General Is a Stilo actually the best kept secret?

[Stilo_ste]

The only negative (if it is a negative) is the higher initial purchase price and normally higher servicing charges for diesels, however this is somewhat offset by the higher resale value

 

[Stilochris]

No doubt the old clatter/smoke thing will be used against me!

Which is not even true with modern common rail diesels but there you go...

I dont know about that ive seem some smokey new diesels about. I was following a 55plate vauxhall CDTI and that still smoked. Also, diesels still rattle due to the high compression ratios used.

Anyway,

Stilo abarth at 4000rpm V TDi at 2500rpm....Who gives a stuff about MPG!!!

 

[timr69]

Just checked out the combined mpg on a JTD and a 1.2 3 door and 5 door

53 on the JTD 3 door (which I have)
43 on 3 door 1.2 and 44 on 5 door

Sourcearkers website

I'm being a bit cheeky here but I know that unless you drive everywhere like a puff these figures are exceptionally hard to attain.

I don't think I drive like a 'puff' but I regularly get very high 40s out of my JTD Multiwagon. Perhaps the estate bodystyle is more aerodynamic?

Oh and it can be a VERY smokey beast indeed.
Just try full throttle in 3rd at about 20mph and look in the rear view mirror

 

[michael2208]

MPG I think is at the forefront of everybody's mind.

The £1 a litre will be looked on with fondness in a few years time.

Point is with a billion speed cameras and hyper expensive fuel 0-60 stuff will be all the fun you can have without losing your licence/going bankrupt.

I think petrol cars will also be looked on with a certain fondness in the years to come

 

[Koa]

I get about 17-18 mpg on mine Oh well at least I enjoy myself

 

[michael2208]

This is fun

17/18 MPG...

Good grief, good job petrol will last forever!!

Or is that only in America?

Seriously lets all sell our cars and use public transport.

With the obvious exception of me.

 

[Argonought]

It's all personal choice, hence there is never a 'winner' in the petrol/ diesel debate.

I think that's very true.

I've always had an attraction for efficient free revving engines and in many ways I'd have been quite happy with the 1.2/1.4 petrol especially considering you get the 6 speed box to play with.

I've never really been a fan of diesels and the only reason I bought my JTD was due to the attraction of superb fuel economy. What I wasn't expecting was the sheer fun factor these cars deliver. Overtaking with the JTD is not normally a problem in any situation but on a hill it's in its element. With a petrol engine you'll definitely need revs and on a long climb you'll know the engine is working hard and yet the desire to change up will often prove a mistake. The JTD in contrast climbs effortlessly at a rate few other cars seem able to match. The car is quite simply a mile eater and the most stressful part of any journey is compliance with speed limits!

10 years or so ago, buying a diesel would have been a consideration based on annual mileage but nowadays that has changed to fun/performance vs cost. At the right price a 1.4 Stilo may well make an excellent purchase but I'd be very surprised if you could find any JTD owner who'd consider changing back to petrol.

 

[Stilo_ste]

I changed from diesel Vec to petrol vec on a financial basis. Initial cost of purchase for diesel version was 2.5 K more than the deal I got on a one year old 1.8.
However, it has to be said that its performance isn't the most spectacular. My 1.6 Stilo is more fun. The Vec is a true motorway car though, much better than Stilo IMHO. Much better poise, handling, smoothness, comfort. I can't seem to get comfortable in the Stilo for a long journey, hurts my back, unlike the Vec.

But they are in a different class, literally.

 

[Argonought]

I can't seem to get comfortable in the Stilo for a long journey, hurts my back, unlike the Vec.

I had the same initial feeling about my JTD on the first couple of journeys

That is until you realize you have 4 adjustments on the seat and a further 2 on the column

Have a good play around and I'm sure you'll find a position that feels OK. I normally like to sit low but on the 5 door you're pretty much forced to sit higher which is OK once you get the settings right.

 

[StiloBoy]

Bare in mind that most dealers buy high volumes of the smaller capacity petrol models so that means a massive discount! I got my 1.2 for £7k 2 years ago, a JTD then couldn't be picked up pre-registered so you were looking at a massively higher cost of purchase.... plus come re-sale, yep a JTD is worth more, but if parkers are to be believed its only about £500 more!

Big milage and the JTD is a clear winner.

As for modern common rail engines not being noisey and dirty, no they still are! Just not as bad as they used to be! You can always tell a diesel car unless its being driven as designed (i.e. gently for economy).

 

[Coshstar]

I think da jtd is the best stilo for all rounders performance and fuel

 

[StiloBoy]

Everyone entitled to their opinion, but obviously your paying for that performance and economy! With the 1.2 you get decent economy but nothing like the pace, but then you'll get a new (well 1.4 now) for £3k less than the JTD!

As i've said before, low engine spec Stilo is more than a competitor for cars like the Polo, which is where i rank it, better and bigger than a Polo, but not as good as the much more expensive other Stilo models.

 

[wugsie]

Rather than start another thread, hope it's ok to just post on this one. Another newbie - found this forum, eventually, at the 11th hour as it were, before I actually part with the cash for the purchase for a 1.4 Active Sport. My story to date is exactly like Bisseti's (except for my present cars) so your replies have been really helpful. NumanR, your response is particularly comforting as the point about post 2003/4 model year is what the salesman suggested - but he would, wouldn't he?Then again he also seemed 'surprised' that the car was the subject of such criticism.
Thing is, my car can't afford to be off the road on any regular basis - need it to get to work (don't we all?)
Also, living up here in Scotland, dealerships seem to be an issue so, coupled with the reputation the car has I can tell you I'm feeling pretty damn nervous. However, the car does look so good and seems to 'tick all the boxes' that I'm going to go ahead with the purchase! Just hope I don't live to regret this (gulp!) Thanks again all.

 

[SLOVAC]

Hi Bisseti and Wugsie and welcome to the forum :wave: To be honest, some people on this forum have had loads of issues, others have had none, but you find that with any make of car. If you like the car, go ahead and buy it. It has lots of features other every day cars don't have... like the ability to turn heads of people driving cars worth 10 times as much. IMO it s also a very cumfortable car to drive on short trip, or long trips, on tarred roads, or dirt roads. It is also a very safe car. In short, I love my Stilo, and so do 99% of the Stilo owners on here

 

[StiloBoy]

I've had a couple of smallish gripes when i first got the car. But its been a great car overall. Scotland is a bit tight for dealers, and nearly all of them are Arnold Clark, which worried me, thinking they'd be expensive being able to charge what they like. But its been fine, £120-odd for 12,000mile service, and £169 for 24,000 service!

 

[Deckchair5]

I went to start mine today after 3 weeks sat idle (the car -not me).

"Ok then here we go!" I thought as I turned the key "Be prepared for dashboard christmas tree lights ".

Started like a dream, shouldn't have held my breath

I too felt a bit of stomach churning when i first bought my Stilo and THEN reading some of the posts on here but I should have known better. I thought exactly the same thing when I bought my Bravo but that has been the best car I have EVER owned for reliability and pittance running costs. Still going strong at 107k miles now

I've also just found a local independent garage who really know their stuff and can do brakes, gearboxes and clutches as well as all the examiner /ABS /airbag stuff if needed so I'm sleeping better at nights now

 

[Stilo_ste]

On balance, taking everything into consideration.
The answer to the post question, "Is a Stilo actually the best kept secret?"

No, sorry.