FIAT - More reliable than VW, Audi, BMW & Mercedes !!!
FIAT - More reliable than VW, Audi, BMW & Mercedes !!!
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anonymous-user

Original Poster:

75 months

Friday 12th August 2011
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The initial message was deleted from this topic on 10 October 2019 at 11:28

valiant1

13,036 posts

181 months

Friday 12th August 2011
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All I can say is that I've owned 2 fiats (punto - 3 years, stilo - 6 years) and they only broke down once each with the same problem - knackered battery.

Would I buy another - yes.


People are quick to jump on a bandwagon and slag a make off without ever owning one and then are surprised when their so-called reliable make keeps breaking down.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

75 months

Friday 12th August 2011
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Ive had 3 fiats and the only real failing was the after service which was terrible with my last one!

stuwalsh

225 posts

174 months

Monday 15th August 2011
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I bought an '02' plate Punto deisel brand new. MD02 ZPO Within the first few months:

Wipers don't park - dealer says RHD problem and did a wiring mod under warranty - failed on two more occasions!

Dip beam goes off when main beam engaged - dealer says RHD problem and did a wiring mod under warranty - intermittent failure for the life of the car

PAS goes off when cornering - dealer unable to trace or replicate problem - did it about once/week for ever!

Failed dipped headlamp bulbs - average life 6 weeks - dealer unable to find fault - you need three hands the size of babies to change the one by the fusebox!

Large gap appeared on sill between front wing and side sill - dealer said OK for the product! - water used to gush in there in rain and end up goodness knows where

FIAT UK customer services - don't answer the phone or reply to letters!

FIAT - Fix It Again Tomorrow

Would I have another? Make your own mind up!

Redlake27

2,255 posts

265 months

Wednesday 17th August 2011
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My last six car brands have been Fiat, Alfa, Porsche, Lotus, Audi, BMW.


Two of these left me stranded by the roadside: Lotus (split hose) and Audi (Twice: coil pack and turbo failure)


One of these brands also had binding brakes, five visits to the garage to fix electrical issues and two visits to fix rattles: Audi

Two of those brands were great, reliable cars but the dealers were condescending and not transparent with invoicing: BMW and Porsche

But the Fiat and Alfa.....best value servicing costs. And no unscheduled work needed.

So yes, I believe the title of the post.

balders118

5,897 posts

189 months

Saturday 20th August 2011
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I had a fiat which lived up to the "fix it again tomorrow" stereotype. TO give some examples , if I hit a bump too hard every single warning light would come on, ABS, traction control etc would all turn off. I'd have to stop/start the car to get it working again.

My airbag light was always on.

A loose connection somwhere in the engine bay casued the engine to just cut out from time to time.

Every now and then I'd go to about 30% power.

Eventually (after only a year of owenership) the headgasket went and I scrapped it, the best thing I ever did for that car! That list could be a lot longer with more general failures like coil springs ect. The car was only 8/9 years old.

daz4m

2,913 posts

216 months

Saturday 20th August 2011
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What frightens me from ever buying one is the inconsistency, this thread seems to highlight that even more.

rb5er

11,657 posts

193 months

Saturday 20th August 2011
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I had a 1999 fiat punto from new. Leaky sunroof that kept leaking even after repairing, constant electrical problems, clutch slave cylinder done under warranty, clutch failed at 30k miles.

Never again.

Targarama

14,710 posts

304 months

Saturday 20th August 2011
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I think Fiat reliability and quality depends on the model. Pandas are built in Poland, and mine has been faultless since I bought it new 4.5 years ago. Our Golf GTi of the same age hasn't been.

mrmr96

13,736 posts

225 months

Saturday 20th August 2011
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Andy20vt said:
Take a look at this list on the link below for more information. Have FIAT improved their reliability significantly or are German made cars becoming less well made than they used to be?

Knowing friends who own Audi's and BMW's I can vouch for the fact that they seem to spend far more time in the garage than my aging FIAT.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-20...
1. What could an ageing Fiat tell you about recent Fiat reliability?

2. I think the difference in % chance of fault between Fiat and say BMW would be more likely to do with i) the level of equipment on the BMW vs. the Fiat, and ii) the fussiness of the owners. I reckon the buyer of cheap car will be more willing to put up with minor faults, than the buyer of a prestige marque.

Zad

12,930 posts

257 months

Saturday 27th August 2011
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Brand Survey in "private buyers never admitting anything ever goes wrong with their car" shocker.