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Original poster

fiat multipla anyone?

41 replies

CristinaTheAstonishing · 18/05/2008 13:53

We've been looking at lots of cars lately and I think we've settled on a Fiat Multipla Eleganza, brand new, leather seats, all lovely (as much as a Multipla can be). Anyone else with this and are you happy with it? Any last minute things to consider before we buy it on Tuesday? I'd have liked it in a bright red but it comes in black. We have a few trips lined up this summer so don't want to wait too much. Plus they are taking our old Shuttle off our hands as part-exchange. We have DCs aged 8.5, 3, and 7 months. Thanks.

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Original poster

CristinaTheAstonishing · 18/05/2008 19:20

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Elk · 18/05/2008 19:59

I have a very old Multipla which I love to bits (literally it is a fiat after all!). I can't comment on what the new ones are like but I'm very happy with ours. I have had 3 kids in the back no problem and it is really easy to fit them in and there is loads of room. The only thing I would say is that we find with leather seats that the older childrens booster seats tend to slip around a bit (but that is in my dh's BMW so it might be different)

What specific info are you after?
Jeremy Clarkson rates the Multipla as one of the best family cars on the market (if that helps you!).

Original poster

CristinaTheAstonishing · 18/05/2008 20:06

Thanks, Elk. I hadn't thought about the slipperiness of leather seats. Do you put any fabric underneath them, would that make it grip better?

I think I just wanted to check that it's not a terrible mistake. This is the first time we're buying a new car so it's a lot of money for us.

How is it like drining with the children at the front? Are they a distraction? I think they are hoping to be there all the time.

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PinkChick · 18/05/2008 20:06

i would kill for what your buying(although i do much prefer the old frog eye style)..go for it, frined had the older version and says its the best car she ever had!

PinkChick · 18/05/2008 20:07

also you can get seat protectors from GLTC(link on here and MNet discount) that go straight up back and hang way below the seat, they have a rubbery grip and keep the seat clean and unmarked..you put your seat on top and the side you can see is plain black mesh so very subtle, will 'disapear' on your seat colour.

Original poster

CristinaTheAstonishing · 18/05/2008 21:43

Thanks for the tip on seat protectors. I'll have a look to see how much they are. I'd told DH and he suggested a towel

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PinkChick · 19/05/2008 09:41

LOl..mine was about £20 but they are well worth it

Elk · 19/05/2008 15:58

We tend to put the children in the back. As there is lots of space it is fine with them in the front. The worst drive I ever did in my multipla was with five other adults all drunk and singing when I was completely sober (but I don't think any car is big enough for that).
I have one of the old frog eye style ones. Most people who have them seem to love them!! (you will be able to do the multipla wave!!!!!

MehgaLegs · 19/05/2008 16:01

I am missing mine as it has been at the garage for three weeks awaiting a new gear box

Love it but would deffo recommend the laether seats. i also jhave an old style one and the starnge cloth seats grew mildew in the autumn

No boot space when pram in but we take a trailer for holidays. All the trim has fallen off but apart from thhe recent gear box problem I have loved it.

NeverReady · 19/05/2008 17:24

We have the old style one - i think it looks more like a hippo than a frog! It's great, plenty of room for us. Ours is 6 years old, nothing has fallen off (yet...) and our fabric seats have grown no mildew!

TesCod · 19/05/2008 17:25

enid has one

francagoestohollywood · 19/05/2008 17:35

We've had a Multipla for nearly 9 yrs now. We love it. It hasn't got many miles on, as we rarely use it during the week, but we used to drive all the way from the Uk to Italy every year. It's a car you love like a family pet

MeMySonAndI · 19/05/2008 17:38

How many children can you fit in a multipla when there are 2 adults at the front?

TheMuppetMuggle · 19/05/2008 17:40

My mum has got a multipla and its lovely and lovely to drive, very comfy and fits my DD (3) seat in lovely, and doesn't move around alot

you could fit 3 in the back as each seat is individual iykwim!

francagoestohollywood · 19/05/2008 17:42

3 kids in the back.
3 adults in the front.

3andnomore · 19/05/2008 17:51

We have had our Multipla since 2003 and lurve it! It's a brilliant car and we had never had any big repairs or anything!

Original poster

CristinaTheAstonishing · 19/05/2008 19:18

What brilliant endorsement from everyone! If all goes well, DH is going to buy it tomorrow. He thinks he's due a mid-life crisis convertible as a pay-off for putting up with this. (We haven't got any money for that and he's only 36 anyway, too young.) Thank you all. I hope to write again tomorrow evening saying we've got it

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3andnomore · 19/05/2008 20:29

my dh was , origianlly, very anti the multipla, then he went and had a closer look and testdrove one and he was converted
It's like you are joining a "secret" club, btw....Multipla drivers always tend to acknowledge each otehr...quite funny really!

Bluestocking · 19/05/2008 20:31

I was quite keen on the Multipla, but then my DP informed me that it got terrible safety ratings. Anyone care to comment? I still do rather fancy one but only if I can have the old-style buggy face one.

3andnomore · 19/05/2008 20:34

As far as I know it has a good rating...and certainly better then that Honda ( I think) that has similar seating arrangement...
I know it had very good rating on Top Gear, not that that counts for much...

Original poster

CristinaTheAstonishing · 19/05/2008 20:50

We tried a Honda but it felt cramped and the interior wasn't nice. DH liked the Ford S-max but i didn't like the fact you can't communicate easily between rows of seats.

The safety has improved on the new model.

So, how's this secret wave then, i keep hearing about it?

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twinsetandpearls · 19/05/2008 20:55

We have an old style multipla, depending on what we are doing dd goes in the front or back. We love it.

3girlies · 19/05/2008 21:00

We looked at both the Multipla and the Doblo, we decided on the Doblo as you can fit 3 childrens car seats in the back without a problem and the boot is huge, also the Doblo is much cheaper to insure, mine is only £200 a year.
The Multipla is lovely though, so funky and do hold their second hand value it seems. Insurance is much more though and not much boot space - I need to be able to use the boot as a baby changing room too often and need a decent one!

twinsetandpearls · 19/05/2008 21:01

The boot isn't huge but it is deep. There is only the three of us so it is great when we are camping as dog plus all the gear goes in the back.

Original poster

CristinaTheAstonishing · 19/05/2008 21:02

A Doblo, what's that then? I'll have a look.

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