1996 Fiat Brava SX review from Israel
"When she is good, she is very very good, but when she is bad she is murder!!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Driver's seat collapsed, had to be replaced.
I am currently on my third battery, as the battery tends to discharge suddenly.
Car overheated and I had to replace the head gasket at 140,000. The fan connects burn out repeatedly.
Alternator failure at 80,000 Km.
Coil (!!) expired at 120,000 Km. I am told this is extremely rare.
Clogged radiator at 145,000 Km.
General comments?
This car drove like a dream (apart from the suddenly dead batteries) until 120,000 Km, when the troubles started. After more than 20,000 Km. of continuous repairs, I think that the troubles can be traced to the cooling system. The combination of a faulty fan connection and a clogged radiator have caused havoc.
My advice to all owners: Have the radiator cleaned and electrical system and connections checked regularly and you should be OK.
Despite all the problems, this car is excellent value for money, and drives well. I think the biggest problem is the poor dealer service in Israel, who seem to be completely incompetent.
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  | Weird looking piece of junk |
| You get what you pay for |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6 Manual |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 6/10 |
| Comfort marks | 8/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 0 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 148000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Mitsubishi Lancer |
| Date of Entry | 17th May, 2001 |