Talk to me about Fiat Multiplas

[RosscoPCole]

We are needing a people carrier as we often transport daughter, grandparents and ourselves at the same time. We like the idea of 3 seats at the front as this means we could take the rear seats out and still have room for the 3 of us. Honda FRVs are still out of our price range, especially the diesel, so this leaves a Fiat Multipla. We actually prefer the look of the bug eyed one to the facelift model.
Is there anything we should look out for or is there an alternative that we have not discovered yet?
Thanks in advance.

[itiejim]

We have had our for 4 years and gone from 50 - 94k. It's been generally very reliable, though (as per the FIAT reputation) has thrown up numerous false electrical warnings over the years - none of which actually caused any problems.

We have just bough an S-Max, but tbh I'd have had another Multipla if it weren't for the fact that we now have a 3rd child. It's been very economical (42-50 mpg - much better than the S-Max diesel) and drives well. My in-laws have an FRV which we have used quite regularly when we visit them in Italy. The Honda is significantly less spacious inside but is a more sophisticated and altogether more modern feeling car.

Overall it's been a brilliant family car for us and I'll miss it when it's gone - as it must do shortly...

[fathomfive]

I ran one - a 2001 bug-eye - for about 18k, nothing went wrong in that time. The only 'concern' was a recall for front road springs, which was done by Fiat for nothing. Make sure it's had this done.
Other than that, get the JTD in either 110bhp or 115bhp strengths. The petrol I found was gutless on a test drive. Don't bother with the SX, go for the ELX.

As with any other car of that age, make sure everything electrical works.

They may look 'challenging' but they are a good steer, sitting pretty much 4-square on the road. The amount of glass means good visibility, though that also means you need to make sure the aircon is working

A vastly underrated car due to the looks.

[Ferg]

I can ONLY give positive opinion on ours. It's been fantastic. Reliable, quick enough, handles brilliantly, easy to park yet holds 6 plus luggage. If it has a failing it's the wear on the inside edge of the front tyres, but I'm now tempted to have the tracking set to 0 which seems the solution.

[Leicesterdave]

If you need space I can never understand why you wouldn't get an estate. They generally look better, have a huge boot, great deal of space, well equipped etc.

[Ferg]

Leicesterdave said:

If you need space I can never understand why you wouldn't get an estate. They generally look better, have a huge boot, great deal of space, well equipped etc.

But barely five seats. Most estates have a 'thin' centre rear seat which is not much fun for long journeys. Like the pathetic seats in the rear of the Zafira and Touran. Multipla gives you six, proper, comfortable, adjustable seats.

[RosscoPCole]

Thank you for the replies. It is confirming that we should go for one. How comfortable, seating wise are they 3-up in the front. Can you use a child seat there for when we need van like space?

[Ferg]

RosscoPCole said:

Thank you for the replies. It is confirming that we should go for one. How comfortable, seating wise are they 3-up in the front. Can you use a child seat there for when we need van like space?

The centre seat is just like all the others. It slides for and aft, but can't be removed (quickly, without tools!!). It's got a normal lap and diagonal belt, so child seat fitting would be like any other non-isofix I would imagine.

[fathomfive]

Ferg said:

RosscoPCole said:

Thank you for the replies. It is confirming that we should go for one. How comfortable, seating wise are they 3-up in the front. Can you use a child seat there for when we need van like space?

The centre seat is just like all the others. It slides for and aft, but can't be removed (quickly, without tools!!). It's got a normal lap and diagonal belt, so child seat fitting would be like any other non-isofix I would imagine.

No problem other than a small adjustment in your arm position when changing gear. They are simply huge when all 3 rear seats are out.

[RosscoPCole]

Sounds good. How easy to remove are the rear seats?

[Ferg]

Very.
Remove headrests.
Fold backrest flat.
Tip seat forward.
Disengage front fixing.
No tools.
You even get an alternative fixing point so you can put any or all of the three a bit further forward.

[morgrp]

fathomfive said:

Ferg said:

RosscoPCole said:

Thank you for the replies. It is confirming that we should go for one. How comfortable, seating wise are they 3-up in the front. Can you use a child seat there for when we need van like space?

The centre seat is just like all the others. It slides for and aft, but can't be removed (quickly, without tools!!). It's got a normal lap and diagonal belt, so child seat fitting would be like any other non-isofix I would imagine.

No problem other than a small adjustment in your arm position when changing gear. They are simply huge when all 3 rear seats are out.

I'd be wary of the airbags with childseats in the front esp a rear facing.