General Has anyone actually bought one?

[Metro Wolf]

As a two Fiat car family (Idea and Panda) I can say that the Idea is built for comfort whereas the Panda has more "chuckability".

Its what you want that is important. As a rather weighty gentleman I do prefer the Idea for comfort, but Mrs Metro likes to chuck the Panda around corners.

If you try and "chuck" an Idea you might come unstuck, but then again I don't pretend to have a great deal of space in the Panda. Horses for courses.

 

[Dartmoor Pete]

Yes, I bought one last week from my local Fiat dealer, a 1.4 petrol 'Dynamic', 12 months old, ex-Hertz rental car with 13,000 on the clock. So far, I like it a lot.

It replaces my 2001 Fiat Marea Weekend 1.6 SX. I always thought that the Marea Weekend was one of the more stylish medium estate cars, but its successor, the Stilo Multiwagon, is not! So I was looking at compact MPVs (e.g. Citroen Picasso) as well as other estate cars (e.g. Citroen C5).

Thanks to high depreciation, a "nearly new" larger Fiat is always temptingly priced. My wife's on her second Punto, so I knew the Idea should be mechanically sound, liked the styling, and went for it. A part of me likes having a model that no one else has got.

In fact it's our seventh Fiat. We had a Strada in the 1980s, a Panda and a Cinquecento Sporting in the 1990s, and the two Puntos, the Marea and now this Idea in the 2000s. All bought second-hand, except the Cinquecento.

All of them reliable. They were all serviced at the proper interval and only the Marea was kept beyond 60,000 miles. I think I traded that in just in time at 71,000 miles.

 

[wozza]

Just been driving a 1.4 elegazna today not a fan. With the semi auto box. Find the driving position awful. Although getting used to where the brake is now. At first i found myself looking down thinking have i got my foot on the brake or on the accelerator.

Brake seems to far towards the got it for a week or so anyways prolly gonna end up getting used to left foot braking with it as im simply too big to brake comfortably with my right foot. i find i need to move my left leg out of the way to make room.

For a mini mpv though i think its fairly nice. quite cute looking and got most of the extras which is a bonus gives me some toys to play with.

 

[Dougal24]

I've also just bought an ex-Hertz rental Idea (or I will have when I collect it next weekend). Its a 10 month old Dynamic 1.3 Multijet diesel with under 10000 on the clock and at £5k less than the list price it looks something of a bargain. I don't know about reliability however because my last 2 cars have been Primeras and they have caused me very few problems. Still, over 2 years warrantry isn't bad on such an inexpensive car - but who would buy one new with this sort of depreciation?

 

[T14086]

Not came across any major problems...few niggly airbag warning lights & tailgate locks but thats about it.Under 5K sounds a bargain mate....give us first offer if you sell it

 

[Dr_Pepper]

Despite the fact I could have told Fiat before they built the first one that they wouldn't sell well, I can't believe how few of these must have been sold!

It's astonishing that it's 18 months since I started this thread and to date I have seen a grand total of 3 out on the road. It might be the best car on the market (the reviewers liked it after all) but it's market is just far too small - are they actually making a profit on it I wonder?

 

[wozza]

Probably not. Although renaults modus which is basically in the same area seems to be selling quite well in comparison. But i found the idea to handle awfully it oversteered with the slightest bend i took a little too fast and i was still under 30mph maybe im just too used ot chucking a clio about but my mums tacuma still handles better than the idea did and its like a brick on wheels.

 

[CheeseMaster]

Ive seen loads on my motorway travels back and forth across mainland Europe and a few on GB roads.

 

[T14086]

Despite the fact I could have told Fiat before they built the first one that they wouldn't sell well, I can't believe how few of these must have been sold!

It's astonishing that it's 18 months since I started this thread and to date I have seen a grand total of 3 out on the road. It might be the best car on the market (the reviewers liked it after all) but it's market is just far too small - are they actually making a profit on it I wonder?

Agree not that many on the road but there are quite a few in this area.However as 'Wozza' said I find something 'not quite right' about the handling,dont know what it is but it doesn't feel too 'great' in fast corners & I keep banging my head on that shelf

 

[richard.brindley]

I have a 1.3 multijet active in flash blue and i love it!

I used to have a smart but it kept breaking down so sold it and brought idea.

Iv had a detachable towball fitted and I now use it for towing a small (10ft) caravan... great fun for me and the girlfriend and cheap hols!

Had small problem with plastic trim on off side door but sorted it under warrenty within a week

Had it 5 months now and love it

 

[Koa]

Just a quick update. Me mums had her Idea for 18 months now, has done probably 20k and not one single sniff of trouble from it (touch wood) and she's never got anything bad to say about the car, it suits her perfectly.

 

[andrewb]

I bought one for my Wife recently. It's a 1.3 Multijet. I'm very impressed. The computer shows an average of 55MPG since we got it. The engine is technically interesting, 16 valve, chain driven cams, turbo, common rail etc. The power delivery is a bit odd, nothing until 1700 revs, then everything up to about 4000. There's not much point taking it past 3000 though, 'cos the next gear up puts you back at 2000, well in the power band. Apparrently the engine is made by vauxhall

Seating is clever, though not as clever as the Meriva.

Ours has nice 17" Stilo alloys fitted by the dealer. This adds a bit of bling factor to an otherwise quite conservative design (our last car was a multipla!). It still looks quite sharp though.

 

[AppleSei]

Apparrently the engine is made by vauxhall

Yep its the same 1.3CTDI unit in the corsa diesel.

Still a rare existence on the british road

 

[The Negotiator]

Made by FIAT for vauxhall though, not t'other way.

 

[andrewb]

Still a rare existence on the british road

Certainly are. I've only seen three in my whole life, and one of them is parked on my drive!

 

[mikaell]

i live in switzerland and i have an idea for 1 year now.
for me is it perfect. im a great person. very good powerfull motor (1,9 JTD)
to drive on hills and mountains its very funny and great.

its my fiat fiat and i'm now a great fan from fiat.

 

[raton_laveur]

Hey, what's this??? No Swiss flag for Mikaell???

Good to have you on here. I have an Idea 1.9 Emotion in Belgium with 49000 km in 11 months and no real problems.

 

[Metro Wolf]

I've had my Idea :idea: for 12 months now. It's a 1.4 Petrol Active with CD player.

For what me and my family need it is great. I hate banging my head against the roof lining of other cars, a problem I just don't have with the tall Idea.

In addition my wife has arthiritus and finds it really easy to get in and out of.

I'm thinking of upgrading to the 1.4 Eleganza as I have a new job potentially doing lots of miles - the 6th gear and climate control and sunroof would be a real plus. I'm trying to justify it to myself - anyone got one with 6 gears - how does it differ from the 5 gear model ?

I reckon I could get a signficant discount on a new one as they don't appear to sell many, and the car mags all say that a large discount is available. :yum:

 

[raton_laveur]

You may find the 90 HP 1.3 MJTD to be a better choice for a lot of miles. Ignore the 70 HP version of this engine, it's not enough for the size and weight of the car.

 

[JoeF]

I just have! Traded my 2002 Punto HGT for a 2004 1.4 Eleganza, 18 months old, 14,000 miles.

Insurance, car tax & monthly payment (got the dealer to sort me out with a 0% options over 3 years) are much lower. The decision was made during the drive back from the hospital with my 4 day old son, in the back with my 2 year old daughter.

I bought the Punto when single, aged 26. Today, I am married, 2 kids, and nearly 30.

Still, I like the Idea a lot, the interior space is very impressive. I will let you all know how it performs (picking it up on Monday).

Godspeed to my Punto HGT - a great car that I will miss.