Fiat Cars | Used Cars, Motorbikes, Vans & Other Vehicles

Fiat is known for making reliable and affordable cars that get you from A to B. They aren't famous for being particularly stylish, nor well equipped with extra features. However since recent technological and design improvements they have rectified this problem. Slowly but surely Fiat are sculpting a new image for their cars as trendy, state-of-the-art and yet still wallet-friendly.

History
Founded in 1899, Fiat has a rich tradition in car design and has grown to become the leading automotive company in Italy. It finds its largest market here too, evident from the fact that two thirds of all European Fiat purchases are made by Italians. Fiat's popularity has led to economic strength, and as a result it has acquired ownership of Lancia, Alfa-Romeo and Maserati. The company continues to manufacture these popular cars under their original names.

2008 UK Models
Fiat's current range includes:

Fiat 500: Winner of 'Car of the Year 2008'. A beautifully cute three door hatchback that is available with either a 1.2 or 1.4 litre petrol engine, or a 1.3 litre turbo-diesel. It is highly customisable (Fiat predicts there are over 500,000 stylistic variations possible) and as a result can either be brimming with features or lacking them entirely � you choose. Thanks to its seven airbags it scores full marks in the Euro NCAP crash test, making it very safe for such a small car.
Panda: Available as a standard hatchback, a sports hatchback or a 4x4. The standard hatchback has a 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 litre petrol engine. The Panda 4x4 has a 1.2 litre petrol engine. The sports model is highly tuned for better performance and does 0-60mph five seconds faster than the other models. The hatchback is marketed as a city car while the 4x4 is marketed for the countryside. However, their lack of power means that if you are looking for a motorway cruiser, you should turn to the 100bhp sports model. All Pandas are five door cars.
Grande Punto: A popular and elegant supermini that deals well with city driving and long journeys. Like the 500, it has been awarded five stars in the Euro NCAP crash test. The Punto comes in both three and five door models, with varying features depending on the price you are willing to pay. The 1.2 and 1.4 litre petrol cars are faster than the 1.3 and 1.9 litre diesels. However the latter are better for long distance driving.
Bravo: This is Fiat's answer to the Ford Focus. It is stylish, well equipped, and reasonably priced. Its attractive interior includes air conditioning as standard and there is enough space in the back for your kids. Most importantly, the car does not sacrifice performance for practicality. The 1.4 litre petrol and 1.9 litre diesel models both offer good acceleration and fuel economy.
Multipla: An attractive people carrier that seats seven passengers and is a joy to drive. It is well built, comfortable and easy to drive, and as a result is frequently reviewed as the best MPV on the market. Both the 1.6 litre petrol engine and the 1.9 litre turbo-diesel provide enough power to prevent a drop in performance when carrying a full load.
Sedici: A compact, five door 4x4 available in 1.6 litre petrol or 1.9 litre turbo-diesel. It has superb handling due to technology that only allows movement in the rear axle when the car is at risk of losing control. Fiat is not known for its off road vehicles, but this is a good effort at a great price.
Doblo: It is not the prettiest car on the market, but it is cheap and practical. Its large size makes it ideally suited for use as a commercial van or people carrier. Although notoriously sluggish in its 1.4 litre petrol model, the 1.3 and 1.9 litre diesel engines are far better. Air conditioning and a spacious interior make it a comfortable cruiser.

Which Fiat Should You Buy?
Do not worry too much about which Fiat will be the most reliable. They are all easily serviceable, and are relatively cheap to repair. Instead you should base your decision on your requirements. If you just need a car to take you from A to B, then the Fiat 500 could be perfect. However if you need to take a family from A to B, you will need a bigger Fiat such as the Doblo. For help just check the specifications of different Fiats above and have a look at some online reviews.

Buying Second Hand Fiats
If you don't intend to sell again, Fiats can be extremely good second hand purchases as they depreciate in value so quickly. This means that you can get a pretty new car at a great price. As with all second hand cars, you must ensure that your prospective vehicle has not been stolen or written off in the past. If you are unsure about its history from the service booklet, get a mechanic to give the Fiat a once over. Most sellers are honest people with good cars, but don't get complacent. Modern Fiats are far better than their predecessors, so always check the registration number of the car. The more recent the Fiat, the better it will generally be. Be particularly careful when buying the larger Fiats as they are frequently used by families with young children or people with small businesses. This means they are sometimes very worn or messy.

Test drive the car and if you are happy with its performance then try to get a fair price for it. If the price isn't right, just try again elsewhere. You do not have to succeed first time!