1994 Fiat Tipo 1.4 ieS from UK and Ireland - Comments

Front near-side indicator keeps playing up, probably just a loose connection.

Both headlights failed, bulbs replaced.

Oil pressure warning light flickered on very briefly, oil level checked and was below the minimum, was topped up and nor problems since.

Power steering makes strange noise on full lock.

Seems quite unreliable to say I have only had the car a few weeks, but these are really just niggling, easily corrected faults, apart from the power steering which is worrying.

Supremely refined car, very quiet at all speeds and has great engine not if pushed hard. Performance no more than adequate below 3500rpm, but after that there is a surge of acceleration which belies the engines small size. Pulls like a train in 5th.

Wonderful handling and steering, very quick turn-in, this is at the expense of ride quality which is rock-hard. Some would find it jarring, but it is at least well-damped.

Interior plastics very hard and cheap, all in all not very well put together. Trim quality seems great however. The seats are in perfect condition and they seem comfortable on short journey, but I think they look that last tenth of support on longer ones. However the car easily redeems itself by having the most roomy interior of any car in its class, before and since. Easily as roomy, if not more roomy than a Mondeo.

Update - Car still going well at 64500 miles, just had new brake pads fitted after old ones wore out, but other than that nothing other than the ever present power steering pump noise. Just about to put it through it's first MoT with me. Fantastic car.

Have no fear, the noise you hear from the power dtearing is nothing to worry about, try not to use the full lock too much & when you are using the full lock, try not to strain it, I also have a tipo turbo, love it.

You should be concerned about the power steering, if it is noisy, then either the pump is knackard, or some of the control actuators - either way, your steering may lock up or go very heavy on you.

Get it checked.

I have got a fiat tipo 1.4ies and everything is going wrong with it

lights keep going on an off by themselves

oil light keeps coming on

handbrake light is always on

very noisy when on full lock

sounds like a diesel

and to top it all off it now won't go into gear as the clutch has gone are these main faults of the tipos or have I just been robbed.

Gaz-84@hotmail.com.

I've had my teapot for a year. Did have two. Can get carried away on ebay! Power steering making strangled row on full lock quite normal for these cars. As advised, don't keep on full lock when you reach that point!

Kept the 1.4. Bit underpowered, but sufficient. Just failed MOT, but only £100! Where else would you get a car with power steering, leccy windows etc for a couple of hundred quid? Marvelous. A veritable tardis for room inside with more room with seats down than the average estate! Must stop, write my own reviews upon my vehicles demise and this still going strong!

I am on my third tipo 1.4 ie and am hoping to get a 2.0 16v sedicivalvole one day. I think these cars are very under rated, I would pick one of these over a ford any day.

I've just bought a '94 1.4ie for £500 and I'm staggered by how well it's aged - not a patch of rust! I agree with the Tardis comments as well, more space in the back than my old Mitsubishi Colt which was actually longer :s

Found out a couple of niggly things in the first couple of days; driver's seatbelt kept sticking, one of the indicator bulbs doesn't want to stay in (Gaffa tape!), and the battery light is always on even though the battery and charging system are fine - only niggles though, hopefully it'll stay that way! Great car for the money so far *touch wood*