Faults:

My head gasket blew at around 61,000 miles.

The alternator has just packed in at 74,000 miles.

The starter motor went at 70,000.

The windscreen wiper motor stopped at 68,000 miles.

The reversing lights stopped working, due to a worn pin in the gear box, at 62,000 miles.

The horn had stopped working when I bought the car at 60,000 miles.

General Comments:

I love the car. It has loads of room inside, even more than the Volvo 240's have.

The engine has more plenty of pulling power at lower speeds, but lacks any pull in the higher gears.

The interior is plain, but practical in it's layout.

The car handles well for a family car, making the ride smooth and comfortable.

The boot compartment is spacious, but limited by the layout of the frame of the car. A big box, for instance, won't fit even though the boot has the space.

Faults:

When I got the car, the CVT had a problem which is very common. Not a reason to reject the car though, because I had it fixed and it's been excellent since.

Electronic check panel seems to light up when there are no faults! At least it also lights up when there are faults.

Central locking motors need regular attention. Electric window motors required some lubrication.

Car got me a couple of speeding tickets, but I suppose that isn't Fiat's fault.

General Comments:

This car was very good value for money second hand, being a CVT model which are little understood and therefore most people steer clear of them. They have a bad reputation because most of these transmissions do start to go wrong at an early age. BUT they can be easily sorted by any automatic specialist. For someone looking for a car that isn't like everything else on the road, and a roomy and comfortable saloon at that, this is a good choice. As long as you're mechanically aware, that is.

Oh yes, the digital dash, I almost forgot because I'm so used to it. I wonder why all cars don't have one.

Faults:

Before I purchased the car, it had needed a new engine (at about 80,000 miles)

Whole new breaking system (again before I purchased it)

Heater Matrix doesn't work.

Central Locking has a mind of its own sometimes.

General Comments:

With the SX model, it comes with a very comfortable front center arm rest, fantastic seats (drivers side is height adjustable),with comfy head-restraints too.

Steering is crisp and decisive and power steering is not too light (however, its quite noisy)

The engine pulls like a steam train on the motorway, very impressed indeed!

The digital Display at night is absolutely brilliant, i love it!

Faults:

I few years ago I tried to live the Italian dream with a Fiat and said, "Never, never ever in my life will I own one again". But after owning a Rover 800 did I think well "they're not that bad and at least they're cheaper". So when the chance to own a Tempra Diesel SX SW 1993 came along, well I could not and would not resist the challenge to take on and beat this myth that all Italian family cars are crap.

All went well for about 200 miles then a strange little light flashed on the "Electronic Check". That's it I thought, "The end is Nigh". "It's straight to the scrap yard with you." But no. It was telling me a bulb had gone in the number plate. "Was that it?" I said. This car is telling me something that I needed to know. "Wow Cool". 55p later and an exchange of bulbs, no more warning light.

"WOW " again, many miles later and it breezed through an MOT, it didn't even need a re-test. Straight through. No problem. I'm still got post dramatic stress disorder from that one. I wrote straight away to my local Fiat dealer for confirmation that had this ever happened before. Handbrake failure. Emissions, etc etc. but apparently this had occurred before. Does Fiat make a half decent car or am I the lucky one?

20,000 miles later, an exhaust and replacement tyres later, I'm still smitten and think it's still better than my Rover 800 by about 18,900 miles.

General Comments:

Terrific, forgive all its faults. If you're a "DIY repair" type of guy then it's a cheap car. If you're a "dealer repair" type of guy, get yourself a Toyota, it'll cost you a fortune.