No Budget Reviews: 2003 Fiat Stilo Multi Wagon 1.9 JTD Dynamic - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting 

Thanks Joe, for reviewing my car. I must admit, when you asked to review it, I was wondering why you wanted to. It was just an old banger to me. I had no idea they were so rare. Thanks everyone for commenting. I was very surprised when I checked out the video again, to see so many comments. I didn't choose this car. In fact, it wouldn't have even made a top 100 list. I have lived and worked abroad for several years, but, due to a job change from Kazakhstan to China not going quite as planned thanks to COVID-19, I had to hurriedly and unexpectedly return to the UK for an undetermined amount of time until I could get to China. As I no longer have a UK address, I realised I had to buy a car, register it in my eldest son's name and put me as a named driver. As I knew my son's girlfriend wanted to learn to drive, but couldn't afford it, I decided to choose based on their need and my need combined. A car that was economical yet large enough to fit my son's family, including 2 kids and a 35kg dog! It also needed to carry all our luggage (6 large suitcases and 3 carry ons)! Estate, MPV or 4x4. With a learner driver, albeit in her late 20's, MPV's and 4x4's were priced out on insurance. So estate car it was. She really liked the Fiat out of all the cars that were on eBay and Autotrader, as it looks very modern and certainly, thanks to angularity returning as the style of the moment, belies its age. So, £995 from a dealer on eBay with excellent feedback and a full service history, over half of which was Fiat main dealer. What could possibly go wrong? Well, a lot actually! Buying without viewing is never a good thing, but I was 4,500 miles away and the dealer was offering a COVID-19 special. Free delivery within 250 miles. I was not told of the airbag light or the glow plug light (The alarm malfunction light is a new addition to the dashboard Christmas tree)! Neither was I told about the integrated Sat Nav and radio not working, or the various other bits not working, like the passenger seat electrics! When it was delivered to my son, the dealer phoned to say the delivery driver had pointed out a knocking noise. The dealer wasn't aware and feigned frustration at the delivery driver for not informing him. He assured me that I could investigate and he would either pay for it to be sorted or swap it for another car. When I told him the rear suspension bushes were virtually non-existent, he predictably went very silent. So, another £500 later it had new rear suspension bushes and brand new front discs, callipers and brakes, as they had partially seized. Needless to say, with so much invested in it now, it is here to stay. I am slowly sorting out all the issues. It sits on cruise control at motorway speeds very well, and returns almost 60mpg at best. How many modern cars can claim that?

Just seen this video. I purchased one of these brand new in 2004. It was the JTD dynamic version with black and off white leather seats. It was a very good car and I had 10 years of trouble free motoring. The JTD engine was amazing and fast for its size. It was far better than a Golf.

Have jtd 1.9 2003, 689k km first turbo, first flywheel, first Bosch pump injectors... Bulletproof

I have got a 53 plate Stilo 1.9jtd multiwagon that I bought 5 years ago, I love it. 50mpg and comfy and very capable still of a 600 mile trip.

Driven those roads around Colne hundreds of times , I’m certain I’ve seen that car around. The best thing about it has to be the roof , as long as it doesn’t leak , letting lots of light into the cabin.

An old neighbour bought an ex-demo diesel Stilo hatchback back in the day. Electrical faults were a huge feature of that car and would baffle whichever AA patrolman had drawn the short straw. In comparison, I had a Multipla at the time, which apart from a single immobiliser fault that was easily sorted, was utterly reliable.

I love those handy practical and luxury things in cars. Like picnic tables. Or little hidden storage spaces. Deep gloveboxes. Or a little basement space under the cargospace. Or a armrest woth a little storage underneath. The stilo was a handy car

Another great review, thank you. I recognise the bright lights of Colne and Laneshawbridge in Lancashire. You passed by Whitesides Bakery. Definitely worth a review and worth the journey alone!

Must admit I like the Stilo. Very nice spec on that one too. Can't remember the last time I saw one on the road!

Another obscure car and another great video 🙂

I quite the look of the stilo. I used to like the adverts too lol. Shame they fall to bits thou :) Cheers Joseph. A lot cars from that age had a horrid rubber surface which went sticky lol

Thanks for this review. Never had this in New Zealand. The only Stilos I have seen here were a couple of 'hot hatch' Abarth versions - and that was years ago!

I love Fiats and this is definitely a rarity today. Very well specced thus one. Love the roof; so unusual.

Certainly very rare indeed. The key is identical to my Panda key in all but colour and badge on the back (mine's the red badge) - The badge colour changes for Fiat every time a member of the original Fiat family dies to honour their life. I like the picnic table! And that panoramic roof, mmm. I like all the analogue dials and switches in this.

More cars today need picnic tables.

Now this takes me back... I owned a Stilo Abarth for 4 months, all the warning beeps, broken stereo and noisy doors..... Boy it was a sleeper car, only mistake I made was I bought it with the dreaded selaspeed and one month later it broke! Took my cowboy dealer about 3 months to source a replacement pump, and when I got it back the head gasket went, so I ended up scrapping it!

Crikey, I haven't seen one of these for years!! Great review, a trip down memory lane. I remember the promotion of this as an Italian Golf, it was a clean and sensible design and very practical. I thought that was the problem, if you want sensibleness, clean inoffensive design and a car designed to tick all the boxes without setting emotions running just buy a Golf. Italian companies are loved because the design flair and passion means people accept compromised practicality.

I currently drive a LHD one of these from 2006, here in France. Car is perfect with no missing trim, everything works (it is a more basic version) Interior is spotless and 120bhp engine is strong.

I love this! My wife and I had an identical car, colour and spec when our son was born in 2008. It was a great car. Is this one still alive?

I have seen a stilo but it was a 2006 fiat stilo 3 door hatch it lives in my road. I've never seen an estate in my life

I believe that the next evolution of this 1.9 JTD went on to power the new Fiat Bravo, Alfa 156 /159, Vauxhall Astra /Vectra and various SAABs. Very powerful and torquey.

Very similar in concept to the Peugeot 307SW, what with the picnic table and the glass roof.

Stilo means Style in Italian. There were a whole range of engines. The petrol engines Started from a tiny 1.2 which to be honest is way to small for a Golf sized car then a small 1.4 to a 1.6 to a 1.8 and then the Abarth version which had a 2.4 litre engine. The diesel which is the one in this car is a 1.9. There was this car which is the Multi Wagon then the 5 door hatch then the 3 door hatch which is the best looking one in my opinion

I suppose 17 years is quite a lot to ask for an Italian car for durability. The reason there is only one for sale in U.K. is because the rest of them have fallen to pieces. Best to buy one for the road and one for spares😂👍👍

The First Aid kit in the boot, an essential item in case a piece of interior trim injures you or your passengers and also injuries from rusted body work although this example looks very good. Joking aside a good NBR Joseph and in its day this car would have been very well equipped. It is a shame that build quality isn't quite in the same league as some other manufacturers.

The Fiat Stilo was especially known for electrical problems and snapping drive shafts.

The Stilo was a very much underated car, I owned 3 in my time, including the estate, all 1.9 jtds the later ones were multijet, Saab had the same Engines also vauxhall,

Maybe one day we could see a 2003 mk2 fiat croma

They were ok, but the bravo and brava were a much bigger success, the fuse battery cover is missing, thats why the fuses are on display. nevertheless its done well for a fiat for 17 years!

You didn't mention the 'secret' glovebox or even open the skywindow! (both incidentely failed on my '53 plate 1.9 jtd saloon)

I like in this car!

Cruise control has a stalk on the left below your indicator stalk and it definitely doesn't have radar cruise control.

Oh and mine is going to be 20 years old next December.

Hi, very nice video! That car was a huge flop of Fiat in Europe despite cost of development (some bilions was wasted in) here in Brazil had a good sales compared to Astra H, Focus Mk1 and Golf Mk4 and because of that the hatchback version (we had only the 5 doors version) was sold until October of 2010 when Bravo was announced to 2011. I think that Fiat put many unfinished technology (with a huge price, of course) in this cars with many electronics trobles (see the airbag failure in BC), the low quality of them and the design of car that sounds unattractive for many people was the cause of flop. I've a Stilo 2004 5 doors with a 1.8L Opel engine 103 hp in Brazil and I had no problems with electronics - because it is a entry model, and in general, here the most part of problems is the suspension bushings and the sun-roof that is difficult have who repare them and parts for Abarth model (with 2.4 5-cil engine) because here was produced only 940 units from 2002-2010. The Stilo platform was used in second Bravo and amost used by Rover, but that didn't see the daylight.

Nothing worse than sticky switches! Shame that screen didn't work, does that mean there was no radio aswell. The larger fiats always seem to struggle in the UK, although they do have the Tipo for now. Noticed the 4 door has already been dropped.

there is 3 more engines! Mjtd 120hp, 140hp and 150hp!

Not too shabby given the age, I thought the previous Bravo, Brava was a better design though, this less adventurous styling. Had a Fiat Marea 1.8 ELX , nice engine, but once the newness had worn off the rattles began, failed first MOT with a faulty catalytic converter and lost a ton of money on it. Never again will I buy Fiat, build quality is their downfall.

fiat have let us all down No new Stilo very sad