RE: SOTW: Fiat Tipo 2.0ie 16v
Discussion
VeeFour said:
Bertelli... that is stunning. Bet you regret selling it now?
I don't regret selling it - as I said earlier in the thread I did 50k miles in 5 years of ownership. Of all the cars I've owned it is the one I have the fondest memories of. When I owned it I was sometimes approached by middle aged men who would say they used to own one & tell me what a great car it was. It was like they were remembering a dear and departed friend - now I know how they feel. Its like remembering an ex girlfriend and all the fun & exciting times but you know, deep down, you should never go back.
I had a 1992 grey 5 door one. I thought it was an excellent car and very few people seemed to know what it was.
The engine was superb, very willing and seemed to beg to be revved with a smoothness not often found on 4 cylinder engines. They also sounded quite "throaty" as only the Italian 4's can be!
The handling was also very good for a FWD hatch, much better than my GTE 16v.
The gearbox could be better but maybe mine wasn't the best example.
The engine was superb, very willing and seemed to beg to be revved with a smoothness not often found on 4 cylinder engines. They also sounded quite "throaty" as only the Italian 4's can be!
The handling was also very good for a FWD hatch, much better than my GTE 16v.
The gearbox could be better but maybe mine wasn't the best example.
Rammy76 said:
...The engine was superb... with a smoothness not often found on 4 cylinder engines...
The Italians like to fit a balancer shaft, or twin-balancer shafts (e.g. the Integrale/Fiat Coupe engine, to name but one) to smooth out the inherent inbalance of I4 motors. Does anyone know if the Tipo 1.8ie or 2.0ie motors were so equipped??joz8968 said:
The Italians like to fit a balancer shaft, or twin-balancer shafts (e.g. the Integrale/Fiat Coupe engine, to name but one) to smooth out the inherent inbalance of I4 motors. Does anyone know if the Tipo 1.8ie or 2.0ie motors were so equipped??
The Sporting Fiats Club reckon the Tipo 16v engine is the same as the lump in the Lancia Thema, which did have balancer shafts.joz8968 said:
Rammy76 said:
...The engine was superb... with a smoothness not often found on 4 cylinder engines...
The Italians like to fit a balancer shaft, or twin-balancer shafts (e.g. the Integrale/Fiat Coupe engine, to name but one) to smooth out the inherent inbalance of I4 motors. Does anyone know if the Tipo 1.8ie or 2.0ie motors were so equipped??I think one of the reasons the press liked it so much was becuase it was launched at a time when some of the big name hot hatches went of the boil, VW had lost the plot big time with the mk3 Golf gti and the mk3 Astra gsi was shockingly disappointing with its jelly like chasis and the common ecu faults (which Vauxhall still havent learnt how to make good to this day on new cars!).
The Sedicivalvole had great midrange throttle response and the handling was very well balanced and wouldnt bite like other old skool hot hatches. The chasis could easily cope with the standard power plant and the brakes were awesome. I loved mine whislt I had it, would I buy another.... no, would I buy another Fiat.... probably not.
The Sedicivalvole had great midrange throttle response and the handling was very well balanced and wouldnt bite like other old skool hot hatches. The chasis could easily cope with the standard power plant and the brakes were awesome. I loved mine whislt I had it, would I buy another.... no, would I buy another Fiat.... probably not.
First new car I bought was a 1.6DGT. Wonderful vehicle at the time, would cruise at 150+*. Huge amount of room inside. Sold it on to my sister at 6 years old in pretty much perfect condition when I moved on to an Alfa 145 Cloverleaf, bought from the same dealer, who was still rubbish.
Cue the lurking posts.
Cue the lurking posts.
- but only if you switched the display to kph
I much prefer the 5dr, it had 5bhp more, the alloys were more distinctive albeit a pain for corroding, it also had a nicer interior with the MOMO wheel with red leather band. Am i right in saying that you couldn't get Recaro's with the 3dr?
I had a 1992 red 5dr back in the mid 90s, I loved it, the handling and roadholding were it's stand outs, the dash was cool with lots of dials and red needles plus the aforementionned wheel - the gearknob was a horrible rubbery lump though!
As a spotty youth I remember running mine with the airbox lid removed, it sounded awesome!
I actually saw one on the south coast yesterday with the rear roof spoiler, I always wanted one of those on mine.
Personally I wouldn't have a 3dr but would give more than a grand for a nice 5dr, there really is something about them that gets under your skin, I replaced mine with a 145 Cloverleaf which was untimately a better car but it's the Fiat I miss the most.
I had a 1992 red 5dr back in the mid 90s, I loved it, the handling and roadholding were it's stand outs, the dash was cool with lots of dials and red needles plus the aforementionned wheel - the gearknob was a horrible rubbery lump though!
As a spotty youth I remember running mine with the airbox lid removed, it sounded awesome!
I actually saw one on the south coast yesterday with the rear roof spoiler, I always wanted one of those on mine.
Personally I wouldn't have a 3dr but would give more than a grand for a nice 5dr, there really is something about them that gets under your skin, I replaced mine with a 145 Cloverleaf which was untimately a better car but it's the Fiat I miss the most.
the company i work for has a fleet of 40 3 series BMWs all under a year old, there is at least 5 of them a week in the garage for some sort of issue???
all cars have their problems, even the ones certain demographics think are the best
rather have a FIAT, lancia etc anyday than any bland german rubbish
excellent shed
all cars have their problems, even the ones certain demographics think are the best
rather have a FIAT, lancia etc anyday than any bland german rubbish
excellent shed
johnpeat said:
All it tells me is that the drivers/owners are the sort of people to complain about faults - and not everyone does that (you'd be amazed what some people will put up with or completely ignore).
Example: I have a loan-car outside whilst my car is being rewired. It's an X-Reg 406 HDi and it's regular user says it's one of the nicest cars he's driven as a 'wafting along barge' sort of thing - it cost him pennies and he wants it back ASAP
It is, indeed, comfy and smooth and massively roomy (I'm tall and I rattle around in it). Only snag is that it steers-right alarmingly when you let go of the steering wheel and you can't turn the radio off!!! The owner didn't notice either of these things in 3 months of ownership - I noticed them inside 2 minutes.
I'm not saying every FIAT owner is picky or a whinger but I AM saying that a lot of the stories you hear come from that sort of person and if that sort of person happens to have a local FIAT dealer (or indeed ANY car) then...
Example: I have a loan-car outside whilst my car is being rewired. It's an X-Reg 406 HDi and it's regular user says it's one of the nicest cars he's driven as a 'wafting along barge' sort of thing - it cost him pennies and he wants it back ASAP
It is, indeed, comfy and smooth and massively roomy (I'm tall and I rattle around in it). Only snag is that it steers-right alarmingly when you let go of the steering wheel and you can't turn the radio off!!! The owner didn't notice either of these things in 3 months of ownership - I noticed them inside 2 minutes.
I'm not saying every FIAT owner is picky or a whinger but I AM saying that a lot of the stories you hear come from that sort of person and if that sort of person happens to have a local FIAT dealer (or indeed ANY car) then...
joz8968 said:
Although not a 'fashionable' shape now, I've always rather liked its aesthetic - has a 'thuggish', purposeful air. Very Italian...
...Looks fab in black.
Well, VAG plagiarised it & gave it a wider footprint & it became the Golf V and the Delta became the A3. Suddenly it was a wonderfully German-clever piece of plank-sharing & not a slightly unfairly criticised Italian road rocket......Looks fab in black.
Edited by joz8968 on Friday 1st July 21:47
Having said that, it was at the time considered a bit staid after the mad Ritmo 130 Abarth though. But when have FIATs not been unfairly slagged off by the unwashed? 1960s?
Black S2K said:
joz8968 said:
Although not a 'fashionable' shape now, I've always rather liked its aesthetic - has a 'thuggish', purposeful air. Very Italian...
...Looks fab in black.
Well, VAG plagiarised it & gave it a wider footprint & it became the Golf V and the Delta became the A3. Suddenly it was a wonderfully German-clever piece of plank-sharing & not a slightly unfairly criticised Italian road rocket......Looks fab in black.
Edited by joz8968 on Friday 1st July 21:47
Having said that, it was at the time considered a bit staid after the mad Ritmo 130 Abarth though. But when have FIATs not been unfairly slagged off by the unwashed? 1960s?
erm - did someone else already post this??
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-FIAT-TIPO-16V-IE-WH...
Same advert text - even same mobile number but a different reg no/front grille/no spots!?
Did I miss a memo or do they replicate?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-FIAT-TIPO-16V-IE-WH...
Same advert text - even same mobile number but a different reg no/front grille/no spots!?
Did I miss a memo or do they replicate?
Edited by johnpeat on Sunday 3rd July 02:13
VeeFour said:
Smike said:
So you're sort of agreeing with me then? 
It was certainly well over 2 years anyway. Astra GTE 16v was out around May 88 and the Tipo Sedicivalvole about late 91
Ahhh, OK. Always thought the 16v was available earlier than that.It was certainly well over 2 years anyway. Astra GTE 16v was out around May 88 and the Tipo Sedicivalvole about late 91
I was quite a fan of the Tipo too never got to try one, seemed equally as quick as my GTE though having met up with many of them on the road back in the day.
Edited by sandys on Sunday 3rd July 11:42
Edited by sandys on Sunday 3rd July 11:45
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