| Archive for The Motor Forum talking cars since 2006 |
| Grampa |
Fiat Stilo - opinionsWith the arrival of the baby it's time for my daughter to get rid of her beloved Ka for something a bit larger - I did suggest a roof rack (no way I would let a few practicalities get in the way of the car I wanted to drive), but I think the truth is that her partner is just glad of the opportunity to get something less girlie.They've noticed that Fiat Stilos offer a lot of car for the money - near to a straight swap value wise which is a top consideration for them at the moment. Certainly a nice looking car as a 3 door - easily the best looking mid size hatch of the era they're looking at - 02/03 - if the Abarth had been on the pace, I may well have had one myself back then. But are they like Alfas - in truth much much better than their reputation for being problematical, or are they anything to worry about? |
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| Mark |
I'd probably go for a new Astra or something. Everytime I drive anything run of the mill Italian (Alfa/Fiat), the suspension/ride/body control never seems right - Had a Linea in Damascus, a Punto here and drove a mates newly acquired 147 on Saturday - never supple and always bony. I could even feel the exhaust moving underneath me on the 147 when a (normal) bump would send a shudder through the car at times. It's only done 11k miles (1.6 Lusso). | ||||||
| TimR |
I had a diesel estate for 3 years/60k miles and loved it.
There was a recurring problem with the turbo boost sensor which could've been sorted at the 1st attempt by the garage if they'd been more knowledgeable. It never broke down* but it did break a front spring on me. I think that's a common complaint - mine actually broke in 2 and a bit dropped off 
The intercooler pipe split at around 55k miles. I can't remember any other problems other than those related to being run into, which is hardly the car's fault. There were no electrical problems. In common with a lot of modern cars the headlight bulbs are a nightmare to change - driver's side took 2 of us about an hour and a half simply due to restricted access stopping the cover going back on. It cost £5 at the local dealer to get the other side done when it went. Dealers are variable although there have been improvements in the last 5 years. However every marque has its problem dealers. They're not the last word in driving pleasure but are competent enough and certainly more involving than some current equivalents. There's a large Stilo community on www.fiatforum.com. *According to Martin's rule of breakdowns - although the AA was called the car was driveable and didn't go anywhere on the back of a truck. |
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| TimR |
The Stilo is fairly soft. That Alfa 147 doesn't sound right. Maybe it's got a bust exhaust mount? |
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| Mark |
I would normally have thought the same myself, Tim. But, I have felt a similar thing in the Punto I used to have. |
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| Bryan M |
Not a bad choice but some others in the same financial ball park - all available on an 02 sub £1500
Citroen Xsara - not likely to see any others Nissan Almera - Reliable if dull Vauxhall Astra - cheap bits I didn't like the Stilo to drive new as a hire car - can't imagine it will have improved with age |
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| TimR |
I've been in a few 147s and Puntos and never felt anything like that
You must have a really sensitive bum 
I was looking to buy another Stilo estate earlier this year but the 2 I went to see hadn't been cared for and both smelt of dog. Not impressive preparation by the garages. |
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| Mark |
Actually I think I have - to be fair to Fiat/Alfa, I have also felt the same thing on a brand new (latest) Mondeo estate (Titanium X on big wheels). It's not a big bang or a thud; more a feeling of movement underneath you - like a pendulum shifting. |
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| Dr. Hfuhruhurr |
Re: Fiat Stilo - opinions
But if they're upsizing for a new baby, presumably they'll be looking at the 5-door? And looking at hatches of this era, I honestly cannot comprehend why anyone would consider anything other than a Focus. |
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| Grampa |
Re: Fiat Stilo - opinions
Way too dull for them - she is a bit of her father's daughter when it comes to cars
If they could run to a Mk5, this would be the choice, but a Mk4 is ditto the above
They've been looking at Focii, but want the much better looks of the 3 door (they're only 20 and 21, a 5 door is 'too old' even for me) - and they're not so easy to find, the Stilo goes from pig ugly as a 5 door to a real looker as a 3 door. Remember - style over practicality at all times! |
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| TimR |
Re: Fiat Stilo - opinions
+1 I've always thought the 5 door Stilo looks like a Maxi. |
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| gonnabuildabuggy |
Focus 2.0 Zetec 3dr - looks, cheap bits, good to drive.
5 door also looks OK IMHO 1.8 slighltly cheaper to run. |
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| Dr. Hfuhruhurr |
If they're really serious about a 3-door then the Fiat does have something to recommend it, though I still think the Mk 1 Focus 3-door looks even better. | ||||||
| Giant |
My mother has a blue, slightly scruffy 2000 1.8 5dr Focus with 14"(?)steel wheels. As you can imagine it is utterly anonymous and probably the most common car/colour combo of any you see in the UK. Yet every time I drive it I end up with a massive grin on my face and wonder why anyone would buy, or even consider, ANY other family hatch when spending £1000ish.
As Dr Hur... and Alan have been saying about the 911 and MX5 in Franki's thread, some cars become default choices not from a lack of imagination of buyers but from the fact they are so far superior to their rivals. In the price bracket inferred in the OP, being different would inevitably mean having an inferior product. It has to be a Focus for me. |
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| scamper |
Didn't the eurofighter owner have a stilo? | ||||||
| simonp |
Me neither and it had major electrical gremlins despite being almost new. Horrible car. |
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| Dr. Hfuhruhurr |
Who knows? |
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| JohnC |
They have obviously never had any real exposure to babies in cars and the serious hassle of 3 doors. I had a 3dr Golf GTi when my son came along and even though I was very fit at the time, my back would ache lifting and twisting to get him in and out: I longed for 4 or 5 doors.
If they are practical enough to think they need something bigger, then they have to go the 5 door route. I echo the Dr's call for a 5 door Focus. Another practical point is that 3 door cars have large front doors. If you need to get in to the back holding a baby then you need to open the door fully. I don't know of any car park spaces except disabled and the odd B&Q parent and child space which allows you to do this. I speak as someone who would only ever have bought a 3 door car prior to my first child. Thankfully I am now able to do the same again but I wouldn't have changed 4 or 5 doors for 3 in the interim regardless. |
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| PG |
Leaving aside the sensible choice of the Focus, for a £1-1.5k budget a left field option has to be an MG ZS 1.8 5 door or for less insurance costs a 1.4 MG ZR 5 door. Just check the head gasket carefully..... | ||||||
| Giant |
A Focus might be a sensible choice, but also great fun to drive. A multifaceted diamond if ever there was one (at this price especially) |
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| Grampa |
She's actually quite used to it as with the Ka she often takes a non car owning friend to places who has twin toddlers. She perhaps didn't get a very education as to the practicalities of rear, when she was a baby I swapped our nice sensible 5 door Astra for a Calibra and as she was growing up we had a GTV, a Cougar and a Mini - must say I never found it a problem - I quite liked the wide doors of a three door - I found that by putting the seat forward, I could get myself right into the car and crouch down to fasten them into their seats. As I said - style over practicality any day! Found a forum discussing Fiat Stilos - can't believe how easy it is to find such stuff on a relatively rare car these days - and the consensus seems to be that whilst a few have problems, they are generally not the hassle people associate with the brand. I guess it'll come down to whichever turns up first, a nice Focus or a nice Stilo. |
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| Roadrunner |
+ 1 to all of this. If they go down the 3-door route they will regret it. |
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| Frank Bullitt |
My cousin's Saab convertable lasted less than a week once their daughter was born - replaced by an A2 due to the Saab's lack of rear doors.
Anyhow, back to the Stilo. Nice car to be honest, I had a 1.6 16v shortly after launch for a weekend. It drives OK if not in an exciting way, the steering has little feel although the car handles well enough and the ride is good. The drivers seat doesn't go far enough back and for me there isn't sufficient space in the 3dr as headroom is less than the 5dr - also there is no clutch footrest with no space to the left of the pedal at all. The problem is that early cars had some real electrical issues which, if they haven't been sorted, will drive your daughter potty - later cars (2004MY, '53 plate onwards) are much, much, much better but earlier cars have warning-light-tourrettes. All engines are good, even the 1.2 16v will take a pasting (and has a decent 6-speed box unlike the 5-speed rest of the range). Look for a cherished car, condition is everything. The 'Active' model is basic but has most useful stuff although does without A/C as standard - you'll need Dynamic for A/C (1.6 16v, 1.8 16v or 1.9JTD) although quite a few Active's have it as an option. The Active Sport on a 1.6 16v is a pre 2004MY car and couldn't be had with A/C at all, the later Active Sport got the 1.4 16v engine (that replaced the 1.2 for the rest of the range in in 2004MY) and A/C as standard. As a cheap, stylish car the 3dr fits the bill for sure. Oh, and for the Focus lovers I couldn't honestly say the ones I've driven are any better, save for steering that is more talkative... |
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| Grampa |
Why? - as I said earlier, she's been getting her god children (twins) in and out of the current 3 door car for two years without a problem - and I certainly never wished for a 4/5 door car as she and her sister were growing up. |
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| DaveGibson |
I think I've mentioned before but, when my neighbour's daughter had a second child about two years after the first, she changed from a Xsara Picasso to a Ka. | ||||||
| TimR |
One thing I've just remembered is that the 3 different Stilo models have different seat heights - the 3 door being the lowest (sporty you see) and the estate being highest as a sort of halfway house competitor to stuff like the Scenic/Zafira. | ||||||
| Grampa |
Update...
They got a Focus - only got to see one Stilo a three door in that bright blue colour with a beige leather interior - sounds nice but the inside hadn't been looked after and the leather was a big let down and overall the car needed about £600 worth of work once looked at closely so unlikely that an offer of £800 below asking would have been accepted (asking price was already £200 over its value). The body was nice though, not even a minor dent, very few chips and one minor scratch. But a drive in the Stilo and a drive in a Focus was all that was needed to persuade them to stay in the Ford camp - my daughter who to all extents and purposes has only ever driven a Ka said the Stilo felt 'sloppy' but the Focus felt like the Ka only better. It was a five door (1.6 Zetec) in the end, but not an issue with a Focus as it doesn't look like a bus like the five door Stilo does, and this one has an interior that still looks like new. A few minor body blemishes but nothing you can see until you inspect very closely. A couple of hundred pounds more than they perhaps could have found but it's from a nice small dealership run by a bloke that looked all of 22 and a receptionist who must have been about 18. Fair trade in price taking the Ka with a dent that otherwise would have needed fixing before a private sale, 6 month warranty, service, MOT and full check before it goes out and he's sorting the plate transfer, so all in all well worth the extra. |
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| Roadrunner |
Excellent choice. | ||||||
| Jasper |
I agree with Roadrunner as a 'white goods' car the Focus takes some beating. | ||||||
| Soulless |
If only. 
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