Hmmmmm - funny thing Fiats. No, really. I just love the way that every month (pretty much) since I've had my Stilo something has either:
1. Fallen off (includes trim after some daft student girlie driving into the side of me).
2. Broken Yup, wheel centres are made of putty.
3. A new 'fault' comes up on the display :bang: Oh yes, a new one pretty much monthly. How I love it.

Yeah, I'm just splitting my sides with laughter

Y'all see, I should have kept my mouth shut when I said the car was remarkably reliable in the cold because the 1st weekend I've had off in ages dawns nice and mild so take the wife for a run - Stilo goes 'wibble' and yet another fault has come up. This time 'airbag failure' and 'engine-stop' at the same time. Joy. So the Stilo has been abandoned at the Fiat dealers again and doubtless it'll cost a fortune to fix.

You will have gathered that I'm more than rapidly getting just a tad pissed off with the whole Stilo adventure at the moment and I quit smoking this month so I'm in a FOUL humour

..... I should have bought the Alfa 156 JTD instead Ho hum, no point in crying over spilt milk just have to wait and see what the diagnostics say

Listen insist that only the DET works on the airbag as you have had so many troubles with it.Theres no reason that aslong as the correct procedure is carried out a airbag fault should re-appear.Ask for a examiner printout.

By the way Alfa 156's suffer just as bad as stilos....airbag warning lights,rear suspension,engine warning lights,speedoheads,rev counters,locks etc...probably do just as many 156's as stilos!

p.s.good luck on the smoking!

I have to agree that the whole Stilo adventure is getting a little tiresome now. And no I would not buy another Fiat.

Stilo_ste no offence mate but looking back through your postings there is constant 'digs' at Fiats,technians,dealerships,stilos,if you hate them so much & your troublesome stilo then sell it.

Yes, I do have a dig at Fiat, the car, don't think I taken any swipes at any particular technicians, and the dealerships. I only dig when there is something to dig about and it is justified or adds to the point in question. And yes, we have though seriously about selling the car.

I don't hate any of the list above, I simply express my thoughts and comments. If my thought and experiences and opinions are not valid then why? and if my opinions are contrary to others - then so be it, my expectations may be different to other peoples.

We all have the right of freedom of expression, and everyone else has the right to challenge those expressions and opinions. The way this is done is by debate and asking searching questions as to why those opinions have been formed and on what basis. I feel I do this in a non argumentative or confrontataional way, most of the time. Nothing I have experienced in 2 years of owning the Stilo would encourage me to buy another one, or even another Fiat. Maybe my experiences have been hard, I don't know. I just know it hasn't met my expectations in terms of reliability, handling, the service offered by dealership, durability, etc.

I hope I have answered your questions. And no I haven't taken any offence, and I hope you don't either.

T14086 said:

Listen insist that only the DET works on the airbag as you have had so many troubles with it.Theres no reason that aslong as the correct procedure is carried out a airbag fault should re-appear.Ask for a examiner printout.

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Seems it was an airbag sensor and it's covered by what's left on the warranty there was much rejoicing

T14086 said:

By the way Alfa 156's suffer just as bad as stilos....airbag warning lights,rear suspension,engine warning lights,speedoheads,rev counters,locks etc...probably do just as many 156's as stilos!

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Aye, I had heard. Pity really as Fiat & Alfa genuinely make good cars (you know what I mean) which always seem to let you down in the end or come short of the promises they 'offer'. Shame indeed

T14086 said:

p.s.good luck on the smoking!

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It's going fine at the moment - NOT Find I have a very short temper but I'm coping, even when the garage rang me this afternoon and told me that the 1,500 miles I thought I had to wait until the car was serviced next was actually 150 - something to do with age over mileage (coming up for 3 years in June and currently 25K miles) or soemthing like that - doubtless all will be explained when I pick it up :idea:

Stilo_ste said:

I hope you don't either.

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Course not,i'm not that sort of person.I know(and no doubt many others here)that your not happy with your stilo & personaly I can see no reason repeating it again,anyway thats your call I suppose.
I honestly hope you will buy another Fiat again...new stilo out early 2007

Got the car back today - it's had a service but (mysteriously) the bit that was ordered on Monday under warranty has failed to appear so I'm driving around with feckin warning lights and alarms all the bleedin time - until the new bit comes to the dealer ofcourse

never mind, nice to get behind the wheel of the Stilo again - BTW, new Grande Punto looks awesome

.... and the Saga continues

As the man Homer (Simpson, ofcourse) said " it just gets worse"......................

OK - the car went into the dealer to get checked - faulty airbag sensor, no problems it's under warranty. Car got serviced, but the replacement sensor did not come all of last week and as I needed it back they said it would be fine to drive, but the 'alarms' would still sound.

Not too happy about the alarms - but that's life.

The sensor will be in on Monday, the dealer was told. It didn't come. Didn't come on Tuesday, didn't come today either and - guess what - it's going to have to come from Italy and won't be here until the 20th at the earliest :bang:

I might get a hire car though

I waited 8 months for a set of mats before I gave uo completely so good luck mate

Feck

I'm still waiting for the touch up paint that was coming direct from Italy, that I ordered over 2 years ago!!

Thats the great Fiat UK dealers for you!

And people then wonder why Fiat have a very low brand image?? Pathetic.

It is about time Fiat realised that to compete in today's global economy takes more than what they are currently offering. It takes quality cars, well built with good design features, that look appealing and by offering more than the next guy at competitive prices, and then backing that up with a service network and dealerships that are competent, efficient, friendly and cost effective. Bit to do then....

I............................agree

Yep it happens sometimes unfortunally it's all about cost as all parts come from central distrubution warehouse....also unfortunally these people know little about cars & are basically 'pickers',pick the part & stick it on the truck.
Basically dealers are at mercy of these people,and in the front line of the customers anger when it comes to wrong parts/wrong parts in box & items not recieved at all.A more structured system with 'satellite' warehouses for larger areas stocking fast moving items would be alot more effective for next day delivery & the main warehouse for 2 day delivery stock most if not all parts.

So.... the question is, why don't Fiat/Alfa group do that? Seems like a perfectly logical idea to me
I know the parts manager at my local dealer is doing his nut about my (and other) Fiat parts orders simply not turning up at all

Something needs to be done - but that's always the way

T - I am surprised by your agreement, maybe I'm mellowing in my opinion. .. lol

The other question about satellite distribution centres - cost is the stumbling block.

The company I work for has a commitment (and guarantee) to supply any part anywhere in the world within 24 hours. If this is not met, for any reason within our control, a replacement vehicle is hired at our cost.
To do this takes very good planning and good distribution centres, with knowledgeable, dedicated workforces. Not just 'part pickers' who simply work on part numbers and have no knowledge of the contents function, fit etc.

The question is essentially, do the customers want to pay for the cost of this service? ? ?

Stilo_ste said:

.....To do this takes very good planning and good distribution centres, with knowledgeable, dedicated workforces. Not just 'part pickers' who simply work on part numbers and have no knowledge of the contents function, fit etc.

The question is essentially, do the customers want to pay for the cost of this service? ? ?

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In theory - at least - they shouldn't have to. In theory it's not outwith the realms of possibility that 5 major distribution centres could be co-located with a main dealer, an arrangement that could be mutually beneficial.
The distribution centres could be splt thus:
1 in Scotland, 3 in England and 1 in Wales (sorry Northern Ireland/Ulster - excluding you from this one for the moment). Those 5 based on what I would consider 'reasonable demand' in my expectation of numbers Fiat /Alfa cars sold.
Staff only need to be trained properly - enthusiastic staff can always be 'poached' (sorry headhunted ) from another company.
It's possible - but unlikely

My two pennies worth!

It's not only Fiat who can screw things up! As well as my Abarth I have an X-Type (Jaguar Mondeo!). They had to have 3 goes at repairing the wiper motor because...................................... some pillock at the factory had put wiper motors for LHD cars in the box for RHD cars

The bummer for the dealers was that the first time the techy had already put the new "wrong" motor on and reassembled everything before he noticed the wipers wanted to go the wrong way!! Went in the second time and they noticed before they got the spanners out.

It's down to deskilling in areas that manufacturers don't think important that can have big consequences. :bang:

Stilo_ste said:

And people then wonder why Fiat have a very low brand image?? Pathetic.

It is about time Fiat realised that to compete in today's global economy takes more than what they are currently offering. It takes quality cars, well built with good design features, that look appealing and by offering more than the next guy at competitive prices, and then backing that up with a service network and dealerships that are competent, efficient, friendly and cost effective. Bit to do then....

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yet, they still seem to be competing, and judging by fiat's shareprices, quite well.
the shareholder still have economic confidence. They are obviously doing something right.

admittedly, aftersales care, is shocking (or from my experience) or is it.. i mean, when my car has broken, they've fixed it. Aside from one or two moronic staff who think they can talk to people however they want, they've always been polite.

The cars are affordable. The insurance is cheap as. I still see a shed load of the old FIATS on the road, so if they aren't reliable... then why are they still around. I find that I can rely on my Stilo perfectly well. But that's my experience.

you also seem to forget that these dealerships that are so shocking, will service fiats one month, then will change and be a citroen or vauxhall garage... do they suddenyl become good dealerships just cos they drop the FIAT badge?