1998 Fiat Marea HLX from UK and Ireland - Comments

Alarm kept on giving false activations.

Dealer could not trace the problem with the diagnostic machine & yes the problem just happened outside the warranty. Despite the dealer doing everything to sort it out it beat them. Needless to say I am not going to have a new alarm fitted due to the cost.

For an estate, as far as they go, I find the car practical with shattering performance & excellent value for money.

Good load area with a neat rear drop down bumper for ease at load area. I slid a washing machine straight into the rear without having to alter the rear seats in the car.

Interior good quality & solid. Controls well placed & good functional equipment.

Engine lively & performs very well for the car in its class.

Fuel consumption a little heavy round the doors but on a long run gives 30+mpg if you don't tonk it too much.

The cars eats tyres or is it the way I drive it, well who can argue with the fun in a 20v 5 cylinder estate which handles like it's a much smaller car. Tremendous fun on windy roads.

Overall I would recommend one. The spec is good, performance is exceptional, looks are defined & compliment the car. The prices are good too. Build is solid & feels sound, unlike some other cars on the market.

Hello, I'm from the Netherlands and also own a HLX Marea.

I'm also loving the car (1997). It is an 2.0 5 cyl. and fast. So when I'm driving it, I feel like Jos Verstappen, or to speak in Your Language, Jenson Button or Damon Hill.

My point is that my car also used to eat tires. But since I installed some Michelin tires it is going much better. The car is feeling more solid and is really making no noise at all anymore. Maybe You should also try them on Your Marea. Really it's the best money I've ever spend on the car. Regards, from The Netherlands.

I also own a HLX 2.0 20v (1997), great car. I have driven Alfa Romeo for the last 10 years, but this family-car is really fun to drive. great engine, great comfort, but yes a tyre-eater. I also bought some Micheline pilot primacy tyres for it and I make more km's on these tyres and the really annoying squeacks have mostly all disappeared. The fuel-consumption is acceptable because it is more economic than my last Alfa 155 1.8 TSS 8v and faster. regards from Den Helder, the Netherlands.