and all these years I thought it was curiousity.   ;)

I think you might be being unfair to Fiats. Whatever car you have you're
likely to have these problems if you don't have it serviced. I know
these things cost money but they are part of running a car. You wouldn't
 avoid filling it with petrol if it was low would you, in order to save
money? Servicing is much the same.

Rob Graham

I am sorry to say that you do not appear to have enough spare cash to run a
cheap car.  Before buying a car you should do a proper count up of how much
it will really cost to run, how much it will save you and ultimately whether
it is any actual benefit to you.

A realistic running figure for a cheap car is
fuel+insurance+roadtax+mot+servicing+unknown.
which for someone using a small car for 6000 miles a year would equal about
750+500+150+50+500+500, plus the vehicle initial cost or depreciation, which
you might average out at 500 a year so nearly 3000 or 60 quid a week and
that is just for a small cheap car.  For many people a couple of taxis a
week or hire  a car when needed is a better idea.

As to whether your fault is a cheap one or not is impossible to say.  Many
garages invent failures, especially where single women are involved.
Another garage may test in a slightly different way and pass the same car
with no repairs at all.  Perhaps it just needed a good fast run to clear it
out and warm it up properly.  But of course, not servicing it, is not a good
idea, and every secondhand car has 'just had a full service' before it is
sold (yeah, right!)

A small elderly italian is not an especially cheap car to keep on the road.
go for something small and japanese and newer if possible.