1981 Fiat Strada 75 CL review from North America
"The Strada was a cute, reliable fun car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Replaced brake discs with every other set of pads.
Clutch wore out at 110,000 miles.
Clutch cable snapped at 120,000 miles.
Heater control cable bracket broke every year.
The Headliner dissolved after 5 years.
The Metallic paint was dull by age 5.
We bent a rim in a pothole.
General comments?
With factory-recommended service (oil change every 7,500 miles) it was as reliable as an electric motor. It never burned oil or failed to start (all due to Fuel injection?). Even with kids, the comfortable cloth seats did not wear out (annual cleaning helped). It leaned like a sailboat, but stuck to the road. The mileage was okay (28 mpg). 75hp and very tall gearing called for lower gears for long distances. Noisy and small, it was also inexpensive, reliable, and fun to drive! I miss it!
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| Good things come in small packages |
|
| 1980 - Strada 1.5 liter gas 4 cylinder Super reliable economy |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1981 |
| Year of manufacture | 1981 |
| First year of ownership | 1981 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 1992 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.5 F.I. Manual |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 3 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 198000 miles |
| Previous car | Datsun 620 |
| Date of Entry | 3rd January, 2006 |