Used FIAT Marea review and buying guide (1997 to 2002): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Fiat Marea should you buy?

The safer Marea is a 1.6 or 1.8 petrol with a receipt showing the timing belt, tensioner pulley and water pump were changed within the last three years or 36,000 miles. It's a single generation sold from 1997 to 2002, so the belt's age matters far more than the year on the logbook, and no Marea is a safe buy without that receipt.

Every engine in the range has a timing belt, and Fiat halved its original 72,000-mile change interval after a run of failures. The plastic tensioner pulley can break up with no warning and a snapped belt usually bends the valves. That's the fault that decides whether a Marea's worth buying, so a car with no belt history isn't one to gamble on.

The five-cylinder cars are the ones to be wary of, because even a routine belt change on them means taking the engine out. Fiat dealers were thin on the ground even when it was new and struggled to put problems right, so a Marea with faults the seller hasn't sorted is one to leave alone.

Which Marea engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 1.6 and 1.8 petrols are the lesser risk, because their belt change doesn't involve the engine-out work the five-cylinder cars need. They still carry the same belt fault, though: the plastic tensioner can fail early and a snapped belt usually bends the valves, so they're only a sensible buy with proof the belt, tensioner and pump were done.

The 2.0 20v five-cylinder petrol is the one to avoid unless its belt's been freshly done with a receipt to show for it, as even a routine change means pulling the engine. The five-cylinder diesel needs the same engine-out belt work, so it carries that heavy job every three years or 36,000 miles as well.

The JTD is the stronger diesel, but it's belt driven too, so find out how many cylinders the car you're viewing has before assuming its belt change is a simple one. The water pump runs off the timing belt on every Marea and a failing pump can throw the belt, so don't accept a belt change that left the old pump in place.

What should you check when viewing a used Marea?

Ask for the receipt for the last timing belt change first, and check it names the tensioner pulley and water pump as well as the belt. If it's more than three years or 36,000 miles old, plan to have it done straight away or don't buy the car.

With the engine running, listen at the timing belt end for a rattle or a squeal, which points to a tensioner on its way out. Look under the bonnet for coolant weeping around the water pump. If the seller mentions the engine cutting out and refusing to restart, treat it as a belt that's already failed, and don't hand over money for it.

Make sure the car comes with its red key. On a 1.6 16v without ABS, ask for proof that the 1998 recall for chafing brake hoses was carried out. Build quality was the Marea's weak point, so try every switch, window and lock on the test drive rather than assuming they all work.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What do Marea owners like about them?

The Marea handles well, so it's a more enjoyable drive than its awkward looks suggest. The Weekend estate is the more useful body to live with day to day, and it's the version that makes most sense if you regularly carry bulky loads.

The diesels are the engines that suit it best: the five-cylinder pulls hard and the JTD, which also went into the Alfa 156, is better still. Conversions for disabled drivers were offered when it was new, so if that's what you need, ask whether the car you're viewing has one.

• The Marea, which replaced the Tempra, offered a practical 'Weekend' estate variant, sharing its platform with the Bravo and Brava.
• This model shared its engine range with the Bravo and Brava, including a powerful 2.3 litre five cylinder diesel and a 130 bhp JTD unit.
• Conversions for disabled drivers were available for this model, enhancing its accessibility for various users.