Old Top Gear 1990 - Fiat Tempra

Chris Goffey checks out the new Fiat Tempra. Taken from season 13 episode 4.

[@robiulahmed]

My Dad had one of these. I remember being impressed with the digital dash and the fact it had electric rear windows!

[@darksquarebishop2512]

FIAT Tempra was an excellent affordable family car for the years 1990-1995...great design, space inside, impressive electronic dash, and very good dynamics on the road.. not the best car but very good for the price back then

[@romus3550]

the tempra had many qualities, but certainly not the design

[@noahh914]

@@romus3550 I think the design looks pretty good in comparison to some other cars back then. The front end is really boring tho.

[@randomusername396]

recently bought a fiat tempra 1.4 ie from 1994. I absolutely love it. The lack of performance means that in my country I have to pay less for insurance. The space is incredible and it really surprised me. I can't say anything about the way it drives though because currently the car still needs a few parts mended or replaced but that shouldn't be that expensive. To anyone considering buying a tempra: if you're okay with not having airbags I'd say go for it.

[@randomusername396]

@@romus3550 it looks like every car from the 90s. Not necessarily a bad thing

[@dimashevchenkoua]

@@romus3550 nice and clean design. certainly nothing wrong with it.

[@iceonthemoon]

This was my parents car in the early 90's, i remember it as a kid. Our model was the 1.6 estate, in metallic green. They weren't the most reliable cars, but it was the first car in my life, so it's kinda special to me.

[@emirares]

I remember in 90's this car was looking like a time machine to me... Lots of digitals..

[@onisiforosalexandrou2551]

My father bought a used one of these Fiat tempra 1.4L petrol 1997 model with the analog dashboard It was a great car for the 90's and with a good set of tires it actually felt a more expensive car than it was. We had it until 2011 and it never had any electrical problems, the only expenses we had was for servicing and one time we got the right electric window rotor replaced and that's it. Only one major problem created a year before we send it to the junk ward, parts of the steering wheel assembly were damaged which it was acceptable from the abuse this car had and we couldn't find cheap replacement parts only the Fiat dealership could help us, to order some from Italy but it costed a small fortune and also this version of tempra did not had an air-conditioning system which made it a nightmare to drive in summer which lasts for 5 months in my country Cyprus. So we sent it to junk ward and we bought a Fiat Grande punto.

[@Rappini_]

My dad has one Tempra,a green one. Although he also has a pickup,and uses it all the time,i always found myself amazed by the Tempra. For me,it is simply beautiful. Amazing car.

[@kos_tikas2083]

My best memories are with my father's old 1100CL and Tempra. The vibrations of the CL1100, the squeaky sound of it when it was cold and the "rally" sound of its engine when you stepped the gas that was stopping that sound (turning the wheel also had the same effect) were putting me to sleep in no time, but it started having many problems. The next one was the Tempra and we would still have it if my mother didn't crash it back in 2010. I miss them two very much, specially Tempra. Now I have a Corolla 1400cc 2000 model which is a great car and very beautiful too, but I really miss the medium pillow and the green indoor little lights of the Tempra when driving at night. They made it feel like driving a luxury car. The only sure thing is that I will keep the Corolla as much as I can, I have made a lot of memories with it since it was my first car after my driving license exams (drove Tempra once or twice when I was 16) and done tons of kilometers when I was going to the university.

[@jamesmiller3142]

Chris hates sticki-out boot catches and internal spare wheels

[@un1onjackbob]

I had a Fiat Tipo 16v 'Sedicivalvole' k reg. Red. Sold it about 10 years ago for next to nothing. Saw one the other day, almost exact, on autotrader for 5grand!!!!!

[@petermooney2228]

When Top Gear was about cars and not about the presenters.

[@DarkOracleOfDeath]

Since my first experience with Top Gear was at the time when the trio: May, Hammond and Clackson presented it, I must admit that whenever I watched the show I watched it as an entertainment show involving cars rather than a car reviews show.

[@marius1987ism]

Yeah, you are right. This run of TG was so succesfull that it got cancelled ,😂

[@CyberArtem]

I have a '93 1.6 SW it's a great car , i love it very much !

[@stringer-ik1pc]

Had four of these they were great.

[@jigrodrigues]

I don't car what people say, I like the Tempra.

[@FotisMnts]

My family used to own only italian cars since 1960 as FIAT 1100R, Berlinetta, Punto, Cinquecento etc. We bought FIAT Tempra back in the 90's and we still own it and i have to say that it's from the best cars that have ever made it's reliable, well designed and from the most aerodynamic cars back in the days due to the fact that it has 0.28 Cx.

[@Pasi123]

My family has had Fiat Tempra (Wagon, 1996, digital dash) since 2005 and it still runs fine after 420k(?) km. It has been the most reliable car they have ever had, but they bought a newer car from relatives in 2016.

[@InzoOO]

Still have it and love it so much, Beautiful and strong not like those days silly cars, Forza Fiat.

[@milank5749]

Still drive in Serbia in 2023. It has airbag esp abs autoclime,electric windows

[@nightbot.2817]

İ also have one here in turkey with a modified LPG (liquid petroleum gas) system. Literally pay 200 liras (6 euros or for my British friends 5 pounds) per 100km

[@MagicBoyUK76]

@aircooledwizard Must have been badly repaired after a crash then. The Fiat Tipo and Tempra were among the first fully galvanised cars on the market.

[@UnRoman111]

early Tempra was bad, but starting with 1993 got ABS, airbags and was a superb car. I love it, miss it. My dream car when i was a child!!!! FIAT TEMPRA

[@pubtastic]

Haha! I had a Tempra 1.6ie saloon for 3 years, it cost me £90 in 2002 & I loved it! I think I've still got the headlights & door mirrors too.

[@AutoWorldTube]

Forza Fiat !!!! This Tempra Looks Modern on nowadays !!!!

[@RobertTheDodger654]

The Tempra was the successor to the Regata, which was in turn the successor to the 131 Mirafiori; whereas the Tipo was the successor to the Strada/Ritmo, which was in turn the successor to the 128.

[@TechnoMoffat]

Oh my goodnes! When I was born I came home in mums saloon!

[@indiana1977]

@KramNodd I had a '91 Uno and a '99 Bravo. So I guess I like the five bar logo for nostalgic reasons. I wouldn't say that either of them were bad cars. They compared quite favourably with what others were making at the time. But it is gratifying to see Fiat raising their game now and poised to re-enter the North American market with the 500, which does look great with the classic red logo.

[@paulinhodabahia1978]

Este carro da fiat fez muito sucesso aqui no Brasil, no inicio dos anos 90 superando ate Opola , que esta nas vesperas de aposenta e da o luga para o Omega.

[@MB200bus]

It looked like a lot back then, but most Tempras (and Tipos) ended up on the scrapyard due to engine failures (especially the 1.6 petrol) and electrical problems before they were 10 years old.

[@milank5749]

J still drive Tempra in Serbia,in 2023with abs esp airbag auto climet,it is 1,6 petrol 55 kw and it is going 190 km/h.

[@SmellsLikeGASOLINE]

there where at Annecy, France for this test

[@AutoWorldTube]

Fiat Made of Quality !

[@endrightwinglunacy]

There's something strangely attractive about the Tempra saloon. I really like Fiat styling from this era that seemed to culminate in the awesome Fiat Coupe which was the ultimate in wedge/block/sharp line aesthetics that's hinted at here with the Tempra.

[@marshalllucky]

like the look of these new fiats, cant wait for them to hit the showroom :-)

[@EuFaloDeCarro]

I have a 1995 Fiat Tempra in Brazil with a 2.0 8V single point fuel injection engine. It is 17 years old and kicks any 318 BMW's around here anytime, even the new ones. So, think twice before calling any car a piece of crap, especially if you live on an island also known as the land of rusty cars.

[@nkt1]

I don't remember seeing many of these on the roads at the time. The local British Transport Police station ran one for years.

[@DIZAZZO]

I have a Tipo for 8 years now, with 250,000 Km on the clock and my father had a Tempra for almost 10 years, they are very good to drive, the Tempra was 2.0 16v 150hp and my Tipo is 1.6 8v 105hp (check out my videos), i love them.

[@helmhurst]

Had 2lt estate as a London to Alicante twice a year. excellent car for the job. Was a second car tho'. Mile eater comfortable and economical enough. 130 mph (Spanish motorways) no dramas.

[@soundseeker63]

@KramNodd Not sure I agree. The Panda, 500 and Grande Punto seem to be doing ok in the market, but the Bravo is by most accounts pretty badly made, and do Fiat even make a proper family size car these days? They've always made a decent small car, but screwed it up on the larger models even to this day.

[@indiana1977]

Love the old five bar Fiat logo. ///// Bring it back! Tempra was a bit of failure unfortunately, Station Wagon was useful cheaper alternative load lugger though. Interesting to think that Fiat were originally thinking of the Tempra as a more upmarket car.

[@cubethai]

I have a Fiat Tempra SW. 1,6 1996!

[@Blanky974]

Brings back memories, I loved Tempra... actually I can't think of any Fiats I don't like... oh yes I can... I abhor the Stilo :-S

[@cliffthelightning]

My dad had one in the 90s in black with the digidash, i have not seen one in the Netherlands in years, are they still driving around in other countries?

[@NEWCASTLE-UNITED-1892]

How come these cars still look old and faded even when new?

[@ross6668]

Just thinking the same thing, how anyone could have walked into a showroom and thought "mmm I like that" is beyond me...

[@frazzleface753]

Because this is a car from 28 years ago lol.

[@ShadowlordDio]

is the color. check the bordeauz version. and brasilian turbo version

[@pedinhuh16]

@@frazzleface753 It looked dated even 28 years ago though, cars were already starting to get rounded edges here and there.

[@darrenwilson8042]

funny how for testers a load lip to the boot is a near insurmountable obstacle yet I have never had a car where its a problem....and they moan when the spare is in the boot under the luggage but also when its slung under the boot getting covered in road grime. Easy to pick holes I suppose - maybe they should try car design.

[@1100HondaCB]

@soundseeker63 FIAT introduced the Stilo to the UK to replace the Bravo, but it sold poorly so FIAT has reintroduced the Bravo. I guess this won't sell well either. In the UK, FIAT do better in the small car segment and 500 is proving to be quite popular as is the Panda. These two models have paid FIAT dividends and got them out of the "red".

[@scottleo100]

O tempo de tempra.

[@ShadowlordDio]

i still have a Station wagon. collectors item. pd: 100th comment !

[@obelic71]

they were so reliable and cheap on the used market most were run into the ground. so defiantly a collectors item

[@arnoldrocheteau5975]

I wish Fiat would make Saloons and Estates e.g Croma, 131, Regata etc...again, the current Fiat range is just awful not one model I like. The Fiat 500 formula has killed off creativity in a once innovative marque that the rest copied. I much prefer what Fiat is doing in the Brazilian market than the European market!

[@MrAndreCoutinho]

Fast forward 4 years and the Brazilian market for Fiat changed a lot and shrinked a bit. Theys still have some crappy subcompacts and superminis and some aging models with 20 years on the road. The 500 is no longer for sale and they also killed some models, but still, they released a very innovative model - a stylish body-on-chassis pick-up truck based on the Jeep Renegade - there are no more mid-sized hatches and saloons.

[@ANDREWSAMY562]

What about the new Fiat Tipo?

[@frazzleface753]

Fiat reached their pinnacle in the 90s. Individualistic style in a more affordable package. Quality was reaching or equivalent to the competition. They appealed to people who didn't want a Ford or GM (Opel/Vauxhall) like everyone else. They made a huge mistake with the bland and unremarkable Stilo, lost a ton of money on it, and since then all we've had is mostly cutesy retroesque from Fiat, without a great deal of innovation or anything approaching the individualism of the 90s era. From what I can tell, quality has taken a dive too. The marriage with Chrysler is surely made in hell. Sad. I cannot imagine that the Fiat of today would ever take the risks they did in the 90s with the Coupe or Multipla. Heck, even the Bravo/Brava would seem outrageously brave.

[@juancarlosbatmanHAA]

We have the same chassis for the fiat uno since the 90s

[@tutapine]

good luck!!!

[@nathaliezahour8779]

Nous avons eu notre tempra de 1995 à 2023. Increvable cette voiture

[@monkeytennis1972]

I had a Tipo DGT with that funky dash. It was an electrical nightmare. When I got rid of it I swore I'd never buy another Italian car.

[@pedinhuh16]

Italian engineers can do amazing, timeless designs but can't do electronics to save their own lives. If you're buying a Italian car, makes sure it has little to no electronics on it.

[@jimbeamabarth135]

The Digital Dash was perfekt, 20 years in forward. My '92 Tipo 1.9 TD with DGT was my best Car ever. 150tsd. Miles without Problems...❤ my next Car was a Golf, with many Q. Problems, two Airbagdefekts ...

[@PietreMorte]

La mia prima auto!

[@izidorburum6566]

Digi dash squad?

[@Glenn1967ful]

Fiat had beaten the rust problem by galvanising their cars in the late eighties and the Tipo and second generation Uno were good cars for the money. Never saw many Tempras in England as it offered nothing much over the Ford Sierra, Nissan Bluebird, Peugeot 405 and Vauxhall Cavalier that dominated this class and were mostly bought on a discount by fleet buyers.

[@1100HondaCB]

FIATS may have a reputation for reliability issues and rust, but the company has made many technical achievements. Many cars I look at, I can get bored very easily, but FIATs always seem to have a charm about them and the Italian styling I love. I miss the Regatas. FIATs are at least better than Renault and everytime a see a strandard car, it is often a Renault. I am sure in remote parts of Italy, there are many old FIATs still bombing about fuss free!

[@KarlHamilton]

DRIVING LIKE A MADMAN

[@zloychechen5150]

just imagine that... the times when an almost new car (like 3-4 years old) could be "not reliable".... now it's hard to come across something like that. On the other hand, a modern car without proper (i.e. EXPENSIVE) attention will hardly last more than 10 years. While you still see many 80s cars on the road. But not so many mid 90s cars.

[@darrenwilson8042]

Yeah right so a long term owner wouldn't work out how to apply the handbrake and to dodge the bootlid when loading up

[@AutoWorldTube]

Forza Fiat !

[@32richard]

love the starting tune(in the blue) is it a self composed tune or has it a name?

[@Rapscallion2009]

richard koning it's the theme to an old British TV show called "grandstand"

[@nyctrphiia494]

i need Overhaul engine , My father left it for me 10 years ago. but Can't find spare parts in THAILAND 😭

[@nrs796bs]

T/E/M/P/R/A💕

[@marcusprice3237]

Love Fiat's cars 😊

[@AutoWorldTube]

Fiat the Best for ever

[@k956upg]

I had a fiat tipo 1.4 dgt (digital dash) I bought it for £1500 & it cost £1400 to keep running for less than a year......no more Italian cars. Only good thing the funky dash impressed a police man one evening as he looked through my door asking what speed I thought I was doing...he let me off after asking about the digital dash.

[@mustsilm]

I never knew VW and Fiat were arch rivals.

[@nrs796bs]

Nice video👌

[@MrSilentwater]

Beautiful Car ❤️

[@jaggass]

fiat forgot to put on another word mental. i call it the fiat tempramental

[@nrs796bs]

👍tempra

[@leonshackleford9585]

Great Cars Fiat Tempra’s & Tipo’s I wanna own both of those in Turbo Diesel’s

[@snupmadra3787]

My neighbour owned one from new. It was scrapped after 8 YEARS. Nothing worked. What a POS!

[@paulinhodabahia1978]

Ja o painel e o volante eram diferntes dos produzidos aqui.

[@erikleffi3911]

My dad owned one in the 90's. Very nice colour but it was full of problems..

[@maxeluy]

I prefer the Fiat Tipo, is more simple and nice looking

[@lucabombardi4861]

Amazing car!

[@kernals12]

don't give me that "they don't build em like they used to" crap, modern cars are far more reliable than older ones, robotic assembly lines mean precise and consistent quality, electrical systems have much less bugs than they used to, and new body protection techniques have all but eliminated rust

[@televisionandcheese]

Only you...

[@futureheaded]

As much as I liked old Top Gear for it's focus on 'normal' cars, I'm reminded why they needed to change. The sheer know it all, barbour wearing, upper class, I'm better than you attitude of the reviewers was enough to make anyone want to punch the TV.

[@lucianaangel6314]

o novo nao tem nada ve

[@Zero_Ninety]

Haven't seen one of these for years. They all rusted away the first time it rained.

[@davidlilley4629]

Zero Ninety They were made of galvanised steel ?

[@jamesmiller3142]

Yeh mine didn't rust so i had to blow it up (engine wise)

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

Yes they were fully galvanised and had better production than VWs and certainly more than Ford and GM products. @@davidlilley4629

[@filips603]

когда нибудь и у меня такой будет!!!

[@zabijaqzoltan8442]

I love these FIAT bullsh!t story tellers like Blanky974. I don't see any Alfa Romeo owners bragging about great reliability, they know AR have loads of faults but they love them due to fun, awesome design and character. But FIAT owners always brag about how reliable their cars are even if their not (GD survey, TUV report ....). I love italian cars (and food, and music, and shoes and clothes), but the quality is really bad. You don't see any 90's Tempra, Uno, Croma or Tipo on the streets these days. But you see 80's BMW, Mercs, even few 1.gen Ford Sierra's in quite good condition.

[@lightningleaf23]

If you go to Italy there are plenty of old fiats. If they sold far fewer in the UK the chance of seeing one is far less likely.

[@cyclops1337]

yea, comparing mercs and bmws with fiat LOL. i haven't seen a ford sierra in 10 years, but i've seen plenty of those fiats, except croma which was always rare.

[@indiana1977]

I had a 91 Uno and 99 Bravo. Never had any major issues. Reliability and longevity overall for 80s/90s Fiats was very comparable with cars in the same sector (Ford/Vauxhall et al). Well yes, if you're paying tens of thousands more for your BMW/Merc, I would bloody well hope they'd be better quality and last longer! Give me a Tempra/Uno/Croma anyday over a soulless Sierra/Fiesta/Cavalier/Nova.

[@juancarloslujan292]

I had a 1993 tempra with lancia 2000 engine! In 57.000km

[@fiatmies3852]

I have seen more bmws and mercs broken than fiats

[@allthestroke88]

Remember when Fiat made reliable cars? Oh wait.

[@fiatmies3852]

Fiats are really reliable...

[@fiatmies3852]

Yea other fiats toio

[@abingleyboy]

electronic this, electronic that, electronic knackerd in 2 years time. this is a beand new car, they should review it 4yrs later. All fiats are crap!. i do like the review over newer top gear. an ordinary car & review filmed simply. no arty slow mo, wheel spin, donuts, scripted challenge, super unabtainable impracticle car. i like top gear with jezza, hamond & may. but its not a propper car show with useful info. mind you, Goffey just told us the tempra was a good car, sue'im ifu bort one of him

[@ianstewartorr8455]

A woman hired one got from Edinburgh to Livingston and the head gasket had blown a owner of fiats said you swear by them or swear at them I’ve never had a Fiat

[@miralemnermina142]

Fiat's SOHC engines rarely blow headgaskets, she probably overheated it or something

[@NumquamB]

FIAT suxx by definition

[@Karpo1986]

Bullshit, bullshit and a little bit more bullshit! I own/have owned 2 Fiat Tempras (1.6 and 2.0) and 2 Lancia Dedras (also 1.6 and 2.0). The only electrical problems I have had were in the BOSCH fuel injection in the 1.6-models... The only one of these cars that isn't still on the road is the 1.6 Dedra, which was "retired" (because of rust) after 18 years of use and 400000+km!

[@Kerem3091]

paint terk mk

[@FrightfulAccountant]

Again a very disapointing Fiat. Ofcourse in everything concering reliability, but it didn't realy look that nice either...

[@butlerhatler2444]

FIAT was great, the actual Models are not really FIAT, and now in Stellantis... i have no good Feeling:-(

[@ghostknight35]

mis gibi araba lan işte amk

[@sman3780]

て、天ぷらｗ

[@abingleyboy]

nice to see a propper review of an everyday car, modern top gear is looking too staged nowadays. fiat vs vw, no contest. vw all the way. fiats are terrible cars. what happend to all the really popular cars if the 80s & 90s sierras, caveliers, metros, citroën bx's, astras & uno's all these have completly vanished from the road but once filled them.

[@Hmi114]

abingleyboy i have alfa romeo giulietta nuova 2.0 from 80's. and then i also have vw polo 6n1 from 98. and the alfa is more reliable than the vw.. the alfa have never left me on the side of the road, but the polo have... multiple times. i am actualy thinking to replace the polo with tempra.. :)

[@bigsmokeydiesel760]

Did Chris Goffey toke on a crack pipe before this review? Fiat, Quality, Refinement!!!...now there is three words that never should be strung together!

[@indiana1977]

Well, if you poke around a little online, you can find a Fiat promotional sales brochure entitled 'tempra' from 1990, intended as an introduction to the new model, with a comparison 'article' written by.........Chris Goffey. So, yeah. Methinks not entirely independent thoughts in this review.

[@Retro_Rich]

Dismal, dreary dull and dreadful. Same platform as the Lancia Dedra. I wouldn’t be seen Dedra in either of them.