Shame about the resale value! (Fiat Regata (1983-90))

Member Name: HugoSP

Product:	Fiat Regata (1983-90)
Date:	13/10/02 (653 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Practicality, Performance, Running costs

Disadvantages: Resale Value, Rust, Some spares

The Regata Weekend is one of the more practical estates on the roads. The problem is you are unlikely to find that many for the following reasons.
(1) the bottom fell out of the resale value when the newest models were only 8 years old.
(2) Even Fiat stopped stocking really essential spares such as distributors.
(3) Most were affected by the renown Fiat rust problem.

However, to comment on my own model, a Fiat Regata Weekend 85C Mare Ltd edition, I found it an extremely practical vehicle, and would have kept it for longer than the 5 years that I did if it had not been for another bagain car.

I particularly liked the split level tailgate. The same idea has been incorporated on the Marea Weekend. The tailgate opens as normal for loading light items such as shopping etc, however, if you need to load heavier items such as furniture, the bumper folds downwards so that you don't have to lift the item over it into the boot floor. It's a bit like a pickup in this respect.

Reliability - I couldn't really fault it. It only broke down once over 5 years. The distributor was at fault here. Fiat had stopped supplying it at this stage. I only had one option, which was a second hand one at £35 from a breakers yard. At this point I decided to buy a £25 Regata estate for spares!

The handbreak was at times an issue. I had to adjust it regularly. I never worked out how the self adjusting mechanism was supposed to work. I think this one might have been a misbuild.

Rust - This one wasn't too bad. I had some work done to it. Once I'd spent a couple of hundred quid the corrosion seemed to stop. The main problem I had was around the tops of the doors. One door was so bad I had to change it for a reasonable second hand door that was repared and resprayed

Running costs - When I could get bits for it these were very reasonably priced. I tended to use genuine Fiat bits because these were not that expensive, an
d at times patterned parts were more pricy! When I had the scrap car some of these bits were even cheaper! The biggest shock was the cost of a new thermostat at £22. This came in a special casting and could only be supplied by Fiat.

Economy - The 1.6L carburettor engine was very economic. I think I got up to 35MPG if I drove it sensibly.

Performance - Even though this wasn't the sought after twin cam, it was certainly one of the better 1600s. Fiat were known for their good engines (Rust buckets with attitude!). It was actually a very smooth ride as well.

Practicality - The estate was very practical. The one I had had roof bars fitted into the roof. There was a security blind that went over the luggage compartment. Also the split level tailgate was useful (see above) I can't comment on the saloon as I didn't have one.

Resale value. A ltd edition at 8 years old and 90,000 miles - I only got £700 for it and I had to struggle to get that. The problem is that most people don't actually know what a Fiat Regata is. The chap who bought it was actually looking for a Regata Weekend.

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