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Tuning New 500L driven.

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Tuning New 500L driven.

It looks hideously under-wheeled in this picture, especially because of the high belt line and shallow glass house:

37121261949.jpg
 
RobinPJ said:
It is a big problem if you have taste, style and class. But then you like the Countryman, Ahmett....
Click to expand...


Yes i really do! I was thinking of the Fiat 500 L as an alternative because my mom needs a car. Lets see! I would like to see the 500 L in person. The countryman for me is the most practical car in the world = )
 
I just don't know what to make of it really, these reviews have only clouded my mind even more!:D

For what you appear to get, the estimated price of 15k looks quite reasonable. Also the boot configuration does look smart as well, you can't fault that. The 105hp TwinAir sounds like it could be an absolute blast as well.

But at the end of the day, I just can't get over this whole "500" thing. Maybe I am being incredibly petty, but if Fiat had given it a different name and hadn't bothered with the cringeworthy marketing spiel then I wouldn't have half as much of a problem with it. The comparison with the Countryman is understandable, but IMO the Countryman is not a million miles away from a standard Mini. This one is anything but a 500.

As for deeyup's comment, I agree to a certain extent about the new Panda (particularly as the sliding rear seat will become an option later this year, improving flexibility even more). You can cram a hell of a lot into one (including a single mattress!:D), and you can also get a roof box as well to fit other bits and pieces in. But I would imagine that the 500L has got a lot more space to offer and possibly a bit more standard kit as well; we'll just have to see.
 
The big difference between the MINI => Countryman and the 500 => 500L situation is that MINI is a cool brand whereas Fiat is not. The 500 is a cool model, largely baecause of its looks.

The coolness of the MINI brand meant that the Countryman could succeed despite having being mercilessly beaten with the ugly stick. For the 500L, I very much doubt the same will apply. Unless it looks a hell of a lot more like the 500 in the flesh than it does in the pictures, I cannot see anyone buying it because of its 500-ness.

In other words, a Countryman is cool because it is a MINI. The 500L will only be cool if it looks like a 500. Which it probably doesn't. I expect it to die on its arse.
 
I agree largely with what everyone else has said. Read the Auto Express review earlier & was abit shocked, expected them to rip the thing to bits but they were actually rather complimentary. Mind you, they usually like the cars i think are awful (like a Golf, Up! etc) so maybe i shouldn't be suprised.

Fiat have dropped a bollo*k i reckon. Call it a 500L, build it on a Punto platform & use interior components from the Panda (wheel), Guilietta (heater controls) and Ypsilon (buttons beneath the radio) but nothing from the 500. If you're gonna create a 'brand within a brand' then using a smattering of parts & styling from the rest of the range and a side profile near identical to a rival (Countryman) doesn't seem the greatest method of execution.

I hope it does well, it looks a good product, but you can't stick a half-arsed attempt at a 500 face on a car and call it a 500. Unless they completely change the hatchback from next year (which other than to create sub-brand coherance wouldn't otherwise be necessary) then they're gonna have a 500 range that are no more related to eachother than the Punto is to the Panda. Bit of a missed opportunity.
 
JTD_Liam said:
I hope it does well, it looks a good product, but you can't stick a half-arsed attempt at a 500 face on a car and call it a 500. Unless they completely change the hatchback from next year (which other than to create sub-brand coherance wouldn't otherwise be necessary) then they're gonna have a 500 range that are no more related to eachother than the Punto is to the Panda. Bit of a missed opportunity.
Click to expand...

I think FIAT have failed to understand the difference between a product and a brand.

The Mini is a successful brand, and the success of the brand underwrites the spin-offs.

The 500 is a successful product which has a strong following in spite of the brand (most 500 buyers wouldn't give the Panda a second glance); IMO reusing the product name on something which doesn't visually look like a 500 won't be enough to ensure its success.
 
RobinPJ said:
The big difference between the MINI => Countryman and the 500 => 500L situation is that MINI is a cool brand whereas Fiat is not. The 500 is a cool model, largely baecause of its looks.

The coolness of the MINI brand meant that the Countryman could succeed despite having being mercilessly beaten with the ugly stick. For the 500L, I very much doubt the same will apply. Unless it looks a hell of a lot more like the 500 in the flesh than it does in the pictures, I cannot see anyone buying it because of its 500-ness.

In other words, a Countryman is cool because it is a MINI. The 500L will only be cool if it looks like a 500. Which it probably doesn't. I expect it to die on its arse.
Click to expand...

Before the Countryman we had the Clubman which really was a Traveller and had a rear door that opened on the wrong side for RHD countries. That didn't take off but it 'opened doors' for the Countryman. Time wil tell what the 500L will evolve into.

The name Fiat and 500 conjure up different images. My dad didn't like the idea that I bought a Fiat because of his memories of the diesel Ritmo/Strada that had to be parked on a hill to start in the morning. 500 breaks the mould and is more acceptable. You can't blame Fiat for banking on the 500 and it has been more successful that they possibly every imagined. I think this 500L is going to work. Many wouldn't buy a Panda even though Fiat heads knows that it will be the better value buy.

The 500 is predominately bought by image conscious individuals or those who contemplated buying a classic 500 and then 'got sense'. If you look at the profile of the buyers of 500s the majority of them never owned a Fiat before. I wish 'Fiat' or I should say '500' luck on this.

EDIT: Test question...
If you were asked what kind of car do you have what do you say - You say a 500, not a Fiat.
When my OH was asked what she drove she say an Alfa. Never a MiTo.
Same would probably apply to Beamer, Merc, etc.
 
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I agree with most of these comments.

Most 500 buyers are charmed by the looks and the image of the car and buy it in spite of it being a Fiat. Even on this forum the 500 tends to be a world unto itself and owners are not in the least interested in other Fiats - which is I suppose not untypical when I think about it :p It is a fact that most buyers have never owned a Fiat before, and for the most part have been pleasantly surprised, but also have little intention of looking at any other Fiat.

I'm not sure that the 500L will continue to create a brand within a brand, but my own experience is that punters are easily seduced by advertising, so it might just work. The vast majority of people neither know nor care what lies under their cars, just what colour they are and what they look like on the road. 'I really like the ....' is something I hear a lot. It is a seduction based on appearance and fashion alone and is responsible for most Mini sales and doutless most 500 sales too: so let's see.

The 500L looks better moving on YouTube, and since Fiat is trying to push itsef upmarket who knows what will happen.

The 500X, images of which have also just been released, http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/04/fiat-surprises-journalists-with-500x-sneak-peek/#aol-comments, will only serve to confuse matters. But hey, the Mini range is confusing so why not :devil:
 
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Ulpian said:
Most 500 buyers are charmed by the looks and the image of the car and buy it in spite of it being a Fiat. Even on this forum the 500 tends to be a world unto itself and owners are not in the least interested in other Fiats - which is I suppose not untypical when I think about it :p It is a fact that most buyers have never owned a Fiat before, and for the most part have been pleasantly surprised, but also have little intention of looking at any other Fiat.:
Click to expand...

Glad I am not a "typical" 500 owner then...

Although I started my Driving in a Alfasud, my first New Car was Strada Convertible, Followed by Many Many Fiats.. I still love the Multipla and have owned fair few. And still find the Stilo Abarth a lovely car (Get my meds! :yuck:).

So I suppose that makes me a very non standard 500 owner.

And still despite loving all those slightly quirky cars I think that 500L looks like a bag of c**p
 
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Ulpian said:
I agree with most of these comments.

Most 500 buyers are charmed by the looks and the image of the car and buy it in spite of it being a Fiat. Even on this forum the 500 tends to be a world unto itself and owners are not in the least interested in other Fiats - which is I suppose not untypical when I think about it :p It is a fact that most buyers have never owned a Fiat before, and for the most part have been pleasantly surprised, but also have little intention of looking at any other Fiat.

I'm not sure that the 500L will continue to create a brand within a brand, but my own experience is that punters are easily seduced by advertising, so it might just work. The vast majority of people neither know nor care what lies under their cars, just what colour they are and what they look like on the road. 'I really like the ....' is something I hear a lot. It is a seduction based on appearance and fashion alone and is responsible for most Mini sales and doutless most 500 sales too: so let's see.

The 500L looks better moving on YouTube, and since Fiat is trying to push itsef upmarket who knows what will happen.

The 500X, images of which have also just been released, http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/04/fiat-surprises-journalists-with-500x-sneak-peek/#aol-comments, will only serve to confuse matters. But hey, the Mini range is confusing so why not :devil:
Click to expand...

I agree with what you're saying about the appearance of cars being a strong influence, but that is precisely where the 500L goes wrong. It just doesn't look anything like a 500 at all (apart from the bloated front). I really can't see people falling for the marketing trick as ultimately it doesn't stand up to its claims.

The thing is that I don't want to hate it by any means. It could well be a really good car, and if its prices are right then it will be a very competitive car.

As for 500 drivers not looking at any other cars in the range, well...that might be the case. But some people will be tempted to buy others in the range (like the new Panda?!:D)
 
loveshandbags said:
Before the Countryman we had the Clubman which really was a Traveller and had a rear door that opened on the wrong side for RHD countries. That didn't take off but it 'opened doors' for the Countryman. Time wil tell what the 500L will evolve into.

The name Fiat and 500 conjure up different images. My dad didn't like the idea that I bought a Fiat because of his memories of the diesel Ritmo/Strada that had to be parked on a hill to start in the morning. 500 breaks the mould and is more acceptable. You can't blame Fiat for banking on the 500 and it has been more successful that they possibly every imagined. I think this 500L is going to work. Many wouldn't buy a Panda even though Fiat heads knows that it will be the better value buy.

The 500 is predominately bought by image conscious individuals or those who contemplated buying a classic 500 and then 'got sense'. If you look at the profile of the buyers of 500s the majority of them never owned a Fiat before. I wish 'Fiat' or I should say '500' luck on this.

EDIT: Test question...
If you were asked what kind of car do you have what do you say - You say a 500, not a Fiat.
When my OH was asked what she drove she say an Alfa. Never a MiTo.
Same would probably apply to Beamer, Merc, etc.
Click to expand...

Most people buy a 3 Series because it's a BMW.
Most people buy a 500 despite it being a Fiat.
 
RobinPJ said:
Most people buy a 3 Series because it's a BMW.
Most people buy a 500 despite it being a Fiat.
Click to expand...

Which is a pity because Fiat has a great track history in making excellent small cars.
BMWs are over-rated. The driving experience for some can be a let down unless you crank the power up to a 6 cylinder engine and these can be a little soft in the petrol. A surprising number of BMW drivers don't know their cars are rear wheel drive unless it snows.
http://www.autozine.org/html/Fiat/500.html
Fiat has a rich history of building the world's best small cars – just a check with my classic car archives and you'll find famous nameplates like 500 Topolino, 500 Nuova, 600...
 
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I'm careful to say 'most' or 'the majority', I wouldn't ever say that every 500 owner or all people etc.. :D
 
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