Opinions: Fiat Stilo Abarth

[rolla_fxgt]

Wife is looking at getting a car, and the other day we saw one of these driving around and she liked the look of it. She had a bit of a look on trademe and saw the abarth versions are going for around 5k, which seems bloody cheap for a car of it's age and apparent pep. Is it because there's something majorly wrong with them? Or are they a good deal.
It's just for an around town car for her to get to and from work and shopping etc. Probably rarely will see the open road.
Just after peoples views. Cheers

[RS13]

I wouldn't touch them. Type "Selespeed" into Google, you'll notice that the first suggestion is "problems". Stick with Jap cars.. euro cars are cheap here for a reason, huge servicing/parts costs mostly.

[KwS]

Stick with Jap cars.. euro cars are cheap here for a reason, huge servicing/parts costs mostly.

Myth

Sketchy/unreliable sillyspeed on the other hand, is not a myth.

[holden_fan2005]

Ahhh it's a fiat. I would agree it would be a pain to work on. Barge pole material.

[Leon]

Hell no. Terribly unreliable and quirky.

[duddley]

There must be a reason they are pretty much giving them away.

[rolla_fxgt]

Okay had a look about the selespeed gearboxes and that definitely put me off. Far to finikity and maintenance intensive for me. Seems they tried to make it as unreliable as possible, then backed off a bit.
Might just point her back in the direction of a yaris.

[Lloyd]

Cambelts are also supposed to be done every 36,000 miles or 3 years, whichever comes first.

[RS13]

Stick with Jap cars.. euro cars are cheap here for a reason, huge servicing/parts costs mostly.

Myth

Clearly you can't have had much to do with late-model euro stuff then.

[Timmo]

Its a shame too because they look lusty I reckon

[blindnz]

what about the manual turbo diesel? 1.9L turbo unit used in a bunch of other cars.

Fiat make diesel vans, can't be to unreliable and either could the manual box.

Or have I been hiding in a hole?

[matt dunn]

It's not just engine though,

on the euro's things like door locks, climate control systems,
even just basic window wiper and headlights switches
all seem more prone to be problems
and are usually more expensive to fix than your average jap car.

[rolla_fxgt]

If it was for me I'd look at any of the manuals as they seem to be a safer bet, and the largest diesel seems to be only marginally slower than the abarth. But for the wife it has to be auto or triptronic/flappy paddle as she's useless with a manual. Clutch and smooth gear throw at the same time seemed to be a foreign concept to her the few times I let her drive the fxgt. Who says women can multi task

[TRD Man]

The Stilo Abarth is a lot of car and a lot of fun for the money. Son looked at buying one a short while ago and we tested a few. The Selespeed is the issue. Whilst it worked well in every car we drove, it's reputation both online and with local mechanics is frightening and ultimately put us off buying one.
Don't be put off buying a European. They have style and often performance you will not get in a Jap car.

[KinLoud]

if they're cheap maybe buy 2 of them
1 car can supply parts to keep the other one working?

[rolla_fxgt]

if they're cheap maybe buy 2 of them
1 car can supply parts to keep the other one working?

Are you the devil?
That was my wifes suggestion. Not one I want to entertain

[rollaholic]

pretty much every mechanic / electrician / parts person on here (and there are quite a few) will say negative things about euro cars and their problems.

some of that can be laid at the feet of singapore imports, but not all. thats got to tell you something.

its not the end of the world though. like TRDman keeps saying, they have a certain style (they shout 'im a masochist with more money than sense!') and performance (ie, poor) that you wont often find in japanese cars. at least now you can make an informed choice

people like to say some cars have character - i think character is just code for leaky, rusty and unreliable. sort of like that real estate agents code, ya know?

there is, however, still heaps of euro trash i'd like to own.

[KwS]

The build quality of a decent euro is miles above anything from japland.... but a Fiat does not classify as a decent euro in my books.

[phoenix]

The build quality of a decent euro is miles above anything from japland.... but a Fiat does not classify as a decent euro in my books.

You'll need to be a bit more specific as to what you mean by 'build quality' and 'decent euro' before anyone can obliterate your argument. Or was that the intention?

[dnalunchie]

If she is set on something smallish and euro then consider one of the renalt clio's. Anything from the clip 172, 182, 197 etc are all really great to drive. Great wee cars, nice revvy 2ltr with great balance and very light weight.

You can pick up a nice 172 or 182 for around 5-8k.

Not nearly as many problems as other euro's

Here is a nice little breakdown on the models. Well worth a look. Have seriously considered one myself as a fun little around town car

http://www.autoevolution.com/engine/ren ... 72-hp.html