1993 Fiat Cinquecento L 850cc

Summary:

VERY frugal but noisy and unrefined, like driving a classic car without the looks, performance

Faults:

Passenger side electric window motor failed.

Oil leak somewhere but never traced!!!

Pipe to expansion tank split (£2.50 to fix).

General Comments:

Very thin metal used throughout so noisy and weak.

As a result of above they are VERY light so use hardly any fuel... :)

The 850cc engine is harsh and noisy, but VERY frugal (mine used almost as much oil as it did fuel - it was like running a 2-stroke by the time I sold it).

Don't expect lively performance (85mph downhill is possible - although this depends on the gradient of the hill).

Interior is basic but functional, and is surprisingly comfortable.

Handling is VERY soft - not helped by tall, thin body and skinny tyres.

Great car if economy and simple mechanics are at the top of your list.

Not so great if you want performance or handling.

Come in some horrible colour combinations (mine was Kermit green - not the official Fiat name for the colour - with a blue and grey interior).

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 10th December, 2012

1993 Fiat Cinquecento SX 899

Summary:

A fun drive, but not very reliable

Faults:

Thermostat failed.

Radiator replaced.

Top and bottom hoses replaced.

Cylinder head gasket failed after about 12000 miles of ownership unbelievably it now needs replacing again and I have lost all faith in this vehicle.

Handbrake needs constant adjustment and has had replacement cable at least once.

Central locking has failed on drivers door, but luckily can still be activated from the passenger side.

Gearbox-enjoy angling? You will with this gearbox as you have to "fish" for every gear in the box and the whole thing is very notchy.

General Comments:

The car is seriously underpowered with the 899cc engine linked to the aforementioned 5 speed notchy gearbox.

I bought this car for my wife as she loved its "dinky" looks. The car is fine for pottering around and using as a shopping trolley, but anything else and it struggles.

The trim and switchgear is fragile and although it has had lots of overheating problems the car is quite fun to drive. Akin to a go kart. Thing is it is basically a very thin tin box and you don't feel very protected when driving it.

It also has no glove box just a shelf to put stuff on which consequently slides all over the place whilst your driving.

The biggest plus point of the car for a FIAT is the bodywork. In years past any FIAT car in the British climate soon started to rust (almost immediately in fact).This particular vehicle is very sound with only a couple of stone chips needing a touch up.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 20th February, 2005

23rd Oct 2009, 17:44

In 2001, I bought a 1993 Cinquecento, with 75000 km on the clock. It soon needed an engine transplant, due to a crack in the cylinder head. Two years later, the new engine blew the head gasket after only 60000 km. That was my final Fiat...

1993 Fiat Cinquecento 899cc

Summary:

The best car I ever had!

Faults:

The fan for the heating does not work.

The speedometer does not work.

Both these faults were present when I bought the car and nothing else has gone wrong since.

General Comments:

I love this car! It's little and cute and looks great. This car has been well cared for by its previous owner.

This car is saving me at least £10 per week in fuel costs compared to my previous car.

Because of its size it's really easy to maneuver in small spaces, great for doing u-turns and three point turns. I have extra space in my garage and it takes less time to wash and polish than a bigger car.

I would highly recommend this little Fiat. I never want to drive anything else!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th January, 2004

1993 Fiat Cinquecento 0.9

Summary:

Small affordable (ha ha) car

Faults:

Radiator broke and began leaking not long after I got the car. It cost approximately £200 to fix.

Seats are wearing badly.

Handbrake broke, still needing to be fixed.

Windscreen Wiper broke and made a large scratch along the windscreen.

Engine molding needs replacing.

General Comments:

This type of car is cheap, fun and a good handler. But too many things have gone wrong with my car in such a short time that I am starting to really dislike it. I paid £900 for it and I have nearly half paid for it again with repairs. I wouldn't advise anyone to buy this particular model.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th August, 2003