Dispatches Do Brasil: A 08 Fiat Stilo Flex and research credibility - Bad reputation is earned in a short time and paid only after man...
Bad reputation is earned in a short time and paid only after many years of conduct. For automakers, these are bad moves pretty quickly and sometimes decades needed to overcome them. For Fiat, the nickname Fix-It-Again-Tony cute seems inevitable, no matter how they compare in fact in most reliability studies. The fact is they are regularly better than most European rivals and still have to improve to reach the Toyota-like reliability. Thus, the credibility of search must continue.
Once in a while, however, evidence of how they are gaining ground, even on the best in the business (in terms of reliability) shows. Recently I had the opportunity to experience such an example as a Brazilian built 08. Fiat Stilo
Brazilian Carnival is a time to dress down, alcohol and meet Old friends. Since it lasts from Saturday to Wednesday, it is also a chance to see long time no see friends who for various reasons live far from our hometown. Because for some reason so many of them were in town that day recently passed holiday, I used the opportunity to throw a barbecue bringing together expatriate and local friends again.
Once the game has started and everyone was enjoying the sun, beer and meat, out of curiosity, I took a walk outside to watch the cars of my friends. Of the 16 cars parked in the street near my house, I could identify some trends are universal effect. CUVs were there in large numbers (both Honda CR-V, a Fiat Freemont, also known as a Dodge Journey), although the American preference for microphones is not as strong. A double cabin global Ford Ranger was the only representative of the genus SUV-pickup. Large sedans are among my friends who have a range of them (Renault Logan, Fiat Grande Sienna, Corolla, Civic, Cruze). In this category, I saw only this Volkswagen (perhaps an indication of the misfortunes of VW in Brazil), a Jetta. Hatchbacks were plentiful, too, from a tiny Fiat 500, the largest Renault Sandero and Ford Focus. As a group of people with families, a minivan and an SUV as the vehicle (Spin Chevrolet and Fiat Doblò) were also there.
Among this motley crew, a Fiat Stilo stood out. Easily the oldest car in this group, I knew who she was as I had seen a number of times over the years to get similar meetings and I was curious why he was still. When the opportunity arose, I was talking about cars with the owner and he gave me a run down of what happened to the car on his slightly less than 10,000 kilometers in seven years, namely :. Nothing
And that is why he had yet. He likes the style of the car and every time it considers the financial effort needed for a new car, her memory of the car kit would not let him. He takes the car to his mechanic every 10,000 km Fiat prescribed, the mechanic makes preventive maintenance and it goes. I pushed and pushed, but he could not remember a single remedy. Change fluids as the manual suggests, brake pads, new tires and shocks, a few blisters and is on his third battery. How about the suspension and steering? Brazilian roads and streets are infamous for their quality lunar and cars regularly change parts that last a lifetime in other countries. He insists, nothing needs to change.
Maybe my incredulous face made him, but eventually he asked me if I wanted to drive his car. I gladly accepted and we agreed that the next day we would meet to finish what food and drinks were the remains of the barbecue after our test drive of course.
The next day when we I approached the car I took a closer look and immediately saw problems. Although the paint still shone and the car were very few scrapes and bruises of daily routine, problems were evident. In red Fiat logo on the hood and wheels watermarks were quite obvious. On the rear door sills a very common default on almost all Stilos was also present. On this threshold, near the wheelwell, a yellow triangle was visible. I ran a finger over and it seems that for a reason Fiat has applied a plastic film on this part. Over time, they (almost) all get yellow and ugly. Finally, plastic headlight lenses showed some wear and were looking a little weak. On the other hand, the Stilo always offered high intensity dual lamp with very good results.
Fearing that similar issues would be present inside, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality while still looked and felt. Nothing was broken or falling apart, leather still felt soft. The lodge was not too stained and there was no strange smells. Taking all this in the Stilo was still a good place to spend time. The seats are large and supportive but not aggressive, seat, steering wheel and driver steering pedals are perfectly aligned. As such, it is easy to find a good driving position. There is a car perfectly square, so head and shoulders are very good as the square of the hip. The base of the wheel is long enough that two 6 Feet of adults can sit comfortably in the back, even if the driver and front passenger are the same height.
One of the strong suits were the characteristics and content Stilo. Although this car was not, possibly up to eight airbags might have. Connectivity (Bluetooth) was offered. It was the first Brazilian car to come with electric power steering and had the "City". Contact with this button, the direction would become even lighter for low speed maneuvers being that it was a car could (almost) literally park with one finger. As my friend has unveiled all the features, I duly noted that all still worked without unwarranted delays, so if this car is any indication, the fear of the electronic "Italian" were dispelled. As always, I felt the biggest drop inside were gauges and the passage of time had not done favors. The white background now so spent with looking very cheap red plastic needles and gray buttons look even worse now well back when the car was launched (03), most found cool.
on the road, the acceleration and cruising, the engine felt very strong. Although European Stilos used diesel and gasoline engines from 1.2 to 2.4 20v, Brazilian Stilo was different. Born during the unfortunate (for GM) General Motors-Fiat connection, Brazil Fiat used GM powertrain for low and medium Stilos filling, reserving its very Italian 2.4 only for top-of-the-line Stilo Abarth. The year 08 was the base model. As such, it used a 1.8 8v engine GM Family I fell up to 114 hp on ethanol, a little less for gasoline. Although this re-touched the engine rev higher capacity than the originally 103 hp 1.8 while offering masses of torque at low revs, it is still a GM engine. Over the years I have heard many complaining Fiat fan of this engine and the way it took away from Stilo its "Italian character". However, the engine and 5 speed manual transmission is well mated. The car is fun to drive and offers a degree of pleasure for a car with the transport of the family in mind (2.4 is another beast, of course). At the time this car was launched magazines showed the car that hit 10 kmh top speed, while the 0-100 km / h dash was over in 10 seconds. Although that day, we have not reached these limits, some high-speed bursts showed that the engine was still able to go fast. My friend witnessed and said he did not feel much difference from day one. It was relatively quiet too, without showing excessive vibration motor supports and bushes were still in good condition.
When we hit some twisty sections, I was reminded once again why I liked this car back in the day. It uses 16-inch wheels, 215 wide tires and has very good adhesion with little tendency to lash out at the back. This 08 Stilo still held these same characteristics and if it rolls more than a VW Golf, the benefit is that it is simply a very comfortable car in the city or on the highway. The stick is cleverly placed, falling naturally to hand. Although not as accurate as a traditional box Volkswagen, gears are easy to find. Although seven years and with all those kilometers under his belt, the clutch felt light and there were no rumors or grinding in the gearbox, which suggests that he was healthy.
Back at the house to "bone enterar ossos da festa" (bury the bones of the game, a Brazilian expression that means at the end of the remains of the feast of the day before), my friend and I ' talked about the history of the car. Failure of sales in Europe, Brazil, he succeeded. There was strong initial sales here, although in the middle of his career, the competition has increased (and scandal downturn followed the wheel) which tapered off. Towards the end, he became again a hot seller on price and street cred. Around 05, some consumers began to complain that the rear wheel fall unnecessarily. The Brazilian Ministry of Justice, even sentenced to a Fiat fine for failing to make a point to solve the problem. More than 30 accidents were reported due to the problem and around eight dead. Fiat denies holding the wheel fell after the accident and not as the cause of the accident.
Whatever the cause, this is party and in Europe and Brazil, the Stilo has a reputation as a solid car. Developed under the direction of German national Herbert Demel (who had even been president of VW do Brasil), at the head of Fiat Auto specifically for the Fiat brand more Teutonic, it was a car in the solid research that probably looked more German the Italian in an attempt to expand the appeal of the Fiat discoloration at the time. This proved unsuccessful and in 06, just 36 hours after the announcement of the GM-Fiat rupture, chairman of Fiat Sergio Marchionne group fired Demel and took over Fiat Auto. Under the leadership of Canada, a more Italian flavor was again added to the Fiat line, and cars prettier like the Grand Punto and new Congratulations were soon launched, let alone 500.
Can -being the Stilo was indeed too German. Maybe it's hard to deny your story and copy others. Maybe credibility (and ancillary sales) is not to be found on such a road. But Stilo was a car that Fiat has continued to improve its reliability and ultimately adopted Volkswagen and French in European reliability ratings. Admittedly, part of the strength of the Stilo is still felt in the current Fiat products. Maybe, 20 years and more reliable cars, Stilo-like erases all memories of a certain Tony
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