1994 Fiat Cinquecento Base review from UK and Ireland
"Fantastic first car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Battery died, but that was partly my fault. Had the door open all day whilst it was repaired and interior light was left on!
Hydraulic tappets needed replacing recently. Very expensive! £15 each and then fitting! Thermostat also needed replacing at the same time, along with oil, water, brake fluid etc.
Handbrake also failed along with the rear brakes.
General comments?
For a 900cc this car is amazing! The acceleration at low speeds is surprisingly fast considering the engine size.
I often use the car on dual carriage-ways and it doesn't struggle at 80mph. Even sits at 90mph occasionally, but not that comfortably.
With a full load of passengers the performance suffers incredibly. The power which was there seems to vanish, but gets up to speed eventually.
Overall, it's a fantastic first car.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 0.9 Manual |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 8/10 |
| Comfort marks | 9/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 3/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 63000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 64800 miles |
| Date of Entry | 8th April, 2003 |