Good but not great (Fiat Marea 100 16v SX)

Member Name: Cryguy

Product:	Fiat Marea 100 16v SX
Date:	10/06/02 (574 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Massive boot, Good ride overall, Well equipped

Disadvantages: Uninspiring, Poor ICE, Depreciates quickly

I've owned my 4-door Fiat Marea 100SX saloon for just over eighteen months now, and whilst I've not got any real reason to complain about it, I still find it hard to get too excited over it.

I've done around 24000 miles in it since I bought it nearly new in October 00. It's just had it's first MOT which it sailed through without problems, and currently (touching wood), I've not had to spend too much on maintaining and servicing it. The inside of the car is practical and well laid out if not inspiring. Dull fabric colours do nothing to liven it up. Seats are difficult to get comfortable in initially, but when there, are supportive. Performance can't be said to be dull, but it's not fantastic. This model gets to 60 in around 11 secs and max's out at approx 115, but it is a mid-sized family car at the end of the day so I guess performance wasn't first on Fiat's priorities when developing it. The ride is firm but not crashy and you can throw the car around corners and roundabouts without too many G's feeling to go through your body! Consumption is average I guess for the size of car attaining figures of around 34 - 37 mpg. Good comfortable room in the front of the car, less in the back, but not cramped. The car is well equipped. Elec windows, central locking, HUGE boot, ABS with Electronic Brake Assist, temperature guage, climate-control air-con and rev counter are all standard on the SX, as are colour keyed bumpers. One item I am a little disappointed with is the stereo. Seems Fiat ran out of money when adding it in - it is RDS/EON, plenty of presets etc but sound is tinny at louder volumes and all four speakers are in the front! Cassette player and not CD player is standard.

Beware the car does depreciate quickly in it's early years - I bought my eighteen month old car at half it's initial retail price! But in that way at least, it does make it a great used buy.

So defini
tely consider this model - it has a little of the Italian blood in it, just not that much! Hugely practical, but just not as exciting as some similar sized models from other manufacturers.

Summary: