General difference in drive between 3 and 5 door?

[Argonought]

At the end of the day 5 door is practical 3 door is meant to look 'sporty'. Its a matter of preference......but I will stick my neck out and say that a majority of unbiased onlookers will prefer a 3 dr on looks alone.

I think that's a fair comment. At the end of the day if you need a 5 door then you need a 5 door; it's as simple as that! You can carry 5 people in comfort and the amount of stuff you can get into the 5 door is huge what with the fancy sliding seats and everything.

That said, I'd choose the 3 door if I was single

One thing you certainly shouldn't do, if you have a family, is to buy a car based on looks and just put up with the impracticalities I did this for the first 6 years of my children's lives and believe me it's dumb You shouldn't be bothered how your car looks anyway - just enjoy your children while they're still young

 

[alpinepg]

Yep! Thats why the previous owner sold my car...fed up of tilting the passenger seat to get baby out! Bet hes missing it now though:devil:

 

[Old-Boy racer]

I've had both 3 and 5 door and I've also still got a multiwagon. The 3 door is obviously lower but I would say the suspension is also stiffer so the whole package has much less roll. The Multiwagon is similar though having also stiffer springs than the 5 door. For what it's worth, I think the 3 door is much nicer style-wise with or without the bodykit on a 5 door (sorry PNL), nobody I know likes the 5 door.
If you can possibly afford it, go for a turbo diesel though, they are just so much more relaxed to drive, cheaper on fuel and insurance is low too. The 17 inch alloys also alter the ride and handling (firmer/better).
I never had any trouble with seating positions on any of them.

 

[Multiplewagon]

Must say the 3 door or the multiwagon are te nicest looking in my opinion, I tend to go for estates for both practical reasons but also because I often think the estate version of a car looks more "finished" I think Audis' are a good example of how the estate is nicer than the saloon.

 

[Argonought]

Must say the 3 door or the multiwagon are te nicest looking in my opinion, I tend to go for estates for both practical reasons but also because I often think the estate version of a car looks more "finished" I think Audis' are a good example of how the estate is nicer than the saloon.

It's strange how views can differ.

I've always avoided estates because I prefer the meaner looks of the hatchback (and generally better handling) against the even greater practical features of the estate.

 

[alexGS]

I've used my Stilo for a couple of longer trips now

3-dr vs. 5-dr, Argonaught summed it up the best, you buy what you actually need. (I don't need the 5-dr and I prefer the looks of the 3-dr).

But even storing things on the back seat of the 3-dr (like, laptop, briefcase, jacket etc.) becomes a pain after a while; you start to curse the front armrest, and the catch to release the driver's seat backrest feels like it's going to break every time you use it. Incidentally the driver's seat does not move forward when the backrest is released (the passenger's seat does). These are minor points but they highlight what it's like to live with the 3-dr.

One thing that afflicts my Stilo (and I suspect the 5-drs as well!) is that it's VERY easy to lose things under/beside the seats where there's little clearance! A friend lost his mobile phone, I've lost keys (many times), and a torch has become standard glovebox equipment for this reason The gap between the seat base and backrest (already mentioned) and the cut away sides of the seat base, and also the nice smooth leather, mean that everything from a piece of paper to the laptop computer can just slide right off, ending up under the seat where it tangles with the wires/adjuster handle etc.

You might think this happens to all cars - but no, on small cars like the Uno and the Punto, the seats are a lot higher off the floor (and the rails are on the sides). There's often also a 'wall' (crossmember) under the seats that prevents objects sliding backwards out of the front footwell. Unfortunately the seats themselves are not usually much good

A quick look under the Stilo reveals most of the difference: the floor is higher because there are stiffening 'beams' underneath! The older cars had basically a tin pan which left more room under the seats, but less rigidity...

As for the comfort of the Stilo seats - good, but not great. I have the seat as low as possible, which puts the lumbar support in slightly the wrong place. Better than many small cars, but can't touch my old Alfa Romeo 164 for long-distance comfort. Or the even-older Lancia Thema! Those cars are really in a different class for comfort, though the refinement and safety is probably nowhere near modern standards.

The reason you feel that you're sitting high in the Stilo is due to the size of the car, in my opinion. It's a lot taller than the older cars and the dashboard is vast, while the sides of the roof are wide to accommodate the airbags, giving the impression of having your head in the ceiling.

Personally I liked the reassuring driving position of the Stilo from the outset. I don't want to be rude, but if it doesn't feel 'right' after playing with the seat for a few minutes, then it probably won't ever feel right It might be worth trying some other modern cars for comparison.

I haven't driven an Alfa Romeo 147, but suggest that it may be a better choice for driving position/comfort? I'm making this suggestion on the basis of the Alfa Romeo market positioning... and the experience of that 164, it was a fantastic drive... Also, 147s are of similar age/features to the Stilo, so will be a similar price? (they are over here, at least)

Incidentally I read in Top Gear that the FIAT seats are made by Lear Corporation in the USA (not the aircraft...), and I think it's fair to say that they're a lot better than FIAT seats of old.

-Alex

 

[Daedalus]

Thanks for all the replies guys. The only real reason I can think of saying I 'need' a 5-door is my Astra is 5-door and I'm used to carrying passengers and luggage about. The boot in my car is a bit of a tardis (my brother got a stage amp, a practice amp, 2 guitars and an entire drum kit in it plus himself when he drove it) so I'm used to having plenty of space and access to the split rear seats through the rear doors.

However, I'm willing to give that up for the 3-door, because most of my stuff ends up in the boot and if I do need to put the seats down then well I'll pile it all in through the boot. As for the passengers well I only usually carry 1 or 2 so all is not lost

Thing is, the test drive I had was for no more than a mile, 1.5 tops, and my right foot/ankle was pretty sore, but within a few seconds of being out of the car it was fine, but I'd need to take it on a long journey to find out if it'd really hurt rather than be an annoyance.

As for the stying, I agree that the 3-door looks nicer, doesn't matter how many extras you put on a 5-door

Also, I've got my Mum's old 17" alloys from her Stilo in the garage so that'll help

I'll let you know when I next get the chance to see one, mines due to get repaired soon hopefully so once its done I'll be on the hunt for a Stilo.

I've driven a Citroen C4 VTS+ 1.6 Petrol and a Vauxhall Astra CDTi 1.7 Diesel for 100 miles (to Northampton and back, different car each way) and the Astra was lovely but the Citroen hurt my back after a few minutes tho interestingly it stopped hurting after about half an hour...
Either way it means I've driven a few modern, similarly sized cars for long distance and they haven't hurt really, but I don't think the Stilo will really hurt that much in reality, especially if the 3-doors seat is 2" lower. I did move the seat all the way down but I'm thinking that if I'd had more time to get it right it wouldn't have hurt.

Oh, and no I can't afford a 147, but I'd love one, but only second to the Stilo

 

[Dominion]

Also, I've got my Mum's old 17" alloys from her Stilo in the garage so that'll help

Your mum had 17" alloys?

Your mum ROCKS :slayer: :slayer: :slayer:

 

[badkilla]

I've used my Stilo for a couple of longer trips now

3-dr vs. 5-dr, Argonaught summed it up the best, you buy what you actually need. (I don't need the 5-dr and I prefer the looks of the 3-dr).

But even storing things on the back seat of the 3-dr (like, laptop, briefcase, jacket etc.) becomes a pain after a while; you start to curse the front armrest, and the catch to release the driver's seat backrest feels like it's going to break every time you use it. Incidentally the driver's seat does not move forward when the backrest is released (the passenger's seat does). These are minor points but they highlight what it's like to live with the 3-dr.

One thing that afflicts my Stilo (and I suspect the 5-drs as well!) is that it's VERY easy to lose things under/beside the seats where there's little clearance! A friend lost his mobile phone, I've lost keys (many times), and a torch has become standard glovebox equipment for this reason The gap between the seat base and backrest (already mentioned) and the cut away sides of the seat base, and also the nice smooth leather, mean that everything from a piece of paper to the laptop computer can just slide right off, ending up under the seat where it tangles with the wires/adjuster handle etc.

You might think this happens to all cars - but no, on small cars like the Uno and the Punto, the seats are a lot higher off the floor (and the rails are on the sides). There's often also a 'wall' (crossmember) under the seats that prevents objects sliding backwards out of the front footwell. Unfortunately the seats themselves are not usually much good

A quick look under the Stilo reveals most of the difference: the floor is higher because there are stiffening 'beams' underneath! The older cars had basically a tin pan which left more room under the seats, but less rigidity...

As for the comfort of the Stilo seats - good, but not great. I have the seat as low as possible, which puts the lumbar support in slightly the wrong place. Better than many small cars, but can't touch my old Alfa Romeo 164 for long-distance comfort. Or the even-older Lancia Thema! Those cars are really in a different class for comfort, though the refinement and safety is probably nowhere near modern standards.

The reason you feel that you're sitting high in the Stilo is due to the size of the car, in my opinion. It's a lot taller than the older cars and the dashboard is vast, while the sides of the roof are wide to accommodate the airbags, giving the impression of having your head in the ceiling.

Personally I liked the reassuring driving position of the Stilo from the outset. I don't want to be rude, but if it doesn't feel 'right' after playing with the seat for a few minutes, then it probably won't ever feel right It might be worth trying some other modern cars for comparison.

I haven't driven an Alfa Romeo 147, but suggest that it may be a better choice for driving position/comfort? I'm making this suggestion on the basis of the Alfa Romeo market positioning... and the experience of that 164, it was a fantastic drive... Also, 147s are of similar age/features to the Stilo, so will be a similar price? (they are over here, at least)

Incidentally I read in Top Gear that the FIAT seats are made by Lear Corporation in the USA (not the aircraft...), and I think it's fair to say that they're a lot better than FIAT seats of old.

-Alex

I have found a lot of spare change and pound coins that have fallen out of my pockets on occasions I havent realised, its quite good, as its come in handy for things like snacks at service stations and dartford toll, my stilo is like a bank, i find all this spare change when i clean it inside out, and i have also found coins underneath the passenger seat, thanks to my mates for leaving me money without realising.:devil:

 

[Daedalus]

Your mum had 17" alloys?

Your mum ROCKS :slayer: :slayer: :slayer:

Lol, if only her driving matched the cars

Before her Stilo she had a Nissan Primera GT, the same ones they used to win all the trophys in the 1999 BTCC (British Touring Car Championship), which went like stink lol.

I remember the alloys well because my Dad was a little peeved because they were the same size as the ones on his BMW 5-series Sport (the one like the M5 but without the 4 exausts or tuned engine etc) lol.

Even her new GPunto has the full Blue&Me (which isn't that great...) with the twin USB slots in the glove box, something I'm highly jealous of

 

[Enoch]

Good point on the seats. My Brava's seats move backrest and squab together and are therefore comfortable either on the floor or with you head on the sunroof.

The Multiwagon has to be adjusted so that the lumbar support bit of the backrest is in the lumbar region of your back. Then, seriously, think Italian. Left elbow on armrest, right elbow on top of doorcard, steeringwheel between fingers one and two of right hand wih thumb under the spoke. Bella!

 

[sixpotman]

Incidentally the driver's seat does not move forward when the backrest is released (the passenger's seat does). These are minor points but they highlight what it's like to live with the 3-dr.
-Alex

My 3 door drivers side seat moves forward when the backrest
is released, perhaps the release cables broke or there's
something stuck.

John