A dream gone wrong (Fiat Seicento Sporting 3dr)

Member Name: dawnfrancis

Product:	Fiat Seicento Sporting 3dr
Date:	27/09/02 (5075 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: CD player - nice!, groovy colour

Disadvantages: parts astronomically expensive, prone to blowing gaskets

I'm writing this in the hope that potential car-buyers won't make the mistake I did. If I save just one person from the disappointment I've encountered I'll feel it's some compensation for the expensive lesson I learnt last year.

My 30th birthday was coming up and I was gloomily contemplating leaving my 'youth' behind, when my old Metro clapped up. To cheer myself up I decided to go for a car I'd hankered after for years. It started with an ad on the telly for the old Cinquecento, the predecessor of the Seicento. Boy did I love that ad, set o 'Cum feel the noize' by Slade....and how I wanted to be driving that blindingly yellow little car around. So I decided I'd have my dream car to celebrate the third decade of my life as a new, carefree trendy person!

As I was adamant the car had to be yellow like in the ad (ok so I'm sad, I know!) I had to go for the Sporting edition - they don't do yellow in the other models. I found a three year old from a private dealer and drove away greatly impressed with my sunroof, electric windows and CD player, which was the envy of all my friends.

NIGHTMARE NO 1.

Then I needed a new tyre.

So what? I hear you say. that's what I thought. Until I got home 80 quid poorer. for ONE tyre.

To my horror I have since had it confirmed by several garages that Sporting Seicentos are a nightmare expense to run. Oh yes, they're great on the petrol. But if you need anything replacing - God help you.

The problem is that the car takes unusual parts that aren't readily available. For example, the size of tyre is very uncommon, and the last quote I had from Kwik-Fit was the 80 quid one. But it was to get worse.....

My exhaust went after about 6 months. I phoned around expecting to pay about 60-70 quid, it was only the end bit that was wrong. The cheapest quote I got on this was £179 with most other people a
sking over £200. I was horrified. The reason is that the sporting exhaust is essentially one long pipe - if one bit goes you need the whole lot replacing. Again, this is a feature 'unique' to the Sporting edition.

now my back wiper doesn't work. the little motor has gone, but for £70 I'd rather do without it.


all the quotes I've received weren't even from Fiat Garages, so I dread to think what THEY charge.

NIGHTMARE NO 2.

Just as the shock of the upkeep costs was sinking in, it went from bad to worse. The car started to overheat badly. It sounded like a kettle boiling away and to my absolute horror my worst fears were confirmed - it was the dreaded head gasket.

My trusty and honest mechanic sorted it all out for just over £300. Then he casually mentioned that Fiats in general are extraordinarily prone to overheating because they are designed to 'run hot'. If only I had researched a little more carefully.........

To make matters worse, you can't even keep an eye on the temperature gauge - because there isn't one! In the Sporting edition it's replaced by some stupid clock thing that shows your engine revs. So basically, by the time you're aware you're overheating, it's already too late.

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED.

I feel I've learnt such a lot from this experience, so my advice would be:

1. NEVER buy a car for the stupid kind of reasons I did!

2. Research into the cost of parts before you buy. Don't just read that its 'cheap to run' in some car mag and believe it. Phone up some places and ask how much a tyre/exhaust/etc is. A few minutes of your time could save months of costly expenses.

3. Find out what the major weaknesses of your chosen make are. In particular, look at the probability of the head gasket going. Many sites run by car enthusiasts will gladly provide you with this
information. Or look on Dooyoo!

4. Don't touch Fiat with a bargepole.

5. If you've got the 30something blues, be careful how you cheer yourself up!!

Summary: