1979 Fiat Strada 65CL 5-door review from UK and Ireland
"Cheap - and very nasty indeed"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Earth lead snapped due to vibration.
Fusebox failed due to overheating.
Several light switches failed.
Speedometer sender unit failed several times.
Window regulators rusted away.
Windscreen washer bottle fractured due to vibration, and was renewed three times.
Synchromesh on third gear was poor from new.
No vacuum advance capsule so 28mpg, considered very poor.
Extreme bore:stroke ratio meant engine lacked bottom-end torque.
Seats too flat for comfort.
Rust started to appear at 2 years old, 55000 miles.
General comments?
Poorly assembled and very poorly painted.
Good use of space under the bonnet.
Wheels have no centre hole, which makes balancing difficult (not many tyre depots can fit with the wheels onto their machinery).
Search for New and Used Fiat Stradas available in the UK
Click here to advertise your car
Recommended reviews
|
| 1980 - Strada 1.5 liter gas 4 cylinder Super reliable economy |
|
| 1979 - Strada Custom 1.5L SOHC A small fish in a big pond |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1979 |
| First year of ownership | 1979 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 1981 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.3 petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 4 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 2 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 4 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 6 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 4 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 55000 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Escort |
| Date of Entry | 16th April, 2002 |