2017, 25k miles. I’ll only list the issues not caused by me. I am extremely picky about fitment/squeaks/rattles, so I might just be intolerant of a car at this price point. The car is obviously built to a price target, so perhaps I am just too picky.
- clunking grinding when rolling to a stop. Diagnosed as bad axles. Dealer replaced the bad axles, but
- dealership replaced axles but used the wrong seals, which led to all my trans fluid leaking into my driveway overnight. Somehow they replaced the seals in like 45 minutes the next morning (but only put 1.5l of fluid in the trans). after axles and trans refill the noise was qu
- failed evap system, leading to lots of fuel in my oil and constant fuel/oil burning smells in the cabin. Replacement evap system and lines and the fuel in oil and oil burning smells went away. The car no longer stumbles after filling up with gas, so that’s cool.
- car constantly died after filling with gas, resolved via the prior fix
- shifting felt like poo, lots of whining. Dealership said it’s fine. I put in 2l of ravenol mtf-2, only 1.5l of fluid came out. Shifting felt better, but still really “notchy” and it doesn’t like going from 3 to 4 when it’s cold, I have to wait a moment between 3 and 4
- paint “fell off” the rear bumper in strips. Originally dealer challenged me on this but they caved and repainted after I pointed out the places that I *had* scratched and said I didn’t expect them to fix, and said I’d pay for those ones.
- drivers side exterior door handle basically wiped off around the lock unlock button within weeks of getting the car. They repainted it without a fight.
- drivers seat squeaks like an old hotel bed while gettin’ jiggy. Annoying but not worth a dealership trip. Only happens when it’s adjusted just the way I prefer it.
- passenger door inside handle - The screw cover on the handle fell off the first time I used the passenger door. I stepped on it while looking for it and smashed it so I bought a new one
- clunking from drivers side rear suspension when the car is cold. Dealer could not replicate. Unresolved but not a big deal.
- passenger side engine mount or something in that area is really squeaky when backing up while the car is cold. Dealership said normal. I requested they inspect the mounts and they said they were fine.
- when getting moving in first, driveline feels “rubbery” like the engine rocks when the clutch engages. Requested they check the mounts. They said it’s “normal” and that my mounts were fine. Ordered poly inserts for driver and passenger side mounts but am presently physically unable to install. May just pay a shop to do it. Already have Cobb rmm.
- if I turn the steering wheel full lock and slowly release the clutch, it feels like the entire driveline flops during clutch engagement. Dealership says “normal”, mounts are fine.
- exhaust smell in car. Dealership blamed my mbrp exhaust. Still does it with stock exhaust and a new gasket. Measured CO levels and they’re consistently 20-30% higher in the hatch area. Currently looking for leaks. Tightening the rear hatch is my next target, haven’t figured out how yet. It’s not an exhaust system problem - if there’s one thing I know really well it’s the FiST exhaust system lol.
- tons of rattles and squeaks. Not worth a dealership trip, I place a little silicone grease at squeaky plastic interfaces and add acoustic/mass damping foam when I track noises down.
- when cruising, if I clutch in and roll to a stop, the flywheel clacks and clanks as it spins down. Dealership said normal, but I swear it sounds like grindy bearings. I don’t think this is normal dmf noise, but it bothers me a lot. I coast down in-gear and only clutch in at the last moment and the sound doesn’t present itself.
- the little nubbin that the engine cover seats onto, rear passenger side atop the engine, sheared off while hand tightening. Bought a new one and it’s been fine.
the pros, though.
- compared to my fiat, everything works and parts don’t fall off.
- compared to my fiat, after repainting my paint hasn’t “fallen off”
- it’s never died on me or left me stranded.
- even the cheap components seem reasonably well made.
- dealership, besides “no trouble found” on some stuff, has been very accommodating, almost always giving me a loaner or rental right away when I drop off. I have gathered this is not normal though.
- the car was almost throwaway cheap, so I am probably nitpicking.
- parts are stupid cheap compared to almost all the other new cars I’ve bought in recent history.
- great aftermarket support - Ron/whoosh is amazing and patient with my questions and there are so many part options to modify and enhance the car and they’re all dirt cheap.
at the end of the day, I am satisfied with the purchase considering what I paid, but I am unlikely to keep it once the warranty is up. The car fulfills the objective of a cheap beater that I can still have fun with without going extralegal speeds. It handles well, the “go”, “turn”, and “stop” parts seem pretty reliable. Most of my modifications were intended to make the car “meaner” and add a little character that I missed from my Abarth. I still miss the Abarth almost every day, and I still think stock for stock, from a dead stop, the Abarth was faster, but the FiST is technically the “better” car. You just can’t realistically compare it to a car that costs 70-100 grand, so I have to bear that in mind and keep perspective... though the FiST is WAY more reliable than my wife’s ever Alfa was, hands down, and that car cost way more.
