Fiat bravos

Mister Jingles

Barry Barry wrote: »

Fiat Bravo with NCT until 2014 for €998. Bit pricey but its got long NCT and beats driving a Punto. Plus it looks really well in red.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4186684

The owner is over a month trying to shift it, surprised it been on sale that long.7

Moved from Bangernomics

MidlandsM

not really, as them bravos are sh!t .

L-M

Mister Jingles wrote: »

The owner is over a month trying to shift it, surprised it been on sale that long.

Maybe because it's an eleven year old 3 door Fiat Bravo? Worth about half that, at best.

dgt

Barry Barry wrote: »

Fiat Bravo with NCT until 2014 for €998. Bit pricey but its got long NCT and beats driving a Punto. Plus it looks really well in red.
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4186684

1.2 Bravos never had discs all round as standard, even with abs. Looks lowered too

Price is still about 200 too high but yes worth it not to be in a Punto, even if it has those awful purple seats!

colm_mcm

If it didn't have all those dents maybe.

dgt

MidlandsM wrote: »

not really, as them bravos are sh!t .

Come on then, lets have you. Tell me why....

166man

dgt wrote: »

Come on then, lets have you. Tell me why....

Knew this post was coming....

MidlandsM

dgt wrote: »

Come on then, lets have you. Tell me why....

when i worked in car rental, we have over 300 punto's, and approx 90 bravos..... the puntos were grand......and to this day, I buy and sell a few as I have a soft spot for them..........but bravos.......Sh!T, utter utter sh!t

mickey mac

MidlandsM wrote: »

when i worked in car rental, we have over 300 punto's, and approx 90 bravos..... the puntos were grand......and to this day, I buy and sell a few as I have a soft spot for them..........but bravos.......Sh!T, utter utter sh!t

Will you stop beating around the bush, do you think Bravos are a good car or not!!!:D

dgt

MidlandsM wrote: »

when i worked in car rental, we have over 300 punto's, and approx 90 bravos..... the puntos were grand......and to this day, I buy and sell a few as I have a soft spot for them..........but bravos.......Sh!T, utter utter sh!t

Not good enough. What went wrong, how often did they have problems, depreciated fast etc etc would be a lot more informative.

Calling an entire range of cars sh*t without backing it up just isn't an excuse, now is it?

Unless you are trying to get a rise out of me....

dgt

mickey mac wrote: »

Will you stop beating around the bush, do you think Bravos are a good car or not!!!:D

I'll tell you straight out they are one of the best cars you can buy, provided its been minded.

Don't listening to anyone else, I've worked on them for years

166man

dgt wrote: »

I'll tell you straight out they are one of the best cars you can buy, provided its been minded.

Don't listening to anyone else, I've worked on them for years

Ah now c'mon, don't let your bias and love for Bravo's cloud your judgement ya fanboi ya....:pac:

L-M

Once it's been minded in what sense? Once someone else has replaced everything that goes wrong? Lol

How can a car be "minded" bar routine servicing and cleaning? Which would have no effect on the fact that they're crap cars, not to mind horrendously ugly inside and out.

dgt

Limerick man wrote: »

Once it's been minded in what sense? Once someone else has replaced everything that goes wrong? Lol

How can a car be "minded" bar routine servicing and cleaning? Which would have no effect on the fact that they're crap cars, not to mind horrendously ugly inside and out.

Once its had basic servicing ie someone has had it that doesn't have the whole "I win't bother minding it cos it's a Fiat" attitude. As we both know, too many people skimp on these basic things, thus giving the brand a bad name

Crap cars you say? On what basis? Ever own one, work on one? Buy parts for one?

Do you know why the hg lets go on these cars?

Some have ugly purple seats but at least not bland like golfs...

dgt

166man wrote: »

Ah now c'mon, don't let your bias and love for Bravo's cloud your judgement ya fanboi ya....:pac:

Not letting it cloud a bit... I'm genuinely interested to hear why people think so poorly of them.

It must really annoy some posters that I stand up for Fiat, I quite like the brand and model

L-M

No, the only time I ever even sat in one was to steer it out of way of a door after it over heated. Horrible cars.

dgt

Limerick man wrote: »

No, the only time I ever even sat in one was to steer it out of way of a door after it over heated. Horrible cars.

So you never owned one. Never worked on one. All information based on hearsay and not fact. Surprise surprise!

What gives the right to call them horrible cars then? Tell me why they're horrible, what makes them horrible to you. Is it because its a Fiat?

At least I can base my posts on years of experience and not just a brief encounter

MidlandsM

dgt wrote: »

Not good enough. What went wrong, how often did they have problems, depreciated fast etc etc would be a lot more informative.

what bollox is this "not good enough" stuff, I don't have to post anything to you...you are nothing to me here.........nothing......

and re; what went wrong.........from memory..........everything.....they're ****....and I managed over 90 of the sh!tboxes......

you need to cop on....

dgt

MidlandsM wrote: »

what bollox is this "not good enough" stuff, I don't have to post anything to you...you are nothing to me here.........nothing......

and re; what went wrong.........from memory..........everything.....they're ****....and I managed over 90 of the sh!tboxes......

you need to cop on....

Oh, don't get mad now! :rolleyes:

All I asked was what went wrong. A valid reason wasn't given. Pointed that out.

Everything is rather vague now isn't it.... :rolleyes:

Backfire

dgt wrote: »

So you never owned one. Never worked on one. All information based on hearsay and not fact. Surprise surprise!

What gives the right to call them horrible cars then? Tell me why they're horrible, what makes them horrible to you. Is it because its a Fiat?

At least I can base my posts on years of experience and not just a brief encounter

Well i personally cannot comment on the bravo, never owned one. However i have respect for fiat after my 4 years of ownership of a 99' fiat punto (last of the mk1, new model came out end of that year right?)

Anyway i rarely had a problem with the punto, i always ensured the basic weekly checks were right such as oil level, coolant, etc.

I also agree with the idea that one cannot comment on a car maker and a particular model unless he/she owned one for some time.

Toyotafanboi

16v 1.2 in that bravo too... cuntos at the time were only 8v weren't they?

that car looks dogged and riddled with dents. but in general, and i have no love for fiats whatsoever, but i like the bravos and i reckon i would drive one (if there were no toyotas available :P). handsome enough, cheap, probably a decent spec of electronics, parts are ten a penny etc...

dgt

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

16v 1.2 in that bravo too... cuntos at the time were only 8v weren't they?

that car looks dogged and riddled with dents. but in general, and i have no love for fiats whatsoever, but i like the bravos and i reckon i would drive one (if there were no toyotas available :P). handsome enough, cheap, probably a decent spec, parts are ten a penny etc...

Yes, never an 8v 1.2 in a Bravo. Punto had both an 8v and 16v

colm_mcm

I had one and tbh they weren't great. Only reason I bought one at the time (1 year old) was you could buy them for half of what a 1 year old golf cost at the time (no joke)
I did a few head gaskets and went through a few gearboxes. Few electrical faults like central locking, electric sunroof went wallop, did a few starter motors etc.
it wasn't disastrous, but I know well a corolla wouldn't have had the issues the fiat had. I didn't want a corolla though.

166man

dgt wrote: »

Not letting it cloud a bit... I'm genuinely interested to hear why people think so poorly of them.

It must really annoy some posters that I stand up for Fiat, I quite like the brand and model

Swap that with Alfa and it's how I feel...:D

I like Fiats, really like 'em. They're different and Fiat do small cars very well. Never actually been in the Bravo though.

According to some users on here though, you don't have to have owned a car to be able to comment on it though! I think you do.

dgt

colm_mcm wrote: »

I had one and tbh they weren't great. Only reason I bought one at the time (1 year old) was you could buy them for half of what a 1 year old golf cost at the time (no joke)
I did a few head gaskets and went through a few gearboxes. Few electrical faults like central locking, electric sunroof went wallop, did a few starter motors etc.
it wasn't disastrous, but I know well a corolla wouldn't have had the issues the fiat had. I didn't want a corolla though.

Diffs are a weak point, bonded together as opposed to bolted. Central locking happened to me too but on only one of the cars, rest worked well. Standard door handles are crap though...

I find the HG a bit strange though, shouldn't have gone on such a new car. Once there is coolant, changed every 2 years and doesn't get overheated they shouldn't give any problems.

It happened to me, thermostat pipe blew and the HG let go a few months later

Mister Jingles

Dont know of the Bravo's but I know of four Brava's three 1.2 HSX models and a 1.4 12v SX that had F all go wrong with them (no engine issues or electrical). If a decent one came up for sale I'd be tempted and would probably have one over a Punto any day. Saying that they were a dated design at the start of the noughties but I wouldn't let that put me off.

colm_mcm

The plastic flaking off the door handles and mirror panel didn't affect reliability so I didn't mention that

Diffs and synchromeshs were the culprits in my gearbox failures (3 as far as I remember)

One HGF was between 2 cylinders as opposed to coolant leaking. Caused a misfire. Can't remember what the other one was.

One HGF (last one) was caused by me driving through a flood and cold air intake hoovered it all up. Needed all sorts after that episode. That would have happened on any car to be fair.

dgt

colm_mcm wrote: »

The plastic flaking off the door handles and mirror panel didn't affect reliability so I didn't mention that

Diffs and synchromeshs were the culprits in my gearbox failures (3 as far as I remember)

They come apart internally, the shaft becomes unbonded and allows the gears to slip out or locks the whole diff. Happened to me twice, one lost drive and the other locked up with no reverse. I ended up using a later 6 speed box from a 03 ish Sporting with redesigned diff and there were no problems

colm_mcm wrote: »

One HGF was between 2 cylinders as opposed to coolant leaking. Caused a misfire. Can't remember what the other one was.

That usually happens when the engine gets overheated. Some factory water pumps failed, allowing overheating, warping the head enough to put pressure on a weak point of the gasket

L-M

I have nothiflng against Fiat, one on my favourite and the nicest car I have driven is a Fiat, doesn't take away from the fact that they're a poor car.

I've walked passed many a busted Bravo and scrapped, and for good reason.

I can't understand why you defend such ****e, you're well capable of stripping rebuilding one so you're perfectly entitled to own one, but to honestly recommend one to Joe Soap who only has X amount to spend and couldn't change a bulb for his life is a joke.

road_high

Love to know how the newer Bravo (07 on) is going? I like the look of them and seem like really good value for what you get? Surely in this day and age they have the build quality issues sorted?
What are they like?

colm_mcm

mfitzy wrote: »

Love to know how the newer Bravo (07 on) is going? I like the look of them and seem like really good value for what you get? Surely in this day and age they have the build quality issues sorted?
What are they like?

They're probably grand, I was thinking if getting one from the uk but they're so dull and the interior is pretty nasty. No reason to buy one over say an astra or whatever.

CiniO

I have one (01 Bravo 1.2).
At the moment it's over 11 years old and had about 130k miles on the clock.
Beside from fact that exhaust had to be changed as it started falling apart, and suspension needed plenty of attention (Front wishbones, antirollbar links, tie rods, rear arm upper mounting bushes) I didn't have any problems with it.

I also added Eibach springs and mounted strut brace to it.

If someone says that nearly all suspension rebulild is much, then I say bullsh1t.
Every car has some weaknesses, and bravo's weakness is suspension.
No car can do 130k miles without anything braking really, even toyotas.

Also this car has no easy life with me.
I'm rallying it hard on country roads. Engine is very often run to 5000 to 6000rpm and often kept at high revs.

Even all the above it's working grand, it's all keeping in one piece. It's not burning a drop of oil. It's not leaking any other liquid. It went through all it's NCT without any problems for all years I owned it (which is nearly 5 years now).

Generally I can say it's the best car I've ever owned that gave me the littlest amount of trouble and that cost me as little as possible to maintain. And which is also giving me plenty of fun driving (due to Eibach suspension).

colm_mcm

I forgot, went through so many flexible exhaust joints too due to them being the lowest point underneath.

L-M

Also funny that at 998 euro its one of the dearest for sale in the country!

dgt

Limerick man wrote: »

I have nothiflng against Fiat, one on my favourite and the nicest car I have driven is a Fiat, doesn't take away from the fact that they're a poor car.

I've walked passed many a busted Bravo and scrapped, and for good reason.

I can't understand why you defend such ****e, you're well capable of stripping rebuilding one so you're perfectly entitled to own one, but to honestly recommend one to Joe Soap who only has X amount to spend and couldn't change a bulb for his life is a joke.

I think that's the problem tbh.

The way I look at it is I can take a car with such a poor reputation and turn it into something decent.

It cost about 600 to build the van including the purchase as a scrap car and paint. A lot of new pieces went into it. A rather tight budget. I drove it for 16000 miles. A rather thirsty car with a heavy right foot even if it is a 1.2.

By the end, with all the work I put in I was constantly afraid of something happening to it on the roads. Sure it wasn't perfect outside but that wasn't the point. Only the front subframe, rack and column hadn't been touched.

The other one here is still going strong. 138k miles on the clock and climbing. Plenty of life in it yet

I'm sure the ones you saw were fit for scrap, no doubt. Those kind of examples are all too common. It's only when you get into a well minded one you see the difference...

Limerick man wrote: »

Also funny that at 998 euro its one of the dearest for sale in the country!

It is way too expensive. 800 would be more realistic and even then still too expensive

coylemj

The darkened rear side windows and the speakers/woofers on the back shelf would put anyone off that particular model.

dgt

coylemj wrote: »

The darkened rear side windows and the speakers/woofers on the back shelf would put anyone off that particular model.

It's fairly crabby all round, lots of dents. The tail light bulbs are totally gone on the right, fogs on but no tail light

r3nu4l

Didn't the Bravo go through two iterations. IIRC the first one was replaced by the Stilo and the second Bravo (still selling) replaced the Stilo.

I like the look of the new Bravo. I did own a 1.2 Stilo at one point though and in that car at least, the engine was waaaaay too underpowered

dgt

r3nu4l wrote: »

Didn't the Bravo go through two iterations. IIRC the first one was replaced by the Stilo and the second Bravo (still selling) replaced the Stilo.

I like the look of the new Bravo. I did own a 1.2 Stilo at one point though and in that car at least, the engine was waaaaay too underpowered

Yes. 2 incarnations of the 1st one (facelift in late 98 with a new range of engines)

That engine should never have been in the Stilo imo

wonski

CiniO wrote: »

I have one (01 Bravo 1.2).
At the moment it's over 11 years old and had about 130k miles on the clock.
Beside from fact that exhaust had to be changed as it started falling apart, and suspension needed plenty of attention (Front wishbones, antirollbar links, tie rods, rear arm upper mounting bushes) I didn't have any problems with it.

I also added Eibach springs and mounted strut brace to it.

If someone says that nearly all suspension rebulild is much, then I say bullsh1t.
Every car has some weaknesses, and bravo's weakness is suspension.
No car can do 130k miles without anything braking really, even toyotas.

Also this car has no easy life with me.
I'm rallying it hard on country roads. Engine is very often run to 5000 to 6000rpm and often kept at high revs.

Even all the above it's working grand, it's all keeping in one piece. It's not burning a drop of oil. It's not leaking any other liquid. It went through all it's NCT without any problems for all years I owned it (which is nearly 5 years now).

Generally I can say it's the best car I've ever owned that gave me the littlest amount of trouble and that cost me as little as possible to maintain. And which is also giving me plenty of fun driving (due to Eibach suspension).

The fact that most of those cars are already scrapped means you are lucky with yours. I had one, and it wasn't best car. Spent more than I should on fixing it. I replaced most of the things, offered it for free to my brother, and he needed only few weeks to replace other parts.
It was ok to drive, but reliability wasn't there. Know two people who had them, and they think the same.
I like Fiats, but this model wasn't exactly the best.

BTW The Car of the Year award should be awarded 2 years after car hits the market.

coylemj

dgt wrote: »

Yes. 2 incarnations of the 1st one (facelift in late 98 with a new range of engines)

+1 The original basic (SX) model had a 1.4 12V engine, after the midlife facelift it was a 1.2 16V.

wonski

dgt wrote: »

Yes. 2 incarnations of the 1st one (facelift in late 98 with a new range of engines)

That engine should never have been in the Stilo imo

Drove 1.4 new model(2007) Bravo recently, and they did it again.
90 BHP engine for this car is not enough - it had sportseats, and 17-18" wheels:rolleyes:

CiniO

I think that lots of bad name for bravo came from early version with 1.4 engine.
This was one of the worst engines of the 90's and was being put into bravos from 1995 to 1998, when it was replaced by 1.2 engine (which IMHO is one of the best fiat engines of the 90s, maybe together with 1.1 from cinquecento/seicento) which i think is used up to today in panda's.

Anyway - as in Ireland always the smalles engines are the most popular, probably 95% of bravos between 95 and 98 were 1.4 and unfortunately they didn't last long. That probably gave bad name to bravos.

In other countries where 1.4 was rare, and most people would go for 1.6 or 1.8 bravo opinion was much better.

wonski

coylemj wrote: »

+1 The original basic (SX) model had a 1.4 12V engine, after the midlife facelift it was a 1.2 16V.

1.2 was much better, and a little bit stronger than 1.4 12v, the new one added some reliability to the range...

Celly Smunt

I have 2 of them sitting in the garden now,1.2 regularly serviced,180,000 miles all it needed was shocks and tires and a 2.0 HGT (it's a mover) 120,000 miles looked after the same as the 1.2.

Moral of the story,i looked after them and they're still as sweet as a nut,Cam belts are fairly notorious however.If you were buying it 5 years ago or so i would have advised you to jump on it.However that bravo looks a bit worse for wear and i'd advise against it.They are great cars to have from an early age and maintained,but to buy 10-12 years on with no first hand experience i'd forget it.

wonski

CiniO wrote: »

I think that lots of bad name for bravo came from early version with 1.4 engine.
This was one of the worst engines of the 90's and was being put into bravos from 1995 to 1998, when it was replaced by 1.2 engine (which IMHO is one of the best fiat engines of the 90s, maybe together with 1.1 from cinquecento/seicento) which i think is used up to today in panda's.

Anyway - as in Ireland always the smalles engines are the most popular, probably 95% of bravos between 95 and 98 were 1.4 and unfortunately they didn't last long. That probably gave bad name to bravos.

In other countries where 1.4 was rare, and most people would go for 1.6 or 1.8 bravo opinion was much better.

You are right
GT in here was 1.6

On the continent it was 1.8 iirc

CiniO

wonski wrote: »

The fact that most of those cars are already scrapped means you are lucky with yours. I had one, and it wasn't best car. Spent more than I should on fixing it. I replaced most of the things, offered it for free to my brother, and he needed only few weeks to replace other parts.
It was ok to drive, but reliability wasn't there. Know two people who had them, and they think the same.
I like Fiats, but this model wasn't exactly the best.

BTW The Car of the Year award should be awarded 2 years after car hits the market.

What enigine version did you have? 1.2?

I wouldn't call my car lucky.

I bought it with full service history, and I keep it serviced regularly.
I think that makes a huge difference.

What were the problems with your car?

CiniO

wonski wrote: »

You are right
GT in here was 1.6

On the continent it was 1.8 iirc

Exactly.
On the continent 1.8 wag GT, and 2.0 was HGT.
1.6 was everyday car that most people were choosing as it wasn't much more expensive than 1.4

It Ireland 1.4 was nearly the only option.
1.6 is rare, and I don't think i've ever seen any 1.8 or 2.0 in any ads in Ireland for sale (at least in one piece).

wonski

CiniO wrote: »

What enigine version did you have? 1.2?

I wouldn't call my car lucky.

I bought it with full service history, and I keep it serviced regularly.
I think that makes a huge difference.

What were the problems with your car?

1.2 it was.

Diff went after few weeks. Replaced gearbox. Starter failed from time to time. Gave it a knock from time to time so it turned. Had to push it few times with some help...Replaced the starter motor, failed again after some time. It was an electrical fault, had to run extra wires to make it work.
Fuel cap wouldn't close, rear wiper not working, rear screen washer not working, revs jumping up/down for no reason...
Honestly i put lot of faith, and even more money in this car, but at some point you have to get rid of car like this.
After my brother took it over, HG gone in few weeks.
Some cowboy put the new one upside down, engine seized (is there any other manufacturer that allows for this to be possible???)
Anyway, i am not saying you can't find a good one, but since there are 5 maybe 10 on Donedeal, i assume most of them gave up at this time. Car that did not stay on the roads for 10 years, cannot be considered to be reliable, even if the one you own is.

Celly Smunt

CiniO wrote: »

Exactly.
On the continent 1.8 wag GT, and 2.0 was HGT.
1.6 was everyday car that most people were choosing as it wasn't much more expensive than 1.4

It Ireland 1.4 was nearly the only option.
1.6 is rare, and I don't think i've ever seen any 1.8 or 2.0 in any ads in Ireland for sale (at least in one piece).

I got my HGT from england in 2005 or so,i reckon that's the only place you can get them from to here.Has a full alfa tan leather interior,a tear drops my eyes driving in it sometimes

wonski

CiniO wrote: »

Exactly.
On the continent 1.8 wag GT, and 2.0 was HGT.
1.6 was everyday car that most people were choosing as it wasn't much more expensive than 1.4

It Ireland 1.4 was nearly the only option.
1.6 is rare, and I don't think i've ever seen any 1.8 or 2.0 in any ads in Ireland for sale (at least in one piece).

There was one 1.6 in bangeromics some time ago. In Ireland sold as GT.
Not sure if HGT was sold here at all, but if it was, i wouldn't be suprised if it was 1.8.