Test Drive FIAT MAREA 1996 - 2002 Sedan

MAREA? Bosteral temperament

Among the Marea Minsk Motor Show, the Blue Marea was not too highlighted. And only going closer, I noticed two small nameplates on the front wing: 155 and 20V. So time! Why, in front of me the most powerful FIAT model, officially supplied to our republic. And since the most powerful, it means the most dynamic, and the most speed. Interesting? Still would. But there was a personal question for this car. The number 155 is because not only a strangely rounded amount of horsepower under the hood MAREA. This combination belonged to the previous model of another Italian brand, which is part of the Fiat - Alfa Romeo, to which the impartially, I can not (to be honest) I do not want. But since only Fiat fade in the Republic of Belarus, it would be nice to know how much Marea corresponds to the traditions of Italian automotive industry, so generously manifested in the same alpha.
Of course, let's start with the design. For a car, the appearance of the Apennine Peninsula is as important as important as for German - the quality of the assembly. In the light of today, the MAREA exterior can be present only one complaint: familiar. At one time, the progenitors MAREA - BRAVO / BRAVA twins became an apotheosis of biodide development in the automotive industry, and it is not difficult to believe that there was no better after them in this style already. All would be good if the case was happening, say, last year, otherwise, because of the days of the couple, almost five years have passed - a long time for automotive standards. And still looks Marea perfectly. In the natural roundness of its lines there is no boning of the kneading, and in the lack of authenticity, the car is sin to complain. It is not enough unless sports entourage - for the most powerful modification of the alone alloy disks is not enough. Maybe all the racing attributes were transferred to the salon?
No, it does not seem. In any case, the interior of the little Punto Sporting looks like a much sportswear relaxed salon MAREA. However, our ward is also different from the basic modification. White devices, skin-skinned steering wheel and gear lever are a tribute to sportiness. And the windows and mirrors, the built-in radio tape recorder with the possibility of controlling the CD changer, the electrically regulating the driver's seat in height is the attributes of a modern comfortable car. The internal sizes of the cabin suggest that MAREA was created on the verge of two worlds: golf class and middle class. Of course, the width of the car and the spacious trunk are worthy of high marks, but from the Bravo wheeled base, 254 cm long will not go anywhere, so the rear passengers have questions about the class affiliation MAREA are unlikely to appear. At the same time, they will have to complain about the closeness of them in those few cases when the front chairs occupy the desperate long periods.
The driver's seat, despite the height electrically regulating, seemed too ordinary. It is possible to get a job in it quite convenient, but from the most car itself in the gamma subconsciously expect something more. As a dignity, we note the location of the lever of the gearbox - it directly falls into the hand itself, and the gear shift turns into a simple and tireless process. Baranca is adjustable along the angle of inclination, so after the briefings with adjustments, it can be mastered on a driver's seat very well. But remembering the steering wheel of which MAREA, it will be easier for light instruments than landing or lateral support. Rear head restraints are very successfully designed. In a non-working position, they are hidden in the back of the rear seat, significantly improving visibility to the cabin mirror and repeatedly simplifying the folding / folding / folding of the rear seat. Believe me, trifling, at first glance, the problem of finding a place for the head restraints removed during the unfolded back takes quite a lot of time and nerves.
Under the hood of our MAREA was the most bulk gasoline unit in the passenger range of Fiat. Why not the most powerful? Yes, because there is still a Fiat Coupe, where from the same motor with a turbocharger removed 220 hp Interestingly, in the undead version there is a modification that develops 154 hp, installed on the same Fiat Coupe and Bravo Hgt. And for MAREA, this five-cylinder engine has been finalized in such a way that he began to develop 147 hp, but not at 6500 rpm, as a more forced version, and only 6100 rpm. True, while the peak of torque has poured from 3750 rpm to 4500 rpm, which is somewhat strange. The transmission in the box is chosen by sports: the fourth is not yet straight, and the fifth only slightly accelerating. In theory, such a decision to couple with a powerful engine should provide a car decent dynamic characteristics. And exactly - our Marea clearly did not suffer. But still 8.7 s to one hundred could fly rather, although we will not forget that there were three in the car. Dynamics of dynamics, and how with the corporate skate of the Italians - handling?
The platform near the office of the dealer has, in our opinion, the only drawback that does not allow it to be attributed to the category of convenient test polygons, namely the fence around the perimeter. So, driving MAREA, I practically did not fear for a possible meeting with this obstacle. Why? And very simple - the car is damn obedient. On an even asphalt platform, the car drove, as if a ring car, clearly withstanding the trajectory until the tires were able to resist the driver enthusiasm. But when the irrepressible desire to enter a turn with more reasonable limits, the speed led to slip, the car remained under control. Added gas - went to a larger radius, removed - Marea begins to screw in the turn. And if the gas reset is still slow down, then the feed of the car still takes out the outward turning, which in certain cases it also helps. In general, winding the circles on the site, I almost forgot about the notorious fence, because I knew exactly that I would have a stock of space and time for maneuver in any situation. Well, it can not be so good ...
When traveling along ordinary roads, the excellent behavior of the pendants on the smooth asphalt is turning to be a rigging passage of holes, junctions and other charities of our roads. It is possible to put up with this, especially since the suspension does not break through serious irregularities, but for everyday ride I would like sild settings. The steering is sharp enough (from the stop to the stop three turns) and has a good reactive effect. The only but - when driving large irregularities, the driver seems to repeat the movement of the car, which can entail the involuntary movements of the hands and, as a result, trajectory deviations. In general, the driver holds a chauffeur stronger. But in any situation, the driver will know exactly what is happening with the front wheels and will certainly have time to perform corrective steering actions if there is a need for this.
As they say, it's time to push grandmother. I remember MAREA? Yes. Like? And that. Powerful engine, excellent handling, original design - what is needed. In the minuses we write down the smoothness of the course as an inevitable fee for behavior in turns, and a limited space for the rear passengers (with amendment to the class, of course). It is very similar to finding a European classmate with such characteristics and a complete set for the value of MAREA will be very difficult. And if necessary?
Alexey Belousov

A source: Autogase / N 17 (276) dated 17.05.00