Fiat Stilo Abarth

Third Opinion

Third Opinion

Third Opinion

Soldato
Joined
3 Jun 2005
Posts
5,365
Location
West Sussex
Just took one out for a spin and I must say I am really surprised and tempted.

It was a late 2002 2.4 20v Selespeed.

The equipment level was amazing, it had everything I have heard of and loads I have not. The engine is a real gem and delivers loads of power that the chassis seemed to handle well. Ok on paper they are not monstrously quick but this was more than ample for it size.

The build quality seemed good as there were no rattles and everything worked. I am not really a hot hatch person but this has really got me tempted. Sure I know it's a Fiat and wont be as reliable as a Jap or German and the Selespeed has faults but for 3K I am seriously considering one.

Anyone else tried one?
 
The worst of the Stilo issues that generally crop up are electrical problems. Airbag sensors and seat adjustment (if it has electric adjust on the seats) in particular can be troublesome depending on when the car was built. Late '02 means it probably avoids the majority of the issues though.
 
Equipment list.

Taken from advert of another car

CONNECT NAV+. SAT NAV WHICH IS COMPREHENSIVE AND EASY TO USE AND AS WELL AS THE NAV MAP SCREEN IT ALSO HAS A SECOND SCREEN IN FRONT OF YOU GIVING INSTRUCTIONS. ADVICE CONTROLS,VOICE RECOGNITION AND COMMANDS, SOS AND SERVICES ASSISTANCE.MULTI FUNCTION STEERING WHEEL,AIR CON, FULL LEATHER INTERIOR,WITH MULTI POSITION RECLINING REAR SEATS AND ELECTRIC AND HEATED FRONT. REAR PARKING SENSORS,MULTI POSITION ROOF, WHEN PUT IN REVERSE THE COMPUTER ADJUSTS THE MIRRORS ACCORDINGLY.

FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS, RADAR CRUISE CONTROL WITH QUE MANAGEMENT WHICH TRACKS THE VEHICLES AROUND YOU AND KEEPS THEM AT A SAFE DISTANCE. IN A TRAFFIC JAM IT WILL FOLLOW THE CAR IN FRONT AT ANY SET DISTANCE. ESP AND ASR MEANS THAT THE CAR WILL NOT SLIP BUT IF IT DOES IT WILL CORRECT ITS SELF.

THREE DRIVING MODES INCLUDING FULLY AUTOMATIC, OR TIPTRONIC (FLICK GEARSTICK FORWARD FOR UP THE GEARS AND BACKWARDS FOR DOWN THE GEARS) OR PADDLE SHIFT ON THE STEERING WHEEL.
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Thanks for the oil advice. I am seriously thinking of purchasing this car.
 
JRS said:
The worst of the Stilo issues that generally crop up are electrical problems. Airbag sensors and seat adjustment (if it has electric adjust on the seats) in particular can be troublesome depending on when the car was built. Late '02 means it probably avoids the majority of the issues though.
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Late 02 was right at the beginning of Stilo production was it not?


As for whether you should buy one, check this out:

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/19726/fiat_stilo_24_20v.html

As it stands, we can't really recommend the Stilo: solid, well-specified and quick but never exciting or involving. In five-cylinder guise it feels heavy and unresponsive to inputs, while the cheaper 1.8 litre 'four' was certainly keener to attack twisty roads but wouldn't worry a Focus driver.
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[TW]Fox said:
Late 02 was right at the beginning of Stilo production was it not?
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I honestly thought it was before that. They started making them in 2001, but maybe they didn't make it over to the UK market immediately.


***edit***

One more thing about the Stilo - even the smaller engined ones eat tyres, especially if you drive over those crappy 'half' speed bumps a lot. Dad had a 1.2 one for a couple of years, and it used to remove the inside edge of the front tyres well before the rest of the tread took any wear.
 
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[TW]Fox said:
As for whether you should buy one, check this out:
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/19726/fiat_stilo_24_20v.html
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Hmm. Interesting review. Some odd comments in it. For example this statement.
Unfortunately it soon becomes clear that the quest for Golf-like qualities has inflicted soft dynamics on the Stilo. Ride quality is its major strength, a surprise if you've ever pogoed a Punto at any meaningful speed. Stilo excels through really fast corners, settling quickly into a stable drift with just a hint of understeer.
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How is ride quality being its major strength, excelling through fast corners and settling quickly etc unfortunate?

From the article it does sound not quite as 'drive focused' as the hot hatch competition, but that aside, the rest of the write up sounds like its an fantastic car.
 
JRS said:
One more thing about the Stilo - even the smaller engined ones eat tyres, especially if you drive over those crappy 'half' speed bumps a lot. Dad had a 1.2 one for a couple of years, and it used to remove the inside edge of the front tyres well before the rest of the tread took any wear.
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Sounds more like your wheels needed aligning. Can't imagine speed humps doing that much damage.
 
Stilo was introduced late 2001 on 51 plates.

Stilo was facelifted in 2004 and a LOT of issues resolved.

Abarths are pretty fun cars and for the money absolutely brilliant.

But expect a few niggles with it, especially on a pre 2004.
 
Bug One said:
Sounds more like your wheels needed aligning. Can't imagine speed humps doing that much damage.
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It needed the camber setting up properly, but it came from the factory that way. Speed bumps just exacerbated the problem, as the ones we have in Burton are narrow enough that only the inside edge of the wheel hits them if you get them dead-centre.

I know why Fiat went for negative camber at that angle (lateral grip), but I think they went a tad too far with it :)

***edit***

Hugely off-topic I know, but Maz - have Fiat released their plans for pricing on the Nuova 500 yet? Mum wants one, but not to the extent that she'll pay silly money for it and the Telegraph Motoring section quoted an utterly stupid figure for the possible price.
 
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