I bought the saloon variant about 12 years ago!! I got it for £120 from a guy in Glasgow with a bad clutch and put a new one in on my mates Dad's driveway....Thanks Mr Scott!! It owed me about £250 all in!! It was a great car! It was quite a nice spec in a nice metallic blue, I sold it to a guy for £230 after about 6 months, I asked for £300 and a guy turned up and was really genuine and told me he was struggling and needed a car, he had a limp and as it turned out he had a prosthetic left foot and a few days previously he had stopped in his car to post a letter and when he was out of the car, only about 20 feet away, someone jumped in his still running car and drove off! And only having one of his original feet meant running was not his strong point. Anyway, he offered me £250 and I accepted it but once the money was handed over I gave him £20 back as a "lucky penny" gesture, the "lucky penny" was something an old guy did for me when I was young and buying a car, he gave me £20 back for some petrol to make sure I was alright! Once I became old enough and solvent enough to do the same I started to give people a lucky penny every time I sell a car to someone, at the cheap end of the market that £20 could mean a lot.
The Marea pushed the game on quite a lot for Fiat, especially the JTD engined ones. I remember they had the dubious honour of being the most caught car on speed cameras at the time 😂
That JTD engine went into not only Fiats, Lancias and Alfas, but also Vauxhalls and Saabs of the time. I had a 156 JTD 8v SW and had it re-mapped to 155bhp, which made the midrange acceleration very strong.
I had three Mareas and they were all crackers . Each did an enormous mileage and never let me down roaming around the Highlands as a teacher . Nostalgic look at a forgotten great car
Back when Fiat had a good line up of vehicles always liked the Bravo and Brava as well, I've driven a 156 JTD and it was really nice! Merea sounded surprisingly good after its long slumber, David is a good sport for letting you film! 👌
I did exactly the same thing with my 1200 TopDon then read the instructions 🤣 My battery was completely dead down to 5.6v (bike has a random drain somewhere). Put the TopDon on and cycle the boost several times (disconnect/reconnect after 3 times) and it restored my battery back to health. They are a great bit of kit.
Vice grip garage Hubnut edition! Derek would have driven it home. Via Inverness. Love the Marea - reminds me of the time Dad got one because my brother (6'5" and 28 stone) could sit behind me (6'3" and 23 stone). we liked it so much I got a Punto JTD (which i have a photo of on the autobahn with the speedometer needle off the bottom of the speedometer), and mum got another punto. The neighbours thought we were starting a Fiat dealership!
@Shay McCusker Yes, this is the same block that went into Fiat Croma, Ar 159, saab and vectra, although there were also in these 8v models, not only 16v, so they are basically the same as this one in the marea, marea is edc15 though, older ecu, while newer ones are edc16
Great car! 500.000 km up and down Italy, often full loaded. Then... the fuel pump died slowly... A great work partner. I forget: many thanks for this video (so many memories...).
This was a great little find. I suppose the silver lining is that even if the car is toast the engine seems to be still in pretty decent shape and could definately be saved which still was worth saving and potentially repurposing.
I had the same 2.0 5cyl in a Bravo ..beautiful sound, also had a 1.6 Automatic Marea Saloon ..oh it was a but slow , then traded it in for a New Stilo 1.9 JTD same engine as this ..fast & Economical
This is a very popular model in Brazil, despite local laws prohibiting diesel powered cars (only lorries and other commercial vehicles are allowed, with the exception of all wheel drive cars that can tow upwards of a certain amount). The most sought after engine is the five cylinder in 2.4 litre naturally aspirated and the 2.0 litre turbo. People still race those models to this day
Always loved the Marea, expensive to tax on the lager diesel but they are hardier and nicer to drive than reviews would lead you to believe. Also I have a major soft spot for Fiats and Alfas from the mid eighties to the early 2000s.
I've had a couple of petrol saloons and scrapped them because of rot. However my Weekend HLX 130 will get restored. Its one of only 4 left in the Uk none of which are on the road 😅
The Fiat Marea also had some interesting history being delivered as the Fiat Marea Weekend 20V Turbo to Brasil. Look for "Halle77 Marea" on youtube search, this version came to Germany and was recently restored over here in Dortmund, a town near to me. On this channel, very rare cars from the youngtimer age are given a way to have them back to the streets. Which is very appreciated to keep us the daily drivers from the 1980ies / 1990ies to save them from being scrapped.
Nothing beats a HubNut video after an exhausting day, on the sofa with a hot cuppa. Though I am afraid this car is not salvageable with that amount of rust and remember how hard it was to change the clutch cylinder on the Multipla?
Ohhh memories. I loved my 105JTD weekend, just a pity no one had a computer that could speak to it. 😢 something you know only too well. Mine was a lovely mid blue metallic.
Hello 'MrHubnut'. Thankfully I live in New Zealand, Our car rust problems seem very insignificant compared with the UK. I lived in Aberdeen in the late 1990s, with it's salted winter roads and close proximity to the sea, cars rusted superdooper fast. For instance, our Fiat chinquecento needed new front discs, new handbrake mechanism and new fuel tank (leaking) due to rust, within 4years from new. Ps, glad you enjoyed your time in NZ, pps, love your videos, many thanks for them.geoff, ( happy Nissan Z12 cube owner).
cinquecentos were bad for leaking fuel tanks - there was a recall on them and mine needed a replacement, it was 75 numbers too high for the recall......
My parents had a Marea for most of my childhood! Selling it in around 2010. I loved that car and wish they were more common these days. I'd love to own one... one day
I owned a Brava - the 5 door hatchback version - back when these were still around, and those exterior door handles tried, for reasons that probably made sense to someone back then, those infamous 90ies soft touch plastics, that already wore of inside in short time. Exposing to outside elements could only improve things ;) Mine had the plastic falling apart form 3-4 years of age....
One of these was my first diesel car, back in about 2000-ish. A really good small kids family car, as that is what we had at the time. Especially loved the drop-down section of the back bumper
I have a similar jump starter. Very useful tool. I have had it start my tractor. I never travel without it. I am planning to take it with me when I go to the FOTU
I had a saloon one, unfortunately it needed a new turbo and it had been clocked. Some idiot walked over the top of it and jumped on the bonnet. They damaged a large number or cars, when I rang the police they said I couldn't report damage to anyone else's car???? A few days later after it had rained and I had been driving round they asked if they could come and take the footprints off it. They caught the guy in the end.
Used one of these to get from Surrey to Aberystwyth in the late 90’s most weekends. Very comfy and great on fuel. Bit loud/agricultural when cold though!
I had a 1.6 petrol one. Hated it, good looking and practical though. Exhausts were designed to snap in half as one piece so I welded on a new bracket. Crap to work on too. It's like they made it intentionally hard to fix
Nice car for that size, mine just fell apart. Rust everywhere, hood mounts rusted loose, AC done for, Tailgate mechanism broken, exhaust rusted through.
On the island of Capri (nr Naples) they take old Marea saloons, stretch them and cut the roofs off to create open-air limo-taxis. I would dread to see what would happen to them in any sort of crash (although speeds are low due to the limited road network on the island).
I had one with similar corrosion and started cutting back through the rust to get to solid metal. I gave up after asking at the fiat dealer what a floor pan would cost. I did drive it till tge mot ran out though. If you were brave enough you could sit in the back seat and watch the road beneath you. If only they had galvanised the floor as well as the rest of the body which was perfect at the time
Halle 77 channel (German) recently bought a Marea weekend turbo petrol. A rare Brazilian car with the Fiat Coupe Turbo engine. Apparently this engine was never available on the European market. Needed work as well but not nearly as much as this one.
Topdon have NEVER offered me anything. I always have to buy my own. Good job they're really good products. With the right owner that Fiat could be put back on the road without too much expense.
Been ages since i've seen a Marea weekend and didn't realise they were made uptil 2002. The 1.9 JTD is alright and probably dates back to the original Fiat 1.9 TD which was the first direct injection diesel engine to be fitted in a passenger car. Fiat estates are stylish and remember the Tempra and Regata weekend
Nice one Ian, pump it with enough sparks and it has a good chance of running as demonstrated. It looks like quite a little body work needs doing for starters and the suspension bushes may me a tad iffy after a long time standing. It could do with some sort of hedge fund for the fixing of the hedge find. I really hope it gets restored a tad for it to experience a second wind.
My dad had so many fiat hire cars back in the day, Tipo, Punto, marea, there's a saloon round the corner from me abandoned too. Maybe I should leave a note....I think it's a petrol probably 1.8 at a guess
I would hazard a guess that the reason the car is cutting out once the pack turns boost mode off is either because the alternator is not working or that it needs some kind of voltage at the battery terminals for its regulator? not sure if a 51 plate Fiat's electrics are that smart however!
I have a little Doblo as a runaround/workhorse and I wish it had the 1.9 JTD, the little 1.3 multijet diesel is good for a corsa or Fiat 500 but it i rather gutless in a larger none aerodynamic vehicle
I have the same unit, it starts everything I own, even with a very flat battery. (I am not promoting the product, this is my experience). Perhaps the alternator has been compromised over the years.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Love how the owner just stands watching you run back and forth.
He did over to turn the key to be fair! I think he found my antics amusing...
@@HubNut Clearly! 🤣
@@vidfletch May never have broken sweat 😓
He did cut the hedge though….
Too tired after hedge activity😁
The Fiat Marea had superb engines! Everyone in the range was a sublime gem!
I bought the saloon variant about 12 years ago!! I got it for £120 from a guy in Glasgow with a bad clutch and put a new one in on my mates Dad's driveway....Thanks Mr Scott!!
It owed me about £250 all in!! It was a great car! It was quite a nice spec in a nice metallic blue, I sold it to a guy for £230 after about 6 months, I asked for £300 and a guy turned up and was really genuine and told me he was struggling and needed a car, he had a limp and as it turned out he had a prosthetic left foot and a few days previously he had stopped in his car to post a letter and when he was out of the car, only about 20 feet away, someone jumped in his still running car and drove off! And only having one of his original feet meant running was not his strong point. Anyway, he offered me £250 and I accepted it but once the money was handed over I gave him £20 back as a "lucky penny" gesture, the "lucky penny" was something an old guy did for me when I was young and buying a car, he gave me £20 back for some petrol to make sure I was alright! Once I became old enough and solvent enough to do the same I started to give people a lucky penny every time I sell a car to someone, at the cheap end of the market that £20 could mean a lot.
The Marea pushed the game on quite a lot for Fiat, especially the JTD engined ones. I remember they had the dubious honour of being the most caught car on speed cameras at the time 😂
Really never knew that!
In a hurry to get home before it broke down again 😂
@@jasejj 😂
@@jasejj hahahahahahahahahahahah that's funny, better if you dont know about these engines dont talk
@@vojin54 It's called a joke.
I enjoyed the new sport of Ian running partly around a car.
Had a 5 cylinder one of these as a courtesy car when I was about 19/20, it went well and sounded brilliant!
I had the 20v hlx .. stonker for its time ... Real sleeper car
That JTD engine went into not only Fiats, Lancias and Alfas, but also Vauxhalls and Saabs of the time. I had a 156 JTD 8v SW and had it re-mapped to 155bhp, which made the midrange acceleration very strong.
One of the finest diesels ever built.
I had a 1998 Marea back in the day with a pre JTD 1.9 and it was actually a really nice driving car. Hope this one survives.
I had three Mareas and they were all crackers . Each did an enormous mileage and never let me down roaming around the Highlands as a teacher . Nostalgic look at a forgotten great car
Back when Fiat had a good line up of vehicles always liked the Bravo and Brava as well, I've driven a 156 JTD and it was really nice! Merea sounded surprisingly good after its long slumber, David is a good sport for letting you film! 👌
It's good job your mate was there to lend a hand !
I’m gobsmacked that started as quickly as it did.
I did exactly the same thing with my 1200 TopDon then read the instructions 🤣
My battery was completely dead down to 5.6v (bike has a random drain somewhere).
Put the TopDon on and cycle the boost several times (disconnect/reconnect after 3 times) and it restored my battery back to health.
They are a great bit of kit.
If i remember right this has the electric assisted steering where you put suggestions into the steering wheel and the car does its own thing.
Vice grip garage Hubnut edition! Derek would have driven it home. Via Inverness. Love the Marea - reminds me of the time Dad got one because my brother (6'5" and 28 stone) could sit behind me (6'3" and 23 stone). we liked it so much I got a Punto JTD (which i have a photo of on the autobahn with the speedometer needle off the bottom of the speedometer), and mum got another punto. The neighbours thought we were starting a Fiat dealership!
Thank you topdon for your sponsorship of hubnut
JTD, one of the best diesel engines ever, especially the euro 3 models (pre 2005), and exceptionally good for tuning
@Shay McCusker Yes, this is the same block that went into Fiat Croma, Ar 159, saab and vectra, although there were also in these 8v models, not only 16v, so they are basically the same as this one in the marea, marea is edc15 though, older ecu, while newer ones are edc16
Great car! 500.000 km up and down Italy, often full loaded. Then... the fuel pump died slowly... A great work partner. I forget: many thanks for this video (so many memories...).
Woah, that sounds lovely! Wouldn't say it stood for couple years
Keeping fingers crossed someone will give it a loving home
Having been born in 2002, I remember the Marea fondly. It's my second favourite estate, following the Renault Megane Mk1 estate.
Go on! Another Long Term HubNut project?
Fit for the scrapyard by the looks of it !
It's a fiat ! That's where they all belong.
I adore the Marea Weekend, especially with a 5 Cylinder ! Fine car that is...
Those fiat 1.9/2.0 Jtdm engines are the best diesel engine on the market even to this day those are reliable and well built
This was a great little find. I suppose the silver lining is that even if the car is toast the engine seems to be still in pretty decent shape and could definately be saved which still was worth saving and potentially repurposing.
I had a 2.0 5 cylinder petrol as company car. Loved it.....
I had the same 2.0 5cyl in a Bravo ..beautiful sound, also had a 1.6 Automatic Marea Saloon ..oh it was a but slow , then traded it in for a New Stilo 1.9 JTD same engine as this ..fast & Economical
The drop down rear bumper on these was genuinely an innovative idea in its class. Very underrated cars.
As seen in its 2 predecessors, the Tempra SW & the Regata Weekend.
I quite fancy one now 😂
This is a very popular model in Brazil, despite local laws prohibiting diesel powered cars (only lorries and other commercial vehicles are allowed, with the exception of all wheel drive cars that can tow upwards of a certain amount). The most sought after engine is the five cylinder in 2.4 litre naturally aspirated and the 2.0 litre turbo. People still race those models to this day
Always loved the Marea, expensive to tax on the lager diesel but they are hardier and nicer to drive than reviews would lead you to believe. Also I have a major soft spot for Fiats and Alfas from the mid eighties to the early 2000s.
I share that same soft spot. Lively cars for cheap.
@@426baron The car is sharing the soft spots with you unfortunately. I haven't looked up the MOT history. That could be interesting.
Haha we owned a Cinquecento a Tipo, Two different Marea Weekends an Alfa33 and an Alfa 156. I'm with you on the Italian car addition/ curse
Depending on the year it would have been based on engine size rather than emissions though.
I've had a couple of petrol saloons and scrapped them because of rot. However my Weekend HLX 130 will get restored. Its one of only 4 left in the Uk none of which are on the road 😅
I learned the hard way completely knackered batteries lead to completely knackered alternators after a jump start .
The Fiat Marea also had some interesting history being delivered as the Fiat Marea Weekend 20V Turbo to Brasil.
Look for "Halle77 Marea" on youtube search, this version came to Germany and was recently restored over here in Dortmund, a town near to me.
On this channel, very rare cars from the youngtimer age are given a way to have them back to the streets. Which is very appreciated to keep us the daily drivers from the 1980ies / 1990ies to save them from being scrapped.
Nice hedge find, Miss HubNut must be very pleased, you actually read the instructions ! Try not to make it a habit Lol
Genuine bush find. You’d be hedging your bets with this one.
really good i thought mine was good resurection from the hedge but yours is better
So if money is spent on the car, will it be a hedge fund?
Can you pop into any branch to arrange that?
I like those videos very much when cars like that are taken back to life.
Nothing beats a HubNut video after an exhausting day, on the sofa with a hot cuppa. Though I am afraid this car is not salvageable with that amount of rust and remember how hard it was to change the clutch cylinder on the Multipla?
Exactly why I sadly walked away.
The clutch slave cylinder is easy to do on these if thats the issue.
Ohhh memories. I loved my 105JTD weekend, just a pity no one had a computer that could speak to it. 😢 something you know only too well. Mine was a lovely mid blue metallic.
Hello 'MrHubnut'.
Thankfully I live in New Zealand,
Our car rust problems seem very insignificant compared with the UK.
I lived in Aberdeen in the late 1990s, with it's salted winter roads and close proximity to the sea, cars rusted superdooper fast.
For instance, our Fiat chinquecento needed new front discs, new handbrake mechanism and new fuel tank (leaking) due to rust, within 4years from new.
Ps, glad you enjoyed your time in NZ, pps, love your videos, many thanks for them.geoff, ( happy Nissan Z12 cube owner).
cinquecentos were bad for leaking fuel tanks - there was a recall on them and mine needed a replacement, it was 75 numbers too high for the recall......
My parents had a Marea for most of my childhood! Selling it in around 2010. I loved that car and wish they were more common these days. I'd love to own one... one day
I have a 2.4jtd 5 cylinder waiting restoration, super rare now
I owned a Brava - the 5 door hatchback version - back when these were still around, and those exterior door handles tried, for reasons that probably made sense to someone back then, those infamous 90ies soft touch plastics, that already wore of inside in short time. Exposing to outside elements could only improve things ;) Mine had the plastic falling apart form 3-4 years of age....
For someone who can weld himself, this Marea can provide years of driving pleasure. And it's a handy station wagon.
Well worth saving, rare sight on the road these day's.
Had a marea weekend petrol, didn't care too much for it and road tax was very expensive. The best part was fold down boot lip for easy access
One of these was my first diesel car, back in about 2000-ish. A really good small kids family car, as that is what we had at the time. Especially loved the drop-down section of the back bumper
I feel this can be saved. It will need new metal and welding, hopefully parts can be found.
Any car can be saved - it's just a question of whether it's worth the expense and effort to do so to someone.
I had the JTD 1.9 in my fiat punto such a good engine plenty of power in a small car and great on fuel.
I had punto TD and Idea TD both were tough as old boots and pretty powerful and economical.
Wonderful idea to find and offer your viewers a hub nut rescue experience
This is probably the only time a MK2 Honda Jazz is going to get even the background camera limelight in a hubnut video! Deceptively good cars, though.
Or a Citybug c1/Aygo. Entirely invisible to hubnut
Nice wee find Mr HubNut, with a bit of work an ideal taxi with such low miles, looks better than some I see in my town.
I have a similar jump starter. Very useful tool. I have had it start my tractor. I never travel without it. I am planning to take it with me when I go to the FOTU
What! No innuendo! Where is Miss Hubnut when you need her!
I had a saloon one, unfortunately it needed a new turbo and it had been clocked. Some idiot walked over the top of it and jumped on the bonnet. They damaged a large number or cars, when I rang the police they said I couldn't report damage to anyone else's car???? A few days later after it had rained and I had been driving round they asked if they could come and take the footprints off it. They caught the guy in the end.
Used one of these to get from Surrey to Aberystwyth in the late 90’s most weekends. Very comfy and great on fuel. Bit loud/agricultural when cold though!
It would be a brilliant hub nut fleet member and so practical with the boot with two part tailgate
I had a 1.6 petrol one. Hated it, good looking and practical though. Exhausts were designed to snap in half as one piece so I welded on a new bracket. Crap to work on too. It's like they made it intentionally hard to fix
I had a 1999 1.6 petrol.....really great car, did me very well for work....and reliable..A Bravo 1.2 before that....also very reliable.
Nice car for that size, mine just fell apart. Rust everywhere, hood mounts rusted loose, AC done for, Tailgate mechanism broken, exhaust rusted through.
On the island of Capri (nr Naples) they take old Marea saloons, stretch them and cut the roofs off to create open-air limo-taxis. I would dread to see what would happen to them in any sort of crash (although speeds are low due to the limited road network on the island).
I had one with similar corrosion and started cutting back through the rust to get to solid metal. I gave up after asking at the fiat dealer what a floor pan would cost. I did drive it till tge mot ran out though. If you were brave enough you could sit in the back seat and watch the road beneath you. If only they had galvanised the floor as well as the rest of the body which was perfect at the time
My fiat brava was the same. Cracking engine and drive but terrible use of materials. I always remember to crumbling door handles
Hope it survives, wish I could save it, bit I'm not in the position to buy a project or older car right now.
Ian you should have added that to the fleet , Could of done a VGG or Puddin style restoration 👍🏻
They have talents way beyond mine!
Also had bravo 1.6 auto and before that a Tempra 1.8 iesx was very quick plus Cromarty cht..
The engine sounds sweet as a nut, great cars when these were new and it's very Hubnut.
That booster is a handy bit of kit....
That is a good jump pack.
you know how I love this era Fiats. my favourite car in the whole wide world. 👀
Must be an alternator fault too. It should run under its own power when started, shouldn't it?
Impressive jump starter. I have Topdon T4000 and BT100. They're good quality products and do a great job.
That's quite a big bush by the way....
It should not need a battery once running as the alternator should take over.
If the battery has failed internally, there is no circuit. That was my guess.
@@HubNut Yep, seems likely. Quite common problem.
Really like those! I hope someone one will rescue it! Maybe someone on the beige forum?🤔
Im still driving one of these. That on video is 110hp mine is 105 same jtd
Halle 77 channel (German) recently bought a Marea weekend turbo petrol. A rare Brazilian car with the Fiat Coupe Turbo engine. Apparently this engine was never available on the European market.
Needed work as well but not nearly as much as this one.
Topdon have NEVER offered me anything. I always have to buy my own. Good job they're really good products. With the right owner that Fiat could be put back on the road without too much expense.
Will it start? was a question you could've asked when it was new in the showroom
If you want a proper rarity, hunt out the later Croma, especially in 5 cylinder guise. A very strange looking beasty.
Been ages since i've seen a Marea weekend and didn't realise they were made uptil 2002. The 1.9 JTD is alright and probably dates back to the original Fiat 1.9 TD which was the first direct injection diesel engine to be fitted in a passenger car. Fiat estates are stylish and remember the Tempra and Regata weekend
These things used to be everywhere, but there stupidly rare now. Very rare find indeed.
Alternator packed up? It should be generating enough electric to keep itself running, dead battery or not
I really like the FIAT Marea Weekend. A lovely car.
Hi Ian thanks for coming round top video as usual, who's that bloke hedge diving lol Gwapple me grapenuts..
Let's hope someone with more skills than me can take it on!
Nice one Ian, pump it with enough sparks and it has a good chance of running as demonstrated. It looks like quite a little body work needs doing for starters and the suspension bushes may me a tad iffy after a long time standing. It could do with some sort of hedge fund for the fixing of the hedge find. I really hope it gets restored a tad for it to experience a second wind.
Reminds me of Danny Baker going door to door with his box of Daz....but with jump packs 👍
😂
Marea Weekend… I forgot they existed - reasonable car in the day always underrated
I had a 1.6 petrol auto in some sort of crappuccino brown. Was ok tbf. Would have preferred the JTD but didn't do it in auto.
Brilliant family cars very underrated especially the diesel
Yea Topdons are good, seen a few tubers use this tool many times 👍🙂
another great video has always Ian and miss hubnut and hublets and hubmutts 👍
My dad had so many fiat hire cars back in the day, Tipo, Punto, marea, there's a saloon round the corner from me abandoned too. Maybe I should leave a note....I think it's a petrol probably 1.8 at a guess
was watching thinking this looks familiar!... i live a short stones throw from where you were!
I would hazard a guess that the reason the car is cutting out once the pack turns boost mode off is either because the alternator is not working or that it needs some kind of voltage at the battery terminals for its regulator? not sure if a 51 plate Fiat's electrics are that smart however!
I loved my Marea and always wanted another one. They're a great car and sold well in italy. A diesel is even more exciting.....
It started up very well
I had a petrol Marea Weekend in blue. The one you have here is too far gone in the bodywork which is a shame as the engine sounds sweet.
i think you were correct in your diagnosis on the rust situation, it was INDEED localised, to the ENTIRE BOTTOM of the car 😏😏😏😏
I have a little Doblo as a runaround/workhorse and I wish it had the 1.9 JTD, the little 1.3 multijet diesel is good for a corsa or Fiat 500 but it i rather gutless in a larger none aerodynamic vehicle
Engine sounds sweet, be nice to see this car get a little restoration and back on the road.
I had one of these, the fuel gauge was very dodgy, 1/8 tank on the gauge was actually empty. I found out th hard way. ⛽️
I had that with a Mini Metro - the only time I’ve run out of fuel in any car, and of course it had to be on the M25!
In my late 20s/early 30s I watched a Mitsubishi Sigma (Galant) slowly become one with a plant. Somewhere in Western Sydney.
I have the same unit, it starts everything I own, even with a very flat battery. (I am not promoting the product, this is my experience). Perhaps the alternator has been compromised over the years.