Fiat Tipo 1.6 SX (Fiat Tipo)

Member Name: Spiros

Product:	Fiat Tipo
Date:	13/03/02 (1124 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap to buy and run, many features, lots of car for the money, mechanically strong

Disadvantages: dull image, slow, Electrical glitches can be annoying, needs proper service to give its best, must get the best of the lot

My brother recently acquired his driving license. Being only 19 and without any experience, there was no force on earth that could convince me to let him drive my BMW.
So, he had some savings and after realizing the bitter truth that my car was out of his reach (for now), he decided to buy one of his own.

After searching for a while, he finally narrow down his choice to a Fiat Tipo. Well, being "burned" by used Italian cars i really did not think it was a good idea but, he's stubborn. At least he brought me along to choose the car. We saw many Tipos, some really cheap and some more expensive.
We finally bought a 93'(August) Fiat Tipo 1.6 SX with 48k miles for 1000 exactly.
He has the car more than a year now and i drive it myself quite regularly (i wonder why he lets me ..).



Inside the car

This is a roomy hatchback. Plenty of space for four adults to seat comfortably. Driver seat is two-way adjustable and rake steering adjustment can provide a very good position even for tall persons. Boot space is average though.

Built quality is good and the usual squeaking and rattling noises that we find on Italian cars are here very limited. Dashboard is solid with easy to read instruments although oil and temperature readings are on the passenger's side and difficult to see. Knobs and switches ergonomically placed with the exception of the stereo which located way down. Generally good materials were used with the exception of few occasions (like the stereo/ashtray housing).

Tapestry and seat upholstery is quite wear resistant. I found just a small tear on the roof lining, the rest of the car is in excellent condition for its age. I have seen many Tipo with good tapestry.


Outside the car

Well, it doesn't scream "fashion"..
Dull image for me even though it's a matter of taste.
Trim is put together quite good and feels solid. The spoilers ar
e made from fibreglass and are very difficult to damage ... except if my brother drives it of course. Just found out he reversed onto our garage entrance...

The biggest disappointment is the paintjob. It feels cheap and actually is. Fades quickly and the lacque used is very thin and weak. Generally if the car is older than five years then the paint needs care.

Undercarriage is in very good shape. Fiat galvanized Tipos and made them rust resistant.If they are looked after, rust shouldn’t be a problem.



Driving and Performance

This is a car that doesn’t put fire on the road. On 1600cc the engine only produces 75hp. Driving position is quite comfortable without any problems.
First gear is very short and tops out easily, making gear changes sometimes frequent and annoying. Gear ratios are not very well designed and combined with the limited power, acceleration feels low. Only after the 3rd gear the car starts to feel somewhat quick .
Changing gears is trouble free but it needs certain way to be done (slow and calmly) or else jams can occur.
The clutch pedal has limited travel and not very progressive, throttle pedal is very stiff. You need some time to get used to them but nothing too difficult.
Brakes do have some progression but feel underpowered in a way.

Small radius and PAS make the Tipo very agile. Visibility is very good and parking is a piece of cake. Do not buy without PAS as it will be very heavy.
The car feels stable on the road and reassuring, there is limited body roll and some understeer. Generally is safe with good handling characteristics.

Comfort is good but the rear suspension, even if it feels sporty, is harsh.
Refinement is very good with the exception of engine noise, which becomes noticeable at higher revs.



Value , Cost and reliability

This is really too much of a car for the money. I really could not think ano
ther car that could offer the same features for that kind of money.
Rear and front fog lights, electric windows ,electric and heated mirrors, spoilers, electric sunroof, power steering ,alarm and headlight washers.
For a £1000 you could find models from 93 and after , low mileage and with limited number of owners ..

Parts are at reasonable cost and even if you find a spare to be expensive, there are always third parties .. A full service costs £200 at Fiat (which by the way don’t trust nor like ) and imagine that the parts for the service cost £50 to them. A trusted garage will do the job (plus cambelt change) for £120-£140.

Full consumption is ok for a 1.6 but the engine tends to drink oil. Changes should and must be frequent or else “black” oil can destroy many engine parts.
Insurance groups are between 10-11. A little on the expensive side for its performance.

Reliability is very good except some annoying electrical problems. If the car is properly maintained , mechanically it will not cause any problems. In a year, the car had new pads (worn out from the day of purchase), full service (as specified by the manual) and a injection system check and cleaning.



Security and Safety

Tipos are not very high on the thieves list. Usually you could find them with an alarm or an immobiliser fitted. If not , take some measures yourself because are not that difficult to nick.

Safety is quite good actually. Models from 93 have fuel evaporation canister, safety windows, crumble zones and seatbelts (which are very good by the way). Models from 94 can be found with airbags and ABS. Also, Tipo is a family hatchback meaning that has respectable dimensions leaving some room between you and the fan grill ...




Get one ?

If you are a person that needs a good car with many features, not very old, at a low price and speed isn't a priority , this is the one. I
t can be a real bargain but you have to choose very carefully.
There are many Tipos for sale. Most of them are abused and mainly neglected , and Tipos don’t like neglecting them. If not properly serviced, they can make your life very difficult. If are looked after, they can be as reliable as they get.

Avoid paying £400 if you afford to buy something after 93' which is around £700-£800 now. Choose only with low number of owners and full service history.
If is a good example and you take good care of it, it surely wont let you down.
And for 1k, there is no better choice.

This review is for past 93 models (with the redesigned grill). The mark 4/5 is only intended for a used car and affected greatly by the price/features ratio.

Summary: