Test Drive FIAT MAREA 1996 - 2002 Sedan

Just a man

Almost probably you paid attention to extremely catchy cars - FIAT BRAVO / BRAVA, which have already burned on our roads. Having regretted the attractive appearance, many regretted that the car is not enough - such, but a little more suitable now it became possible - we had matured Bravo and Brava, which turned from hatchback in a much more solid sedan and wagon, having received such metamorphosis New names: Marea and Marea Weekend, respectively.
Shopping girl
To understand that Marea and both braves are the next relatives, a fairly runaway look at the portrait - twins and only! Is that Marea grade, slightly adding long. But the magnificent forms did not disappear anywhere - before us turned out to be a fair ruddy fat girl. In general, Masha she is in Italy Marea!
Its advantages are not exhausted by charming appearance - the inner world is also beautiful. In the interior, as in the outdoor design, the main styrene-forming feature is fluffy. All here is rounded and smooth in the glance and touch. From unconventional parts, we note familiar to the original cover of the magnetic cassette receiver. The equipment of the cabin fully complies with modern ideas about comfort in a car of this class, and therefore listed everything that is equipped with an electric drive or automatic control, we will not become. Note, the truth is that both cars we tested were in the richest of the proposed standard complete sets. By the way, since we were talking about the versions of execution, we will focus on this.
For MAREA, six engines are offered to choose from, half of which gasoline, and the other half is turbodiesel. And in that, and in another case there are five-cylinder modifications. The most powerful in the entire range is a five-cylinder gasoline engine. Its working volume is 2 liters, and the power is 147 liters. With. The basic levels of equipment are three: SX, ELX and HLX - in order of increasing inquiry, and each of them, in accordance with the hierarchy, there are completely defined engines from the entire set. You can break the subordination if you smear on the car with the most non-zero engine order the entire list of additional equipment.
The differences between simply Marea and Marea Weekend are small and boil down to the execution of the trunk. And at the sedan, and the station wagon is large and very convenient due to the successful design of the rear suspension. On both machines, its area is easy to enlarge, folding the rear seats - completely either in parts. But, of course, in a universal baggage will be spacious - after all, he is longer than sedan. Plus, there is another highlight to be in the universal: a portion of the rear bumper is leaking up to the floor of the trunk, facilitating the loading. This decision was encountered on Fiatovsky cars before. The rear lighting on the universal was spelled on the racks, and its edging serves as a continuation of the luggage fixes located on the roof.
... but with character!
From the family car special sportiness is generally not required, but almost one hundred and fifty horses under the hood still intrigued. We did not find any special differences between them between them, but they came to the conclusion that Marea suffers to the split personality.
If you wish, you can get it up with it, driving a volatile - a fairly powerful motor, a pleasant harsh suspension and the convenient character of the steering is quite allowed. But with enthusiasm it will only move into experienced corn arms. The characteristic of the engine is such that it develops the maximum of torque only at 4.5 thousand revolutions, and all its power issues and later - almost before the red tachometer zone. In short, loves to twist. So if there is a desire to go actively, you have to work well to work the gear lever, without giving falling the tachometer arrow. But if you pull the lever too often too lazy - you can just go. The explosive temperament at the same time completely disappeared, and it becomes calm, even lazy. Leisurely, it even rolls on top of the highest gears, and the gas is almost not responded to the gas pedal.
Such a duality of character is even convenient: in one person we immediately have as it were, there are two cars - for the hot father of the family and for his faithful girlfriend of life, which has nowhere to hurry. And the only thing we managed to find fault is the ease of deceleration. The brakes do not have a zone of smooth engineering. No matter how try, they come into operation somehow very vigorously.
We think that such a car will definitely find its fans in young and active people who have time to get a numerous family and value-valued comfort and originality.
The editors thanks the joint venture Alfa Romeo Moscow, (095) 289-7435, which provided cars for the test.
For the period of test, the car was insured in the insurance society of the reso-guarantee, (095) 250-3600, 255-6834, 254-2272.
 
Male
Marea, which we took to the test was one of two cars came to Russia to the presentation. The presentation was in the middle of last month, the delivery orders began to take only at the end of May. Meanwhile, buyers, as they told me in the company Alpha Romeo Moscow, appeared much earlier. New models are surprisingly intriguing Russians. People without the end call, ask, are waiting, worried when you can finally buy. Literally break down the phone, "said the responsible for sale in Alpha Romeo. - As for two presentation specimens, they bought them straight from the wheels, as soon as they brought them. Well, however, we persuaded the people before the presentation not to take the cars to show what. And now orders go constantly - despite the fact that the car must be waiting for as many as three months!
Rank, by the way, that a lot of time goes to the adaptation of cars for Russia. Dealers denied this information: fiats with the so-called northern package (electric heating seats, etc.) ride. He is the same as for Scandinavians. Nothing Russian is not offered.
How will you go to Marea next? Large fiants never used special love. But Marea, according to the plan of the company, should change the situation. And indeed, in Europe it takes pretty boyko. Especially Weekend - the one is called the version with the body of the wagon. And it is quite natural. Well, if you buy a large, roomy Fiat, so let it be as suitable as possible. Especially since the price difference between the weekend and the sedan is purely symbolic.
But here is the fact that Fiat is counting on Weekend and in Russia, - strange. Such universals, machines for a multi-seamy middle class, we do not have a consumer, this very middle class. And their stunning capacity is not needed here. Hardly Fiat will be able to immediately change the traditions of our market. In addition, the company can not dictate the price to its Russian dealers. And who knows how much they decide to turn on the weekend?
The sedan, meanwhile, proves its popularity among Russians not only by abundance of orders. So far, official dealers have been certified, gray has already been taken to us MAREA from Europe. And now, selling the first cars, call white, hoping to get a new batch. But white from such mediated trading refuses. We'll figure it out, they say.
Fiat sellers, by the way, the big enthusiasts of the new car. A cool car, "said me in the representative office of Fiat in Russia. - No comparison with what was before. Inside more than outside. And on the front, and on the rear seats, the feeling that you are in a representative car. Especially listening to the opinion of those who are not interested. But some reason in their words, of course, is. Not in vain hurried to buy several MAREA Embassy of Switzerland in Moscow.
Model / Modification FIAT MAREA 2.0 HLX FIAT MAREA WEEKEND 2.0 HLX
FIAT AUTO S.P.A manufacturer. Fiat AUTO S.P.A.
Manufacturer Country ITALY ITALY
BODY
Type Sedan Universal
Number of doors / seats 4/5 5/5
ENGINE
Type petrol with multipoint injection gasoline with multipoint injection
Front location transversely in front
Working volume (see cubic.) 1998 1998
Number / Cylinder Location 5 V Series 5 V
Cylinder diameter x Piston stroke (mm) 82x75,7 82x75.7
Compression ratio of 10.1 10.1
Power (EEC) (kW) 108 (6100) 108 (6100)
Power (DIN) (l. P.) 147 147
Moment (EEC) (NM) 186 (4500) 186 (4500)
Number of valves / cylinder 4 4
TRANSMISSION
Drive on the front wheels on the front wheels
5-speed mechanical 5-speed mechanical gearbox
SUSPENSION
Front independent independent
Rear independent independent
STEERING
Type of Rake Gear, with Hydraulifier Gear Rake, With Hydraulifier
Torkemose
Front disk (ventilated) disk (ventilated)
Rear disk disk
ABS in standard in standard
Wheels
Tire size 195/55 R15 195/55 R15
Dimensions / About EMA / Weight
Length / width / height (mm) 4390/1740/1420 4490/1740/1420
Wheel base (mm) 2540 2540
Front / Persecution Pitch Rear (mm) 1461/1432 1461/1432
Minimum reversal radius (M) 5,55 5,55
Volume of fuel tank (L) 63 63
Dry mass (kg) 1255 1315
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km / h) 207 205
Acceleration up to 100 km / h (s) 8.7 9.3
Economy
Fuel consumption (l / 100 km)
at 90 km / h 7.0 7.2
at 120 km / h 8,6 8.8
on the city cycle 11.1 11.1
 
And what else
The sector of the family of family car such a class differs in Europe with a huge capacity. Therefore, the majority of automakers want to grab his lacking piece from it. From here - a huge variety of car offered: from quite ordinary Skoda and Seat to the Grande such as BMW and Mercedes. But here there are their favorites whose products are most popular.
One of them is Volkswagen Concern. Its model Vento, like FIAT MAREA, is made on the VOLKSWAGEN GOLF junior class car platform - one of the best-selling in the old world. Thanks to this, Vento managed to remain as democratic as his fellow. This car features primarily practicality and high quality, in addition to which a huge selection of engines and additional equipment is attached.
Another German specialist in the field of mass production and long-time competitor Volkswagen - Opel - not so long ago released the second generation of its popular model Vectra. This is a whole family of sedan, wagon and hatchback, which is distinguished by modern design and design and is also offered with a large number of engine options and packages.
But, of course, not only in Germany produces cars for the middle class. In France, there are our masters in this matter. One of them is Renault, offering model Laguna in this class. Like Fiat, Renault produces two types of body for its car, but instead of a sedan, the French prefer hatchback. And the wagon also in the last fashion carries light engineering on the rear body racks and among other things, it can be completed with the third nearby seats intended for children. But still the main trump card of the lagoon, of course, is the design.
 
Alexander Kalugin,
Stepan Fishermen (photo)

 

A source: "Autopilot"