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- May 15, 2011
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After my comments on the Start Stop thread about the 3-cylinder engine in the VW being a ‘wet rag’ curiosity get the better of me and I went out for a test drive in an UP. Picked a garage that was beside where the OH got her MiTo with ‘open roads’ so I wasn’t just driving 'around the block'.
To get a drive I had to produce a copy of my driver’s licence. Test drive was duly dated and timed with a photocopy of the licence attached to the application form with my details on it. Salesman let me off on a solo drive. It was a white one with the 75PS engine with no frills and no bluemotion.
Felt very spacious and high up – bit like a 500 but with a bit more width. Felt a bit tinny – not really like a Fiat 500. Engine had good low down pull but you have to concentrate a bit on the ‘take off’ which was either ‘all or nothing’. Drivetrain seemed a bit harsh with a grating noise. Gathered speed quite quickly and headed for the motorway. Speed climbed to 120km and held a smart cruising speed. Once it settled, the noise didn’t seem to go away with a constant harshness all round. Is this what’s we’re going to end up with – in buzz boxes?
Took the exit off the Motorway and swung back onto the empty back roads. Ride is good and handles the bumps and the potholes quite well – better in fact than the 500. Noticed the little rev counter and conscious of the 162 Km on the clock didn’t stay too long up in the revs which climbed at a respectable pace to 4K revs and then seemed to ‘slow down’. Bobs along with a good turn of speed but it feels like you sitting on top of a Bosch washing machine that’s getting up to the 1000 revs per minute with worn bearings.
Car feels light and the power to weight ratio would be good compared to a 500 1.2 but it’s soulless. I reckon in the hands of a spirited driver the harshness of the engine would soon become unbearable with ‘wear and tear’. Went past a VW Golf on the dual carriageway approaching the Dealership and it felt as big as it with a higher sitting position. All round the car feels thin and questionable quality. You hope that the airbags galore will ‘save the day’. It doesn’t feel like a small car but what happens if I put a bit of weight in these cars with some passengers & luggage. Does that explain the solo drive ?
Back at the VW garage, handed the key back. On the ‘little follow up chat’ that I had with the Salesman he knew less about the car than any Fiat salesman that I’ve ever met and there was no passion. Stepped into PCP (for lower monthly payments) & HP and the offer of a 3.9% APR will expire at the end of June. My eyes glaze over when it comes to Finance and guaranteed residual values but at €11,745 including delivery charge for Irish prices it’s not the ‘end of the earth’. No Bluemotion model will be sold here and we’re not importing the 60PS model. If you want Bluetooth you can buy ‘Maps& More’ for €370. After requesting to see one I was presented with a picture of one in a brochure. It looked a lot like a Tom Tom 2 Live but I would be sceptic on the sound quality for a handsfree since it wasn’t clear where the sound came from. White & Red are free he thinks with €533 for either Metallic (and Pearlescent). 2 year warranty (3 in the UK ?) with a further 2 years on a 'Goodwill sheet'.
On the way home in the T-jet 153bhp with boost control and half the economy of a hyper miler ‘VW Up’, the traffic slowed down behind a yellow classic 500. It eventually ‘found it’s feet’ and got up a bit of pace.When I overtook it at 100km with it looking a bit bow legged it was possibly maxed out at 80km. Now that looked like a bit more fun but whenever happens don’t ask it to stop.
Personally for me ‘when the time comes’ it will have to be an ugly Nissan Leaf or hopefully Fiat will release an Electric 500 like promised in the US for the end of 2012. ‘Range anxiety’ can be dealt with by a friendly house with a 30 minute ‘plug in’. At least it will be a more satisfying experience than this eco friendly 3 cylinder affair.
To get a drive I had to produce a copy of my driver’s licence. Test drive was duly dated and timed with a photocopy of the licence attached to the application form with my details on it. Salesman let me off on a solo drive. It was a white one with the 75PS engine with no frills and no bluemotion.
Felt very spacious and high up – bit like a 500 but with a bit more width. Felt a bit tinny – not really like a Fiat 500. Engine had good low down pull but you have to concentrate a bit on the ‘take off’ which was either ‘all or nothing’. Drivetrain seemed a bit harsh with a grating noise. Gathered speed quite quickly and headed for the motorway. Speed climbed to 120km and held a smart cruising speed. Once it settled, the noise didn’t seem to go away with a constant harshness all round. Is this what’s we’re going to end up with – in buzz boxes?
Took the exit off the Motorway and swung back onto the empty back roads. Ride is good and handles the bumps and the potholes quite well – better in fact than the 500. Noticed the little rev counter and conscious of the 162 Km on the clock didn’t stay too long up in the revs which climbed at a respectable pace to 4K revs and then seemed to ‘slow down’. Bobs along with a good turn of speed but it feels like you sitting on top of a Bosch washing machine that’s getting up to the 1000 revs per minute with worn bearings.
Car feels light and the power to weight ratio would be good compared to a 500 1.2 but it’s soulless. I reckon in the hands of a spirited driver the harshness of the engine would soon become unbearable with ‘wear and tear’. Went past a VW Golf on the dual carriageway approaching the Dealership and it felt as big as it with a higher sitting position. All round the car feels thin and questionable quality. You hope that the airbags galore will ‘save the day’. It doesn’t feel like a small car but what happens if I put a bit of weight in these cars with some passengers & luggage. Does that explain the solo drive ?
Back at the VW garage, handed the key back. On the ‘little follow up chat’ that I had with the Salesman he knew less about the car than any Fiat salesman that I’ve ever met and there was no passion. Stepped into PCP (for lower monthly payments) & HP and the offer of a 3.9% APR will expire at the end of June. My eyes glaze over when it comes to Finance and guaranteed residual values but at €11,745 including delivery charge for Irish prices it’s not the ‘end of the earth’. No Bluemotion model will be sold here and we’re not importing the 60PS model. If you want Bluetooth you can buy ‘Maps& More’ for €370. After requesting to see one I was presented with a picture of one in a brochure. It looked a lot like a Tom Tom 2 Live but I would be sceptic on the sound quality for a handsfree since it wasn’t clear where the sound came from. White & Red are free he thinks with €533 for either Metallic (and Pearlescent). 2 year warranty (3 in the UK ?) with a further 2 years on a 'Goodwill sheet'.
On the way home in the T-jet 153bhp with boost control and half the economy of a hyper miler ‘VW Up’, the traffic slowed down behind a yellow classic 500. It eventually ‘found it’s feet’ and got up a bit of pace.When I overtook it at 100km with it looking a bit bow legged it was possibly maxed out at 80km. Now that looked like a bit more fun but whenever happens don’t ask it to stop.
Personally for me ‘when the time comes’ it will have to be an ugly Nissan Leaf or hopefully Fiat will release an Electric 500 like promised in the US for the end of 2012. ‘Range anxiety’ can be dealt with by a friendly house with a 30 minute ‘plug in’. At least it will be a more satisfying experience than this eco friendly 3 cylinder affair.
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