1998 Fiat Marea ELX Lusso review from UK and Ireland

Brake fluid cap was left off after the PDI and leaked inside the engine cabin.

Brake fluid leaked from the car totally after 20 miles due to a leaking pipe.

Shock absorber unit replaced after 1 month, even though this was a known fault.

Computer control unit failed after 1 week and was replaced.

Air bag showed a fault and had to be replaced.

Sunroof was constantly rattling inside the roof and had to be repaired several times before the problem was cured.

Sunroof itself was never aligned correctly, so produced high wind noise when closed correctly.

Many smaller items too numerous to mention were replaced.

After buying this car I thought, finally, I have my first new car, life is great!

It only took 20 miles for the problems to start.

After 4 weeks of complaints and numerous trips to the dealer I gave up and insisted that I saw the head from the main office in Dublin. He arrived about a month later at which point he drove the car and suggested that it was really only a few problems that he would assure me could be fixed.

I assured him that if the car was not replaced he would be in court a lot quicker than he thought.

A new car arrived and when I collected it from the dealership, the handbrake was so loose you could not even pull it up, one of the bolts holding it was missing and had not been even checked during the PDI. Also the sunroof again and the suspension again, enough!

Finally it was repaired and I had 2 years of trouble free driving, was it worth it? NO. I have a new Renault Laguna II now, 3 weeks old and perfect.