1998 Fiat Cinquecento Sporting review from UK and Ireland

Fuel tank leaking at seam (Standard recall fault, was replaced before I got it).

A good percentage of the 'consumable' items such as brake discs and pads and exhaust sections have been replaced since I got it.

Tyres, but the ones that were on it were no-name budget tyres.

Rocker cover was leaking when I got it.

All shockers replaced at 41,000 because two were leaking.

Speedometer cable - common fault causing judder on speedometer needle is due to the cable going via a difficult route on right hand drive models. Fiat dealers fit a Mk1 Uno cable and route it a different way instead of the original, unreliable two piece cable fitted to the later Cinquecento.

If you want a street legal Go-Kart, this is definitely the car for you. Not recommended for people who have false teeth, though, as this car also has the hardest suspension of all the cars I have ever driven. The comfortable seats and fairly sweet gearbox make up for their spartan and clunky equivalents in the basic S and intermediate SX models, although those versions are the better choice if you prefer a higher, softer, underpowered ride. The Sporting will repay you for your choice by being rather unreliable and costly in terms of body part wear, but the engine will not falter and you will love it anyway because it is SO much fun to drive.