THERE'S AN OLD adage that says if you talk "The Talk", you had better walk "The Walk". It is because of these words that I would never don a Manchester United jersey when I feel like kicking a football on the nearest pitch.

There are others however, who feel differently about showing their respect or admiration of their heroes and see nothing wrong with driving a Subaru Impreza 1.6 TS liveried to resemble Petter Solberg's World Rally Championship car. While Formula One fans can't make their everyday rides look like the racing cars they watch every other weekend, Michael Schumacher supporters now have two options.

The first is to buy his actual Scuderia Ferrari racing car from Ferrari's Corse Clienti programme. Obviously, this isn't cheap but fortunately, for the rest of us, a more practical solution to owning a Schumacher collectible comes in the form of a special edition Fiat Stilo.

The Fiat Stilo Schumacher, to be precise, is a tribute to Michael Schumacher's 2004 achievement of a fifth consecutive Formula One World Championship Driver's title with Ferrari, of which the Fiat Group is the parent company.

You can have your Stilo Schumacher in any colour you want as long as it's in the same shade of scarlet as Michael's Sunday car. In case its eye-catching paintjob isn't enough to distinguish it from the garden variety Stilo, stylised "MS limited edition" badges can be found all over the car. Worldwide, just 3,500 examples will be made and every one bears a numbered plaque on the middle of the dashboard. Locally, 50 units have been allocated and CarBuyer got to drive car number 1,700.

DRIVING IT

Although three petrol powered variants of the Stilo exist, the local market only gets the 2.4-litre five-cylinder version, which is no bad thing as the 170bhp power unit sounds appropriately sporty. With 221Nm of torque available at 3,500rpm, the Stilo's engine makes light work of pulling away from a standstill or slower moving traffic.

It's also just as well that the engine is usefully torquey as the Stilo Schumacher's five-speed manual transmission feels rubbery and doesn't encourage the driver to change gears the way a 'proper' hot hatch should.

The Stilo's steering, which feels rather inert, deprives the driver of the feedback needed to take advantage of the grippy chassis. Even though the Stilo Schumacher feels quicker than the official figures suggest, its top speed of 215km/h and 0 to 100km/h time of 8.5 seconds are actually no faster than the other three variants, which are only available with semi-automatic Selespeed gearboxes.

INSIDE IT

For a three-door hatchback, the Stilo Schumacher is surprisingly roomy with enough space for four adults to comfortably survive a long road trip. This is also helped by a welcome dose of refinement in terms of ride comfort and road noise suppression.

Much of the Schumacher treatment of the Stilo's exterior also makes its way inside the car.

Apart from the numbered badge on the dashboard, the cabin is full of details that constantly remind its occupants of the version they are in. These include aluminium pedals, and kick plates on the door sills, "MS limited edition" floormats and more supportive seats.

DOLLARS AND SENSE

Because most local buyers have an aversion to cars with engines larger than 2.0-litres, the Stilo might fall out of the typical car buying radar. Those who are willing to look at the larger picture however will be rewarded with a car that costs only $115,800 with COE but promises to be more exclusive than say, a Ferrari 360 Modena.

VERDICT

Obviously comparing Fiats to Ferraris is like comparing apples to some very sweet and juicy oranges, but our market is one where buyers have been known to base their purchase decisions purely on factors like cup holders or climate control air-conditioning.

However, for at least 50 Michael Schumacher fans, their decision would most likely be based on the fact that they're buying a car that's named after their favourite driver.

NEED TO KNOW

Model Fiat Stilo Schumacher
Engine 2,446cc 20V in-line 5
Max Power 170bhp at 6,000rpm
Max Torque 221Nm at 3,500rpm
Gearbox 5-speed manual
Top Speed 215km/h
0-100 km/h 8.5 seconds
Price $115,800 with COE
Warranty 3 years/60,000km
Contact TTS Eurocars at 6842-2222

SIMILAR CARS WE HAVE DRIVEN

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI $126,300 with COE

The Golf GTI is still the standard by which all other hot hatchbacks are judged. The Stilo Schumacher costs substantially less, but the VW's performance and build quality go some way to accounting for this difference.

OPEL ASTRA 2.0 TURBO $101,688 with COE

Another German hot hatch that is similar in size to the Fiat. The Opel, however, offers the practicality of a pair of rear doors while its real-world performance is pretty close to the Stilo Schumacher's.