I dont know whether to get the factory-option parking sensors, or to just do without them?

Ive never had parking sensors before, so its not something i'd miss, but I wonder if its something that could be of benefit?

What do you guys think?

The 500 is tiny, surely you shouldn't have no bother parking it?

If you have a neck problem/small garage etc then they can be handy, if not ;

http://www.2pass.co.uk/parallel.htm

sat1983 said:

The 500 is tiny, surely you shouldn't have no bother parking it?

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Couldn't agree more.
If you need these on something as wee as a 500 then you really should consider whether you should be driving!

I don't have them in mine sometimes i don't know how close i am because you can't see the bonnet and the full lock is crap but thats about it.

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How much are they? About £200 IIRC. I have them. If the save even one ding in the time you own the car then they will pay for themselves. Bear in mind they also pick up side obsticals, such as a wall sticking out you've missed - they can be useful.

pearce_jj said:

How much are they? About £200 IIRC. I have them. If the save even one ding in the time you own the car then they will pay for themselves. Bear in mind they also pick up side obsticals, such as a wall sticking out you've missed - they can be useful.

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:stupid:

i agree with that pearce

pearce_jj said:

How much are they? About £200 IIRC. I have them. If the save even one ding in the time you own the car then they will pay for themselves. Bear in mind they also pick up side obsticals, such as a wall sticking out you've missed - they can be useful.

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black vebra ones (which I personally find are very reliable/accurate aswell as easier to fit/set up that official fiat ones) are £140 fitted at dealers but no doubt you can get cheaper ones elsewhere.

misssporty500 said:

I don't have them in mine sometimes i don't know how close i am because you can't see the bonnet and the full lock is crap but thats about it.

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The factory sensors do not cover the front of the vehicle so they would not help in that instance.

There is a lot of self righteous cr*p spoken about parking sensors. Judgement of a vehicle size when manouvering is not simply a matter of the size of the users vehicle. Issues such as rear visibility, overhang, and intensity/height+positioning above ground level of reversing lights etc are equaly if not more important.

Like any racing driver to find a limit you have to exceed it as least once and in this case that means potentially damaging your car.

The rear parking sensors indicate when a gap closes to within 30cm. I challenge any of you self appointed experts out there to reverse with that level of accuracy, especially in a car with as poor visibility as the 500.

Ensonricky, could not agree more.

Reversing sensors are a great preventionary measure for those of us that aren't ex F1 drivers or w.h.y.

It is not an affront to one's sexuality or whatever to want them, if you personally find them useful or think you may do so then get them. IMO I wish I had ordered them on mine.

It is not an affront to one's sexuality or whatever to want them, if you personally find them useful or think you may do so then get them. IMO I wish I had ordered them on mine.

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My main reason for getting them was more to do with protecting my investment than not being able to park.

Rob, get them. I really wish I had.

The 500 has the worst visibilty when reversing than any car Ive ever owned, I hate reverse parking in mine and wish it had the sensors now.

I've ordered mine with sensors, nice and easy for getting into small spaces

i fitted this after market set up on my punto from fleabay no need to drill the bumper and its worked ok so far....

http://www.parkingdynamics.co.uk/


https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto/158749-number-plate-reverse-parking-sensor-3.html?p=1689913

I have no problems reversing in my 500 unlike my last car wich was hell to reverse park. It was a 2-seater convertible. In fact, one Feb morning I reversed into the side of a Golf as visablity was pants. In the afternoon I went and ordered my 500! Probably the most expensive 'bump' I did but no regrets @ ordering my 500.

I've found the 500 is a bit more difficult to park in reverse than any other car I've driven, but it's still fairly easy really. I'm having trouble changing from an Astra to a 500 since the 500 is so much shorter, but the width is about the same which is good. I don't see the need for sensors, I used to be able to park my Astra within 20cm of other cars no problem, and the 500 should be a breeze due to it's size.

get some cones and practice parking between them - then you will learn the size of your car

they look ugly and I dislike them

there is only one car where they are any good in my experience, Lexus

Spend the £200 on some upgrade alloys and stickers!

RobW said:

get some cones and practice parking between them - then you will learn the size of your car

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Its not really a case of knowing the size of the car though. In my 8 years of driving, i've owned 8 cars, varying in size/shape from a Citroen AX, to a 206cc, and currently an 02 Ford Focus. I had no trouble parking any of them, and none of them had sensors. Ive also happily(ish) driven a Transit van or two. Its those unseen obstacles I worry about. One of my local Tesco's for example, thinks its great fun to have bollards that are less than 30cm tall.

The car park I used to park in for work also had a barrier in front of its walls which was also about 30cm tall. You cant see these out of any rear window - all you see is the wall!

For piece of mind the sensors are the way to go.

I have also found that the rear window height can obscure small kids too, and as they move, no amount of practise can legislate for that occurence.

They are a great driver's aid IMO.