Looked at one of these today, thinking about taking it out for a test drive but interested to hear your thoughts/views on the car first! LOL

Looking for a bit of a 'stealth mobile', nothing that's gonna attract unwanted attention when it's sat on the drive, 'cos I'm a bit gutted at the mo, due to having had my Impreza STi stolen from said driveway!
Can't risk another STi for obvious reasons & can't risk anything similar, e.g. an Evo, Skyline etc. & not a Beemer fan, so scratching head a bit at the mo!

Haven't had anything front wheel drive for a while now, 2.4 seems a lot of engine for a low bodyweight front wheel drive car, is torque steer etc. a major problem?
Also, 8.4 secs 0-60 time doesn't seem that quick, have I looked up the figures wrong maybe?

Love to hear any views on the handling mainly & I'll be taking it everywhere & doing a lot of mileage in it, so it's gotta be as well-behaved in town traffic as out in the country or on a fast A road, just as my scoob was!

Cheers guys!

abarths and shumi drivers can input.
shame stu's just gone on hols as he would have had input but im sure t'other 2.4 drivers will have some input

I'd hardly call the Schui discrete with bright red paintwork, 18" alloys and twin tailpipes. You might be better off looking at a silver one or something a little less obvious to avoid attracting attention.

The engine is pretty good, smooth and reasonably powerful but not eye poppingly quick. Enjoys a jar or two.

Hi scooby,Sorry to hear about the car you must be gutted,I drive an abarth,basically the same car as a schumacher,I think you'll notice a reduction in speed,the 0 to 60 is about right,its way down on the scooby for bhp being only 170,had mine lowered,handles ok given any road surface,its an all round good car,i think you would be happy with a schumacher if you can live with the lower bhp, welcome to ff

Don't know what they go like, but they look

custard said:

abarths and shumi drivers can input.
shame stu's just gone on hols as he would have had input but im sure t'other 2.4 drivers will have some input

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Nice of you to reply though & any info is gratefully received, as this is a whole new world for me...I'd never even heard of an Abarth before today! LOL

thepottleflump said:

I'd hardly call the Schui discrete with bright red paintwork, 18" alloys and twin tailpipes.

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'Discrete' is a comparitive term! LOL
Compared to an Impreza with a spoiler the size of a small building, a ruddy great intercooler scoop & bright pink badges all over it.........?

An Impreza is blatantly obvious what it is, even at a passing glance - a flash of a bright red car seen in the gap in the hedge isn't quite so obvious is all I was thinking - and the lack of an intercooler scoop etc. means you need to see it side on or from behind to recognise it, from the front, you wouldn't necessarily cotton on to what it is!

Just how nickable are these Stilos anyway?

sgh1970 said:

Sorry to hear about the car you must be gutted

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Bloomin' heartbroken! Been hit twice now, so daren't risk another one!

I think you'll notice a reduction in speed,the 0 to 60 is about right,its way down on the scooby for bhp being only 170,had mine lowered,handles ok given any road surface,its an all round good car,i think you would be happy with a schumacher if you can live with the lower bhp, welcome to ff

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Thanks for the info, might give it a go then with the test drive!
Hhmm, have been googling for info, think salesman was talking out of his err, rear end, as he described it as 'weighing next to nothing'! Huh?
Was initially concerned by this, as that is a big engine to be hanging over the front of a lightweight car but don't think the weight distribution is going to be such a problem now I've found out how much the car actually weighs! LOL

Think salesman was a little, err, enthusiastic shall we say re. the car's performance & capabilities...had visions of it handling like a TVR or something! LOL
Don't think it's going to scare me quite as much as he claimed it scared him! Tee hee! Was a little relieved when I saw it was only 170bhp tbh, as he was making an Impreza sound tame by comparison, which it could be if you're at the top end of the bhp a front wheel drive can easily handle!
I mean, I like the countryside.....but I definitely prefer driving past, rather than being in a hedge....a tree....a field!

H2DaE said:

Don't know what they go like, but they look

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And no doubt depreciate at some mind-blowing, eye-popping rate too, which would be more than I expect! LOL

One I saw was 13k, on a 55 plate with 43 miles on the clock, technically 'used' but basically 'new'! What do you lot reckon.....a good buy or......?

Why do you specifically want the Schui/Abarth the handling is not as good as the 1.6[documented fact] because of the weight of the lump up front but yes it can be modified with a better suspension set up to improve matters have you considered the JTD very remap-able and tunable with better fuel consumption

i dont own a abarth nor a schumi but im lookin at changing my car and when i was look around you can pick up 05/55 for around 10/11K granted with a few more miles! But they do depricate at a eye-popping rate too lol

shame to hear about your impreza, ive always had soft spot for scoobies! even though there so common now....

another thing with the abarth/schumi is the mpg, you'll get around the same return as your impreza - around 20/22mpg! and considering the loss in power too

Also the handling is pretty pants on the stilo not sure about the pro-drive set up on the schumi! But ive had to lower mine 50mm and get a strut brace to get some decent feed back from the car.

have you thought about something like the clio trophy 182? Good performance and near on perfect handling - although if you cant forget about the blan styling and interior, its a drivers car tho

plus if you want better performance to keep up with your impreza and not be so striking have you thought about the likes of the astra vxr, golf gti, audi s3 all the same size as the schumi with much beta performance im afraid and with likes of the golfs engine returning 35mpg - just being honest, but the aabrth isn't really a performer in its sector and is a thristy beast

PNL said:

Why do you specifically want the Schui/Abarth the handling is not as good as the 1.6[documented fact] because of the weight of the lump up front...

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Just saw it in passing tbh with you, didn't go looking for it but yep, you're right of course, you can't get past the basic laws of physics re. the weight in front, can you? LOL Thanks for the link btw....food for thought maybe!

Will have to drive the car I reckon, will soon know if I like it or not! Reviews are very varied unfortunately, some loved it, some described it as distinctly mediocre, which isn't terribly helpful!

no_more_scooby said:

Just saw it in passing tbh with you, didn't go looking for it but yep, you're right of course, you can't get past the basic laws of physics re. the weight in front, can you? LOL Thanks for the link btw....food for thought maybe!

Will have to drive the car I reckon, will soon know if I like it or not! Reviews are very varied unfortunately, some loved it, some described it as distinctly mediocre, which isn't terribly helpful!

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Yes reviews are very patchy and many give the car a slating as under powered for its class [as well i know owning a proton gti with the same BHP as the abarth but a 1.8 engine and with a 0to60 of 6.5 secs but I have always loved the cars since they first came out and yes they can be troublesome with the electronics [thanks to the hybrid ecu]but I am happy to weather the storm I LOVE my stilo and would take a lot for me to part with it

1.8Stilo said:

another thing with the abarth/schumi is the mpg, you'll get around the same return as your impreza - around 20/22mpg! and considering the loss in power too

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Hhmm yes, that could well be the killer, couldn't it?

Thanks for your honest & realistic reply, you've given me something to think about cetainly!
Btw, if another reply suddenly bizarrely appears, I apologise for confusing you - just wrote a more detailed reply, which forum refused to let me post for some reason!
Nothing rude in it or anything, honest! Arrgghh!

PNL said:

Yes reviews are very patchy and many give the car a slating as under powered for its class

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Will have to drive it I guess & see for myself! If I don't feel that grin spreading from ear to ear after 10 minutes, it's not the car for me!

no_more_scooby said:

One I saw was 13k, on a 55 plate with 43 miles on the clock, technically 'used' but basically 'new'! What do you lot reckon.....a good buy or......?

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Hi mate.. 13K isnt a bad price but if you shop around the dealers you'll find pre reg's with delivery mileage for £11995.. Not a bad price for a car that at new cost some poor owners £16995 only a year ago!!

Great car all round. You should enjoy the drive it certainly puts a grin on my mush! They are a relatively tame car but with little outlay on a few select mods can be quite awesome! I'm currently in the process with a tuner of raising the bhp to somewhere near 250ish which should be fun!! 190bhp is EASILY achievable through induction and remaps!
As for attention..
I really enjoy the looks as noone knows what it is...

Hope you enjoy the test drive.. Anything you want to know feel free to PM me...

no_more_scooby said:

Hhmm yes, that could well be the killer, couldn't it?

Thanks for your honest & realistic reply, you've given me something to think about cetainly!
Btw, if another reply suddenly bizarrely appears, I apologise for confusing you - just wrote a more detailed reply, which forum refused to let me post for some reason!
Nothing rude in it or anything, honest! Arrgghh!

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FYI oldschool (gsr engineering)is starting to work on a 2.4 engine ot see what headwork etc can be done to release extra horses so if your into a bit of modding you can get a few more ponys

I managed to cut a deal with Brindley Fiat Wolverhampton for 2 new GP's at £11,495 each with diamond bright etc included.

Not a traffic light Grand Prix car but quick enough to have some good fun and i've been GPS timed at less than 8s 0-62.

I get approx 28 -32mpg depending if im in town or motorway. give it death and you will quickly see 17 - 23 mpg

Very good high speed stability for big twisty dual carriage ways 80+mph. There is also a brembo 305mm 4pot conversion avalible for about a grand. late braking is the equivelent to alot of extra horse's exiting a bend!!!

The best point has to be the sound with a decent induction kit:devil: and that no one seams to know what the hell it is.

Alot of car for not alot of money. i would recomend a test drive.

http://www.arnoldclark.com/NewCars/Default.aspx?Make=Fiat&Model=Stilo

How's that for a bargain?

The Schui will definitely not set your pulse racing, I bought mine because it was cheap for what you get from a new car and it lookds pretty good.
If I'd seen this I would have probably bought one.
http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/

That isn't the GP version i.e. suspension and bigger wheels.

Comments about the heavy engine - I think you'll probably find the JTD and Abarth weigh about the same.