gates belt drive

[oriteroom]

The FIAT name is actually initials which they say means:

Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (Italian Automobile Factory of Turin)

but from experience probably means:

Failure Is Always True.

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Hi Flecc,

Thought is stood for Fix It Again Tony

 

[flecc]

Hi Flecc,

Thought is stood for Fix It Again Tony

That's certainly long been a colloquial meaning, with plenty of justification too.
.

 

[Cyclezee]

Apologies in advance for the deviation
Having owned several Fiats in the past, from experience I can say that the quality and reliability had been mixed.
Fiat Chroma 2.0 CHT excellent until I was shunted up the rear by a Volvo
Fiat Strada stop gap pile of junk
Fiat Uno 1.7 diesel excellent
Fiat Tipo 1.9 diesel went like a train but electrics crap
Fiat Tempra 2.0 estate OK, but electrics crap
A bit of a deviation, Alfa Romeo 2.0 155, great car to drive, but the worst ever for reliability
Vowed I would never have another Italian car...ever!
Then Fiat Doblo 1.4 LPG, excellent

My wife has owned a Tempra 2.0 estate which was OK, 2 Puntos, both excellent
My daughter has owned an Uno and a Punto, again both excellent

Would I buy another Italian car? Nope.

This is not a complete history, but if asked what car have I owned and would I buy again the answer would Volvo.
If only Volvo made a car with as much room as my Renault Grand Espace

 

[flecc]

Around the Tipo period the electrics seemed to be crap on all their models, they seem to lose their way with electrical component buying then.

And I'm another would never buy an Italian car again.

Current car for the last 4 years great, Japanese, made in Hungary.
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[Croxden]

My Fiats all had good engines, lousy bodywork & worse brakes.

Worse I find, having an Italian car, you end up driving like an Italian.

(No offence intended).

 

[flecc]

Yes, they've produced some great engines over time, the one in the Fiat 125 was memorable and their venerable 1372cc was a great all rounder.
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[Cyclezee]

Oops, I forgot the 131 Mirafiori TC Sport that I owned in Germany, great for seeing off Golf GTI's, but rust OMG.

 

[RobF]

Two Focuses and, currently, a Vauxhall Meriva, have given me about 150,000 miles of reliable motoring.

So far, touch wood, etc.

 

[Cyclezee]

Two Focuses and, currently, a Vauxhall Meriva, have given me about 150,000 miles of reliable motoring.

So far, touch wood, etc.

Only 3 cars, but how many years of motoring?

I used to clock up 25,000 a year.

 

[RobF]

Only 3 cars, but how many years of motoring?

I used to clock up 25,000 a year.

Last 12 years.

Lots of different cars before that.

Never really had a shed.

Even my second hand Lada Samara did its job for the 12 months I had it.

 

[flecc]

I used to clock up 25,000 a year.

I used to at one time too. Very different now, just passing 800 miles since last MOT as the new MOT comes due!

That will really be a waste of time.
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[RobF]

Happily, I've always managed to avoid mega miles.

Driving has become less pleasurable to me as traffic densities have increased.

Of course, it's not my car that contributes to the jams, it's all those other selfish buggers who choose to be on the roads at the same time as me.

 

[JohnCade]

Oops, I forgot the 131 Mirafiori TC Sport that I owned in Germany, great for seeing off Golf GTI's, but rust OMG.

I had a 124 Special T once. Nice little twin cam that revved like a sewing machine and a tight good handling car. Sills went when it was only three years old though. Had a diesel Uno once for a bit too and that was a dog.

 

[Croxden]

I loved the look of the camshaft in the Strada, would look grand on the sideboard, a showmanship piece.

Capri on the other hand, scrap at 30,000 miles.

 

[flecc]

Of course, it's not my car that contributes to the jams, it's all those other selfish buggers who choose to be on the roads at the same time as me.

Ditto, it's the ones going in the same direction who are the worst.
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