1980 Fiat X1/9 review from Australia and New Zealand
"Best handling car ever, otherwise average"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Would stop, particularly in rain.
Wheel bearing.
Cam belt tensioner bearing.
Battery earth strap.
Handbrake cable.
Leaking calipers and clutch slave cylinder.
Rust.
Carpet rotted.
General comments?
Handles like a go cart. Really. You really can't believe a car can handle this well until you've driven one.
Front brakes lock in wet, particularly in emergency braking.
Car was laid up for about 8 years before I bought it, so most of the early problems were due to this. Repairs were cheap and now the car is reliable. Parts are cheap. Some repairs are really hard to do due to access etc.
Passenger space is severely restricted. Taller people would have trouble.
Luggage is surprisingly good, but awkward. Great for soft luggage, poor for lawn mowers and other awkward shapes.
Egress is difficult, especially when my back or knee are playing up.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.3 Manual |
| Performance marks | 1/10 |
| Reliability marks | 5/10 |
| Comfort marks | 10/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 80000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 130000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Holden Torana |
| Date of Entry | 2nd March, 2002 |