Important guidelines
For anyone with plans to buy an old Fiat Marea, always make the best choice based on condition and service history. Consumer reviews have highly rated Fiat Marea performance which they say is better than the Vectra, Astra, Moneo or Escort Models.
Before buying a Fiat Marea check on some of the minor faults found in the model and get a discount for it.
It is important to note that Cam belts fitted in both models are replaced regularly especially after going for 72,000 miles for durability. Always find out whether there are any signs of overheating, which are displayed by a milky emulsion usually found on the oil filler cap.
When you opt for a second hand Fiat Marea, check the engine plate to ascertain that it is similar to the one on the registration documents, as a way of making sure that the engine plate has not be changed or tampered with.
Inspect the general state of the engine with dirty engine parts pointing to pure neglect and lack of servicing. Also exercise extreme caution if the engine displays a shiny surface as this could be a cosmetic cover to conceal complications such as oil leaks.
Closely scrutinize the body work to find out whether the surfaces have been exposed to rust or corrosion. Pay more attention to the bodywork around the front and rear screen rubbers, front and rear wings, trailing edges and front edges of the bonnets and on rear wing panels.
Make sure the shock absorbers are in good condition by pushing hard on the bodywork. Other areas that warrant close scrutiny include steering, brakes and tires. Always keep away from vehicles whose faults will cost a fortune.