General Stilo - the Positive Stuff

[Enoch]

'afternoon chaps,

Looking thrpough the majority of our posts they seem to be concerned with repairs, fixes and improvements.

This thread is about the possitive side of the Stilo and remembering why we bought it in the first place.

My Multiwagon, for instance, is brilliant. Averages 45 mpg everywhere, loads of torque, masses of space in the back for babies, dogs, bricks and trees, the skywindow is unique, it has twice the kit of any other maanufacturer for half the money, individual roundy-yet-angular styling, it's just quality. :worship:!

Annecdotes of any positive nature welcome! These might include chasing down Ferraris or luggging more cement than a JCB, whatever you reckon.

 

[Argonought]

Now that's post I like to read

I feel much the same about my JTD (5 door). When I bought it (coming up to 4 years ago) I read all the doom and gloom about Stilos and started to wonder as you do

So what's the biggest waste of money spent on my Stilo. The answer is simple, it's all the money spent with Warranty & Breakdown companies over the years. The car hasn't failed once unless you want to include one puncture and the time the turbo dropped out on one journey (split boost hose) which meant I wasn't at the front of the pack for a change :devil:

For reliability it's outclassed both previous VW's I've owned (both hot hatches) and one Rover 216S (to be fair to Rover my older 214 was just as reliable too )

It's not the best town car by any consideration but on the open road I just love it. The JTD eats up the miles like no other I've owned (as in without effort) and it's controversial handling provides that extra fun element.

Drive on the brakes and it truly is dire but use the right foot and get the timing spot on and it's pure joy

 

[Gaz_jtd]

Ive had mine for over a year, and I also heard the doom and gloom, but its a brilliant little car I do 110 miles a day the only thing ive had to do is a speed sensor ( and a few things just lately that are my fault).
The question is what would I swap it for? another one should it be stolen or blow up!!

 

[Yellow Peril]

I love my Schumi! Despite all the bad press on here, the 2.4 engine is one of the most silky smooth I've ever driven. Pulls away clean and strong and without hesitation in virtually any gear. Nice!

 

[muppet42]

I think the main positive aspects of mine are the mixes of practicality, spec, cost of running and looks.

I mean, it's not hugely common on the roads and since mine is debadged, I often get people asking what it is and then that leads to them being pleasently surprised it's a Fiat. Never understood why people had something against the Stilo in terms of looks, especially the 3 door. Personally I think it's a rather neat looking car, certainly compared to many generic shapes that come out these days.

It's a wide car as well, not so good for parking (especially with the pretty awful turning circle), but great practicality. The space between the suspension turrets in the back and the fact the seats fold completely flat (something you don't get in modern Fiestas for example), all helps to take far more than many others in the same class. Also probably because it's wider track, it really is rather refined on long journeys. A 6th gear on my 1.2 really helps motorway cruising...around 3000rpm at 70 and the fuel economy is top notch as a result.

Spec is brilliant as well. For the initial cost of second hand ownership, I'd challenge anyone to find a better equipped car. I mean, mine is just about a base model and yet has electric heated mirrors, remote central locking, 6-speaker CD player, etc, etc. Compared to the absolute base model mk2 Punto I had before, it's luxury.

Costs of running it are decent as well, with the main benefits of the 1.2 being cheap tax and less stopping at the petrol pumps. Less has gone wrong with my Stilo than the Punto and though stuff has went ary, it hasn't all been the car's fault. Plus, especially as I've found a good independent, the costs are even cheaper now. Example...just the other day RGZ had - cambelt, waterpump, driveshaft seals, CV boot replacement and coolant change for £330...not bad at all

 

[roy lovelock]

I think the reason why there is a lot of gloom as you state is because this is infact a support area. generally as a rule the majority of people wont ever have problems - or get main dealers to do the work so they will never visit.
I assist on running a support site for archos players and we see excatly the same attitudes there.

For me i fell in love with the stilo the minute i saw it. I very nearly purchased a focus but after a test drive of the two i opted for the stilo. Ive had my fair share of problems over the years, but havent been put off - infact i love the cars so much i bought the wife a multiwagon.

You wont find another car in this price range with the equipement levels that fiat supply - even the factory supplyed mp3 player in my car sound lovely.

Just before we bought the multiwagon (1.6 petrol) we were offered a mondeo estate tdi (1999), we turned it down as it was too small - the baby seats wouldnt fit in the back seats (we need 3) where the stilo manages to fit them all in no problems. Also the insurance class on the 1.6 is only group 5 (diesel version is the same) - the slower smaller older mondeo was group 12!!!.

The main thing with the stilo is the style!, arnt they just beautiful cars to look at (except 5 dr boot that is) no other car looks the same like they all do now!.
there are not so many stilos around as the bland looking focus / fiesta / 307 etc so you dont just blend into the background. Even after owning my car for 6 years now i still get people ask about it when out and about - the only other car that ive had that makes people look is my mark 2 1600e.
still makes me smile when this happens
roy

 

[jackson74]

Well ive had my abarth for about 6 months now and I love it! Its an 02 with only 35k on the clock and i did a straight swap for my 05 corsa 1.2 shopping trolley! I actually feel a bit guilty about getting such a good deal.
Have never owned a car before that makes me want to get up at 5 on a sunday morning and go for an 'enthusiastic' drive while plod is still in bed, luckily for me my local roads include the snake pass, cat n fiddle, strines, woodhead etc.
To top it all theres a superb site like this which is invaluable for help and advice whilst being friendly and inclusive, so thankyou to all involved in running it and keep up the good work!

 

[Shminkypinky]

The best thing about the Stilo is that it looks as fresh today as when it came out in 2001
You rarely see that many so its almost exclusive (unlike Focus',Astra,Golf etc....)

I've has mine for 6 years now and I still love it today as I did when I bought it.

I sometimes think about changing it but then everytime I look at it or compare it to other cars (resonably priced ones) I think - Whats the point!

It practical and fun and is also cheap to run with fantastic looks.

And its got character............something that seems to be lacking in cars today! If I do change it I would certainly look for another Stilo - maybe a JTD.

 

[capricougar]

had our broom yellow 3 door for over a year ,one or two niggles ,but wot do you expect! bought for the wife, to stop her wanting my cossie, boy it worked, she LOVES it! impressed have recomended 3 doors ,sporty looks to others.

 

[charlieb0y]

Both me and the wife have got MW and love em.
Brought a new telly a little while ago and the young lad who served me gave me a hand out to the car. He loved it thought it, the look the kit etc.
On the other side the other day had 8 bags of builders sand, 8 bags of 20mm Shingle and 2 bags of cement in it, and it still drove like a dream.

The thing I enjoy most, the look if disbelief when you burn someone of the lights:devil:

 

[Ffoxy]

Mrs Ffoxy's 1.2 16v Active Air-con has been brilliant!
Bought new 6 years ago it has never ever let her down.
Had springs, an exhaust silencer, a drivers side headlight bulb and a new set of front pads.
Of course I had to fix the airbag warning light but...

It is a cracking reliable, and economical car!

 

[StiloBoy]

I've had my Stilo 6 years now... last 2 years have been free motoring since the loan was paid up. Only replacement parts to date, 2 front discs and pads, cam belt, 2 front springs (recent), and a bucket load of tyres in 68,000miles, and a few services.

Very cheap motoring, only bug bear was the 17" Claw alloys I got 5 years ago, the laquer is peeling off everywhere and I don't want to pay £260 refurbing them when I only paid £250 buying the damn things new haha.

Oh yeah and its 1.2 and it still averages over 40mpg regardless of how I drive, not done a proper long journey in the car for a few years now so never had a chance to beat my 1st year long trip average of 49.5mpg over almost 600miles.

 

[Argonought]

Is it just me or does anyone else look at skilfully photographed and presented new car ads and find that in almost every case you can earnestly add the final line...

"Should've bought a Stilo, Sucker!!"​

 

[jayteedee]

had the car 2.5 years, a 04 jtd 3 door.

sunroof doesn't work and keeps blowing a fuse, and the rubber on a gearbox mount perished making the car sound woeful when cold but is now fixed... as the car is over 5 years you have to expect some things to fail.

apart from that nothing so not bad I suppose.

recently went from Manchester to Arles via Dijon, then to Lake Garda in Italy and back through the Swiss Alps to the UK again. 3200 miles and no problems apart from a loose plastic tray under the engine easilly fixed with some cable ties.

 

[StiloBoy]

6 year old exhaust and its not blown yet! Although the back box outter skin has been holed for about 3 years, inner skin is still solid! Never known an exhaust to last so long.

 

[Argonought]

6 year old exhaust and its not blown yet! Although the back box outter skin has been holed for about 3 years, inner skin is still solid! Never known an exhaust to last so long.

Mine is much the same and in fact I think it might make 7 years.

Same applies to battery, clutch & discs

 

[StiloBoy]

You expect high milage, frequently motorway driven cars to keep their exhausts in good nick, they get a chance to dry out and don't rot from the inside. But just checked and I've actually only done 62,000miles in 6 years.

Discs only lasted 40,000miles on the front, but then its all town and country road driving i'm doing these days.

 

[adamcot]

I miss mine

 

[Muppet1]

Well I'm going to keep mine until i get a huge bill but until then its staying. My MW has been the most reliable car i have had along with the last escort TD estate i had.

I don't think i have spent so little on a car and it never ceases to put a smile on my face and in fact if i could have a brand new one i would. The engine and box have yet to be touched, Still on the original clutch and apart from infrequent oil changes and a fuel filter every 40,000 or so i touch very little on my car.

And also the exhaust is in very good shape too. I do have to replace the nearside wishbone, drivers side was done friday but i have that here ready for when the time comes, and have just done the front pads again.

 

[mickbr71]

Traded in my mk2b punto hgt for my multiwagon jtd , one of the best motoring decisions i think i have made