| Fiat Seicento (1998-2004) |
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Many people pass Fiat by, but the one thing the marque does well is city cars such as the Seicento. Fun to drive and cheap to run, the Seicento makes a lot of sense for the used car buyer because they're so affordable. As with most Fiats though, be wary of cars being offloaded because they're riddled with problems. |
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| Key Dates |
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6/98: | Seicento replaces Cinquecento, with 899cc or 1108cc powerplants. | | | 3/99: | Mia special edition offered. | | | 9/99: | Suite limited edition reaches showrooms. | | | 10/00: | Minor facelift means all UK-bound Seicentos now fitted with the 1108cc engine, while power steering is standard on all cars. | | | 3/01: | Michael Schumacher special edition appears, based on the Sporting. | | | 1/02: | 2 Tone limited edition on sale. | | | 1/03: | Sound special edition arrives.
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| Checklist |
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Beware of ex-student cars that haven't been maintained or have been thrashed mercilessly.
- Flimsy trim can fall apart.
- Electric power steering can fail; it's not cheap to fix.
- Fuel tanks can rust, leading to leaks.
- Citymatic automated clutch system is temperamental and costly to fix.
- Head gasket fails, so check for white mayonnaise on the oil filler cap.
- Clutches can fail prematurely, so check for slipping.
- Gearbox can prove weak.
- Electrics sometimes fail.
- Suspension often isn't very long-lived.
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We Like
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Fun to drive
Great around town.
Nippy in Sporting form
Cheap to buy and run
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We Don't Like
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900cc version is underpowered
Can be unreliable
Cramped interior
Choppy ride
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| Fiat Seicento - More Information |
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