Fiat Ulysse Reviews

1997 Fiat Ulysse 1.9 diesel from UK and Ireland

Model year1997
Year of manufacture1997
First year of ownership2011
Most recent year of ownership2011
Engine and transmission 1.9 diesel Manual
Performance marks 5 / 10
Reliability marks 10 / 10
Comfort marks 10 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper) 8 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)
8.3 / 10
Distance when acquired89000 miles
Most recent distance91000 miles
Previous carToyota Previa

Summary:

Great, no frills (with comfort) versatile vehicle

Faults:

A few bulbs needed to be replaced for the MOT, that's all.

Illumination for the temperate control gauge has gone, but one can easily get round this by just pressing the + or - button until the required temperature is reached.

General Comments:

This car is no sports car, and handles like a truck on bends, but you wouldn't buy a Ulysse if you wanted to go fast.

Fuel economy is excellent, and will give me about 31 mpg around town and about 38 mpg on motorway driving, and I don't drive slowly either. I consider this excellent for a vehicle of this size and age.

The climate control is excellent, and even comes with an economy setting to stop excessive waste of fuel associated with air con.

The seats come out, easily turning the vehicle into an excellent van or sleep in/surf wagon. Great for a couple of nights camping.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th September, 2011

2000 Fiat Ulysse JTD S 2.0 from UK and Ireland

Model year2000
Year of manufacture2000
First year of ownership2003
Most recent year of ownership2008
Engine and transmission 2.0 Manual
Performance marks 4 / 10
Reliability marks 1 / 10
Comfort marks 8 / 10
Dealer Service marks 0 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper) 2 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)
3.0 / 10
Distance when acquired18000 miles
Most recent distance100000 miles
Previous carRenault Espace

Summary:

Poorly made, inferior quality and not reliable

Faults:

Dual mass crankshaft pulley.

Dual mass flywheel.

Fuel pump.

Hard diesel pipe was leaking.

Power steering rack was worn at an early stage.

Coolant hose disintegrated and leaked, causing a breakdown, which was clearly because it was made of inferior materials.

Throttle sensor.

General Comments:

I have not enjoyed ownership of this vehicle. There is an awful company behind this vehicle.

For example, I had to wait 4 weeks for a simple replacement water hose, whilst this was replaced under warranty, to be told afterwards that the warranty didn't cover hoses and therefore I had to pay for the repair.

Service charges were very high.

The day to day living with the car was OK at first, but became stressful mainly due to the low acceleration available, which made town driving quite difficult. However it was a good tourer on the motorway.

The interior fittings were prone to damage and rattles with low standard fittings.

The gear change lever makes you feel as if you are driving a tractor (there is a large amount of play in the cable gear linkage).

I did not intend to be so negative, but the list of breakdowns shows the unreliability of the vehicle.

I will definitely not buy or recommend another FIAT vehicle to anyone ever.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 15th November, 2008

1996 Fiat Ulysse S 2.0 petrol from UK and Ireland

Year of manufacture1996
First year of ownership2008
Most recent year of ownership2008
Engine and transmission 2.0 petrol Manual
Performance marks 10 / 10
Reliability marks 7 / 10
Comfort marks 10 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper) 5 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)
8.0 / 10
Previous carMazda 323

Summary:

Average, but I miss it!

Faults:

More or less everything plastic is brittle.

Car refused to start in damp weather.

Low quality door handles.

General Comments:

A contradiction in terms as I loved the car, when it was working!

Good on fuel considering the size of the car.

Extremely versatile.

Handled like a giant go kart!

Nippy, with good, precise gearbox, clutch heavy but precise too, either "on" or "off" it seems!, don't worry, that's a characteristic of this car and you will get used to it.

Good roadholding.

Very well rustproofed, typical Peugeot trait, I believe these are assembled at a Peugeot factory.

Airfix grade interior plastics.

Anything plastic on the dash will break.

If you buy one, check the heater controls, these are brittle too.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 4th October, 2008

2004 Fiat Ulysse 2.0 JTD turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Model year2004
Year of manufacture2004
First year of ownership2005
Most recent year of ownership2008
Engine and transmission 2.0 JTD turbo diesel Manual
Performance marks 7 / 10
Reliability marks 9 / 10
Comfort marks 9 / 10
Dealer Service marks 8 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper) 6 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)
7.8 / 10
Distance when acquired10000 miles
Most recent distance40000 miles
Previous carVolkswagen Passat

Summary:

Reliable and under-rated

Faults:

Drivers seat wearing.

General Comments:

Cheaper than a C8 or 807 for the same car.

Under-rated and overall very good, except the fuel economy could be better.

Surprisingly reliable.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 23rd February, 2008

2004 Fiat Ulysse Dynamic 2.0JTD from UK and Ireland

Model year2004
Year of manufacture2004
First year of ownership2005
Most recent year of ownership2006
Engine and transmission 2.0JTD Manual
Performance marks 8 / 10
Reliability marks 9 / 10
Comfort marks 8 / 10
Dealer Service marks 7 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper) 5 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)
7.4 / 10
Distance when acquired18000 miles
Most recent distance24000 miles
Previous carFiat Ulysse

Summary:

Average

Faults:

Turbo pipe disconnected at motorway speed.

Noise at slow speed on full lock.

Noise from drive belt/pulleys.

Drivers seat side bolster worn to foam.

General Comments:

Hard ride, central displays not natural to view mpg poor 31 & no way as good as predecessor which I owned for 6 years & 87000 miles.

Just where do you put a cd autochanger 'cos I really really want to know!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th February, 2006

5th Jun 2006, 13:02

I've got a 2003 2.2 eleganza, and I agree with almost all of the comments made here. With regard to the auto changer, mine's nailed to the floor between the front seats with a carpeted steel panel over it!

11th Jul 2006, 16:01

I have a 55 reg eleganza, and mine's the same, I must say the carpet is not the easiest of things to move either to get to the changer - well done fiat / peugeot / citroen :)

31st Jul 2006, 18:18

I own a 55 plate Prestigo 2.2 JTD. We have done 8500 miles and the only problem we have had is with the locking wheel nuts.

I find the CD changer no problem, and on a recent holiday trip to Holland, we got 750 miles to a full tank of diesel.

My wife uses it for shopping and work, which is 2 miles up the road, and we still get an average of 38/39 to the gallon (but I have had the car chipped upto 165bhp, which makes all the difference, highly recommended for the fuel economy)

24th Oct 2006, 18:20

Agree with the seats and speedo/instruments comments. No problems in 12000 miles. Comfortable and is really a Peugeot/Citroen.

19th Aug 2009, 02:23

The best car of its class, same as the Peugeot and the Citreon at a fraction of the cost, very under rated car.

Average review marks: 6.4 / 10, based on 15 reviews


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