General Would you recommend the Stilo

[charlqua]

Hi
I'm looking at purchasing a 2003 FIAT STILO 1.2 16V Active 5dr Hatchback. I had a look at another fiat forum site and read some negative remarks about the car. I am quite enthusiastic about it, but don't want to end up with a car that is in and out of the garage (that's the reason i'm after a change!). Would you recommend the above and can you maybe give me the heads up on what questions i should be asking and what problems (if any) i should be checking for??
Thanks for any help!

 

[Ffoxy]

Hi
I'm looking at purchasing a 2003 FIAT STILO 1.2 16V Active 5dr Hatchback. I had a look at another fiat forum site and read some negative remarks about the car. I am quite enthusiastic about it, but don't want to end up with a car that is in and out of the garage (that's the reason i'm after a change!). Would you recommend the above and can you maybe give me the heads up on what questions i should be asking and what problems (if any) i should be checking for??
Thanks for any help!

Hi and Welcome to The Fiat Forum!
I suggest you do a Search on here for other peoples previous Posts and the responses, its been asked many times. Basically it depends on the car, how its been looked after and / or mistreated. From my personal perspective Mrs Ffoxy has had an 03 plate 1.2 Aircon Active from new, 40,000 miles now. Never let her down. Has had airbag warnings (plenty on this site on that too) and a broken front spring (failry common) but the car has never broken down. Its the family runabout, takes her to work, goes shopping weekly, runs the kids around and takes rubbish up the local tip monthly etc and its been fine. They are cheap, but find one with a good full service history that has not been abused & neglected.

 

[chucky101]

would i recommend the Stilo? yes and no, but mainly no. car looks good (3door model) but it has too many faults. thats my opinion anyway.

 

[Dominion]

Biggest problem I had with mine (1.6 3dr) was head gasket failure at 42000 miles. This was due to a faulty thermostat. I just consider myself unlucky in this respect though.
I had airbag light on too (but you'd be surprised by the amount of cars with this fault - I know of 1 Saab, 3 peugeots, 2 Renaults and 1 BMW at the moment). This was due a dodgy OCS (sensor in passenger seat). There is a guide on here for that fault and the new part cost me £100.
Other than that I never really had any faults with the car - just routine maintenance.
I sold it about a month ago and TBH I still miss it alot

 

[Ffoxy]

would i recommend the Stilo? yes and no, but mainly no. car looks good (3door model) but it has too many faults. thats my opinion anyway.

Not according to this Poll :-
https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo/79802-poll-how-you-rate-your-stilo.html

And I read on here it was one of Britains most reliable cars... cant find the Thread though.

 

[Dominion]

would i recommend the Stilo? yes and no, but mainly no. car looks good (3door model) but it has too many faults. thats my opinion anyway.

Any car can have its faults. You may get a good one or you may get an absolute nail.
I think people tend to be overcritical as its a Fiat so the reputation isn't great to begin with.

"If you want something really reliable that will never ever let you down, buy a mondeo" - that's what a bloke in the pub told me, and that seems to be the general concensus. Fair enough.

Although even the good old mondeo has been plagued with dodgy rear sub frame bushes, which are an expensive repair. An even more common fault is the dual mass flywheel - another very expensive repair.

At least most faults (but by no means ALL) with the stilo are relatively cheap to put right

 

[Argonought]

would i recommend the Stilo? yes and no, but mainly no. car looks good (3door model) but it has too many faults. thats my opinion anyway.

....or to put it another way.

Definitely don't buy his Stilo

(it's probably not a good idea to take any advice from someone who buys duff cars )

 

[charlqua]

"If you want something really reliable that will never ever let you down, buy a mondeo" - that's what a bloke in the pub told me, and that seems to be the general concensus. Fair enough.

You see i was told FORD stood for Fixed or Repaired Daily - so i'm thinking that i just need to check up on the history of the car and take my chances (as with all cars!)

Thanks for you help, my gut says i should go for it!

 

[Ffoxy]

The OP on this Thread wouldnt happen to be Chucky101 would it by any chance? He was asking about Stilo reliability too. Maybe wrong....

 

[charlqua]

What does OP mean?? I'm thinking it means the person who start this thread. If i'm right, then me, charlqua started the thread - if i'm wrong it shows that my knowledge of these sites is as bad as my knowledge of cars lol!

 

[Ffoxy]

What does OP mean?? I'm thinking it means the person who start this thread. If i'm right, then me, charlqua started the thread - if i'm wrong it shows that my knowledge of these sites is as bad as my knowledge of cars lol!

OP = Original Poster sorry.
No probs Charlqua just enquiring. Stilo was voted the UK's 7th most reliable car in some magazine. Its cheap, needs looking after, as does any car really. You need to get a good one to start with and love it. 1.2 is no ball of fire, the JTD is thought to be the best of the bunch, the younger the better generally.

 

[charlqua]

I'm lucky i don't need a ball of fire lol - it's to take my son to school, do the shopping & once a year travel over to the the mainland. But i'll give it a wee test drive first and see how I feel!
It's my price range, just over 2200 and only 47,000. It's the price, not the speed that interest me )

 

[chucky101]

....or to put it another way.

Definitely don't buy his Stilo

(it's probably not a good idea to take any advice from someone who buys duff cars )

thanks granddad..

 

[d0wnin]

OP = Original Poster sorry.
No probs Charlqua just enquiring. Stilo was voted the UK's 7th most reliable car in some magazine. Its cheap, needs looking after, as does any car really. You need to get a good one to start with and love it. 1.2 is no ball of fire, the JTD is thought to be the best of the bunch, the younger the better generally.

Yea sums it up to be honest.

Ive got a JTD and ive got an earlier version and ive not had many issues with it. Id say its a great car, problems i had were dodgy battery and my exhaust blew its self apart but both cheap to fix

Its been said b4 in many posts, most people use forums to find fixes for their problems so obviously theres going to be alot of problem questions. That will be the same on any car forum its just cuz people say fiat and think of problems you get the idea that fiats are worse

So id say buy one

 

[Argonought]

....or to put it another way.

Definitely don't buy his Stilo

(it's probably not a good idea to take any advice from someone who buys duff cars )

thanks granddad..

Nope - not yet :shakehead:

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