Palio Stile Sports 1.6 OWNERS review!!

uttamc · 10th June 2007, 01:09

Hey Guys,

So i've spent quite a little bit of time on this forum while i was deciding which car to pick up. Finally got the palio stile 1.6 sports - got delivery yesterday and already clocked 100 km!

I got the car from Shaman Auto in bombay - a sweet lil black beast! Don't be alarmed by the docile looks cuz as soon as you shut the door and hear a characteristic thud, you know what you're in for...

I haven't tried a 1-100 on my car yet, cuz im still going easy on the running in, but power is no problem, you can overtake cars easily in 5th gear (put it in 3rd and its a whole new ball game

), you do a very comfortable 90 in 5th gear at 2000 rpm.

The handling is unbelievable - i have to travel down a hill slope everyday and used to do it in a wagonR at 60 max cuz of all the body sway - get in the palio, you can do it at 80 without even realising it!

Just about an hour ago, i was driving around with a friend who drives a NHC ZX VTEC - going up walkeshwar, of course there was a little traffic, but no problem keeping up with the VTEC (he was stepping on the gas more cuz he's done with the run in time). We were bumper to bumper all the way through.

The braking too, is really good - not hard, a very soft pedal so you can push it to the desired amount (that's something i've noticed in other cars with assisted brakes, you have to be VERY light on the pedal, or you get an uneasy brake). Not to mention, the sporty pedals are metal and have rubber on them to prevent your feet from slipping.

My only concern right now is mileage, cuz im a quarter tank down and 100 km - but honestly, i couldn't really care about it - i chose this car for driving pleasure and not to count my pennies.

The sports edition is only available in red and black - i saw a red one in pune and didn't like it that much - the black's awesome... i will post pics in a day or so once i figure out how to do it in the forum.

One thing you guys may wanna do before you test drive the car is getting the tyre pressure checked, i'ev noticed that shaman had the pressure set to 32PSI when that the recommended pressure for a FULLY loaded car with baggage. If you just have a medium load (about 3 people) - get the pressure down to 28 - it's a sheer pleasure to drive.

Since this is my first attempt at a review, im sure you guys would have a lot of questions that are left unanswered, so please go ahead and start asking.

manson · 10th June 2007, 01:35

Very to the point review uttam, and its good to hear that ou're happy with what you have bought.

The first palio stile that i really noticed was only yesterday, and it seemed to lack the presence of the older version, maybe this was due to the carrier the owner had installed to cover him up on baggage space. But then looks are subjective, all the best with your car.

And, if i may add, you re in the running in period, the fun is yet to begin

manson.

hellspawn · 10th June 2007, 08:25

hey congrats uttamc.like manson said "the fun is yet to begin"
enjoy your ride and do post some pics.waiting to see a black palio stile.

GeekSrik · 10th June 2007, 08:30

uttam

what is the fe you are getting? as of now (Even if its under run in?) do let us know. btw nice review.

srik

rishibravo · 10th June 2007, 10:24

nice review uttam....Enjoy the beast...

DCEite · 10th June 2007, 10:44

Uttam, congrats!
How about some pics of your black beast?!

mobike008 · 10th June 2007, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekSrik

uttam

what is the fe you are getting? as of now (Even if its under run in?) do let us know. btw nice review.

srik

Just guess 100km and ~ quarter tank = 12 litres for 100km= 8.3 km/L considering Palio has a 47 Litre tank.

Neat and to the point review and as you rightly said the pleasure it gives on the performance front overwhelms the penny's that you could count

. Btw, are you planning to change your stock tyres or happy with them? Next pocket burner in store for you would be the ICE set-up. Take care and drive safe !!!

GeekSrik · 10th June 2007, 11:05

mobike, what will the FE reach upto do you think say after 1000km?? 8.3 sounds too less compared to even the earlier old 1.6?

mobike008 · 10th June 2007, 11:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeekSrik

mobike, what will the FE reach upto do you think say after 1000km?? 8.3 sounds too less compared to even the earlier old 1.6?

FE will reach to a maximum of 11-12km/L depending on how rev-happy you'r with your driving style. Any new performance car owner would certainely be rev-happy to test the car out. After run-in period and with RPM's under 2K and with limited AC usage, he should get around the above figure.

Another tbhpian ( naveen_kk) and a good friend has the sachin signatured yellow palio 1.6 and he used to get around 11-12kmpl and now with K&N installed it aint the same, you know why

uttamc · 10th June 2007, 11:23

Will give FE figures after a few days. I run the car on HP's Power. I still gotta decide on a fuel - i think i may switch to IOC Xtramile as the manual says i gotta use over 88 octane fuel and from what i've read on the forums Power is 87... i will confirm the octane with HP today, as i believe after euro 3 all regular fuels were supposed to be 91 octane.

As for stock tyres - yeah, im quite happy with them - they're 175/65 R 14 tubeless - so no plans to change them. I do wish the alloys looked better, however when i asked whether i could change them the guy at shaman told me that fiat has some problem with the size of the 4th nut (or something like that) and that if you change the alloys, that 4th nut never fits properly and that's risky if you ever drive at high speeds - dunno how much of this is true, but what the hey... the stock alloys grow on you.

Gonna get an ICE fitted in 2 hours!

finneyp · 10th June 2007, 20:05

Uttam, Many Congrats on your new Black Beast!

Don't worry too much about mileage after all it sports a Powerful 1.6 engine for enthusiasts & not for mileage seekers, but after your running-in and 2nd Service, you can expect a mileage of 10-11 kmpl in City.

Enjoy & Have a Blast on that Italian beast!

rishibravo · 10th June 2007, 20:21

yaaa uttam... dont worry too much about the FE but dont expect more that 10-11 in city .. Its a marvel to drive of open strech..So once you think you have done enough running in take her to the hightway and enjoy it to the core..

esteem_lover · 10th June 2007, 21:46

Congrats uttamc. Nice car. Drive safe.

Zappo · 11th June 2007, 01:32

Congrats on your new toy mate. Enjoy the beast. Its one heck of a powerful thing. Just one nagging doubt. Shaman had a black 1.6 Stile which they were giving out for TD to everyone. Even 2 TBHPians TD'd it on that car. I ernestly hope they did not palm that TD car off to you.

roms · 11th June 2007, 02:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zappo

I ernestly hope they did not palm that TD car off to you.

Even I hope for the same.One thing though, that car did not have a disconnected odo or speedo, and that car had done 700 odd kms when I test drove it.Plus it had a few scratches here and there.Not that its difficult to doctor the odometer before delivery, but lets just hope that isn't the case.
@Uttamc, did you notice the black TD car while taking delivery of your car from Shaman auto?

10th June 2007, 01:09	#1
uttamc BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 62 Thanked: 0 Times	Palio Stile Sports 1.6 OWNERS review!! Hey Guys, So i've spent quite a little bit of time on this forum while i was deciding which car to pick up. Finally got the palio stile 1.6 sports - got delivery yesterday and already clocked 100 km! I got the car from Shaman Auto in bombay - a sweet lil black beast! Don't be alarmed by the docile looks cuz as soon as you shut the door and hear a characteristic thud, you know what you're in for... I haven't tried a 1-100 on my car yet, cuz im still going easy on the running in, but power is no problem, you can overtake cars easily in 5th gear (put it in 3rd and its a whole new ball game ), you do a very comfortable 90 in 5th gear at 2000 rpm. The handling is unbelievable - i have to travel down a hill slope everyday and used to do it in a wagonR at 60 max cuz of all the body sway - get in the palio, you can do it at 80 without even realising it! Just about an hour ago, i was driving around with a friend who drives a NHC ZX VTEC - going up walkeshwar, of course there was a little traffic, but no problem keeping up with the VTEC (he was stepping on the gas more cuz he's done with the run in time). We were bumper to bumper all the way through. The braking too, is really good - not hard, a very soft pedal so you can push it to the desired amount (that's something i've noticed in other cars with assisted brakes, you have to be VERY light on the pedal, or you get an uneasy brake). Not to mention, the sporty pedals are metal and have rubber on them to prevent your feet from slipping. My only concern right now is mileage, cuz im a quarter tank down and 100 km - but honestly, i couldn't really care about it - i chose this car for driving pleasure and not to count my pennies. The sports edition is only available in red and black - i saw a red one in pune and didn't like it that much - the black's awesome... i will post pics in a day or so once i figure out how to do it in the forum. One thing you guys may wanna do before you test drive the car is getting the tyre pressure checked, i'ev noticed that shaman had the pressure set to 32PSI when that the recommended pressure for a FULLY loaded car with baggage. If you just have a medium load (about 3 people) - get the pressure down to 28 - it's a sheer pleasure to drive. Since this is my first attempt at a review, im sure you guys would have a lot of questions that are left unanswered, so please go ahead and start asking.
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 01:35	#2
manson Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 3,934 Thanked: 4,291 Times View My Garage	Very to the point review uttam, and its good to hear that ou're happy with what you have bought. The first palio stile that i really noticed was only yesterday, and it seemed to lack the presence of the older version, maybe this was due to the carrier the owner had installed to cover him up on baggage space. But then looks are subjective, all the best with your car. And, if i may add, you re in the running in period, the fun is yet to begin manson.
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 08:25	#3
hellspawn Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: noida Posts: 1,686 Thanked: 9 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (10)	hey congrats uttamc.like manson said "the fun is yet to begin" enjoy your ride and do post some pics.waiting to see a black palio stile.
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 08:30	#4
GeekSrik Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,281 Thanked: 22 Times View My Garage	uttam what is the fe you are getting? as of now (Even if its under run in?) do let us know. btw nice review. srik
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 10:24	#5
rishibravo BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 579 Thanked: 12 Times View My Garage	nice review uttam....Enjoy the beast...
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 10:44	#6
DCEite Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NCR Posts: 3,591 Thanked: 3,502 Times	Uttam, congrats! How about some pics of your black beast?!
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 11:05	#8
GeekSrik Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,281 Thanked: 22 Times View My Garage	mobike, what will the FE reach upto do you think say after 1000km?? 8.3 sounds too less compared to even the earlier old 1.6?
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 11:23	#10
uttamc BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 62 Thanked: 0 Times	Will give FE figures after a few days. I run the car on HP's Power. I still gotta decide on a fuel - i think i may switch to IOC Xtramile as the manual says i gotta use over 88 octane fuel and from what i've read on the forums Power is 87... i will confirm the octane with HP today, as i believe after euro 3 all regular fuels were supposed to be 91 octane. As for stock tyres - yeah, im quite happy with them - they're 175/65 R 14 tubeless - so no plans to change them. I do wish the alloys looked better, however when i asked whether i could change them the guy at shaman told me that fiat has some problem with the size of the 4th nut (or something like that) and that if you change the alloys, that 4th nut never fits properly and that's risky if you ever drive at high speeds - dunno how much of this is true, but what the hey... the stock alloys grow on you. Gonna get an ICE fitted in 2 hours!
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 20:05	#11
finneyp Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,762 Thanked: 403 Times View My Garage	Uttam, Many Congrats on your new Black Beast! Don't worry too much about mileage after all it sports a Powerful 1.6 engine for enthusiasts & not for mileage seekers, but after your running-in and 2nd Service, you can expect a mileage of 10-11 kmpl in City. Enjoy & Have a Blast on that Italian beast!
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 20:21	#12
rishibravo BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 579 Thanked: 12 Times View My Garage	yaaa uttam... dont worry too much about the FE but dont expect more that 10-11 in city .. Its a marvel to drive of open strech..So once you think you have done enough running in take her to the hightway and enjoy it to the core..
	() Thanks

10th June 2007, 21:46	#13
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 513 Times View My Garage	Congrats uttamc. Nice car. Drive safe.
	() Thanks

11th June 2007, 01:32	#14
Zappo Team-BHP Support Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 5,908 Thanked: 2,746 Times	Congrats on your new toy mate. Enjoy the beast. Its one heck of a powerful thing. Just one nagging doubt. Shaman had a black 1.6 Stile which they were giving out for TD to everyone. Even 2 TBHPians TD'd it on that car. I ernestly hope they did not palm that TD car off to you.
	() Thanks