Fiat Stilo

[Waugh-terfall]

Hellooo all,

Story goes, I might get the chance to change cars in about March 2009 - apx £2,500
I'm 17, and currently drive a 1993 Mazda 323 1.3i 16v which is fine.
Being an older, rarer Japanese car it's in a high ins. group, 8E so insurance is a liiiiiiitle steep.
Dad reckons I should get something newer (from within the last decade), less than 60,000mi on the clock, with some safety features such as ABS (which mine doesn't have) and should be in a lower insurance group than the Mazda so I can get on my own policy and start earning an NCB!
To add to this I would like alloy wheels, Remote locking, electric mirros and windows.

I've always liked the Stilo 3dr and decided I'd try researching them and have found that I could quite easily get myself into one. Ranging from 2002 to 2005, 1.2s to 1.6s and from Actives, to Active Sports to Dynamics all with arond 50,000mi on them.
I've read some reviews, mainly edging towards bad... 'heavy' 'steering over-assisted' 'floppy suspension' etc.

I was hoping I'd get some advice/reviews/anything about the Stilo on here.
Anything would be great!

Thanks!