Hi!

I´m a new poster on this forum. I own a 2002 1.8 16v Dynamic 5dr, very satisfied with the car itself, it has had no major problems to this day, but the area which puzzles me is the performance of this car. Although it´s hardly a bad performer, the car just lacks the punch you´d expect for 133 HP. Autobild has tested the car and the values it posted are hardly worth bragging about:

0-100 km/h: 10.8 secs
Top Speed: 200 km/h

Anyway, the way I see it, the car is lacking on the top end, which especially shows when trying to achieve top speed on a freeway - a torturous chore. Now compare to it the Alfa Romeo 156 1.8 - same engine, similar weight, better performance:

0-100 km/h: 9.4 secs
Top speed: 208 km/h

That´s on the same engine, with supposedly 7 HP more. It attains its top horsepower 100 rpm later than the Stilo (6500 rpm vs. 6400 rpm) and its maximum torque 400 rpm later (3900 rpm vs. 3500 rpm). The Alfa´s torque is also nominally higher. I´ve had a go against such an Alfa on a highway and let me tell you, he absolutely creamed me above 180 km/h! After I moved to the right lane, still at full throttle, the guy went past me like I was standing still (OK, not THAT bad, but you get the point)!!!

So my question is:

Is the exhaust system on the car to blame? Or could it be something else? Any thoughts?

Let me tell you; an Alfa Romeo 156 1.6 T. Spark with 120 HP has the same performance numbers as the 1.8 Stilo. Actually, it´s 1/10 of a second faster 0-100 km/h than the Stilo! Top speed is the same.

Furthermore, I got creamed by a stock Fiat Uno Turbo from a standstill and I couldn´t overtake him on a highway. With 23 HP more, that shouldn´t have happened.

Welcome to the forum!

I've been saying the same thing about my 1.6.

Read the following thread it'll give you the information you need, there's quite a bit to go through but stick with it you'll understand in the end.

https://www.fiatforum.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8311

TC.

FIAT Stilo Sport. Pretty Much Bog Standard Really. Rear Roof Spoiler,
Sill Protectors, Aluminium Foot Pedals, Eibach 30mm Drop Springs.

Just read the topic...
I know the design dates back to the Bravo/Brava, but the Bravo was always regarded as a pretty fast car. Anyway, the engines may have been designed in the early 90´s, but the fact remains that the Alfa, using the same engine, beats the crap out of my Stilo with supposedly only 7 HP more. I suspect it´s all in the exhaust.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, aren't the Alfa engines (Petrol ones at least) different to the fiat engines? I'm sure they are twinspark jobbies.

the 1.8 isn't meant to be a tarmac shredder, thats supposed to be the Abarths job Plenty people complain about them tho, but I guess you just need to focus on the good points of the car, and hey, they aren't SLOW! you must be in some hurry

Stilo TURBO!!!!(diesel)

Yeah, I double checked it. It´s a T. Spark engine. But horsepower are horsepower and when a 1.6 120 HP T. Spark Alfa can achieve the same performance as a 1.8 133 HP Stilo, something is not right.
My friend has a Ford Focus 1.8 16v with 115 HP and I can´t pull on him. With almost 20 extra HP. I would bet that a Fiat Bravo 1.8 could beat me. Anyway, I might be switching cars soon (1.9 Multijet or Leon Cupra TDI), but I want to know why my car is so damn slow. The Ford´s 1.8 engine is old too, but it sure as hell can keep with my car. [}]

Just checked, the two engines do have the same capacity, maybe a common block with a different head[?]

Stilo TURBO!!!!(diesel)

Exactly

If I were you I'd change to, a TD can easily be chipped for much more performance

Surpirsed you can't beat your mates focus tbh, maybe you've been unlucky, all engines are built to tolerances, maybe yours is as far out as it can be

Stilo TURBO!!!!(diesel)

I guess I´ll just get a Trofeo Stilo 2003 ECU (185 HP), change the exhaust system, install some NGK plugs and add the Novitec MaxxAir intake. That should give the old 1.8 some steam. [^] Or maybe I should just wait for the Multijet

I got blown off by a 1996 Ford Escort 1.6 and a 1.1 Citroen Saxo the other day, what does that tell you about the 1.6 engine in this car? It's so slow and I can it as well, not all the time of course, just when I need to.

PureTNT, you got good English there for a foreign member.

What you need is a 147GTA.



FIAT Stilo Sport. Pretty Much Bog Standard Really. Rear Roof Spoiler,
Sill Protectors, Aluminium Foot Pedals, Eibach 30mm Drop Springs.

A 1.1 saxo? I had one of those, and yes they are nippy, but there is NO WAY it should be able to beat you, your car drinks fuel and seems to be underperforming, not think you should get it looked at? And that escort, they are pants! Sure you didn't have your handbrake on

I am very surprised, wouldn't have thought your car would be out performed like that[:0]

I got raced the other day by a 1.4 16v clio, he kept up, but I had the edge right up to the speed limit when I allowed him to pass and looking at stats, thats the way it should be, my car just a little quicker than his. But your car should blow those away, the saxo's 0.60 time is like 12.5secs or something similar.

Stilo TURBO!!!!(diesel)

Thanks! Having a cousin in Toronto helps . Anyway, I beat a GTA before. The guy had three passengers and couldn´t drive for his life and I had it in 2nd gear at 75 km/h . Anyway, for chip tuning, try http://www.reinert-tuning.com/_d_/_d_index.html?http://www.reinert-tuning.com/_d_/pkw/fiat/_fiat.htm Reinert tuning. I´d also add a better exhaust and the Novitec MaxxAir induction system. That should breathe some life into that 1.6... I now feel tempted to acquire the 185 HP "race" version of the 1.8 ECU - coupled with the already mentioned modifications it should really become a Saxo eater .

Honestly James it sucks, I keep putting it down to the weight of the car, should have bought an Abarth...........next time!

FIAT Stilo Sport. Pretty Much Bog Standard Really. Rear Roof Spoiler,
Sill Protectors, Aluminium Foot Pedals, Eibach 30mm Drop Springs.

Ive raced and drove a focus 02 1.6 engine with preety much the same engine as stilo maybe 1-2hp less ... its the slowest 1.6 that you can get ... like a tank
TC if you were bitten by a 1.1 saxo thats YOU that makes bad driving not the car ... i race preety much with civics and although they are little stronger i do pass them at the end.raced with alfa147 but with 1.6 105hp and i made full out of him.
PureTNT i think you got bad numbers with the acceleraion time, the 1.6 has a 10.5s and the 1.8 must have at least under 10....but it might be autobild numbers and they always seem to push german cars.

FIAT STILO 1.6 3dR Tiziano Red
Sub=Pioneer TS WX20LPA
AUTOMOBILE SK

janejv, now you're being silly, I can assure you it's not my driving, anytime you'd like to sit on my left as a passenger you let me know, I've been driving fast cars and motorcycles for years and do not need lessons from you, I'm telling you it's a slow car, it's even been beaten by 306 diesels, the 1.6 is FIATs worst engine in terms of performance and fuel economy!

If you actually were a little more broad minded you'd see that, look past your ownership and brand loyalty and you'll appreciate that FIAT could have done better in making the Stilo range sportier and more attractive to the buying and driving public!

FIAT stood still in the engine development program, the car is nice but what is under the bonnet dates back to the Brava/Bravo and the Tipo before it, old and tired units I'm afraid.

Look at members other posts to see that it is the engine and not the drivers that are crap here.

I konw you love your Stilo, I love mine to but black is black, a spade ia a spade and a crap engine is a crap engine, full stop!

TC.

FIAT Stilo Sport. Pretty Much Bog Standard Really. Rear Roof Spoiler,
Sill Protectors, Aluminium Foot Pedals, Eibach 30mm Drop Springs.

I love my stilo YES and according to numbers for acceleration the 1.6 is faster than most of the 1.6s on the market (not from toyotas hondas and 1-2 more) check lets say gentemotori and you will see.the weight might have a big influence on the performance but better heavy car than some junk metal hyundai

FIAT STILO 1.6 3dR Tiziano Red
Sub=Pioneer TS WX20LPA
AUTOMOBILE SK

janejv, 103bhp from a 1.6 is crap, bloody hell FORD were getting 130bhp from a 1.6 XR3 twenty years ago! [:0]

And what about the old Astra GTE, VW Golf GTI, etc, etc, get my drift?

FIAT Stilo Sport. Pretty Much Bog Standard Really. Rear Roof Spoiler,
Sill Protectors, Aluminium Foot Pedals, Eibach 30mm Drop Springs.

But I bet you wouldn't swap your Stilo for an XR3

Stilo TURBO!!!!(diesel)

Oh and I'm sure the Xr3 was about 106bhp, with the RS turbo coming in at around 130bhp?

The reason those hot hatches of old were quick is because they were light

Stilo TURBO!!!!(diesel)

I think emmisions regs have something to do with it aswell.

FIAT Stilo Sport. Pretty Much Bog Standard Really. Rear Roof Spoiler,
Sill Protectors, Aluminium Foot Pedals, Eibach 30mm Drop Springs.