1999 Fiat Marea 155 ELX 20V from UK and Ireland - Comments

The vehicle was ex-rental and came with no log book or stereo code.

One headlight bulb has blown, apart from that, no faults.

This car is quick on paper, the engine makes all the right noises and on accelerating you feel the push at the base of the spine, but unless the road is straight and dry you won't want to push it.

This car will cruise all day on a motorway, but show it a country road and it'll show you a ditch. The engine is shared with the coupe, but the suspension is definitely set for family comfort. Turn in too quick and the front wheels break away far too soon into controlled understeer. In the wet it's at best a half throttle car.

Fuel consumption regularly returns 25-28.

This is an unusual high performance motor that no one will ever look twice at, another unloved big Fiat, but un-deservedly so, far more interesting than a Mondeo or Vectra.

I've just bought a Fiat Marea 20 ELX 155 20v. I bought it at auction and can't believe the bargain that I got. It was entered by the main dealer and is not yet two years old, yet I got it for £3,950. That's a saving of £11,500 on the list price and so far I am absolutely delighted with it. It's an awful lot of car for the money, only surprise is it doesn't have ABS.

It cost me £350 to insure fully comprehensive for my wife and I with no claims and legal protection (both over 30). I believe it can be a bit gutsy, but who cares, with a saving like that it can be afford to be.

The performance is amazing. I bought it to tow my caravan and although I won't be doing that until next summer, I am already looking forward to it.

I bought a Fiat Marea HLX 2.0l 20v about 18 months ago, it was described as an italian sports car and cost me £3000 for an R reg. I wanted a family car with some power, which is what I got. Being a boy racer at heart I fitted a Green induction kit to it and the grunt the car makes turns heads when I drive. I plan to put on some 17"alloys and lower it. I then plan to either put a superchip on it or try and see if I can get hold of a 20v Turbo engine from the coupe.

Regards.

P.

I have bought a 2.0 20v s reg with 47000 on the clock. I have had this car only 2 weeks and it never disappoints... wow what a lot of motor for the £

I recently bought one of these (20v ELX) and am extremely happy with it. It cost £400 with 76000 miles on the clock, having had the cam belt done recently. although not as quick or as fun as my Alfa 146ti, it definitely surprises quite a few other motors on the road and eats up boy racers in their suped up corsas. get it on a motorway and you can sit in the fast lane at 100+ without a problem, just don't fall asleep in the armchair style seats.

Bought a 155 elx marea (v Reg) in march 2006 for £940 (38,000 on the clock all bills and mots supplied). Bought it to replace my ailing 1991 tempra. So far so good. A little heavy on petrol for work use, but better on long journeys>worried about timing belt change.ie at what mileage and how much will it cost.

Bill Lawton.

Bought a Marea 2.0 155 20V ELX in 2003 with 52,000 on the clock. This car has never let me down and performance is amazing.

Averages 25 mpg so not bad for the performance return.

Fiat main dealer price for cam belt change was £800 - managed to get it done at a local garage for £200 so advise you shop around.

A great car that deserves a much better reputation than it gets.

I am considering buying a Marea Weekend 2.0 20v petrol.

Is this the 5 cylinder engine and what mileage does the cam belt need replacing as I have heard this is expensive and an engine out job. Is this true?

I have just bought a 1998 Fiat Marea 2.0 20v and I don't know why everyone says the handling is poor. I find mine well mannered through twists, perhaps a little wander through a particularly tight apex though. I find that engine noise addictive which further worsens the fuel economy and it is blindingly quick for only having 155bhp in such a big shell and it pulls so smoothly. Overall a great car and I love it, the only problem is, I've never got the car out the petrol station and the insurance is rather painful. One thing I will considering is a set of quality performance shocks and springs. Overall : 4 out of 5 for Fiat.

Yeah I'm surprised by all the comments about the handling too. I've had a Tempra, and driven Brava/Bravos, all phenomenal handlers. You'd think the Marea would be of the same ilk...