Discussion
I'm looking for a medium size estate car for Mrs Mitch and have always thought the Stilo Estate looked like a nicely packaged car.
Possible alternatives are Focus Mk1, Pug 306 or Astra Mk4, We've had an Astra and it did exactly what it said it would until the aesthmatic 8v 1.6 engine gave up, Pug 306's are pretty good, but the ones around seem to be high miles and pretty knackered, to a certain extent that seems to be true of the Focus too.
The Stilo's don't seem to have wracked up the miles, probably because they aren't a fleet favourite and they tend to be a bit newer at our price range (About 2k)
Which engines are OK which are not?, anything to look out for on the reliability side?.
Possible alternatives are Focus Mk1, Pug 306 or Astra Mk4, We've had an Astra and it did exactly what it said it would until the aesthmatic 8v 1.6 engine gave up, Pug 306's are pretty good, but the ones around seem to be high miles and pretty knackered, to a certain extent that seems to be true of the Focus too.
The Stilo's don't seem to have wracked up the miles, probably because they aren't a fleet favourite and they tend to be a bit newer at our price range (About 2k)
Which engines are OK which are not?, anything to look out for on the reliability side?.
1.6 petrol or 1.9 JTD are both reliable units, check clutch on jtd as it's dual mass. Otherwise usual Stilo gremlins such as airbag lights coming on and off and Motor Control System light coming on for no reason. They are cheap for a reason but actually drive quite well and very roomy, interior trim is plasticky and no very hard wearing. Unless you find a well looked after minter then I would go Ford or Vauxhall, the Peugeots are just as bad as the Fiat.
I had a 1.6 estate for nearly six years from (almost new) and it only failed me once with a knackered battery. T'was a fine motor and did the job admirably but you have to keep it maintained - they do not respond well to scimped servicing.
Only have experience of the petrol and it's a lively motor and will pull its weight with ease (much better than my 1.6 focus) but it is more thirsty.
Diesels get a good write-up so deffo consider these. Handling is only average and she will roll a bit in fast corners.
Weak points are airbag lights (easy fix), mysterious error messages (good battery solves this), cambelts (every 4 years - maximum), springs, rear bushes on estates (Fiat originally replaced whole rear axle to fix this! - thankfully a special tool is now available), radiators and aircon pipes.
All in all a good, decent car but it never really caught on in the UK hence the depressed values but it does mean you can pick up a newer car for the same price as an older focus,astra,etc.
Only have experience of the petrol and it's a lively motor and will pull its weight with ease (much better than my 1.6 focus) but it is more thirsty.
Diesels get a good write-up so deffo consider these. Handling is only average and she will roll a bit in fast corners.
Weak points are airbag lights (easy fix), mysterious error messages (good battery solves this), cambelts (every 4 years - maximum), springs, rear bushes on estates (Fiat originally replaced whole rear axle to fix this! - thankfully a special tool is now available), radiators and aircon pipes.
All in all a good, decent car but it never really caught on in the UK hence the depressed values but it does mean you can pick up a newer car for the same price as an older focus,astra,etc.
thanks Valiant, I'm tempted, but I expect it will come down to which decent car crops up first.
Interested in this though, very cheap but.... cat D??
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
Interested in this though, very cheap but.... cat D??
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
Hi Mitch
I had a Stilo 1.6. Had it for about 18 months and although it had the full-length sunroof which was very nice, it didn't drive like an Alfa (and why should it, it's a Fiat!) so I sold it and bought a 156 instead.
The car never let us down (although the sunroof failed at one point until I discovered the knack of resetting the ECU), and proved a pretty practical family car. Decent storage space inside.
Didn't like having to have the service indicator reset by either a dealer or independent FIAT garage, but maybe there are more people around now who can reset them?
I reckon they're a good secondhand buy, esp the estate. Or how about a Croma?
Good luck, James
I had a Stilo 1.6. Had it for about 18 months and although it had the full-length sunroof which was very nice, it didn't drive like an Alfa (and why should it, it's a Fiat!) so I sold it and bought a 156 instead.
The car never let us down (although the sunroof failed at one point until I discovered the knack of resetting the ECU), and proved a pretty practical family car. Decent storage space inside.
Didn't like having to have the service indicator reset by either a dealer or independent FIAT garage, but maybe there are more people around now who can reset them?
I reckon they're a good secondhand buy, esp the estate. Or how about a Croma?
Good luck, James
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