At last I have seen a Stilo Abarth

[Nigel]

At last I have looked around a Stilo Abarth in the flesh so to speak.

The unfortunate beast was in the same bloody bright "council jacket" yellow that my HGT is in and I must say it looked........ downright bloody daft!

It was definently styled on the vehicle that Stallone drove in Judge Dread....honest. It is a smaller version maybe, but it has got all its dad's looks.

Maybe it would look better in a different colour but then again probably not. I had hopen after seeing the basci versions a week or so ago that I would be impressed by the looks of the Abarth if not the performance but I just ended up wanting to dress up in metal and save the universe!

Cheers

Nige

 

[patrick]

Stilo and channel four driven

I havent seen ANY on the road yet, seen a dark green basic version in the showroom..looked a right bloody mess.
Has anybody had a drive in one yet?
What does anybody think of the Stilo advert?
I think its pretty crap really.
Anybody seen the channel four driven programme on hot hatches?
The civic type r looked pretty good on the move

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Stilo and channel four driven

hmmmm, highly constructive criticism!

 

[John]

I got the brochures yesterday

4 brochures in all, 2 each for the 3 and 5 door. The first thing that struck me is that there are very few pictures of a basic (ie. Active or Dynamic) Stilo model. The 2 standard versions come with a radio cassette with normal heater controls. There isn't a single picture of this setup. Every picture shows that bloody Connect system that is used in the Alfa 147 and the digital dual a/c. It is very confusing as to what equipment goes with what car. What do the standard wheels look like? Don't know because every picture shows alloys.

The pick of the bunch is the 1.9JTD as it's performance is on a par with the 1.6 and 1.8, and it has a good mpg. I'm sure that will be the best vfm-wise. As for the Abarth version I agree with the reporter in the Sunday Times who described it as 'pointless'. The performance isn't bad though - nobody complained that the Alfa 147 2.0ts was crap even though the 0-60 is over 9 seconds.

 

[dom]

got to test drive one yesterday

my dealer has finally taken delivery of the arbarth, called me yesterday as i booked a test drive in november last year, i'm wasn't really interested in buying one but i got talking to the guys in the showroom and they suggested it, my hgt is due for replacement and with 175 bhp, 6 speed semi automatic gearbox with f1 style paddles, enough gadets to sink a very big battleship - i thought - wow it's got to be good!!!!!
my opinion - was it worth the wait? in short no way -don't bother, the overall impression, once you get over the acres of plastic inside, was that it was VERY under-powered, probably the weight of all that electronic rubish it comes with, which would be another reason no to buy one, we all know about reliability and fiat electrics, lots of buttons to play with, just don't drive it anywhere, the ****ing thing is slower than my hgt! one for the gadget freaks.
i'm far more tempted by the new civic type R, i'm waiting on a test drive- 200bhp, 0-60 in 6.5 seconds, that's got to be a real sports car, especially when you think that it's selling for the same money!!! that's where my money will be going, not on repair bills for dodgy fiat electrics.
sorry but if that's the fiats are going they've lost another customer, i hated it.

 

[Nigel]

It's a shame

overall I don't think anyone who has seen or driven one has been impressed. I think Fiat have lost a large plot somewhere in comparison to the rivals. Alfa improved on the 146/6 with the 147, Ford with the Focus over the Escort (whatever you think of the Focus!) Peugeuot with their 307 and Honda with the Civic Type R are ALL improvements in design and more importantly desirability.

In 1995 when Fiat brought out the Bravo and the Coupe they were desirable, fresh and better than the other manufacturers offerings. I beleive that these two cars started the regeneration of the Italian motor industry in the UK and paved the way for icons such as the Alfa 156.

Lets hope that the Italian industry doesn't go backwards like it did in the 80's with the Tipo, Alfa 33 (yes I know I had a few!) amongst others.

Now I have seen the new Alfa 156 GTA I have started doing the lottery again and may have to force wifey back on the streets...all the pennies count you know!

Cheers

 

[Martin]

Well you know....

I am not surprised that the Abarth is slow. We all hod our misgivings when we found out what power the Abarth was to have. I am sure that Fiat will change things, but it will take a year or two.
The Abarth should have been labelled a HGT and the Abarth should have had less of the gizmo's and another 40bhp or so. I am pretty damn sure that 215bhp out of a 2.4 litre VVC engine is easily attainable from Fiat, I mean Honda can get 240 out of a 2.0L ???

The advert is a tad crap, yeah electric seats are nice, but leccy windows, mirrors and sunroof, well they have been around for donkeys years.
The MP3 playing hifi is nice as standard.

I have only seen one of the 1.6L versions in the metal. It was silver and I think it looked really nice, I also saw a Red 5 door, and that looked dull.

It's the same with the Bravo's, red, black, met blue and silver look nice, but I really don't like the yellow or white ones (personal choice sorry).

I won't be getting a Stilo, but that's cos I want (need) an estate sized car really.

And yes Fiat have really dropped the ball on the 'performance' Stilo, the lesser models should sell really well, if they don't it will be because of Fiats enduring bad image in the UK

 

[John]

Does Selespeed slow it down?

I just wondered if the Selespeed system on the Abarth slows it down in any way. I totally agree that Fiat should have dropped all the electronic gizmos on the Abarth and concentrated on making it a showpiece.

 

[craig]

honda !!!!!!!?? (not right)

i got to have a test drive in a honda thru' a friend not overly impressed .
very quick, too quick for the size of car much like the old astra mk2 16v gte all torque steer and fight to keep it straight .(felt like it was going to pull the front wheels off!!!)nice but not something you would want to drive all the time did'nt feel safe and it is big money if you want all the kit on it .air con and allys is all at standard level.