2001 Fiat Brava Review | The Forgotten Fiat?

In this video, 17-year-old motoring journalist Daniel Achterhuis is in Liverpool walking around Matty Manning’s latest purchase - a 2001 Fiat Brava 1.2 finished in a lovely green colour.
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Matty is presenter of the ‘Matty’s Cars’ KZbin channel and co-presenter of the Car Torque Podcast with Bayley Prickett:
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#Fiat #FiatBrava

[@rodrigov6497]

I am from Brazil and I LOVE this car! I have a Brava HGT 1.8 16v 2000, a Marea Weekend HLX 2.4 20v Automatic 2003 and a Marea HLX 2.4 20v Automatic 2005, completely originals and preserved. I think that these cars were one of the most beautiful Fiat ever made. The 5 cilynder sound is a synfony, is amazing. Only Who ever drove these cars, knows the adrenalin. Unfortunatelly here in Brazil a lot of People says bshit about them because did not made the correct maintenance or used wrong motor Oil, but Who made it correctly, Just Love the Marea. I dream to add in my collection the Bravo MK1 that was not sold in Brazil. Marea is Love, Marea is Passion and deserves all the Best in its preservation. I simply Love these cars!

[@DanielDrives]

I completely understand why you like them so much. That era of Fiat was just legendary. They made some truly lovely cars.

[@dogblessamerica]

I remember my Bravo HLX; the growl of the engine, the electric sunroof, the gorgeous styling, the randomly activating heated seats...

[@RobinCapper]

Nice looking Brava, have a 2001 Bravo 155 HGT which breezed through a 6,000km road trip around New Zealand earlier this year. Still going strong with 275,000km under its wheels. Very similar to the Bava inside but the scoop in the dash in front of passenger is not there, is smooth and has an airbag

[@michaelteo3623]

Great review, Daniel! Hopefully... one day, you get to review the derived from Brava 1998-2010 Fiat Multipla, also known as Fiat weirdo, maybe.... Because back then the Multipla was genuinely a good car with lots of space and good handling (due to based on Brava) but let down by its controversial design...so really hope one day you get one to review it cuz it was always one of my top favorite cars actually...

[@AllThingsAlex]

Great video Dan!. Can't remember the last time I saw one of these. Must be getting rare now. Wonder "how many" the website reckons are taxed and on the road. Thanks for sharing!

[@DanielDrives]

Thanks Alex! There can't be many at all now. Big shame.

[@CarCultureClub]

Only just seen this, excellent review as always Daniel! Funny little car

[@DanielDrives]

Thank you! 😄

[@simonbanks3112]

Great to see you again! (When we could see you, so tall your head went out the top of the frame :P ) "Comfortableness" haha, might that be 'comfort'? :P Also, 'Bravo the Brava' - the Bravo was the 3dr version of the Brava, but I'm sure you knew that! Hope you are able to make some more videos, it's always great to watch. I won't be subscribing to Matty, I know where my loyalty is :)

[@DanielDrives]

Thanks Simon! Apologies for my terrible cinematography... I'll blame my Dutch roots.

[@xplorar1]

Wait, you're like a "Young Clarkson" though :) Excellent review as always! Happy to see more content.

[@DanielDrives]

Thanks a lot. Much appreciated!

[@user-nu3eq2rt8o]

This video made me miss my mk1 bravo hgt, it had a 2.0 20v v5 engine which sounded amazing, heated seats too! 🥲

[@DanielDrives]

Very nice!

[@vwestlife]

We will never see such a low, pointy front end on new cars anymore due to pedestrian impact regulations. If you hit someone with a car like this, it tends to launch them up into the air, instead of just knocking them down.

[@DanielDrives]

Obviously, the change is for the best, but I will always miss older car designs. It's the same story with pop-up headlights.

[@antekomljenovic9129]

i have Fiat Brava 1.4 12 valve with 214870 miles and i love it, never left me anywhere other then some trouble with oxygen sensor but ever then you could drive it, but not smoothly (i do not recommend driving with bad o2 sensor, it is scary)

[@jasonarrantimmis5967]

Y reg is 2001 first half ... last of the old registration system before the 51 plate came out. This will be one of the very last ones built I would of thought. They're really cool cars IMO. Great choice of car to review as well ... doesn't seem too many UK reviews if them on KZbin.

[@stevesrover]

I had the Bravo. Lovely car but really was a case of Fix It Again Tomorrow! Only lasted six years and it was the head gasket blowing for the third time that finished it off! It almost caught fire on one occasion. Rather a shame. Still, like you, I love my Fiats and am pootling round in an Uno at present (and my Rover, of course).

[@awgroom]

Great stuff Daniel

[@DanielDrives]

Cheers!

[@lyubomirpopov3393]

I live in Bulgaria and I have an 1.6 103 hp Brava EL from 1996. Have had in the family for over 15 years. My special car! Mine is a EL trim level and has fog lights front and rear-light gray clour but door handles tend to deteriorate . That's why dad swapped them for matching colur Marea handles. Apart from that my keys are blue and had a built in alrm button . The alarm however is now dead and I use an aftermarket one connected to the central locking .

[@lyubomirpopov3393]

just turned 170 000 km yesterday

[@Rootythe1st]

Its in amazing condition. I would imagine it has become quite a rare car by now.

[@DanielDrives]

Definitely rare. They've dropped like flies over the past decade.

[@itsmephil2255]

Daniel, you are such a nerd........and God bless ya for it Brilliant video 👌

[@DanielDrives]

Thanks Phil! :D

[@13Pandam]

Well what a coincidence, I come home to a new Daniel Drives video after spending the day repairing rusty sills on a Fiat Brava! 1600 auto as it happens. It doesn’t look like Matty’s Brava has rusty sills, lovely condition.

[@DanielDrives]

Wow, that is a coincidence! Matty's Brava was incredibly clean.

[@13Pandam]

He’s also got the best engine option, in my opinion, especially for a young driver.

[@DanielDrives]

@@13Pandam I agree, they're very smooth.

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

That's a spectacular example, I love the blue/greem interior. I have the posher equivalent... 2001 Y-plate 1.2 Formula special edition with front foglights, boot spoiler, sunroof, velour interior (so comfy) and 7-spoke 15" alloys. In gorgeous Emerald Green... The chassis is also shared with the Tipo and Coupe...

[@DanielDrives]

It was pretty immaculate for the age. Yours sounds lovely.

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

@@DanielDrives It was once... but now it has lived a life... may get a couple more years out of her. Does the owner want some proper Fiat alloys ?

[@squealingtyres]

Crikey I haven’t seen one of those in ages. Completely forgot it existed

[@DanielDrives]

I did too, actually...

[@florjanbrudar692]

The Fiat Marea Weekend is my second favourite estate following the 1999-2003 Renault Megane estate. 4:12-4:48 Yes, extremely unique.

[@Muppetgivers]

Great video !! I am looking at a 1.9 JTD 3 door with newer roaded rear lights with a 180 on the clock, some discolouring as it has metallic light blue, shall I buy it!? 😬🤔

[@danielpujol8266]

"roaded rear lights"??? Can't work out what you mean there but "roaded" must be a typo.

[@matthewbowler6563]

My dad had one electric went a wire it was 2 years old when he bought it put about 13-14 months into it. Surprised its fine

[@DanielDrives]

Oh blimey.

[@ThomasCollectables]

Someone has probably already said it, but that burgendy key is the "master key". The car would have originally come with that and two blue keys.

[@DanielDrives]

Yep, good fact.

[@Pidge0386]

I have one the EXACT same as this. I saw this one on Facebook, didn't buy cos it has rust issues, won't make it through next MOT without welding.

[@bearbold]

great car! bravo :)

[@danielcarlo2197]

They were very interesting cars from that era

[@DanielDrives]

Couldn't agree more.

[@tomcarmad]

Never seen that particular one before. How's the driving test going on?

[@DanielDrives]

Driving lessons are going brilliantly, thanks. I'll do an update video soon! Test is booked for early January.

[@tomcarmad]

Look forward to it 😀

[@takhsnikolakopoulos5553]

Infact a very good car i have it 25+years with no problems at all

[@didley3211]

I've owned 3 brava's in my lifetime the best model I had was the 1.6 16v ELX in this exact green colour, these are rare cars now a modern classic. Is this brava for sale??? Anyone selling a fiat brava ELX message me thanks

[@DanielDrives]

This Brava is for sale, but it might have already sold… twitter.com/manningmatty/status/1609989860588412930?s=46&t=6x9uFm_7y1rlsnWhKh3LCw

[@michele8039]

As far as i know, the red key is a master key used for programming new keys. From new, this car would have had two blue keys and that red one, so 3 keys in total. At least it was that way for the mk1 Punto.

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

Yes in theory you shouldn't drive with the Red key because it resets the car's electronics in order to allow it to accept a new blue key.

[@DanielDrives]

Ah, okay. Thanks for the info.

[@danielpujol8266]

"Very very green". What??? That's probably the most subtle, discreet green I've ever seen! Hyperbole, here we go...

[@oliverstemp9132]

Green spaceship

[@DanielDrives]

So ahead of its time.

[@katacorpo]

Hello Daniel, how are you? I didn't know his channel and he was suggested to me here in Brazil. I apologize for my poor writing, for the lack of practice with the language, but I would like to congratulate your video, allowing you to see a car I recently acquired, a 1.6 16V 2006 Fiat Marea, which was in Brazil, badly translated manual and tagged as "car pump", due to unskilled mechanical labor, however arising from the poor translation of the instructions contained in the Owner's Manual. I take advantage of the opportunity and ask if there is a reliable store to get some parts that are not available in Brazil and it is legal to present a vehicle with changed direction (right side). 😉

[@davelocktalk]

Don't even try to be like Jeremy Clarkson be yourself.

[@DanielDrives]

Being yourself is always best. You come across as more genuine and likeable.

[@davelocktalk]

@Daniel Drives Take a look at the aptera Daniel on KZbin. I really like this three wheeled electric car , I would love to get my hands on one of them but the waiting time will be very long. There is a lot of interest in them.

[@Jonathan-yd1th]

Glad its forgotten, I already hated these as a kid.

[@DanielDrives]

Oh? 😅

[@hertzwarthog6264]

Why duh

[@mikebrady86]

My first car