General 500 TwinAir Lounge Queries

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General 500 TwinAir Lounge Queries

I can't answer your metadata query - how would that effect how you handle the file?

I had to purchase a micro-SD card for it. I got a 32Gb Sandisk but a 16Gb is probably adequate. Just make sure it's a Class 10.


Thanks. The reason for concern of meta data is in potentially giving insurance company a reason to not cover your claim, because they can use the speed you may be travelling against you... Not saying I would be speeding crazily but I am just weary of handing over video evidence that may incriminate me by accident.
 
I like that you can turn off the speed stamp but wonder if the metadata is stored in the mov file or separate?

Pretty sure that stuff like speed which is constantly changing can't be embedded as metadata in the video file (not enough room), so dashcams usually store it in a separate file (along with GPS coordinates) which accompanies each video. As long as you don't hand over this file, you should be fine :cool:
 
Thanks. The reason for concern of meta data is in potentially giving insurance company a reason to not cover your claim, because they can use the speed you may be travelling against you... Not saying I would be speeding crazily but I am just weary of handing over video evidence that may incriminate me by accident.

I can see how that might be a concern. I've had a look at the dashcam files I've stored on the PC and there's no evidence of anything other than the MOV files there (set it to show hidden files too). Nonetheless, when I play them with DOD's bespoke viewer it does display vehicle speed as well as the location on an adjoining map. I'm no computer guru but this implies the data is in the MOV file. If you were to convert the MOV to, say, a WMV would this remove such data? You could no longer play the fiel on DOD's viewer but it should work in WIndows Media Player surely?
 
I also was somewhat disappointed with the lack of torque when I first got my TA but I've learned to adapt to the car's foibles. It has improved as it's matured and and I leave the ECO on 90% of the time.

Took our new Twinair for a 400km run out into the countryside on the weekend. Lack of torque in ECO mode was most noticeable and at times mildly alarming. Takes a bit of getting used to arriving at a hill and finding the car struggles to get up, as cars bank up behind you. When needing to overtake at speeds near 100kph, foot to the floor in ECO was most underwhelming. I did wonder why FIAT has not arranged things, so foot to the floor, temporarily switches to the high performance ECU tune. My wife and I both feel we wont be using ECO mode much. Unless it is just for running around town on flat roads in a leisurely manner. With the added benefit of the lighter electronic power steering for parking.

I like the way the TFT Cluster changes theme and colour from Fiery RED and cool BLUE between the two modes. Also neat when switching from ECO to normal while driving, I got a nudge in the back as it scheduled more fuel. Then when I pressed the ECO Button again it felt like I struck a headwind as it trimmed the fuel back and bogged down. They did not have to do this, but a nice way of accentuating the switch.

Out of ECO mode was a lot of fun though. So that is probably where our car will live for the most part.
 
Took our new Twinair for a 400km run out into the countryside on the weekend. Lack of torque in ECO mode was most noticeable and at times mildly alarming. Takes a bit of getting used to arriving at a hill and finding the car struggles to get up, as cars bank up behind you. When needing to overtake at speeds near 100kph, foot to the floor in ECO was most underwhelming. I did wonder why FIAT has not arranged things, so foot to the floor, temporarily switches to the high performance ECU tune. My wife and I both feel we wont be using ECO mode much. Unless it is just for running around town on flat roads in a leisurely manner. With the added benefit of the lighter electronic power steering for parking.

I like the way the TFT Cluster changes theme and colour from Fiery RED and cool BLUE between the two modes. Also neat when switching from ECO to normal while driving, I got a nudge in the back as it scheduled more fuel. Then when I pressed the ECO Button again it felt like I struck a headwind as it trimmed the fuel back and bogged down. They did not have to do this, but a nice way of accentuating the switch.

Out of ECO mode was a lot of fun though. So that is probably where our car will live for the most part.

When I got mine (eighteen months ago) I was under the impression that eco mode was for town/traffic driving. In fact at speed the eco mode is less efficient than non eco mode as the engine is having to work harder to achieve the same result.
 
I mostly use ECO mode around town where the speed limit is 50km/h. For hills or for pulling out into fast-moving traffic, forget about it :cool:

On my Dualogic TwinAir, ECO mode also has the added effect of tending to hold high gears longer whereas with ECO off it tends to downshift earlier.
 
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Took our new Twinair for a 400km run out into the countryside on the weekend. Lack of torque in ECO mode was most noticeable and at times mildly alarming. Takes a bit of getting used to arriving at a hill and finding the car struggles to get up, as cars bank up behind you. When needing to overtake at speeds near 100kph, foot to the floor in ECO was most underwhelming. I did wonder why FIAT has not arranged things, so foot to the floor, temporarily switches to the high performance ECU tune. My wife and I both feel we wont be using ECO mode much. Unless it is just for running around town on flat roads in a leisurely manner. With the added benefit of the lighter electronic power steering for parking.



I like the way the TFT Cluster changes theme and colour from Fiery RED and cool BLUE between the two modes. Also neat when switching from ECO to normal while driving, I got a nudge in the back as it scheduled more fuel. Then when I pressed the ECO Button again it felt like I struck a headwind as it trimmed the fuel back and bogged down. They did not have to do this, but a nice way of accentuating the switch.



Out of ECO mode was a lot of fun though. So that is probably where our car will live for the most part.


You'll be amazed how it will change with more miles. I had the same experience with mine in Eco mode when new. Running in takes up to 6 or 7k at which time Eco will be similar to normal mode when it was new. I use it a fair bit now, not that it hugely improves mpg but more that it's a bit more chilled around town.
 
We have had our Twinair for some 30 months. ECO button was turned off ages ago. As has already been noted, the lack of instant acceleration in ECO mode can be a pain. Maybe the 'boy racer' in me is still alive and kicking, just love giving it some welly when the need to overtake arises, much safer with ECO mode off. Think if all our driving was around town we would tend to use it. But as we are in a rural area much of our driving is at the national speed limit.
 
Unless the car has the TFT display you won't get a digital speedo (not sure you'll get one even then)..
Yes you do get a big digital speedo with the TFT which is clear as a bell. However it is not very well damped and seems to hunt incessantly. I compare this to my VW GOLF 6's digital speedo which is much easier to keep at a constant speed. Might also be related to the 500 lighter weight and less inertia. Either way I am often seeing the speedo rapidly changing ~5kph either way.

Maybe OP should get a Navdy HUD !

Being new to the car my other initial impression are the lack of sound deadening in the wheel arches and the cacophony that occurs when driving on loose gravel roads. It is good fun though. Glad I did not get a POP or the hub caps would have fallen off by now. Interestingly the 500 is much harder to get out of shape than my Golf. Tried unsuccessfully to get the ESP to trigger by throwing the rear out around corners. But did not get it to unstick so no luck. A good thing though.

Anyone know what the small peep hole in the rear window glass is beneath the rear wiper arm? Looks like a light sensor.

I made up a shade screen to fit beneath the skydome and screen. it works really well. When removed it readily folds and fits in the passenger seat back.
 
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Range to Empty

Another thing I just noticed:- When the Low fuel warning comes on the distance to empty / range read out blanked to --- (n)
This seems pretty silly as it suggests fuel starvation is imminent. The manual says range --- appears when range < 50km at current driving style. In reality the car was good for ~ 90km as there was still 6 litres in the tank (manual says "approx 5 litres" ) when filled a few kms later. The warning is good but blanking the range is annoying. Next time it comes on I am going to wait until the 1/8 brick splits and see where that leaves me.

Was just reading in the manual that the ECO mode is "optimised for city driving, less steering effort and reduced fuel consumption". If it is not set to ECO the car is optimised for Normal driving. I think I will stick to being a normal driver. I will pay about $200 bucks more per year for fuel and have a hoot.

Anyone know if a fiat diagnostic tool can change the default behaviour of the Right hand gauge in the TFT cluster? Unfortunately it always shows ECO index in my Twin Air Lounge. I would like it to show turbo boost in Normal mode (like the cars with City button do) and ECO Index when in ECO.
 
The low fuel sign comes on erratically and it depends on whether the fuel consumption is high or low... so it can say range 18 miles when cold, and range 88 miles after switching off after a few miles when warmed up and switching on again!

The original point was about poor torque in second gear... a twin air isn't like a car with a big engine that will pull away from rest or very slow speeds at a junction in second easily... you have to move off in first otherwise you'll ruin your clutch and annoy people behind you for being such a slow coach.

First gear fast getaways reach the rev limiter at 5500 rpm very easily, so you have to change up to second quickly too!

I love my TwinAir, but it's got a motorbike engine attached to something twice as heavy as a motorbike.

Eco-mode is OK for pootling in town, flat country roads and even empty motorways, but it's not much good for hilly country and zipping about. Fuel consumption is only marginally better in eco mode, and high octane petrol (Shell V Power) improves mpg by about 2-3%.
 
Re: Range to Empty

Another thing I just noticed:- When the Low fuel warning comes on the distance to empty / range read out blanked to --- (n)

This seems pretty silly as it suggests fuel starvation is imminent. The manual says range --- appears when range < 50km at current driving style. In reality the car was good for ~ 90km as there was still 6 litres in the tank (manual says "approx 5 litres" ) when filled a few kms later. The warning is good but blanking the range is annoying. Next time it comes on I am going to wait until the 1/8 brick splits and see where that leaves me.



Was just reading in the manual that the ECO mode is "optimised for city driving, less steering effort and reduced fuel consumption". If it is not set to ECO the car is optimised for Normal driving. I think I will stick to being a normal driver. I will pay about $200 bucks more per year for fuel and have a hoot.



Anyone know if a fiat diagnostic tool can change the default behaviour of the Right hand gauge in the TFT cluster? Unfortunately it always shows ECO index in my Twin Air Lounge. I would like it to show turbo boost in Normal mode (like the cars with City button do) and ECO Index when in ECO.


What fuel are you using logger.
 
Re: Range to Empty

What fuel are you using logger.
I am using Premium unleaded 95 as per the manual. First tank which included 400km in the country saw only 6.7l/100km or 42mpg, which incidentally is the same as my 5 year old 150kw twincharger Golf! No doubt it will loosen up and improve.

Clogs I think you will find, like most cars, the low fuel light comes on at a nominal quantity regardless of how you drive it. The manual mentions this as being approximately 5 litres. It is the remaining range and "Refuel" indication that varies with fuel consumption. The TFT display should not be able to say range 18 miles when cold, because anything under 30miles/50km should get the "---" NFI treatment :)
 
Re: Range to Empty

Another thing I just noticed:- When the Low fuel warning comes on the distance to empty / range read out blanked to --- (n)
This seems pretty silly as it suggests fuel starvation is imminent. The manual says range --- appears when range < 50km at current driving style. In reality the car was good for ~ 90km as there was still 6 litres in the tank (manual says "approx 5 litres" ) when filled a few kms later. The warning is good but blanking the range is annoying. Next time it comes on I am going to wait until the 1/8 brick splits and see where that leaves me.

Was just reading in the manual that the ECO mode is "optimised for city driving, less steering effort and reduced fuel consumption". If it is not set to ECO the car is optimised for Normal driving. I think I will stick to being a normal driver. I will pay about $200 bucks more per year for fuel and have a hoot.

Actually the LCD display does the same thing though I've only seen the low-fuel warning come on once or twice in the 15 months I've had the car. I think it comes on a bit early but it's easy to say that when you're never more than 5km from a petrol pump - might be different in the sticks.

As I said earlier, my car's in ECO mode at least 90% of the time now that it's loosened up a bit and I'll be interested in how you feel about it in 12 month's time logger. Granted, mine's mainly doing the daily commute, though there is one place, a long hill, where 5th only just hangs on if I hit it at the posted 70km limit. If I think it's losing the battle I only have to cancel ECO till I reach the top.

I run my car on 98 RON exclusively now.
 
Re: Range to Empty

Actually the LCD display does the same thing though I've only seen the low-fuel warning come on once or twice in the 15 months I've had the car. I think it comes on a bit early but it's easy to say that when you're never more than 5km from a petrol pump - might be different in the sticks.

As I said earlier, my car's in ECO mode at least 90% of the time now that it's loosened up a bit and I'll be interested in how you feel about it in 12 month's time logger. Granted, mine's mainly doing the daily commute, though there is one place, a long hill, where 5th only just hangs on if I hit it at the posted 70km limit. If I think it's losing the battle I only have to cancel ECO till I reach the top.

I run my car on 98 RON exclusively now.


So Piccolo do you think that the 98 RON makes a difference?
 
Re: Range to Empty

So Piccolo do you think that the 98 RON makes a difference?

Surely it would only make a difference if the Twinair was able to make use of the increase in RON. Would the engine management system not have to adjust the engine timing to make better use of the higher octane?
Is it able to?
 
We've used nothing other than Shell Nitro Unleaded in our TA Lounge since we drove the car off the forecourt. Yes, it is more expensive than your usual supermarket fuel though there will be some that think the Shell is a waste of money. From experience of using nothing but Shell Nitro fuel in both the TA and in my diesel Saab, the extra mpg more than covers the extra it costs to fill the tank.

I think too many people just look at the supermarket forecourt prices and think, 'that's cheap, I'll stick that in the tank' but don't actually take into account that the premium fuels can give extra performance, more mpg and will keep the fuel delivery systems much cleaner. My Saab diesel absolutely flies along on the Shell compared to using supermarket diesel and I know it is cleaner because when I inspect my EGR and MAF sensor every six months, they are much cleaner these days than when I used to use the supermarket stuff.

As for the TA, we find it runs very well in ECO mode on the Shell Nitro and when we take it off ECO, it just puts a grin on our faces.
 
Yes you do get a big digital speedo with the TFT which is clear as a bell. However it is not very well damped and seems to hunt incessantly. I compare this to my VW GOLF 6's digital speedo which is much easier to keep at a constant speed. Might also be related to the 500 lighter weight and less inertia. Either way I am often seeing the speedo rapidly changing ~5kph either way.

Maybe OP should get a Navdy HUD !

Being new to the car my other initial impression are the lack of sound deadening in the wheel arches and the cacophony that occurs when driving on loose gravel roads. It is good fun though. Glad I did not get a POP or the hub caps would have fallen off by now. Interestingly the 500 is much harder to get out of shape than my Golf. Tried unsuccessfully to get the ESP to trigger by throwing the rear out around corners. But did not get it to unstick so no luck. A good thing though.

Anyone know what the small peep hole in the rear window glass is beneath the rear wiper arm? Looks like a light sensor.

I made up a shade screen to fit beneath the skydome and screen. it works really well. When removed it readily folds and fits in the passenger seat back.

I have previously considered Navdy. The device itself looks interesting, but the price is a bit above what I would intend to spend on something like that. Also, I'm looking for something pretty simple, all the social functions can wait - don't see the need for stuff like that on the road.

I also question the safety of devices like Navdy. Something that promotes safe driving by 'keeping your attention on the road' so that you can focus on what's ahead of you while you read Tweets as opposed to looking down seems much of a muchness to me. As a beginner driver, I feel I need to pay far more attention to the road as it is.

Besides, the device isn't out yet. I wouldn't be surprised if it receives some kind of ban in the UK a while after its mainstream release - it isn't really in keeping with our ever increasing safety concerns.

Thank you for the suggestion though (y)
 
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