2001 Fiat Seicento Sporting review from UK and Ireland

Clutch cable snapped on first day of purchase - £75.

Synchromesh is on its way out and it's only done 40k! Crap gearbox.

Heater only blows out RED HOT air - it's May!

Exhaust is blowing - surprise, surprise.

Needs a new wiper blade.

Passenger door handle was stiff - WD40.

It's bright yellow, and being the Sporting model, it has a body-kit and alloy wheels. Wow.

The standard tyres are rubbish.

These cars don't handle like go-carts like some people say. It rolls in the bends and the power steering lacks feel.

Although the car only has 54bhp, the close ratio gearbox does make it quite nippy, but it gets noisy over 60. No good for constant motorway

driving. It is a town car anyway.

The synchromesh is a joke though. I can't believe it's knackered after just 40k. Selecting 1st can be a chore, it nearly always grinds when changing down to 4th and 3rd, and reverse is terrible.

As it's summer I drive with the window down, but because of the heater problem I also had to when I bought the car in March, because it just got too hot, even when I turned the blower off.

My favorite thing about the car are the seats. They'rr really comfy and sporty looking, and have the Abarth logo on the headrests. I also like the centre-mounted rev counter. Nothing rattles.

I bought the car from a old lady with full service history, so I was expecting it to be mint...

I imagine the synchro and heater will be rather dear to put right.

This is the first Fiat I've owned, but the experience has put me off buying another.

FIAT - Fix It Again Today.

If you're young and on a tight budget like me, get a Saxo, Clio, Corsa perhaps? Anything! Just not one of these!