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General Eco Bravo Top Money Saving Car (Autotrader)

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General Eco Bravo Top Money Saving Car (Autotrader)

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Peerzy

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1st Place
Fiat Bravo Eco

The Fiat Bravo impressed us hugely with its lusty diesel engine, which offers excellent fuel economy and performance. It’s a pretty car too, so you don’t have to suffer for being a do-gooder.

We said:

“It'll cover an average of 62.8mpg – 5mpg more than the non-Eco version – while emitting 119g/km of CO2; ten less than the standard car.

“And by driving gently to conserve fuel, we managed to average an excellent 70mpg over a 40 mile stage of our test route along winding (and traffic-free) country lanes.”
Click to expand...

Nice to see Autotrader considered all makes and models instead of just giving it to Toyota or VW and claiming the Fiat broke down (y)

Also interesting to note of all the 5 cars there its without doubt the most fun, best looking and most practical.

Smart Diesel? Sure if you do 18k+ a year but who would want to do that in a Smart?
 
I've never driven a Bravo so I can't comment on the performance, but I have sat in a few and I can confirm that, for me, the driving seat is very uncomfortable, and clutch foot space is inadequate. It seems from reading the test reports and the buyers' comments that my own perception is not uncommon.

As somebody said, fix the driving seat (and the ride) and this car would take some beating.

Come on Fiat, you are very nearly there...almost a great car.
 
That's maybe because the car you sat in, as well as most of the cars you've read about in these articles have right-hand driving position :D

As soon as you guys fix this misunderstanding you live in, all your clutch-related problems will vanish in an instant :)
 
Certainly this is part of the problem, but the seat is also set at a strange angle re the wheel; all very odd, and unnecessary. Seating has always been a Fiat foible. It used to be put down the the theory that Italians tend to be smaller and short in the leg than north Europeans, but that doesn't wash with me, and given the stature of the average Japanese, and the fact that they make ergonomically excellent cars, I don't believe it. I think the Fiat test drivers come from a family of strange shaped folk;)
 
Ulpian said:
Certainly this is part of the problem, but the seat is also set at a strange angle re the wheel; all very odd, and unnecessary. Seating has always been a Fiat foible. It used to be put down the the theory that Italians tend to be smaller and short in the leg than north Europeans, but that doesn't wash with me, and given the stature of the average Japanese, and the fact that they make ergonomically excellent cars, I don't believe it. I think the Fiat test drivers come from a family of strange shaped folk;)
Click to expand...

sit in any car and you'll think the seating position is wrong until you get used to it, then it's all the other cars that are wrong.

the bravo seating position is perfect, I've never hit a curb or a parked car unlike with my previous car.

you just have no clue what your talking about.
 
Don't be rude.

the bravo seating position is perfect
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Perfect for you. I know what I'm talking about because I've sat in the car on more than one occasion and I haven't ever been able to get truly comfortable. And I am not the only one. I am sure the car suits your stature very well, but you shouldn't assume that other physical types can make themselves equally at home.

Oh, and I don't hit other cars either, whatever I am driving.
 
Jeez: I sat in the drivers seat and tried to find a comfortable position in that, but does it matter any more...

horses for courses.
 
I don't think you'll truly know how it feels until you get out there and drive one. Then you'll be tweeking and adjusting the position until you find one that feels right.

I'm one of them unlucky RHD owners and still don't have a clutch foot problem. My Tipo has a clutch rest but I don't even use it now I've found a comfy place for my foot in the Bravo.

Coming upto 30,000 miles I'm amongst the longest distance Bravo owners and have done UK-France-Germany-Switzerland-Italy-Switzerland-Germany-Belgium-France-UK over the course of 2 weeks. Even with that distance I was not uncomfortable.

I've tried loads of cars and I've never got comfortable in the showroom. It takes time to settle into the seat and adjust it to suit - plus driving isn't a static affair. You're always moving about, legs on pedals, body to check blind spots and around corners. You need to take that into consideration rather than just seeing if you can swap your living room sofa for a Bravo seat.
 
No. When you can't get sufficient support under your thighs and the wheel is, however you adjust it, too far away to be truly comfortable - you keep on hunting for that perfect moment - and just when you think you are nearly there - you find you have to stretch forward to get it in first gear; then you know the seating position isn't adaptable enough to justify the outlay on the car - if you are me. If you fit comfortably that's great. Not everybody can get comfortable in every car and the Bravo is one that I, and others apparently, find difficult. I've been driving for forty years so I do know what I'm talking about here.
It's a lovely car, don't get me wrong, and the Eco is the one I'd have otherwise.

Anyway: the end.
Happy new year.
 
From my point of view, each of the last 6 cars I have owned have given me back problems for the first couple of weeks of ownership. During this period I have adjusted the seats countless times until I get the position where my back has been less aggravated than the others. Over a further couple of weeks I get used to the position and back problem disappears.
Lots of people are unable to get comfortable in a new car and it puts them off buying it. This is a shame as in every other area the cars suits their needs fine.
I understand what Tad is saying and also Ulpian and if the two of you combine instead of geeing each other up then you'll have the answer.
Your body becomes used to a position, change this and you become uncomfortable, become accustomed to the new position and discomfort goes.
 
Sorry, but no. Sometimes the ergonomics are just not right. Think of sofas. Finding a comfortable one is not easy, but it is possible. No matter how attractive, it would be madness to buy an uncomfortable chair simply because it looks good. For me.

Obviously muscles have to adapt to the pedal box angles relative to the seat, but, if after finding a relatively comfortable relationship between the seat, the wheel and the pedals you find yourself having to reach forwards for the gears, and then, after sliding the seat a jot forward to make the lever properly accessible you find the under thigh support has gone and cannot be regained because the adjustment is not there....de dum de dum de dum. Please try and understand what I am saying.

Try being a tall person and getting truly comfortable in a Land Rover. Impossible.

There must be millions of people who find the Bravo supremely comfortable, and that's great, but not everybody does.
 
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