Stilo

[littlefitzer]

Hi all,
Happy New Year!!!!
Do any of you know where there are any write-ups or road tests online for the new Stilo??? (apart from this site obviously!!).
I quite like the look of it and the list of standard equipement seems very impressive!!
Thanks,
littlefitzer

[WhipLash]

Hi littlefitzer,

Happy New Year!

Apart from the current Fiat Stilo feature article on eForecourt.com (http://www.eforecourt.com/body.htm?pid=244&catagory=feature) ( :p ), you could try 4car (http://www.4car.co.uk), the website for Channel 4's Driven for a review. I find that the reviews are quite comprehensive and make a good read.

I'm sure all the motoring programs will be making a return to our TV soon, and perhaps Drive! will have it on the show in the first few programs. Whether or not you like that particular car program and its reviewers is another thing though! ;)

[littlefitzer]

Thanks,
A new article seems to have been put up on this site since I posted this thread....which is all good ;)
As for the reviewers on that show......I'm not too sure about that tubby bloke that used to be on Jo-Maxi!!!(now of Bull Island and RTE Guide fame).

[littlefitzer]

Another question....what the heck are 'follow-me-home' headlights??? as featured in the list of standard equipement on the Stilo.
Does anyone know?

[WhipLash]

Originally posted by littlefitzer
Another question....what the heck are 'follow-me-home' headlights??? as featured in the list of standard equipement on the Stilo.
Does anyone know?

I think 'follow-me-home' lights means that the cars headlights stay on for a while after switching off the engine. They then switch off automatically after a set time (a few minutes perhaps?). The idea is that when you park you car in the drive-way (or where ever), the headlights stay on to light up the area ahead of the car, making it more convenient to find your way in the dark.

[WhipLash]

Another new model in the same league that you might want to consider is the new Toyota Corolla.

I’d say that the Corolla would be a few grand more than the Stilo, but I’d imagine that the Corolla won’t suffer so badly when it comes to residual re-sale value.

Both manufacturers of these cars are said to have attempted to match the interior quality and feel of VW’s Golf. Whether they’ve totally succeeded in that respect remains to be seen.

[528i]

the stilos front looks well, almost VAGish - that multipla stylist was probably taken out & shot or something...

[Fenris]

The Stilo is supposed to be reviewed tonight on Drive, I am giving the 5d Stilo serious consideration along with the 5d Alfa 147 as a replacement for a Bravo. Need 4 doors and a bit more boot space (Labrador and German Shepherd)

[littlefitzer]

If I had to pick a 5 dr I'd deffo take the 147. The Stilo 5 dr is aiming more at the (female) small family car segment like the new civic or those poxy looking mini-people carriers IMHO. It's far taller than the 3 dr version, which is much more sporty looking!

[Phil]

Yes I have to agree with you littlefitzer, between the Alfa and the Stilo, the Alfa 147 would be the one for me. It has a expensive look and feel to it.

[littlefitzer]

I drove home most of the way from town yesterday evening behind the new 5 dr Stilo (I drive a Bravo). It look so much taller than my car. It also looked quite stocky, and very well built - I say that cos I followed it over a set of speed bumbs and it didn't seem to have to slow down half as much as me, but looked to handle them alot better than my Bravo.
All in all a very nice motor, but I still stick to what I said about the 5 dr Vs 3 dr versions!!

[Fenris]

The 147 would be my preference, boot space is my main concern, I don't think the nice people at the showroom would offer a testdrive with a Labrador and a 6 month old German Shepherd in the boot though !!!

The other choice is the basic 147 V the Stilo Dynamix with sunroof and nice bits.

When trading in should you take out CD changers and mobile phone car kits ?

[littlefitzer]

Hi,
Yeah IMHO you should deffo take out cd changers and car kits before trading in. They won't add too much to your price, and you'll get better use out of them yourself in your new car (if needed).

[Phil]

yeah i agree, but when it comes to car phones, i would'nt bother. Its too much hassle.

[WhipLash]

I didn't realise that Drive was back on our screens yesterday. 7:00 was an unusual time too. Just happened to tune in by luck (or misfortune perhaps) when they were at the Mondello circuit. That didn't really inspire me to want a go in one of those Rovers :(

Anyways, how did they rate the Stilo then? Good points, bad points, overall opinions??


I did, however, see Driven on C4 at 8:00. Strange show that one was. They drove 3 cars down through France all the way to Monte Carlo :supercool . The 3 cars were the new Mini, the Alfa 147, and a MGF convertible.

The Mini certainly looked the best fun, but when it came to the crunch, the Alfa 147 was more practical with a bigger boot and more leg room in the back (which, by the way, isn't meant to be spectacular anyway in the 147).

Fenris, with two large dogs would you not be better looking for an estate? How about a second hand Alfa 156 Sportswagon?

[Phil]

Just talking about the mini. My BMW is in for a service today so they decided to give me a mini one to drive. What a strange car. I feel like i'm driving a van. Its seem very high off the ground for a mini. The gear box is lovely and I think i have a 1.6 version which has plently of power.

The rear mirror is a joke and the side mirrors are not that much better. But i have to say its a fun car to drive.

The looks you get when driving one, is one of horror. Not a blokes car. Definitely one for the girls. :p

[Fenris]

Test drove a 1.6 Stilo this morning and was disappointed.
Legroom - less than my girlfriends Clio !!!, footwell is quite narrow,
nowhere for your left foot apart from on the clutch and putting your
foot on the floor is fiddly, i.e. shoe gets snagged on pedal. Right hand
drive version in showroom has a foot rest for your left foot.

Headroom - head brushing the roof with the seat fully down and back in
the version with the sunroof, not as bad in the non sunroof version but
would need to keep hair short !!!

Visibility - side good, back terrible, even in the showroom big people
were disappearing behind the rear pillars. mirrors are good but the
blindspots are frightening, will be giving Stilos a wide bearth when I
am on my bike !!!

Test Drive - feels okay but the cramped feeling had me wanting to get
out and stretch my legs.

The cool box is not a fridge, it just keeps things to whatever
temperature the air con is set to, doesn't my boot do that ???

Overall - Disappointed, I wanted to like this car, expected the same
legroom as the bravo didn't get it, higher doesn't mean better
visibility if you take into account the blindspots just gives a false
sense of security. I am 6' 1" with size 10 feet, but that seems to be
too big for this car, I hate to say it but this is a girlie mobile for
those who are not bothered by details like rear visibility and other
road users.

also test drove a Honda Civic 5 door, much less cluttered, steering
feels a little odd - electric rather than hydraulic. lovely car.
Gearstick mounted on the dashboard means that the floor between the
passenger and driver side is flat, gives a real feeling of space. Much
nicer car to drive definitely worth another look.

My final surprise additions to the short list is a Laguna and a second
hand Honda CRV.

I would be very worried about the residual value of another fiat,
Renault will give me a far better trade in than Fiat, and a lot of the
new Stilo features are a little bit flimsy and like a child's drawing or
plasticine model need a little bit of imagination and suspension of the
critical/practical side of your brain. More bits to go wrong from a
manufacturer with an already tarnished reputation for quality is not a
place that I will be putting my hard earned cash, the imaginary scene as
you try to sell a fiat 6 months past it warranty, "well this button used
to be the girlie button until it broke, it still works but the light
just doesn't come on anymore, the windows normally go up much faster
than this" etc. I feel a bit left down by Fiat, I was a staunch defender
until I started to get all the niggly problems that are inspiring me to
get away from fiat before my warranty expires. I thought the Stilo would
be different but it is more like a jazzed up punto that the new bravo.

Anyway must stop ranting and get back to work !!!

[littlefitzer]

Good Job Fenris!!
That's some write up!!
Tell me, was that the 3 dr or 5 dr version you took for a spin?
I'd be a bit like yourself as I currently drive a Bravo, so I would be expecting some good things from the Stilo. I'm very surprised by the fact that there is less legroom considering that it looks much bigger than the Bravo/a.
The headroom sounds dodgy, 6' 2" myself, was that the 'skywindow' thing or just a normal sunrrof???
As for build quality, buttons, electrics etc. I've been advised on many different occasions to never purchase a brand new car right after it's release - especially a Fiat. There are too many things that go wrong that aren't taken care of until the second or third 'editions' come out. Further to that I have also been reliably informed that some of the major European brands like to use Ireland as a test bed for their new models cos our roads and weather are so ****ty! They bring out lots of different versions fo the new car here, and then after a year, once we've all tested their cars for them and they have all the data they need they withdraw half of those versions from the market!! Madness!!
Don't get me wrong, I love my Bravo, but I just don't know if I'd part with my hard earned cash for a brand new one!
The Laguna is a great car also, but didn't you mention you were interested in the 147. I'd still go for that myself.
Sorry about all that rambling,

[WhipLash]

Originally posted by littlefitzer
...The headroom sounds dodgy, 6' 2" myself, was that the 'skywindow' thing or just a normal sunrrof???...


Heh, with the name you use I was expecting a little 5 foot midget!!

Perhaps you should call yourself littlebigfitzer. ;)

[Phil]

Yes great review Fenris,

I have to say i'm very surprised and disappointed to hear that the new stilo does not cater for tall people. I'm 6ft 2 and there is nothing worse than your head rubbing off the roof.

Another pet hate is peddals that are two close together. I had major problems, when driving my friends opel corsa. I was constanly pushing on the brake and the acclerator at the same time.

Are they forgetting about tall people, or are they designing these cars for women.

Ahh well, back to work.