Fiat Doblo JTD 1.9 TD ELX

Had my Silver 1.9 tdx Doblo for 3 yrs, its an ex taxi with 150000 miles on clock & no service history when purchased. I LOVE IT!!

Appart from anual service & new exhaust it has never cost me any real money.

Had few minor electrical faults, easily fixed, plenty of space inside, runs great, looks ugly as sin but my choice in dogs = Boxer dog. same taste in cars! Great for picknics as rear door shelter for rain if opened up & room under for fold table & chairs. great for people watching from back seats on day trips as plenty of legroom, (spent £30 at Halfords & blacked out rear windows)

when I need to replace it, what will I buy?

ANOTHER DOBLO!!!!

Watch for the grins on the faces of passing Doblo owners. There's something about driving something so willfully ugly that cheers you up. Put some decent tyres on and it handles perfectly acceptably, it strolls down the motorway with ease and even annoys diesel BMW drivers sometimes by out-accelerating them. I've managed to fit all manner of kit in the back - Three bikes, camping kit, climbing kit etc etc and still had room to throw a party.

Whilse my perceived manhood has taken a severe battering for buying this car I have to say I am hugely impressed. Great front and side vision due to immense area of glass - poor rear to middle seat head restraint. A great engine, lively, responsive, far from slow and delivers 43mpg for me around town with the aircon on. That rises to 52 to 57 on a run depending on how much of a hurry I am in. Coupled to a nice gearbox and vastly adjustable driving position, height adjustable seat and steering wheel makes for a more than pleasant driving experience. It may be somewhat aesthetically challenged on the outside but on the inside it's like a Tardis with room for five adults and all their luggage with ease which will leave nobody feeling cramped. Trimwise I think functional and utilitarian would be the correct adjectives but some thought has definitely gone into it somewhere. Nicely equipped on the range topping ELX with aircon, electric windows, trip computer, follow me hom headlights, ABS and a host of others bits and pieces you wouldn't normally find on a car of this price. Grab one if you can second hand - there aren't many around but make sure you go for the JTD engine, you wont go wrong.