1998 Fiat Bravo S review from UK and Ireland

Slightly uneven/hesitant acceleration from new. Not serious enough to worry about, but reported at 12k service. Dealer recommended and supplied fuel additive to clean lambda sensor. Seemed to help, but quickly reverted.

At 14k, car refused to start, towed to dealer, who replaced plugs, reckons I flooded it. Possibly true but I am a little concerned that the engine is still a little uneven, and although it starts 1st time, it doesn't always sound as though it's going to!

Front tyres and brake pads replaced at 15k miles. Discs also supposedly within 0.1mm of spec, but not replaced this time. Rear washer tube blew off after use when frozen - I fixed this, but front and rear washers now work in tandem! WHY?!!

Lovely driver's car, spoilt by suspect reliability and costs. A little firm and the handling, though sharp, is flawed. The professionals claim the steering and brakes are over-assisted but they suit me personally much better than those of, say, the Focus. I do find the performance a little lacking, though the engine is lovely to rev, so good progress if driven eagerly. Heating & ventilation superb for this class, though A/C is becoming the norm now.

I got the car for a good price, and insurance is low, but the fuel consumption, tyre and (especially) brake wear are all a little high. Perhaps the latter reflect my driving style and the country roads I use, but I suspect that with depreciation it's not going to prove to be particularly cheap to run.

Like all Fiats (I've used 131s, Uno, Marea and Bravo extensively) the simpler the better, and I don't think I'd have been so impressed had I splashed out on something higher up the range.