Fiat Marea Weekend (1997 - 2002) 2.4 JTD HLX (130bhp) 5d (2000/W) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

I can't afford a decent used car.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

In general they liked it but it lacked the spaciousness of my previous Tempra.

Would you buy this car again and why?

No. Although of a reasonably solid build, the reliability was very patchy and I never found a truly comfortable driving position. In short, it was a brilliant engine wrapped up in a very mediocre car.

What are you likely to buy next?

I replaced it with a Multipla.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£0

When did you buy the car?

January 2006

Did you get a good deal and why?

I paid slightly over the odds to be honest but that was down to my lack of negotiation skills at the time.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

It seemed like a logical replacement for my long serving and faithful Tempra TD SX and I was intrigued by the 5 cylinder diesel.

What was the dealer like?

I had a few problems immediately after purchase and I cannot fault the dealers over his support through these issues.

What's it like to drive?

When it worked properly, it was quite exhilarating to drive due to the massive torque of the 5 cylinder engine. I could never quite get a comfortable driving position though.

What's it like to park?

Relatively easy but had a huge turning circle.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Lots of faults - some niggling, others major. It was relatively rarely that it actually worked properly.

What's most practical about your car?

Big boot.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Steering wheel mounted radio controls were some of the best I have come across.