Fiat Multipla - the ugly/cute one......talk to me
Fiat Multipla - the ugly/cute one......talk to me
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Discussion

dave_s13

Original Poster:

14,028 posts

299 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
Now then.

I'm in a position where I need to free up some cash and thinking about selling my 52 plate Volvo V70 D5 and replacing it with something cheaper. No I won't sell my motorbike!

So I went to AT stuck in a 20mile search, estate, manual, 3k max and this little beauty/ugly duckling pops up...


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Noe I know the looks are very (VERY) subjective but I've got to admit that I really like them.
What are they like as a day to day family bus though? For info we have a 2yr old, one on the way and a dog. I also like to have a car that I can fill with cr@p from time to time and stick my mountain bike in too. I have no need for speed or pin sharp handling, my Honda Blackbird ticks the fun box.

Are they sheeit?

Arthur Jackson

2,111 posts

260 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
We had one a few years back.
It did everything we wanted it to with sharp handling too!!
Brilliant for kids. Great big and low windows, acres of space. Proper seatbelts, fold the centre middle seat down and Mum and Dad are easy to communicate with. Reliable, economical, certainly quick enough with the JTD. No multiseater to compare once you factor in the ability to park it in a space shorter than most estates.

Oh, and anyone who thinks they are ugly simply doesn't get the styling. Why look like everyone else!!!?

Kiltox

14,864 posts

188 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
How much money do you realistically expect to free up by selling a diesel estate that you know the history of to buy another unknown diesel ?

Bill

58,687 posts

285 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
Kiltox said:
How much money do you realistically expect to free up by selling a diesel estate that you know the history of to buy another unknown diesel ?
This.

They are meant to be surprisingly good to drive and basically sound but you can expect electrical niggles. We're looking at one as SWMBO's next car.

Kiltox

14,864 posts

188 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
Fair play if you buy one though - we'd be boring sleep if we all drove dull resale grey German numbers.

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

234 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
I am thinking about one as my next car/van

Can they run on bio-diesel?

Kiltox

14,864 posts

188 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
thinfourth2 said:
I am thinking about one as my next car/van

Can they run on bio-diesel?
If the 1.9 JTD engine in this is related to the GM/Fiat engine in the Astra/Vectra etc I wouldn't mess with it

XitUp

7,690 posts

234 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
thinfourth2 said:
I am thinking about one as my next car/van

Can they run on bio-diesel?
You can convert them to run on svo.
http://www.biomotors.co.uk/CarsVansD.html#Fiat

I'm in the 'ugly but unusual > dull' camp.

Bonefish Blues

36,554 posts

253 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
Serious contender in this household as our next sensible car, too

Liquid Knight

15,754 posts

213 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
Brilliant bits of kit as a family wagon. But the Diesel is the one to go for as the 100bhp 1.6 is a bit stressed. The semi-spaceframed constrction and modular engine and gear box means the chassis can take a Coupe' 16V turbo engine quite easilly and makes a brilliant sleeper. wink


Bill

58,687 posts

285 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
Crikey, they'll be an appreciating classic before long biggrin

dave_s13

Original Poster:

14,028 posts

299 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
Kiltox said:
How much money do you realistically expect to free up by selling a diesel estate that you know the history of to buy another unknown diesel ?
It's a fair question and it is not particularly savvy of me to do this given I've spent over a grand on it (tyres, big service, MOT, tax etc) over the last 12 months but it's ot an exercise in reducing running costs as such I just need to free up a bit of cash to fund something else.

I don't really need to sell it but it's the preferred way of freeing up some dosh.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2869445.htm

If I can get somewhere near that for it, it'll be worth while.....probably smile


Liking the positive responses anyway, glad to hear they not to shabby to drive.

jaibk

110 posts

202 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
i bought one about three weeks ago:



3 owners, loads of history, 63k miles, most and tax for £1200. we'd been looking for a while, and i do actually really like the shape, the practicality is a major bonus! has been pressed into service almost immediately as wife went into labour the night we got it, ended up doing 700 odd miles in first 6 days, then airport runs for family, etc. has been very comfy, happy to sit solid on teh motorway, nippy round town, and huge when we need to lug stuff about.

the standard radio is a bit poo, so swapped that out, and it needed a damned good clean as previous owner had three kids, but other than that, it's been everything we wanted.

Kiltox

14,864 posts

188 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
dave_s13 said:
It's a fair question and it is not particularly savvy of me to do this given I've spent over a grand on it (tyres, big service, MOT, tax etc) over the last 12 months but it's ot an exercise in reducing running costs as such I just need to free up a bit of cash to fund something else.

I don't really need to sell it but it's the preferred way of freeing up some dosh.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2869445.htm

If I can get somewhere near that for it, it'll be worth while.....probably smile


Liking the positive responses anyway, glad to hear they not to shabby to drive.
So £2000 surplus - what happens if the Fiat needs £1000+ spent on it after a couple of months? smile

dave_s13

Original Poster:

14,028 posts

299 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
I'm fvcked biggrin

Or I'll have to get my spanners out.

We've got another car as back up though.

Kiltox

14,864 posts

188 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
dave_s13 said:
I'm fvcked biggrin
Excellent PH response when considering a car purchase - get it bought hehe


Pooh

3,693 posts

283 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
I had one for almost six years and it was great, they are surprisingly good fun to drive and the 3x3 seating is very useful. Mine was decently reliable but they do get through front suspension bushes and I had to replace the MAF and EGR valve.
I would say go for it but check it over carefully, they are getting on a bit now and many have had a hard life.

Bonefish Blues

36,554 posts

253 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
Kiltox said:
So £2000 surplus - what happens if the Fiat needs £1000+ spent on it after a couple of months? smile
Could you spend this much on a Multipla, I wonder?

Kiltox

14,864 posts

188 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
Bonefish Blues said:
Could you spend this much on a Multipla, I wonder?
Depends on that engine and gearbox - again, I don't know if it's the same as the newer GM/Fiat 1.9 but if it is, easily and then some

Bonefish Blues

36,554 posts

253 months

Saturday 28th May 2011
quotequote all
Kiltox said:
Bonefish Blues said:
Could you spend this much on a Multipla, I wonder?
Depends on that engine and gearbox - again, I don't know if it's the same as the newer GM/Fiat 1.9 but if it is, easily and then some
2 flavours of diesel in the Multipla:
1.9L JTD I4 diesel
1.9L Multijet I4 diesel
Which is the bad 'un?