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Car Forum / Fiat Cars / July 2004

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Stilo - opinions

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John Smith - 22 Jul 2004 21:59 GMT
Hi,

Can some Stilo owners tell me their views on the Stilo please? Good, bad,
indifferent? Would you buy one again? I have a Fiat Brava 1.6 that I need to
get rid of in the next 6 months - rusted away underneath and just got
through its MOT - so am thinking about the current 0% deal from Fiat. Having
said that, I might just change make as well as model?

Thoughts welcome,

Thanks,

John.
peter.kidwell - 22 Jul 2004 23:47 GMT
> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> I Have (from new) a 1994 1.9 Tempra TD SX StationWagon 120000 miles It
still is a 50 mpg excellent condition car
I have bought a Stilo Dynamic 1.9 TD multiwagon 03 reg I think its
excellent, love the sat nav, Climate control sun roof etc
May be it is not as comfortable as the Tempra but I am so used to that one.
The engine is much more sophisticated and resembles a revvy petrol not a
chugging diesel.
I expect ten yrs and a couple of 100000 miles at least out of it (its a
little more economical 54 mpg than the Tempra) service 15000 miles or 12
months which  shall do myself after warranty period as  have done on the
Tempra.
What more do you want BUY ONE

PK
John Smith - 23 Jul 2004 00:22 GMT
My Brava depreciated like anything since I purchased it new in 98. Also,
last year I took it to a non Fiat garage for the first time and, boy, they
could not believe how rusty it had gone underneath. They actually advised me
to get rid of it then and there - this is a reputable garage and the owner
is a friend whom I trust - but I needed to keep it one more year and, as I
said in my previous post, I just got it MOTed but am looking to get a new
car around the Christmas period.

I had been thinking along the lines of A3 Audi or Toyota Corolla or even
Mazda 6 as they are supposed not to depreciate that much... but all cars
depreciate and I wonder whether getting a Stilo on 0% over 4 years is a good
way to go as they are cheaper than the 3 above...

> > Hi,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>
> PK
Brian Hall - 23 Jul 2004 08:37 GMT
> I expect ten yrs and a couple of 100000 miles at least out of it (its a
> little more economical 54 mpg than the Tempra) service 15000 miles or 12
> months which  shall do myself after warranty period as  have done on the
> Tempra.

You may find that the car will last this long and go this distance,
but you will have to replace a lot of bits on the way.

> What more do you want BUY ONE

How about something designed to last a bit longer between going wrong.
Fiats were better made cars ten years ago.
John Smith - 23 Jul 2004 13:05 GMT
What car do you suggest going longer between going wrong? Just curious.

> > I expect ten yrs and a couple of 100000 miles at least out of it (its a
> > little more economical 54 mpg than the Tempra) service 15000 miles or 12
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> How about something designed to last a bit longer between going wrong.
> Fiats were better made cars ten years ago.
Brian Hall - 23 Jul 2004 20:15 GMT
Hi John

From my own experience with cars and from observations of others, I
would say that many other makes are generally more reliable. We have
had all sorts of problems with our Punto and it really hasn't done
that many miles yet (<30K in 3.5 years). The great attraction of Fiats
is that the appear to offer great value for money but the running
costs, when you take into account the cost of replacing bits, is
higher than expected. We thought buying a year old Punto with 2years
warrantee would give us 2years cheap and reliable motoring but this
proved not to be. We've had  electrical problems(still do from time to
time) and trouble with steering, gearbox, clutch, exhaust, wheel
bearings, brakes, and a few other odds and sods.

The rear section of exhaust fell off just after it's third birthday.
If this had been due to corrosion or internally burning away I
wouldn't have minded so much; but it was due to only one mount for the
whole section and the weld had burnt too deep into pipe weakening the
joint. This is poor design and bad manufacture. This typifies the
whole car. It would be a lovely car with a little more attention to
detail during its development and this would probably have added only
a few pounds to the cost of buying one.

Every problem we have had we know of at least one other person who has
had the same. Likewise we know of problems we are likely to get before
to long as well.

Getting back to your question John, I drove Toyotas for over ten years
with no real problems, since being married we've had Vauxhalls and
Fords and have been lucky. Things have worn out on these cars but it
has been after reasonable wear and tear which is understandable. I
tend to think that Puntos and probably a lot of Fiats aren't up to the
standard of many others
Mike - 23 Jul 2004 18:01 GMT
>>I Have (from new) a 1994 1.9 Tempra TD SX StationWagon 120000 miles It
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> PK

I'd echo echo those sentiments.  I get nearly 40 mpg with the 115 deisel
around town and cruising at 75-80 on the motorway I get 50 mpg.  It's
not a hot hatch but is swift (0-60 in 10.something), the steering is
precise and light, even withoiut the city function enabled (seriously
who needs the city function!). The suspension is a bit soggy but that
has the benefit of making for a smoother ride, unless you throw it into
corners like a boy racer this won't put you off, it is a pleasure to
drive.  The eibach springs you can purchase and get fitted (£200 ish)
will improve the suspension no end apparently.  The looks are a matter
of taste, I thought at first the 5 door was ugly but it has grown on me
but the 3 door does look better.  Unfortunately with 2 kids under 6, 3
doors is not an option.  The boot is bigger than a focus and rear
legroom is good for it's class.
The equipment levels are high for the price but the more electronic
gizmos the more to go wrong.  I've seen lots of probs posted on the fiat
forum (http://www.fiatforum.com/forum/) but I personally have had no
difficulties or breakdowns in nearly 18mths apart fromthe rear seat
handle came free but I fixed it in 2 mins.
Fiats do depriciate quickly (as do many cars!), I would get a nearly new
one from a car supermarket if poss. I paid £8500 for my 5 door active
1.9 JTD(115) 18 mths ago.  It had 18 miles on the clock and was 6 wks
old, the same car was £13500 from the fiat dealer.  I have avioded the
worst of the depriciation but the choice was obviously much more
limited.  At £8500 I've got a bargin,for £13500, I'd have bought a
focus, even though they are as common as much.

Mike
Henk Bartol - 23 Jul 2004 18:58 GMT
I have a Fiat Stilo 2.4 20v abarth and I'm very pleased with it. I had no
problems what so ever till now. And I think it might be just as good in
built quality as the VW Golf, which is much more expensive. Also the line of
the windows look a bit like from an Alfa so it's quite beautifull too.

Good luck with your choice.

HB

> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> John.
jason asworth - 23 Jul 2004 21:49 GMT
i was a fiat tech till 5 weeks ago and personally would never buy 1 the
probs on this vehicle are endless u dont have to take my opinion but thats
it im working at a small independent garage now and would recommend looking
at vag group seat skoda etc
> Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> John.
Dan - 31 Jul 2004 00:38 GMT
>Hi,
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>through its MOT - so am thinking about the current 0% deal from Fiat. Having
>said that, I might just change make as well as model?

I just got back from three weeks vacation with a rental Vectra -04.
Picking up my Stilo at the airport when I got back was quite a fun
experience. Suddenly it was akward to clutch and I was about to shift
to 6th on the motorway...

But generally, it was a nice experience. Things I noticed getting back
in the Stilo:
-Criss-crossing out of the car park is sooo smooth with the City
function on.
-The Stilo is really big inside.
-Girlfriend commented that the Stilo's seats have much better back
support.
-Much nicer cockpit in the Stilo. Quite dark but with a soft orange
light.

But there were negative things as well:
-5th gear, 2000 rpm, full throttle. Absolutely no reaction. This is a
1.6 so it is of course an unjust comparison with the Vectra turbo
diesel. (On the other hand, the Stilo might be weaker but it has a
broader span and as long as you get over 3000 rpm, gearing through the
acceleration will give you no surprises whereas the turbo diesel could
suddenly land you on a flat spot when upshifting.)
-Tyre noise. Really annoying when you have gotten used to a relatively
quiet car. I run Pzero Neros on my Stilo and they might not be the
quitest of course.
-The afforementioned Pzero Neros (215/45-17) have the car almost
swerving from side to side when there is just a hint of a rut in the
road.

What will my next car be? If you'd asked me a year ago or even six
months ago, I would have said anything but a Stilo. I have been
unlucky with warranty issues again and again. So I've started to look
for alternatives. But after having roamed a lot of the competing
marques' stores I end up thinking that perhaps the Stilo isn't so bad
after all? When it works, it works brilliantly. All the gadgets and
solutions are just perfectly thought out and as mentioned, I really
love the cockpit.

So even though I have been an unlucky customer, the way things stand
now, my next car will be a red Stilo MultiWagon with glass roof,
cruise control and nothing wider than the original 15" wheels (but I
hope they have nice looking 15" alloys).

Signature

dan@dod.no - Fiat Stilo 1.6 3P -02


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