1988 Fiat Croma LX review from Germany

I got the car from my parents, who bought it new. After the registration of the valves in the garage at 60.000 km, they started a trip to Italy. After two hundred km the engine blew because all the oil had been squeezed out of the O-rings between cylinders and head: The apprentice in the garage had tightened the bolts that hold together the two parts too much, so three of the four (I think) broke. Result: new engine and my father didn't trust the car (and garage) any more...

Recently (194000 km) the car started choking. My garage changed all the cables and ignition system for a lot of money. Only after a second trip to the garage they found out that the previous garage had mounted wrong spark plugs 5000 km ago.

It started to get wet inside after rain, but I managed to seal the front and rear window with silicone. The rear door still lets some moisture in after heavy rain.

Great car for a family (lots of room), even though it's not really a nice design. It started to get a little rusty lately, no wonder with the Munich winters with the salt on the roads. But I must admit I have neglected the wheelhouse and floor-panels in the last few years as I thought the whole car would not last that long. But it has proven to be a pretty reliable car even in wet or cold periods. The maintenance is not more expensive than for any other car, brakes, exhaust-pipes, nothing unusual. Needs quite a bit of oil though.