Technical Finally - back on the road!

[nidget]

Hi everyone reading, new boy here!

Had my Steel grey Stilo Abarth 6 mths. The last month though it has been sat in the garage waiting for a part coming from Italy. Yet another one with "auotmatic gearbox failure". After exactly 28 long days of doing 45mpg in a Punto Sport Active I finally got the 24mpg guzzler back. Boy do you notice the difference in the quality of drive!

Overall it has been in 4 times for different bits. Being my 5th Fiat, but first new one I wanted it to be right. Got it at a fab price pre-registered 114miles on the clock for £11.5k.

I will see how it goes over the next few months. Any more problems it goes and it will be replaced by one of the many 150hp TDi's at 40-50mpg. I ain't going to put up with weeks off the road no matter how much I like the car. The money I lose will be made up in fuel savings.
So we will wait and see. In a way I am hoping it plays up again cos it could cost a fortune when the warranty is up!

Happy motoring!


Nidge

 

[Punto 1.6 sporting]

was thinking o getting one as my cars will be payed off in jan!
take it its not a good idea then?
|)
Hope all gos well for you!

 

[twincamms]

Funny enough, when I bought my Stilo the guy at the dealership told me he wouldn't have one himself. He told me the following, the best car that FIAT make is the Punto, it's tried and tested, sold in high volumes, and that 9/10 times when you see them back at the garage it's for a service not repairs. What he said about the Stilo was that, it's too clever for it's own good, sells in low volume, particularly the 5 door, and 9/10 times when [:0]you see it back at the garage it's in for repairs or warranty issues, probably FIATs most unreliable car. I still went ahead and bought one of course and to be honest, other than a few tiny teething problems the car has been fine, but I will reinforce my arguement about the dealers, they are complete rubbish. FIAT UK, get them sorted!

 

[rriggs]

I've only had little things go wrong on mine and the warranty service from my dealer has been fine. I've brand new Fords, Vauxhalls and VWs in the past and they've all had things go wrong. It happens. You say the Punto is tried and tested - Well how about a 2001 (late old shape) Vectra? There's a few of them on the road. In the 9 months I had the car it spent a total of 19 days in the workshop.

A lot of it is down to luck. All manufacturers put some cars together badly and all manufacturers suppliers provide some dodgy parts sometimes. [!]

Overall, my Stilo is a cracking car and I love it. Don't be put off by people on this forum - People have the most to say when things are bad. There are dozens of happy Stilo drivers out there too!!

Roja

2003 Silver 3-Door Abarth with graphite wheels and all the toys
NOW FOR SALE - £9995ono

 

[gfotopou]

I had my Stilo for slightly more than a month now and I'm happy with it. It had nor problems so far. I finally persuaded my partner to buy her first car as well (after 5 years of nagging). And guess what: she'll get a Punto

Grigoris

3-Door Black Stilo 1.8 Dynamic, 17" Alloys, Dual Zone Climate Control, Spoiler

 

[twincamms]

Well it seems like the moral of this story is:

If you like it, buy it!

[8D][8D][8D][8D][8D]

 

[purplemonday]

It was a good job we knew about the car before we went to buy it as the salesman we ended up with couldn't sell bread to a Russian!

By his own admission he was new to the game having previously sold chocolate and computers - any vaguely basic questions were greeted with the sort of blank look you normally get from a 16 year old assistant in PC World.

________________________________________________
I have a drink problem...only one mouth but two hands!

1.6 Active 5 door in Crystal Green.

 

[twincamms]

Hey PurpleMonday!

Was he an Asian chap called Keiser?

That's the guy that tried to sell me a car at this dealership, he knows jack- s**t about FIAT, no actually he knows jack about cars, so I told him to stick it up his Keiser!

Even the Sales Manager at this outfit knew less about FIAT than I did. This really is a moronic set-up!

Try using Priory FIAT in Godmanchester, I know it's a pain to travel 20 miles each way but they seem to know their stuff and they service and sell Alfas too which means they must have some levels of expertise.

Cheers!