DanU
New member
I'm the owner of a Stilo 1.6 3P Dynamic -02 that has run almost 60 000 km so far. With lots of warranty issues the first year and now less than a year left on the warranty I'm thinking of getting a new car sometime this winter or upcoming spring. But what should I get?
I've been test driving some alternatives to the Stilo. A Renault Mégane CC which was fun to sit in but looks and feels bulky, and an Alfa 156 SW which feels old and boring and almost claustrophobic compared to the Stilo. So maybe I should give the Stilo another chance. I'm thinking of getting a 1.6 again (because of the rather extreme taxes on horsepower here in Norway) and also a 3 door again because it looks so good. But I would also like some extra luxury and some problems solved and wonder what your experiences are with the following things:
Cruise control. This is a must in my next car. But it's not on the options list for the 1.6 3 door in Norway. (Actually not even Dynamic is an option for the 3 door in Norway so I'm going to have to make a special order anyway.) Any problems with the Stilo cruise control that I should know of?
Sky Window. I guess I'm begging for trouble, trusting Fiat to build something as complicated as that, but more light is also a must in my next car.
Rain sensor. I would like this because the slowest interval on the Stilo wipers is too fast I think. So let's go automatic. But has anyone managed to order this separate from the parking sensors and automatic headlights that usually come with it in the "comfort pack"? In Scandinavia, headlights should be on at all times so that function is a waste and the parking sensors are too ugly I think.
EasyGo. The Mégane I tried had this feature and it is pure genius. Not delivered in Norway at all, but I'll try to get it anyway. How does the start button work? Do you press it once and release, like in the Mégane, or do you have to keep it pressed until the engine starts, just like you would normally hold the key turned until the engine starts up?
Electric rear windows on the 3 door. I read somewhere that this can be delivered. Has anyone successfully ordered this? It would be a great feature combined with the "open all with the remote" feature, when you want to throw a jacket or a bag in the rear seat when you enter the car.
Webasto heater. I have the infamous lock problem each winter, where the locks freeze up so you can't close the door without first banging it closed 20-30 times. Also, I have to wait for 5 minutes to get rid of all the fog after I start in the winter mornings. A heater would sort out both these problems (but it needs to be petrol run, like the Webasto, since I have no electricity in the parking lot). Has anyone fitted this? Is there space enough for it under the hood?
Undercarriage fix up. There is basically just one thing I really hate with my Fiat. It's that it is extremely sensitive to ruts in the road. You have to hold the wheel all the time and you have to compensate for every little bump or rut or else you end up in the ditch. Takes away a lot of the pleasure of driving. I have 215-17" tyres which accounts for some part of the problem. But even with the winter wheels, 185-15", this is annoying. I'm willing to fork out on a set of springs or anything that can make the car a bit more fun to drive. I am not basically interested in lowering it, but if that's what it takes, so be it. I guess spring sets have been discussed quite a lot here but has anyone done this fix because of the tracking problems or have they all just been interested in lowering the car and getting less roll?
Right now I'm sitting here with the Alfa 156 outside and I'm longing for the dealer to call so I can switch back to the Stilo. (He's checking it to give me a trade in offer.)
Too long a post, sorry. Hope to get a couple of answers anyway.
/Dan
I've been test driving some alternatives to the Stilo. A Renault Mégane CC which was fun to sit in but looks and feels bulky, and an Alfa 156 SW which feels old and boring and almost claustrophobic compared to the Stilo. So maybe I should give the Stilo another chance. I'm thinking of getting a 1.6 again (because of the rather extreme taxes on horsepower here in Norway) and also a 3 door again because it looks so good. But I would also like some extra luxury and some problems solved and wonder what your experiences are with the following things:
Cruise control. This is a must in my next car. But it's not on the options list for the 1.6 3 door in Norway. (Actually not even Dynamic is an option for the 3 door in Norway so I'm going to have to make a special order anyway.) Any problems with the Stilo cruise control that I should know of?
Sky Window. I guess I'm begging for trouble, trusting Fiat to build something as complicated as that, but more light is also a must in my next car.
Rain sensor. I would like this because the slowest interval on the Stilo wipers is too fast I think. So let's go automatic. But has anyone managed to order this separate from the parking sensors and automatic headlights that usually come with it in the "comfort pack"? In Scandinavia, headlights should be on at all times so that function is a waste and the parking sensors are too ugly I think.
EasyGo. The Mégane I tried had this feature and it is pure genius. Not delivered in Norway at all, but I'll try to get it anyway. How does the start button work? Do you press it once and release, like in the Mégane, or do you have to keep it pressed until the engine starts, just like you would normally hold the key turned until the engine starts up?
Electric rear windows on the 3 door. I read somewhere that this can be delivered. Has anyone successfully ordered this? It would be a great feature combined with the "open all with the remote" feature, when you want to throw a jacket or a bag in the rear seat when you enter the car.
Webasto heater. I have the infamous lock problem each winter, where the locks freeze up so you can't close the door without first banging it closed 20-30 times. Also, I have to wait for 5 minutes to get rid of all the fog after I start in the winter mornings. A heater would sort out both these problems (but it needs to be petrol run, like the Webasto, since I have no electricity in the parking lot). Has anyone fitted this? Is there space enough for it under the hood?
Undercarriage fix up. There is basically just one thing I really hate with my Fiat. It's that it is extremely sensitive to ruts in the road. You have to hold the wheel all the time and you have to compensate for every little bump or rut or else you end up in the ditch. Takes away a lot of the pleasure of driving. I have 215-17" tyres which accounts for some part of the problem. But even with the winter wheels, 185-15", this is annoying. I'm willing to fork out on a set of springs or anything that can make the car a bit more fun to drive. I am not basically interested in lowering it, but if that's what it takes, so be it. I guess spring sets have been discussed quite a lot here but has anyone done this fix because of the tracking problems or have they all just been interested in lowering the car and getting less roll?
Right now I'm sitting here with the Alfa 156 outside and I'm longing for the dealer to call so I can switch back to the Stilo. (He's checking it to give me a trade in offer.)
Too long a post, sorry. Hope to get a couple of answers anyway.
/Dan
