General First car

[SStiam]

Hi,

I was looking for a car and stumbled across a Fiat Stilo 1.6, 3 door, 2003.
I am wondering if there are many faults with these cars? Looked a little bit around on the forum and it seemed like there were a lot of faults... And since it is my first car and still studying I don't have the money to own a car that is expensive to use.

Thanks for answers

SStiam

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Have a good search, like you already have, and it'll show you what issues can arourse.

Welcome to FF btw :wave:

Jon.

 

[Makaveli]

Gotta say im in the same boat as this chap. I currently do 375 miles a week on a 1.8 focus for £50.

I was looking at getting a Stilo because I wanted something with good mpg (not sure which model) and economical but coming on here as put a lot of doubts in my head as every other thread is for a serious fault or someone having to get rid of a Stilo with problems.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Gotta say im in the same boat as this chap. I currently do 375 miles a week on a 1.8 focus for £50.

I was looking at getting a Stilo because I wanted something with good mpg (not sure which model) and economical but coming on here as put a lot of doubts in my head as every other thread is for a serious fault or someone having to get rid of a Stilo with problems.

As with most forums, people either come one here when looking at buying a car, or when they have problems, have a look at any forum, FF-OC is Focus one I think, and I bet its the same

 

[JTD_Liam]

Theyre not ALL faulty. Just look on AutoTrader - if they were all duff cars there wouldn't be so many for sale with just 1 previous owner. People don't keep duff cars for years and years.

Ive had mine since Sept 2008 and other than fuel, it's cost me nothing. It's way overdue a service & needs the cambelt doing (out of work so can't afford it) & although i've stopped using it now as i don't think it's fair on it, it had kept going without any complaint.

The 2.4 Abarth can have expensive problems with the Selespeed gearbox, the 1.6 goes through ignition coils (cheap) like i go through socks and it also seems to have problems with its gearbox. However the other models, particularly the 1.4 & 1.8 petrol and 1.9 JTD diesels have less in the way of expensive faults. Just the erratic warning lights that come on when the battery wears out.

Best thing to do is get a 1.4, 1.8 or 1.9 JTD that's had just one owner & has evidence of servicing/maintenance. You won't go anymore wrong with one like that than you would with an equivilent Focus.

 

[Makaveli]

Thanks for the advice, looks like im going with a Stilo, cannot find reason enough not to and for the money I have it's the best all rounder.

Would really like to get the claw alloys, can they still be bought direct from Fiat?

 

[B3NNETT]

Would really like to get the claw alloys, can they still be bought direct from Fiat?

yes but they will be VERY expensive, best bet trying to get a set of second hand ones. set on ebay now actually

 

[Makaveli]

Brilliant, if they're your alloys feel free to send me a link

Been looking at this one, despite the sunroof does it seem like a fair price?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...t/radius/60/page/1/postcode/gu148ug?logcode=p

 

[B3NNETT]

nah not mine i happy with my blades, but i cant find them now, ebay wont let me on

 

[JTD_Liam]

Brilliant, if they're your alloys feel free to send me a link

Been looking at this one, despite the sunroof does it seem like a fair price?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...t/radius/60/page/1/postcode/gu148ug?logcode=p

It looks alright to me. The leather is a nice option to have and goes particularly well with the black paintwork. The seller appears quite upfront about its condition (sunroof, alloys etc) and it has had a few bits replaced which will save some money.

Any negatives or things to check? Has it had the cambelt done? If not, budget £200 ish for that. How many owners has it had? Anything over two on a Stilo of that age would make me wonder why. Finally remember it's a 1.6 and they can have expensive gearbox failures, plus cost quite alot to tax (over £200 a year) compared to the diesels (£120 a year).

Good luck, if i'm not too late (i see you posted a while ago).

Liam.

 

[Makaveli]

Hey Liam,

Thanks for the helpful response, at the moment im torn between that one and another with the exact same spec with 10k less on the clock in blue. Will probably look at both before I buy one to see if theirs any differences. Hoping to get one of them this week

The majority of Stilo's I find out there are 1.6's, I think I might have to chance my arm with the gearbox's and see if I can find anything about it in the cars history.

My only question now is about the cambelts, is it a recall thing or mileage / age?

 

[Adrian09]

i know 1.6 cambelt is due around 5-6 years so around the 60k mark i dont think you should pay more than £2,800 for a 1.6 stilo theres plenty with low mileage at £2,500 mark with good history. Ive got the 1.6 ive had no problems with it got it for £2,400 f.s.h etc. Theres been a few sets of claws on ebay lately think there all gone now tho.

 

[volxstu]

£3000 is a good price for an 05 plate so you would have been able to knock down the price of the one you linked too.
I sold my 05 plate with a dodgy gearbox 42k miles in immaculate condition and £1500 worth of mods for £2500. So if you look there are bargains to be had.

 

[JTD_Liam]

Hey Liam,

Thanks for the helpful response, at the moment im torn between that one and another with the exact same spec with 10k less on the clock in blue. Will probably look at both before I buy one to see if theirs any differences. Hoping to get one of them this week

The majority of Stilo's I find out there are 1.6's, I think I might have to chance my arm with the gearbox's and see if I can find anything about it in the cars history.

My only question now is about the cambelts, is it a recall thing or mileage / age?

No probs. If i remember rightly (the link doesn't work anymore) the black one only had about 40,000 miles on it? That's nothing really, id be more concerned about owners/history/condition than the difference of 10k mileage.

1.6's are more common definately, and there are good and bad of everything out there so don't let my gearbox warning put you off as such, just go into knowing it can happen on them.

As Adrian mentioned above, the cambelts is just a mileage/age thing. I think 5 years/72,000 was the official line for changing, but 72,000 is pushing it a little, would work on the 5 year/60,000 mile rule that is widely used. The black one being 54 plate is due a change in age terms immediately, because even though the mileage was low the belt can still deteriorate & perish over time. So i'd factor that into any price negotiations from the start unless the seller can show you an invoice of it having been done already.

Liam.