Faults:

New battery.

General Comments:

The Fiat Marea is best car I have ever owned. I might buy a Multipla when it breaks down, but I don't think it will; it just keeps going. It's an incredible car.

Faults:

Air mass sensor was gone when I bought, but I bought it privately and it was a bargain. The air mass sensor was a Bosch part and cost £160 and £62 for fiat to tell me what the problem was. I fitted it myself.

I replaced the anti roll bar drop links, these were very cheap to replace and easy enough to fit.

I get a thunk on taking up gear, and a thunk from the front off side suspension on some speed bumps. It needs to become a lot worse before I can identify exactly what the problem is, fiat told me it was just the anti roll bar drop links which I replaced and half fixed the problem.

General Comments:

I am very pleased with the car.

It was very cheap at £4100. The common rail engine is very good, however I feel it is a little under powered, and I am tempted to get it tuned to 150bhp. I have driven the 110 JTD and it is has a lot more torque although it is a little noisier.

It cruises very well on the motorway doing 84mph at 3000 rpm.

It returns about 48mpg on average.

It does generate a little wind and road noise at speed though.

Faults:

Rear door handle stuck solid and could not open. Not good on an estate car which is used. The part cost about 30 pounds and a spring had seized inside.

Then the drivers door handle snapped on the front part This was a big job to replace as most of the inner door had to come off. Aparently both are known faults by fiat.

The centre console between the drivers seats compartment doesn't shut. The plastic piece snapped and keeps on springing up.

General Comments:

Damn nice comfy ride and a big enough boot to move most items.

The diesel engine can move when it wants and it handle's pretty well for an estate.

Have towed a caravan and a trailer tent with no problems what-so-ever.

Faults:

Drivers door made load clicking noise when opening and closing. This turned out to be just a loose part.

Needed new tires after 24,000 miles.

General Comments:

Decent sized boot with drop down tailgate.

Comfy drive.

Quick for a diesel and good miles to the gallon.

Good amount of electric toys.

Faults:

Handbrake warning light worked occasionally.

Brake-pad warning light never worked.

Window strip at bottom of rear window prevented driver's door from opening when warm.

Stereo broke.

One rear speaker broke.

Trim rattles.

Rust on 3 patches of roof which Fiat agreed to repair.

Remote control key always showed as having low battery even with new ones.

Power steering rack leaked and was replaced.

Paint very soft and scratched easily.

General Comments:

Long after Fiats reputation for rust disappeared, I found 3 large rust spots on my roof, one the size of a 5p coin. Fiat agreed to carry out the repair on a car just over 2 years old. Unfortunately by this time I had lost faith in the car and feared for its longevity.

To drive its hard to imagine it costs so little for an example so young. Mine was just 8 months old with 11000 on the odometer. Cost?... a meagre £7000 with 2 yrs warranty.

A lovely engine and excellent handling packaged in a relatively good looking body.

Brakes are only adequate and poor fuel consumption, unless you drive extremely gently.

I previously owned a Fiat Cinquecento Sporting which in 18 months required only a speedometer cable.

The interior space is limited, but the boot is large.

If you find a good one you'll love it. If you don't, you either put up with minor electrical and trim gremlins or your local dealer will be on first name terms.