I finally bit the bullet and went to test drive the 500 and a yaris over the weekend. I have to say I was really disappointed with the 500 and quite impressed with the yaris..... Now my head says yaris, far more sensible, more car for your money not a cheap car with a facelift etc etc, but my heart says 500...YES YESY YES!!!!!!! The drive was bumpy and the general noise in the car was worse than my 2001 fiesta! especially on the motorway. I test drove a 2009 model, will the suspension upgrades make any difference to the ride?

Hannikins said:

I finally bit the bullet and went to test drive the 500 and a yaris over the weekend. I have to say I was really disappointed with the 500 and quite impressed with the yaris..... Now my head says yaris, far more sensible, more car for your money not a cheap car with a facelift etc etc, but my heart says 500...YES YESY YES!!!!!!! The drive was bumpy and the general noise in the car was worse than my 2001 fiesta! especially on the motorway. I test drove a 2009 model, will the suspension upgrades make any difference to the ride?

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In short yes they will (apparently) The Yaris is a great car, top seller, but a little dull to own surely not? It's down to personnel preference, own a fun car with character and a fair few defects, or get a fantastically reliable, good to drive car with as much character as a dead fish (which looks like one too) Depends what matters to you. Yaris makes more sense if you do high miles, 500 is better for town driving etc.

My Fiat 500 is full of little 'characteristics' that annoy me, but I have to say it doesnt matter one bit, I think the car is fab

- Front Windscreen takes far to long to demist in the mornings
- Struggle locating the seat Belt Buckle all the time
- Water drips onto the seat when you open the door
- Fiddly Petrol Cap Locking Mechanism
- No boot light
- Bonnet release on Passenger side
- Blue & Me suddenly stopped working

But non of this matters to me, I get in, drive and smile....

EDIT: I get in, wait for 15 minutes for the windscreen to wake up and demist itself, then drive !! Jeeeeze.........

Spoons said:

My Fiat 500 is full of little 'characteristics' that annoy me, but I have to say it doesnt matter one bit, I think the car is fab

- Front Windscreen takes far to long to demist in the mornings
- Struggle locating the seat Belt Buckle all the time
- Water drips onto the seat when you open the door
- Fiddly Petrol Cap Locking Mechanism
- No boot light
- Bonnet release on Passenger side
- Blue & Me suddenly stopped working

But non of this matters to me, I get in, drive and smile....

EDIT: I get in, wait for 15 minutes for the windscreen to wake up and demist itself, then drive !! Jeeeeze.........

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dont fool yourself that toyotas are faultless- a large legal claim in the US is pending due to 'unintended acceleration' deaths....just last year..a massive recall going through now

thats obviously a very extreme case, but shows you that no manufacturer is faultless...

the yaris and the 500 are so different im suprised they are on the same list...if youre really looking for motoring choices from the head you would be straight down to hyundai for an i20...(or even i10)...5 yr warranty, very cheap, very reliable and amazingly good press reviews..esp i10...

i STILL stand by buying the 500, and never look at any other car whistfully...nor do i question the build quality- it stands up to my partners new audi A3, and i am a total obsessive where these things are concerned.

you get used to the (now improved) ride quality, and in all honesty, the 500 is suprisingly hushed on the move...

so, you dont need to buy a 500 thinking its a decision from the heart-

think low running costs, build quality, desirabilty, exceptional resale values, high equipment levels, economy etc etc...none of which are emotional factors!!!

and from the heart?...you will never stop looking at it lovingly, i get excited when i see other 500s even tho i now have one, and every time i drive it its an occassion!

Hannikins said:

I finally bit the bullet and went to test drive the 500 and a yaris over the weekend. I have to say I was really disappointed with the 500 and quite impressed with the yaris..... Now my head says yaris, far more sensible, more car for your money not a cheap car with a facelift etc etc, but my heart says 500...YES YESY YES!!!!!!! The drive was bumpy and the general noise in the car was worse than my 2001 fiesta! especially on the motorway. I test drove a 2009 model, will the suspension upgrades make any difference to the ride?

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You have to go with your heart.

I traded in my Vauxhall Astra - whcih was absolutely faultless - and really goot fun to drive, but really dull. The 500 still turns heads and smiles

I love driving it. Warts an all.

PS The person who designed the locking petrol should be fired

YouKnowWho said:

You have to go with your heart.

I traded in my Vauxhall Astra - whcih was absolutely faultless - and really goot fun to drive, but really dull. The 500 still turns heads and smiles

I love driving it. Warts an all.

PS The person who designed the locking petrol should be fired

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Locking petrol cap is easy to use

306maxi said:

Locking petrol cap is easy to use

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First time I tried using it - took me 15 minutes. I could not believe it just was not locking. I pulled out the manual which effectively said "just lock it" - I was furious.

Took a while to realise I had to put it with the letters facing up, and then turn clockwise until I hear clicks.

It might just be me, but I've filled up dozens of cars - and this is the only car to ever cause problems. things like this should not require a special way of opening - its not complicated stuff.

YouKnowWho said:

First time I tried using it - took me 15 minutes. I could not believe it just was not locking. I pulled out the manual which effectively said "just lock it" - I was furious.

Took a while to realise I had to put it with the letters facing up, and then turn clockwise until I hear clicks.

It might just be me, but I've filled up dozens of cars - and this is the only car to ever cause problems. things like this should not require a special way of opening - its not complicated stuff.

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To be fair I had this problem about 9 and a half years ago so I had practice

I got a hand me down Fiat 131 from my brother and the first time I went to fill it up I had a similar issue, so the first time I filled the 500 up it was de ja vu

306maxi said:

To be fair I had this problem about 9 and a half years ago so I had practice

I got a hand me down Fiat 131 from my brother and the first time I went to fill it up I had a similar issue, so the first time I filled the 500 up it was de ja vu

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Ah, I had never filled a Fiat up - so was my first time. Even after that I would only fill it up at quiet times until i got the knack of it.

Told my other half how easy it was in the end and she just laughed and offered the comment that 'its what she would have done first' - maybe it was designed by a woman, as men just don't get it?

YouKnowWho said:

Ah, I had never filled a Fiat up - so was my first time. Even after that I would only fill it up at quiet times until i got the knack of it.

Told my other half how easy it was in the end and she just laughed and offered the comment that 'its what she would have done first' - maybe it was designed by a woman, as men just don't get it?

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If you think that's bad, my mum had problems getting the key out of her Saab 900 the first time she drove it. You HAVE to put it in park before you can turn the key to off and take the key out.

What's the problem with the fuel cap???

Open flap

Pop key in cap

Turn Key anti clockwise

Turn Cap anti clockwise

Cap is off

Replacement is reverse of removal

Mark Elvin said:

What's the problem with the fuel cap???

Open flap

Pop key in cap

Turn Key anti clockwise

Turn Cap anti clockwise

Cap is off

Replacement is reverse of removal

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In the interests of helping people I've typed out the replacement instructions

ffo si paC

esiwkcolc itna paC nruT

esiwkcolc itna yeK nruT

pac ni yek poP

palf nepO

Normally I don't think a 500 would be on a list with a yaris but I think toyota are having a bad time of it and they have extended the scrappage scheme (their own) to cover 7 years and older cars. Mine is 9 years old and they would give me 2,300 for it, more than I paid, which makes it the same price as a 500 and a tasty offer. I heard mentioned on here that there will be some engine changes shortly - will this make it 16 cylinder like the yaris? if so I'm tempted to wait but I'm sure there will be a price increase with it as well. I just need to convince myself a 500 is worth the 11 grand price tag I guess :/

Hannikins said:

Normally I don't think a 500 would be on a list with a yaris but I think toyota are having a bad time of it and they have extended the scrappage scheme (their own) to cover 7 years and older cars. Mine is 9 years old and they would give me 2,300 for it, more than I paid, which makes it the same price as a 500 and a tasty offer. I heard mentioned on here that there will be some engine changes shortly - will this make it 16 cylinder like the yaris? if so I'm tempted to wait but I'm sure there will be a price increase with it as well. I just need to convince myself a 500 is worth the 11 grand price tag I guess :/

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16 cylinder? I assume you mean 16 valve in which case no it won't be 16 valve. More valves doesn't immediately mean it's better.

306maxi said:

16 cylinder? I assume you mean 16 valve in which case no it won't be 16 valve. More valves doesn't immediately mean it's better.

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yes that's what I meant I know noisy doesn't mean it's worse either, maybe the yaris has more 'padding'

I think the much heralded new engines will still have 8 valve's but since they only have 2 cylinders it is an increase to the same number per cylinder as the Yaris

Hannikins said:

yes that's what I meant I know noisy doesn't mean it's worse either, maybe the yaris has more 'padding'

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Just remember numbers are just numbers no matter what anyone tells you. 8v or 16v doesn't really matter unless you're tuning for power and you don't strike me as that sort of person.

Go for some testdrives, that will help you decide

the yaris should feel more grown up and refined-

it is a supermini, not a city car...which would explain the differences you experienced...its in a different class of vehicle

it competes with the fiesta and the punto....if you can get one for the same price as a 500 it could be a choice worth making..bear in mind tho, that fiat is also offering great deals on the grande punto and the new punto evo...the grande punto the same price as a base 500 and a beautiful little car!

ultimately, buy what you like the most...you have to live with it after all.

keeforelli said:

the yaris should feel more grown up and refined-

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Funny you say that, I tend to think a Yaris is for older people (and I should know, my grandparents own one ). Could not think (and haven't seen yet) old people in a 500 on the other hand.
It is silly I know, it is just the way I see it.

The Yaris is very very well built and is unlikely to create many problems, it drives well and has this monospace feeling that I quite like. I just have a "problem" (too harsh a word) with its style or lack of, and the image that I developed earlier, that sort of oldies' car.

Cucciolotto said:

Funny you say that, I tend to think a Yaris is for older people (and I should know, my grandparents own one ). Could not think (and haven't seen yet) old people in a 500 on the other hand.
It is silly I know, it is just the way I see it.

The Yaris is very very well built and is unlikely to create many problems, it drives well and has this monospace feeling that I quite like. I just have a "problem" (too harsh a word) with its style or lack of, and the image that I developed earlier, that sort of oldies' car.

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500's are also popular with the blue rinse brigade too.