Fiat Tempra Saloon (1990 - 1996) 1.9 TD SX 4d (1995/M) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Fiat sold relatively few Tempras so most people who were bothered (very few) tended to have to ask what it actually was.

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

Those who rode in it loved the space and comfort.

Would you buy this car again and why?

They have been out of production for a long time now and are becoming increasingly rare. I could be tempted if the right low mileage model in excellent condition was to come on to the market.

What are you likely to buy next?

I replaced it with a Fiat Marea Weekend estate which was nowhere near as comfortable or reliable.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£0

When did you buy the car?

November 1996

Did you get a good deal and why?

I was not delighted with the deal I got. I was lured there by an advert saying '0% finance on all used cars'. Turned out to be a lie but after a test drive I loved car so much that I bought it anyway.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Good looking design and very comfortable.

What was the dealer like?

They were OK but no one who reads car magazines goes to a Fiat dealer expecting good service.

What's it like to drive?

This was a lovely car to drive with a very comfortable ride. The pay off for the comfort was a lot of bodyroll and rather lacklustre handling. However, if the car was driven for comfort rather than sport this was never a problem. The engine was noisy when cold but soon settled down when warmed up.

What's it like to park?

This was a relatively short car for a spacious saloon so it was not too bad to park. However, the high bootline made reverse parking a challenge at times.

Have you had any problems with the car?

I owned my Tempra for 10 years and 6 months and, slightly iffy build quality aside, essentially only replaced parts as they wore out. It never let me down otherwise.

What's most practical about your car?

It was a 4 door saloon but had a huge boot and loads of legroom in any seat.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

There was electric front windows, sunroof and mirrors. My favourite accessory on the car however, was the rear screen wiper - all saloon cars should have these.