Fiat Tipo, anyone got one or had one ? .. thoughts ?

Looking at an estate as the grand kids are getting bigger and need a bit more room in general, looking on autotrader around the 6-7k mark gets me a 17/18 plate Fiat Tipo , would like an auto if i could get one , but never had a Fiat before, and you hear all sorts of horror stories about certain brands … have things improved ??
As you can tell , im not really into my cars, just want something bigger and a bit newer than what i already have

Posting bug still not been fixed then ? … replying to myself again

I learned to drive in a 1991 Formula. The speedo failed at 98mph when I was trying to crack the ton.

As that’s not much help, I’ll tell you that the two Fiat’s I’ve owned in more recent times went through probably 7 or 8 MOT’s with only a broken coil spring between them. Don’t think they are particularly unreliable any more.

Had one a s a hire car for a few days with work when they first came out. Found the ride very firm and the steering wheel was too thin. A Golf or even an Astra is a better car personally.

I’ve a friend who works for Fiat UK.

He refuses to drive a Fiat, bought his wife a Ford SMax and his son a Toyota Yaris and complains about the less then stellar reliability of his current loaner – an Alfa Stelvio.

Ahem.

I’d rather get higher mileage mk7 golf estate

https://www.a691specialistcars.co.uk/used-volkswagen-golf-durham-county-durham-2990094

Had a 2004 punto, 1.3 diesel.
Decent car, brilliant engine, got rid st 3 years old in favour of a mondeo.
Would buy another fiat if they made what i was after.

I’ve had 3 Fiat’s in the past. All were brilliant. I’d buy a Panda today if it was bigger.

Honestly really like them. Nice engines and good technology on the base models. Really moss my 100hp 500. Thrashed that about for 8 years with no issues. Carried bikes on a tow bar rack too.

My dad had one in 1991 if that helps?

With a quality digital dashboard:

which was super space-age – until it failed, and there was no way to know how fast you were going or if there was any petrol left in the car.

Also had the best 80’s style wheel covers:

I was down in Dorset recently, and saw one of the “hot” versions parked outside an Alfa specialist:

I bet that was terrifying to drive. Almost as bad as the Uno Turbo…

For balance run fiats for 5 years now. had a Fiat 500 and now a 17 plate tipo estate. Not had issues with either albeit neither were high mileage use.

Tipo I find nice enough to drive, it’s the 1.4 turbo petrol. Inside a bit basic and plasticky can tell built to a budget. Not quite as modern inside as say the 500 or other brands. But all the toys and gadgets you’d expect and need and nice enough place to be.

Not the biggest estate for bikes. Low raking roof line and narrow width restrict. Can get a 29er in with front wheel off and rear seats folded. Bike won’t fit vertically even with wheels off.

For right price mileage id say yes. Think I was £8k for a then 2 yo car still with warranty and with 16k miles.

I’ve not had one but have read the reviews and by all accounts the modern ones are perfectly acceptable cars, built using generic parts that you’ll find on plenty of others and offer space + value. The reason they are cheaper than a Focus/Golf/Leon/etc is because they are not quite as nice to drive or sit in but that does not mean they are bad and if you have little interest in cars they’ll probably be perfectly up to the job. Vauxhall are going the same way, nothing wrong with them just not as good as others so priced accordingly.

I had one as a 4 week hire car and was very impressed.

That’s all I’ve got!

Almost as bad as the Uno Turbo…

They always used to go really quickly, especially on the sills 😉

Ooh, I like the sedicivalvole (probably spelled that incorrectly). Wonder how many of those left?

They weren’t turbocharged, so probably not such a handful as the Uno.

I am on my second Doblo. Love it for its practicality, but not a smooth ride. Spent a bit on good tyres which improved the things.

Driven a few modern tipos. They’re ok. Dull like a Kia, well proven mechanicals. 1.4 petrol is bomb proof as is 1.4 turbo petrol. 1.3 diesel can suffer from egr issues like any Oil burning heap used for short runs. Estate is vast. 5” head unit is utter crap. Later 7” is superb. My Abarths were far more reliable than any of the VWG cars we’ve owned. Dynamically there’s better vehicles out there, but none as bargainicious.

Driven a few modern tipos. They’re ok. Dull like a Kia,

Funny that, a Kia is what I’ve got and had from new and its been a great car, very few issues and always sorted under warranty, Have looked at maybe another kia , but they hold the money very well now and I’m not in the position to throw loads of money at a new car at the moment … hence a Tipo …maybe?

which was super space-age – until it failed, and there was no way to know how fast you were going or if there was any petrol left in the car.

Which is why I wouldn’t have a current Mercedes, they have one widescreen display for everything, and the flaw in that design philosophy was brought home when the display went black on a very recent model, don’t know which one, as it was being driven out of QC following some restoration work on it – we do repairs and refurbishment of ex-fleet cars.
It left the site on a flatbed transporter.
And not the first Merc to do that, either, although usually it’s because a flat battery has bricked the car.
Other manufacturers seem to be following the same trend, and I’m not sure I trust it. My car, which will be two years old in June, although I’ve only had it since August, has old-school analogue dials, rotary knobs to adjust the radio volume* and temperature level, and a proper handbrake, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
*It does have secondary controls on the steering wheel spokes, which I like as well, but having those sort of controls, along with everything else, on a touchscreen in the centre of the dash is madness from an ergonomic and safety point of view – especially as a mobile device is so dangerous to use in a car due to being a distraction.