General New member, first stilo abarth

[Yorkie69]

Hi to everyone I am new to the board and new to fiats to be honest. I just bought a 03 plate stilo abarth selespeed and after reading some posts on here i am wondering if it was the right decision. Are the abarth selespeed as bad as some people say, ie constant electrical problems and gear box issues?

Mine seems to run fine other than the front drivers side spring broke one week after i bought it and a warning on the dash saying alarm immobiliser failure return to dealer. This goes off after about 20 seconds, is this a problem i should worry about?

By the way i am impressed by the amount of information on this site i have spent the last week reading and soaking up the best bits.

 

[Yellow Peril]

Welcome! Selespeeds do seem to create a few more probs than some Stilos, but if you keep them well serviced with appropriate TLC, you should have many years of enjoyable motoring. Don't you just love that 5-cylinder burble?

 

[jackson74]

Wouldnt pay too much attention to the warnings on the dash, its very pedantic, you would be "returning to the dealer" every time a bulb blows!
As previously mentioned the 2.4 responds very well to a regular service.
Other than that you shouldn't have any more problems than you would expect from any other car.

 

[Andymacselespeed]

The alarm failure warning is mist likely to be the alarm siren. It lives next to the wiper motor and is the only bit of the alarm system that is exposed to the elements. Mine suffered from this message, a give away is that the alarm won't beepwhen arming or disarming the car.
The bits are available from fiat for a few hundred quid. Or get an aftermarket alarm and ignore the warning.

 

[fudge1200]

Bought one for my Daughter from DVLA Auction a couple of months ago, I was a bit concerned re the selespeed and all the things I read along with the problem that the car had no Service History, But it was the car she wanted so we bought it. She loves it, it took her a bit of getting used to the gear changes but she mastered that no longer gets that slight pause between changes. And I must admit I quite like it very comfy and quick, holds the road well, a very nice car.