General More and More People Unhappy with the Fiat 500?

MarginWalker · Oct 21, 2014

jrkitching said:
Speaking personally, I'd say the biggest limitation to using a 500 for longer (>2hr) trips is the (lack of) comfortable seats, at least in pop/lounge trim.

Haven't tried Pop or Lounge seats but find the Sport trim seats really comfortable for long journeys. Moderately firm with great lumbar support and decent side bolstering.

I regard the 1.4 Sport as a great little motorway car and am quite surprised at some of the comments here! Perhaps the 6th gear that comes with the 1.4 100 hp version makes a difference on the motorways - 3000 rpm at 75 mph makes for pretty quiet cruising. I've fitted the Armster armrest to mine - recommended for a bit of extra comfort on longer drives.

I do agree that the car isn't ideally suited to high speed driving from an aerodynamic perspective.

ahmett · Oct 22, 2014

MarginWalker said:
Haven't tried Pop or Lounge seats but find the Sport trim seats really comfortable for long journeys. Moderately firm with great lumbar support and decent side bolstering.

I regard the 1.4 Sport as a great little motorway car and am quite surprised at some of the comments here! Perhaps the 6th gear that comes with the 1.4 100 hp version makes a difference on the motorways - 3000 rpm at 75 mph makes for pretty quiet cruising. I've fitted the Armster armrest to mine - recommended for a bit of extra comfort on longer drives.

I do agree that the car isn't ideally suited to high speed driving from an aerodynamic perspective.

above 60 mph the car feels really unaerodynamic as in if you lift the throttle the car slows down very quickly! if you drive a BMW 1 series at the same speed with the extra torque of the diesel motor it feels like you are permanently slipstreaming compared to the Fiat 500.

stu0710 · Oct 22, 2014

The Littlest Hobo said:
Final comment because it's like ever decreasing circles on here. If reliability is the op original point then my point backs this up IMO. If, as I say the vehicle isn't engineered to be anything more than a city car ( I will refrain from the other term) then of course using it for motorway munching and heavier mileage will result in more repairs.

You guys keep convincing yourselves it's capable of so much more than being a city car then don't moan about reliability when it starts to wear out

See this recent post about a forum member's 500 which has done 200,000 miles in 6 years with not much more than routine servicing!

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/332876-high-mileage.html

Ulpian · Oct 22, 2014

I have a colleague who had one for over two years and 50k miles. No problems and she enjoyed it. She has a Fiesta lease car now, but only because of the advantageous deal at work.

BigKev · Oct 24, 2014

MarginWalker said:
Very happy with my 1.4 Sport, which has been totally reliable in 6 years of ownership by me and the friend I bought it from. Still the best looking supermini IMO, great to drive and accommodates my 6' 3" frame with ease and total comfort. Best motorway mini I've ever driven, thanks mainly to the 6-speed box and the very supportive half-leatherette seats. Long journeys are a comfortable pleasure in this tiny, easy to park little motor. Love the peppy little naturally aspirated 100hp engine with the nicely weighted steering (sport mode is always left on). I doubt many other small cars could offer the same quick, high revving, great sounding, instant throttle responsive fun as my Sport.

I'd have it over any rival in the same size class, even if many of them offer lots more for the money. None of 'em have the same style, fun factor and character.

Our sentiments entirely, MW.
We still love our 1.4 convertible and remain very happy with it!
We also have a late mode Mazdal MX-5, so we have two of the finest convertibles money can buy. That's our opinion anyway...

Piccolo Nero e Bella · Oct 24, 2014

BigKev said:
Our sentiments entirely, MW.
We still love our 1.4 convertible and remain very happy with it!
We also have a late mode Mazdal MX-5, so we have two of the finest convertibles money can buy. That's our opinion anyway...

The MX-5 is one of the great cars of our time and I spent six months inspecting late-model NC's before I looked at the 500C and decided it was a better fit for me and (marginally!) more practical. The Lounge TA has fulfilled its promise and it's made driving fun again.

It can't touch the bullet-proof reliability of a Mazda but I have to say living with an Italian is certainly not boring.

scout · Oct 25, 2014

Piccolo Nero e Bella said:
The MX-5 is one of the great cars of our time and I spent six months inspecting late-model NC's before I looked at the 500C and decided it was a better fit for me and (marginally!) more practical. The Lounge TA has fulfilled its promise and it's made driving fun again.

It can't touch the bullet-proof reliability of a Mazda but I have to say living with an Italian is certainly not boring.

I too looked at MX-5's before plumping for a 500C TA. I must say I've had it for nearly two years and am still loving it. I think the disillusionment with the 1.2 Euro 6 is why more people are dissatisfied with the 500.

Most Easterly Pandas · Oct 25, 2014

ahmett said:
exactly my point. the same car now costs 10,400 GBP!

No it does, the same car isn't available, the spec has changed slightly, things like SS for example, the euro against the pound has changed, as has the cost of everything. You tell me one item you could buy for £7k back then which is still the same price now

The price increase doesn't seem unreasonable for nearly 7 years have passed

Mercky · Oct 26, 2014

Drove my sister in laws new model golf recently. 1.2 with a proper auto box, 7 speed I think. If I recall correctly it produces 105 bhp and is turbo charged. Extremely impressive to drive, you'd swear it had a much larger engine. It makes you wonder where Fiat are with a 1.2 that appears not fit for purpose and only producing 69bhp at that. Admittedly the golf is a lot more expensive and quite bland IMO but that's not really the point.

Cei · Oct 26, 2014

Mercky said:
Drove my sister in laws new model golf recently. 1.2 with a proper auto box, 7 speed I think. If I recall correctly it produces 105 bhp and is turbo charged. Extremely impressive to drive, you'd swear it had a much larger engine. It makes you wonder where Fiat are with a 1.2 that appears not fit for purpose and only producing 69bhp at that. Admittedly the golf is a lot more expensive and quite bland IMO but that's not really the point.

Yes, but Fiat also have a 0.9L TwinAir that produces either 85 or 105bhp. Fairer comparison, no? (Especially as the price will be roughly similar).

stu0710 · Oct 26, 2014

Cei said:
Yes, but Fiat also have a 0.9L TwinAir that produces either 85 or 105bhp. Fairer comparison, no? (Especially as the price will be roughly similar).

Er no - the Golf in 1.2 DSG is north of £20K, whereas the most expensive 105 TA Cult 500 is £15K and the 85Hp TA Dualogic Lounge is £14K. Golf's are properly expensive..........

Mercky · Oct 26, 2014

Cei said:
Yes, but Fiat also have a 0.9L TwinAir that produces either 85 or 105bhp. Fairer comparison, no? (Especially as the price will be roughly similar).

Producing the TA is not an excuse for also selling a duff 1.2

ahmett · Oct 26, 2014

Most Easterly Pandas said:
No it does, the same car isn't available, the spec has changed slightly, things like SS for example, the euro against the pound has changed, as has the cost of everything. You tell me one item you could buy for £7k back then which is still the same price now

The price increase doesn't seem unreasonable for nearly 7 years have passed

You having a laugh mep? 30 % more expensive for a car that has barely changed and in fact 7 years later should be cheaper as it is now outdated like a joke. The cars tech is easily 10 years old it feels proper ancient compared to the mini or even a Renault Clio

My fiat is 4 years old now and the latest models look no different inside and outside.

Most Easterly Pandas · Oct 26, 2014

ahmett said:
You having a laugh mep? 30 % more expensive for a car that has barely changed and in fact 7 years later should be cheaper as it is now outdated like a joke. The cars tech is easily 10 years old it feels proper ancient compared to the mini or even a Renault Clio

My fiat is 4 years old now and the latest models look no different inside and outside.

How much is an entry level mini or Clio currently? How much was an entry level mini or Clio 7 years ago??

I rest my case

ahmett · Oct 26, 2014

Most Easterly Pandas said:
How much is an entry level mini or Clio currently? How much was an entry level mini or Clio 7 years ago??

I rest my case

Yes but at least there is some research and development!! What's fiats r and d budget for the fiat 500. 10 gbp a year ? It seems they made the 509 then went for a lunch, a really long lunch!

Most Easterly Pandas · Oct 26, 2014

ahmett said:
Yes but at least there is some research and development!! What's fiats r and d budget for the fiat 500. 10 gbp a year ? It seems they made the 509 then went for a lunch, a really long lunch!

But it's still selling strong, so they must be doing something correctly. You could have said the same about the Peugeot 206 10 years ago, never changed but sold well for 9 years do why would Peugeot spend money changing something that works?

Officina red · Oct 26, 2014

Does anyone actually pay £10400 for a pop, really it's £129.00 a month with fiat giving you the deposit.
When i bought my Lounge it ws £1000 cheaper than the equivalent VW up .

Cei · Oct 26, 2014

stu0710 said:
Er no - the Golf in 1.2 DSG is north of £20K, whereas the most expensive 105 TA Cult 500 is £15K and the 85Hp TA Dualogic Lounge is £14K. Golf's are properly expensive..........

Oh wow, hadn't realised a Golf 1.2 DSG was that expensive. Obviously some bonus additions to the Fiat may push the 105TA to £16k, but that's a way short of £20k.

Mercky said:
Producing the TA is not an excuse for also selling a duff 1.2

To use your dodgy logic, seeing as Fiat are getting 105hp out of 0.9L, VW are obviously doing a bad job of getting only 105hp out of 1.2L. Even worse, their 1.0L in the Up! only gets to 60PS.

Fiat's 1.2L engine is their cheap/entry level engine, simple as that. Why not compare the Fiat 1.2L to the entry level VW engine, the 1.2 TSI? That seems to be producing 85PS (roughly similar to HP), but the car starts at £16,975 for the cheapest, no-frills, 3 door. Again, that money will buy you either the 85hp or 105hp TA (or even a 135hp Abarth).

jrkitching · Oct 26, 2014

Cei said:
To use your dodgy logic, seeing as Fiat are getting 105hp out of 0.9L, VW are obviously doing a bad job of getting only 105hp out of 1.2L. Even worse, their 1.0L in the Up! only gets to 60PS.

I don't think Mercky was criticising the 1.2 for its performance; I took his comment to refer to the folks who've recently been posting about the issues with the latest Euro 6 version of the engine.

60HP is absolutely all you need for an entry level small car in a country where the maximum speed limit is 70mph - provided it has decent bottom end torque and can deliver that power smoothly.

Unfortunately a fair few folks are reporting that, driven by the need to comply with 21st century emissions legislation, Fiat have modified the 1.2 in such a way that it no longer meets the latter criteria.

There's nothing wrong with an entry level car being basic and having modest performance, but it does have to work properly!

Mercky · Oct 26, 2014

jrkitching said:
I don't think Mercky was criticising the 1.2 for its performance; I took his comment to refer to the folks who've recently been posting about the issues with the latest Euro 6 version of the engine.

60HP is absolutely all you need for an entry level small car in a country where the maximum speed limit is 70mph - provided it has decent bottom end torque and can deliver that power smoothly.

Unfortunately a fair few folks are reporting that, driven by the need to comply with 21st century emissions legislation, Fiat have modified the 1.2 in such a way that it no longer meets the latter criteria.

Correct! Whereas other Marques, such as VW in this case, seem to manage it fine and produce something up to date and impressive even at entry level.

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