1995 Fiat Tipo ie review from UK and Ireland

Rear wash failed, pipe kinked- fixed myself.

Engine started making whining noise @ 60 mph.

Engine 'pinking' on acceleration. fixed with new distributior cap, rotor and plugs.

I purchased the car because I was trying to be sensible (X1/9 previously) and made the mistake of thinking the Tipo would handle and go well because 'it's Italian' Urm No. The handling is absolutely dreadful. It's bouncy and nasty. The body rolled beyond belief on country roads. Thoroughly unpleasant.

The engine was a 1.4 single point injection unit. What can I say- I've used more powerful hair dryers. Don’t even attempt to over take anything because you can’t, not even a milk float. This car really is slow, not only that it drank petrol. I was lucky to get 35 MPG and that was having to really try.

The paint is another worry. It used to scratch incredibly easily when washing. The slightest, but of muck on the sponge would leave swirl marks all over the place.

The interior of the Tipo is reasonable with quite good seats. But very basic, no rev counter, but it did have an econometer which I think must have been faulty because it was always planted in the ‘red’

Rust in the sub frames can put many a Tipo on the scrap heap despite being galvanised (heavy hence poor economy) with a plastic tail gate!

In the end I got so fed up with people laughing behind my back at my Tipo I sold the heap of junk for £50 more than what I paid for it so it wasn’t all bad.