Fiat Stilo? are they as cr@p as I think?
Discussion
Necessity means I have to purchase a diesel snotter for the next six months as I'm covering about 2000 miles a week....
One of these Fiat's has raised it's head as a potential. I've no experience of them, are they generally ok? or should I go default VW Passat/golf/merc diesel
It's probably doing to be disposable motoring so back to bangernomics for a while
One of these Fiat's has raised it's head as a potential. I've no experience of them, are they generally ok? or should I go default VW Passat/golf/merc diesel
It's probably doing to be disposable motoring so back to bangernomics for a while
silverback mike said:
Necessity means I have to purchase a diesel snotter for the next six months as I'm covering about 2000 miles a week....
One of these Fiat's has raised it's head as a potential. I've no experience of them, are they generally ok? or should I go default VW Passat/golf/merc diesel
It's probably doing to be disposable motoring so back to bangernomics for a while
Okay cars, but can have niggling faults. Have a look at the Fiat Grande Punto Sporting Diesel. Same engine they used in the diesel Astra, responds well to a remap and the built quality is much better.One of these Fiat's has raised it's head as a potential. I've no experience of them, are they generally ok? or should I go default VW Passat/golf/merc diesel
It's probably doing to be disposable motoring so back to bangernomics for a while
I have a the petrol T-Jet version and I cannot fault it at all. If you have any other questions sign up and ask on the fiat forum.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Stilo-1-9JTD-Dynami...
Bit of bartering, turn up with the cash, easy sale.
Bit of bartering, turn up with the cash, easy sale.
As a Fiat enthusiast, I would suggest you avoid.
They are not bad cars as such. Decent space inside (huge actually), nice comfy seats and the diesel engine is actually very good. What lets them down is the niggling electrical faults and the bits bolted to the engine to satisfy the EU. We had a Stilo JTD and it was a great family car.. just the barrage of gaults flashing and beeping at you when starting it up grated after a while..
You might get a good one, but they all seem to suffer from ABS light faults, airbag warning light faults, blow bulb light faults and generally everything electrical thinking it's broken when it's not faults. Check it over thoroughly.. Mechanically they should be fine really.. EGR valves on the diesels are a common failure though. Any electrical faults or warning lights, walk away. They are usually pretty impossible to fix.
They are not bad cars as such. Decent space inside (huge actually), nice comfy seats and the diesel engine is actually very good. What lets them down is the niggling electrical faults and the bits bolted to the engine to satisfy the EU. We had a Stilo JTD and it was a great family car.. just the barrage of gaults flashing and beeping at you when starting it up grated after a while..
You might get a good one, but they all seem to suffer from ABS light faults, airbag warning light faults, blow bulb light faults and generally everything electrical thinking it's broken when it's not faults. Check it over thoroughly.. Mechanically they should be fine really.. EGR valves on the diesels are a common failure though. Any electrical faults or warning lights, walk away. They are usually pretty impossible to fix.
Edited by MysteryLemon on Wednesday 30th April 11:30
I had a black 2005 3dr 1.6 petrol - always got the same response... looks decent, not awful on the inside, but heavy as hell and the engine was pony.
Diesel much better, pal had the estate 1.9diesel and that was a step up.
Personally I think they are great in terms of how much car you get for so little money, and the 3dr definitely looks a bit "different" to the norm. i put 15k on mine inside a year and it never blinked.
Diesel much better, pal had the estate 1.9diesel and that was a step up.
Personally I think they are great in terms of how much car you get for so little money, and the 3dr definitely looks a bit "different" to the norm. i put 15k on mine inside a year and it never blinked.
Not a bad little car and you get quite a lot for your money. I had one (petrol estate) for 5 years and bar servicing only cost me consumables in that time.
Diesel engine is good and a known quantity as Fiat stick it in everything.
Weak points are springs, rads, aircon and a wobbly electrics.
Springs prone to snapping and original springs should have a 'catcher' fitted under recall to prevent tyre blow out. Most owners simply replaced and at the age you're looking at they will probably have been changed but look for corrosion anyway.
Rads seem to have a shelf life on the Stilo so look for evidence of bodging rather than replacing. Quite straight forward to replace and not too pricey.
Aircon. Positioning of pipes make them prone to damage. People selling cars needing a regas are trying to hide the fact of the pipes are corroded to buggery. About £3-400 for a dealer to replace.
Electrics. Fiat's Achilles heel. 2 main probs. The infamous D3 connector can throw up the airbag light but is an easy fix if you know what you're doing. A duff battery will throw up numerous warning signs of impending doom. They are extremely sensitive to a weak battery and 95% of errors are fixed by simply replacing to a slightly larger capacity battery.
Stilo's are very sensitive to poor servicing so look for evidence of regular fettling using good oil (Selenia if poss). A well serviced Stilo will prove reliable although will not exactly rock your world but all in all a decent, if not very dynamic, car.
I enjoyed mine.
Diesel engine is good and a known quantity as Fiat stick it in everything.
Weak points are springs, rads, aircon and a wobbly electrics.
Springs prone to snapping and original springs should have a 'catcher' fitted under recall to prevent tyre blow out. Most owners simply replaced and at the age you're looking at they will probably have been changed but look for corrosion anyway.
Rads seem to have a shelf life on the Stilo so look for evidence of bodging rather than replacing. Quite straight forward to replace and not too pricey.
Aircon. Positioning of pipes make them prone to damage. People selling cars needing a regas are trying to hide the fact of the pipes are corroded to buggery. About £3-400 for a dealer to replace.
Electrics. Fiat's Achilles heel. 2 main probs. The infamous D3 connector can throw up the airbag light but is an easy fix if you know what you're doing. A duff battery will throw up numerous warning signs of impending doom. They are extremely sensitive to a weak battery and 95% of errors are fixed by simply replacing to a slightly larger capacity battery.
Stilo's are very sensitive to poor servicing so look for evidence of regular fettling using good oil (Selenia if poss). A well serviced Stilo will prove reliable although will not exactly rock your world but all in all a decent, if not very dynamic, car.
I enjoyed mine.
i know it's traditional for contributors to recommend their own car regardless of suitability, but how about a 306 HDi?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-PEUGEOT-306-HDI-TUR...
Comfy, tidy handling with 40mpg if you're thrashing it, 70mpg if you're driving like a saint. Loads around with 200k on the clock, so if the cambelt's OK it should last. Flaky electrics and various things not working should be regarded as 'character'.
Edit - just seen your location. If you can pop up to Cribbs, you're welcome to have a quick drive of our 306.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-PEUGEOT-306-HDI-TUR...
Comfy, tidy handling with 40mpg if you're thrashing it, 70mpg if you're driving like a saint. Loads around with 200k on the clock, so if the cambelt's OK it should last. Flaky electrics and various things not working should be regarded as 'character'.
Edit - just seen your location. If you can pop up to Cribbs, you're welcome to have a quick drive of our 306.
Edited by S. Gonzales Esq. on Wednesday 30th April 11:54
I had a 1.6 Dynamic 5 door. Engine and gearbox were very nice but electrics were a problem. Nothing on the dash but the Plug coils were a weak point. Equipment was good on the Dynamic but there were a few other niggles with the Air con and getting theMuti cd player going. I hated the driving position which was too high for me. The three door was pretty comfortable and also a lot nicer looking.
S. Gonzales Esq. said:
i know it's traditional for contributors to recommend their own car regardless of suitability, but how about a 306 HDi?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-PEUGEOT-306-HDI-TUR...
Comfy, tidy handling with 40mpg if you're thrashing it, 70mpg if you're driving like a saint. Loads around with 200k on the clock, so if the cambelt's OK it should last. Flaky electrics and various things not working should be regarded as 'character'.
Edit - just seen your location. If you can pop up to Cribbs, you're welcome to have a quick drive of our 306.
Good point, I had forgotten about the 306 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-PEUGEOT-306-HDI-TUR...
Comfy, tidy handling with 40mpg if you're thrashing it, 70mpg if you're driving like a saint. Loads around with 200k on the clock, so if the cambelt's OK it should last. Flaky electrics and various things not working should be regarded as 'character'.
Edit - just seen your location. If you can pop up to Cribbs, you're welcome to have a quick drive of our 306.
Edited by S. Gonzales Esq. on Wednesday 30th April 11:54
I've got one, a Black 2002 3 door 1.9JTD. To be honest, I really enjoy it.
It goes for miles and miles and miles without a hitch, enjoyable consumption and reasonable performance with a remap, however, when the problems crop up, they tend to crop up in an expensive way (relative to the cost of the car)
For example, the other day I thought I had a flat battery, bought a new one, still no, suspect starter. Bought a new starter motor but as my eyes and fingers couldn't work around corners it went to a garage. The garage changed it after 4 days work. Attempted to start it, but the alternator had seized! The garage refused to do the job as the driveshaft had to come out.
Eventually I fixed it on the street, nearly losing a finger to the grinder. However, now it's done, *touch wood* it'll go on for a few more thousand miles until the next problem!
PS, It's done 107,000!
It goes for miles and miles and miles without a hitch, enjoyable consumption and reasonable performance with a remap, however, when the problems crop up, they tend to crop up in an expensive way (relative to the cost of the car)
For example, the other day I thought I had a flat battery, bought a new one, still no, suspect starter. Bought a new starter motor but as my eyes and fingers couldn't work around corners it went to a garage. The garage changed it after 4 days work. Attempted to start it, but the alternator had seized! The garage refused to do the job as the driveshaft had to come out.
Eventually I fixed it on the street, nearly losing a finger to the grinder. However, now it's done, *touch wood* it'll go on for a few more thousand miles until the next problem!
PS, It's done 107,000!
I bought one as last winter's run around, purely as it was close by and in astonishing condition.
There were no squeaks, rattles ir anything untoward and , whilst my car mad 10 year old refused to get into the car without a bag on his head, I found it to be a charming, economical and cheap companion. 1.6 petrol Dynamic by the way.
There were no squeaks, rattles ir anything untoward and , whilst my car mad 10 year old refused to get into the car without a bag on his head, I found it to be a charming, economical and cheap companion. 1.6 petrol Dynamic by the way.
had a brand new one, about 3 years ago to drive as a loan car for a little while due to my car being off the road.
I was amazed at just how bad it was, given it was a brand new car............ kind of like the poor design, quality etc would have been acceptable in the 80's/90's, but this was 2010/11 !!
I guess a bargain though in the second hand market perhaps.
I was amazed at just how bad it was, given it was a brand new car............ kind of like the poor design, quality etc would have been acceptable in the 80's/90's, but this was 2010/11 !!
I guess a bargain though in the second hand market perhaps.
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