1996 Fiat Cinquecento S review from UK and Ireland

I replaced the exhaust at 49000 miles at a cost of ~£60.

The head gasket failed at 51000 miles and cost a further £250.

This is a very cheap car both to run and to buy. However, it is a Fiat and the most basic trim of the most basic model so don't expect too much.

One of the most annoying things about the Cinquecento S is the lack of a temperature gauge. There is a red warning light that comes on when the engine is overheating, but that's it. This is probably the reason I ran the car with a ruptured head gasket for so long before noticing, which resulted in warping the cylinder head almost beyond repair.

It's also quite uncomfortable on long journeys and there is very little room in the back, especially with tall drivers.

On the good side, I only paid £1000 for a 6 year old model in good condition with under 50000 miles and running costs are pretty good. I consistently get around 50 mpg with the tiny, yet well tuned, engine.

This car is also a little underpowered with 4 passengers. It takes a long time to get up to motorway speed and runs the engine very hot while you stay there. The cooling system is certainly not adequate for long journeys on sunny days.