Thanks for the info E-Cie.
Having Fiat run in my veins I'm really struggling in my choice of next vehicle, bearing in mind the towing issue.
Having always maintianed my Fiats since my 600D back in 1972 (except when in warranty) recent experiences with large engine cars, like my Stilo 2.4l Abarth have made me realise that self maintenance is becoming a real problem for the likes of me, and very expensive if out of warranty. I love to open the bonnet on a Punto or Panda and see the room and ease of maintenance. The same cannot be said to the Stilo or Croma, especially the larger engine sizes.
This last weekend I had to replace the radiator on my Stilo Abarth. Absolute nightmare. Bearing in mind it was my first attempt at major surgery on the Stilo and I was being very slow and cautious, it still took the best part of my weekend. Basically one had to totally gut the the LHS of the engine compartment. All lower engine bay wheel arch and pan shields remove. Battery out. Battery box and fuse boxes out. Air filter box out. Air intake tubes/resonators out. Air box to plenum chamber hose out. Air mass flow meter out. The radiator drops out absolutely vertically from underneath the car so high lift ramps or car hoist are also required!
Bloody stupid design error is that one cannot bleed the radiator. The bleed screw is not accessible with the battery box and air intake/resonator tube in place. If you put the battery box and fusebox/wiring back to fire up the engine and run/pump and bleed the system you then have to take the battery box and fuse box back out to refit the air intake tube and resonator.
Whilst under the car I also admired the subframe drop/remove or engine forward shift (requires whole front of car to be removed) to replace the starter motor and cooling hose across the back of the block. A clutch change with the Stilo Abarth (Selespeed) is also very expensive and the selespeed/clutch system is far from ideal for towing in slow moving traffic jams where the electronics slips the clutch most of the time. I soon gave up looking for good news :-)
With caravan pulling capability in mind I'm kind of restricted to Punto, Idea, Stilo, Croma, Doblo, Mulipla or the very expensinve Fiat Espace. The other point is that in the past I only ever change my car after 9 or more years, well out of warranty and fully depreciated. I'm note a 3 year new car person. Can't afford that.
On paper the Idea 1.3 multijet has the low down pulling grunt, modest top end/cpabale bhp, and is maintenance and service friendly.
The alternative (not by me!) is to dump Fiat and buy a different brand. That is what my colleagues want me to do!!!!
Nick /////