The floorpan (including the wheelbase)
and most of the mechanicals are carried over from the Bravo/Brava, and
the engines available are the 1581cc 16V (103bhp), 1747cc 16V (113bhp)
and 1998cc 20V (154bhp) petrol engines (all four valves per cylinder, dohc)
and the 1910cc (75bhp or 105bhp in JTD) and 2387cc (130bhp) turbo diesels.
In some markets the five cylinder 20V 1998cc turbocharged engine (from
the Coupé) is also available,
for others the 1.4-litre 12V FIRE unit is an option.
A dual-fuel vehicle, known as the Marea
Bipower is available. This features a 1581cc 16V engine modified to operate
on either petrol or methane, switchable from the drivers seat. Two sets
of injectors are fitted and a special tank in the boot holds the methane
at high pressure. A light commercial vehicle, the Fiat Marengo, is also
offered, which is basically a Weekend with no rear seats and various modifications to optimise it for its role as a light commercial vehicle.
The Marea ceased production in Europe during late 2002.
Marea film (3.06 MB) :
See the Marea and Marea Weekend in action.
The
Fiat Marea, based on the Bravo/Brava platform
was Fiat's largest saloon at the time, taking the position left when the Croma
ceased production. It entered production in 1996 and was available as either
a four door saloon or a five door estate (the Weekend).
As far back as the B-pillar the styling is effectively the same as the Bravo/Brava,
but behind that the body is new and in the saloon version ends in a distinct boot. The Weekend has
an extended estate body with characteristic high mounted
rear lights
and integrated roof bars. It also features a
fold down lip
in the rear bumper to reduce the height of the lip, easing loading of the 1540dm3 (with the rear seats folded) load space. Equipment fitted in
its role as the top of the range Fiat model include air conditioning, electric
windows, drivers airbag, three 3-point rear seatbelts and ABS as standard,
with numerous additional items available as options.
Technical Details
| Driveline | transverse engine at front with front wheel drive |
| Suspension | front : MacPherson strut with telescopic dampers and coil springs plus anti-roll bar
rear : independent with telescopic dampers within coil springs plus anti-roll bar wheelbase : 2540mm front track : 1470mm (20V : 1475mm), (TD75 & JTD130: 1480mm) rear track : 1440mm (20V : 1430mm), (TD75 : 1455mm), (JTD130 : 1435mm) |
| Brakes | front : discs, ventilated, diameter 257mm, (20V & JTD130 284mm ventilated), (SX solid)
rear : drums, diameter 203mm, (20V & JTD130 discs, diameter 240mm) handbrake operating on the rear via a cable diagonally split dual circuit ABS standard on all variants (4 channel, 4 sensor) |
| Gearbox | 5 speed manual
4 speed automatic |
| Steering | Rack and pinion with power assistance |
| Kerb weight | Saloon : ranges from 1140kg (1600SX) to 1280kg (JTD130)
Weekend : ranges from 1200kg (1600SX) to 1340kg (JTD130) |
| Dimensions | saloon and Weekend. |
Click here to see the colours available on the Marea (UK market).
Tuning
There are three main areas to concentrate
on, the engine (and transmission), the brakes and the suspension and then
various other details. These three should be done together since they complement
each other, not all of one and none of another !
1. The engine.
Before modifying the engine it is worthwhile
filling it with a good quality synthetic oil and fitting new spark plugs.
An engine oil additive may also be used.
The first improvements are relatively simple.
The air filter can be replaced for an aftermarket item which will help
the engine breathe The most effective modification (short
of engine rebuilds!) is probably to replace the electronic control unit
(or 'chip'). A variety of these are available, but all should increase
the power and improve the driveability. The downside is that these usually
cancel the warranty and may affect the durability of the engine, the emissions
and the fuel consumption. If one is not available for your specific model
it is possible to buy a general one for any car and program it.
Other things to do should include fitting
a cold air intake, a large diameter pipe (minimum 5cm) to provide air from
outside the engine bay to the air filter. The exhaust manifold can also
be lagged with thermal cloth or tape to keep the exhaust gases hotter (and
thus reduce back pressure) and also to keep the underbonnet (and hence
intake and fuel) temperatures lower.
Further modifications require the machining
of the cylinder headand/or cylinder block (which will not be dealt with
here since it is not normally a DIY job) after which it may be worth fitting
an oil cooler. If overheating is a problem due to the increased power output
then a small hole can also be drilled through the plate in the thermostat.
Regarding the transmission the main requirement
is to uprate the clutch to handle the increase in power and torque achieved
though the engine modifications. Friction plates can be purchased with
improved materials and heavier duty pressure plates are also available.
Whilst doing this it is worthwhile lightening the flywheel.
2. The brakes.
Initially it is relatively easy to replace
the brake discs with drilled and grooved items, and the pads for a harder
compound. The latter should not be too hard (ie no race pads on the road)
or they will not function effectively at the normal 'road' operating temperatures. If more serious braking is required the
next modification would be to increase the disc size. It is possible to
use larger discs with a bracket allowing use of the production callipers,
or alloy four pot callipers can be fitted. On lower models it is possible
to fit 20V (or JTD130) brakes which will provide more stopping power.
In order to improve the balance of the
car under braking it is desireable to be able to adjust the balance of
braking from front to rear (and vice versa). This can be accomplished by
fitting a bias valve in the line to the rear brakes, usually in a position
so that it can be reached from the drivers seat.
3. The suspension.
The easiest improvement,and the one which
will probably bring the single most noticeable change, is to replace the
full set of dampers and springs. A variety of kits are available which
include four matched dampers and springs. Top adjustable units are compromised,
but are good for road and track day cars since it allows the suspension
to be adjusted between these two, rather different, requirements. Coil
over units add more adjustability and can be purchased outright, or can
be made from standard dampers by welding a threaded sleeve to the standard tube.
There are then two other main suspension
aims; to reduce the flexiblity in the suspension and to increase the stiffness
of the car, Into this category also fall the choice
of wheels and tyres. With an increase in power it can be necessary to fit
larger tyres (thus requiring larger wheels) but the temptation to fit the
biggest possible should be resisted. Consideration should be given to fitting
a wider tyre on the front (since they provide traction and steering) but
keeping the standard, or a wider but not as wide as the front, tyre at
the rear. This will improve the balance of the car.
more
freely, the type which completely replace the original airbox are best,
and the exhaust can be replaced for one which will restrict the exit of
the gases less. The whole system should be replaced, not just the back
box. Stainless steel will last longer, but normal steel with a good coat
of heat resistant paint will last a good while.
The high tension leads can also be replaced with performance ones.
Stainless
steel braided flexible hoses will improve the pedal feel and reduce the
chance of damage whilst DoT5 fluid (not silicon) will increase the temperature
at which it can operate effectively. If the brakes are getting too hot
the dustguards can be removed and/or ducts fitted, taking air from behind
the front bumper.
both
of which aim at more accurate control of the wheel movement. To reduce
the flexibility it is possible to fit nylon bushes instead of the normal
production rubber items, or if perfection is desired the suspension can
be fitted with metallic bearings (rose joints / rod ends). Spherical bearing
top mounts can also be used. To stiffen the car it is most popular to fit
strut braces. These can be fitted to the front and rear. For more extreme
cases a rollcage can be fitted.....
4. other things.
Other modifications worth considering include fitment of a shift light (and rev limiter if there is not one as standard), higher power bulbs in the headlights (if you are going to go faster you need to see further) and installation of a quicker steering rack.
For books on Fiat see our Online Bookstore
There is also a list of all our picture galleries (including museums, motorshows and various events).
Wallpapers/Desktop Backgrounds of numerous Fiats also available to download.
Links
The Bravo/Brava/Marea Owners Club website
Marea comment form
Your Comments
Well after selling our Tempra
SW 2.0 i.e. 16V (1997 model) TOFAS built, we deceided to buy a car in the
same class. We chose a Fiat again bacause if you got a Fiat in Turkey you
don't have any problems with parts or with he Service. So went up to buy
a car, and we saw the Fiat Marea. We all fell in love with this Car. So
we deceided to buy the Fiat Marea 1.6 SX AC in White (TOFAS built). Well
everything has changed since the Tempra, all Console's are easy to control
My Marea Weekend has just
completed 81,000 miles and has not missed a beat - fantastic motor - DJM
(you can see em' easily) the shift gear is better to handle than the Tempra's.
The big difference between the Tempra and the Marea were the pedals, the
Marea's pedals are too small for people like me wearing shoe's with 45-46
(EU) size. But at last the only thing I can say about this car is, that
I just love it !!! If you just want a good Saloon go get it.(Tolga, Turkey)
I have a Fiat Marea Weekend 1.2 16v wich is a litle engine for this
car but i´m not disapointed,it has god aceleration and passes 170km/h.Is
very confortable, good-looking and has a good price.Well done Fiat! (Helder M, Portugal)
After selling my beloved Cinquecento Sporting, I bought a Marea ELX 1.8, year
2000 . The car is fast, with good handling and spacious. Very different from
the majority of the cars, it can outperform them in performance and styling
(except the rear). My only complain is about a sound coming from the electric
right rearview mirror (to be exact, the sound is from the plastic cover in
the cabin side). Anyway, I still miss my Cinquecento (Claudio, Chile)
My Marea Weekend 130 JTD HLX is one of the best cars I have ever owned.
And I'am driving her now for two years. It's very much value for money.
And I know what I am taking about. I had a Mercedes, a Volvo, a Audi, a Mutsubisi and a Toyota before.
This car performs the best in power, price and relialebility. At last an european manufactory made a "close to perfect" car for a middleclass price.
Upgrade from a Panda 1000 CL (!) with 80,000 + miles (the mileometer gave up for about 5,000 miles!) to a 1 year old Marea ELX 2.0 20v with 11,000
miles on - quite an upgrade! I can't believe Fiat don't sell more of these in the UK - they outperform most other 2.0l engines, look smart and are amazingly
cheap compared to competing cars. Only major failure (heater matrix) in 3 years of great driving - pity my wife won't let me have it on week-days! (Matt, UK)
Finding a metallic gold, blue/black interior Marea ELX in my local
showroom had me 'gobsmacked' (Yorkshire phrase for speechless). As a
teacher of design, I was overcome with delight at the styling of this
vehicle (have you looked at the curves from the front of the car?). Driving
it is an absolute delight, construction, finish etc all brilliant (pity the
only fault I have is there is nowhere to put a cup or can safely!). Many
thanks, even though FIAT has a relatively high depreciation in the UK, I
would not part with my Marea for anything...Well done FIAT. (Kevin, UK)
I am on my second Marea Weekend SX and my fifth Fiat in 18 years. I reckon I have covered over 400,000 miles in Fiats, 200,000 in two Fiat Pandas. There can be no other car
company that provides such quality for the price asked. The Weekend carries four passangers in comfort, four mountain bikes on the roof, 100 bottles of wine in the rear,
plus all the luggage needed for six weeks in the south of France. I'd like to see the rather puny Audi A4 do that. I've helped friends move house and it is great for moving the rubbish from the garden.
I'm looking forward to trying out the aircon in France this summer. (Stephen, Scotland)
I bought the car (Marea HLX) completely by accident - I'd never heard of the model in fact when I looked it up on the web - it was described
by one reviewer as the "forgotten Fiat" I've now had it for almost a year and it has been remarkably reliable. I
never thought it would be possible but I think it's the best car I've ever owned. I'm very impressed. (Julian, UK)
Best all rounder Iv'e ever owned. Small car economy, with JTD engine and even bargain size tyres! Much big car ability,performance and roadholding. Medium size car practicality.
All this and it pulls my Caravan with ease and stability. (Frank, England)
I bought my '98 1.6 SX 16v Weekend second-hand, with 90k on the clock for a bargain. I've now had it 4 years, the engine is a sweet as a nut, that great boot with the
tailgate can handle all sorts of large and awkward items with ease, it has an excellent turning cirle for a largish car, and generally the build quality is good. I'm going to own it till it dies,
which might (hopefully) be more than 3 years from now. At the price I bought it, that will mean a depreciation of less than five hundred pounds a year.
Would buy another in a heartbeat. (Barry McW, Northern Ireland)
HI, said I'd never have another FIAT after a really troublesome 126 but read below!
We now own a marea weekend very similar to the one shown on this form - it is a 1.6 ELX auto . It performs like a 2 litre motor and is really good on fuel. A good looking car and reliable .
could not ask for more! would only swap for newer model of same car! not the saloon though - the estate definitely looks better! SO CHEAP AS WELL! I could go on - but I already have !
Well I've just bought my first Fiat after my 406 DT GLX died on me it's a 1800 elx weekend 1998 and it beats the 406 hands down for comfort and style and is very good on
fuel there's no rust which was always something that happened to Fiats or so I was told it goes like a train holds the road on fast bends and is very comfortable and cheap what
more can you ask will defiantly buy another (Giuliano, Weymouth England)
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