wheel relationship is typical
    Italian: the reach is too long for people with average/long legs
    
    Bottom line: It is a reasonably well built car and good value for money
    but I don't think I'd have another one unless:
    
    - 6 speed gearbox or overdrive fitted
    - engine boom around 3500 RPM eliminated
    - driving position improved
    
    My recommendation is to try to get one for a reasonable period like 48
    hours to get acquainted.
    
    John
    
    

Firstly I should say that I owned 3 FIATS from 1978-1982.

But to come up to date I have a friend that has the 1.8iE"TOP OF THE RANGE"model
from new.

It is now around 18 months old .

It has suffered from the paint flaking off ,squeaks ,rattles,other bits and 
pieces falling off.

Then at around 11 months old the radiator burst and the car was off the road 
for 5 days waiting on one coming from TURIN no replacment car was given during 
this period .
The car has average milage on it and is not abbused.

So with a fairly small presence in NZ I would think twice.


							Stuart

    In last month's CAR magazine they road tested the Fiat Tipo 2.0 ie
    against the Zeta engined 1.8 Escort XR3i, 8v Golf GTi and the Nissan
    Sunny GTi.
    
    Overall the magazine rated the Fiat as the best buy over the rest...
    the Nissan came a close second. None of the cars were really rated 
    badly though, but plus points were given particularily to the Fiat for
    the torqueness (and sound) of its engine, its road holding capability,
    cabin space was unbeatable and comfort was highly praised as well, and 
    last, but not least, it was the cheapest of the lot although once you
    added ABS this brought the price up a fair whack.
    
    As an asside, Britain is not the place to ask for comments on Italian
    cars in general. Brits have been against Italian cars ever since
    engines used to drop out of Lancias in the 70's. The rust problem has
    long since been sorted out on Italian cars, but once cars get a
    tarnished image in the UK it's very difficult for that car and its
    completely new successor to shake that image. (This kind of thing can
    work well for a car... the UK has as two of its best selling cars, the
    Ford Fiesta and Ford Escort !! ... Do people really spend their own money
    on these cars?) Rover has a similar problem, there's quite a lot of
    people still believe that Rover make cars that handle like the Austin
    Maxi.
    
    Finally, back in 1984 I owned a 2.0 litre Fiat Super Mirafiori... and 
    quite frankly it's the best car I've ever had the pleasure of owning.
    
    Reargards,
    
    
    Stephen