Hello 500 owners,

What is your 500 like on long journeys? Does it give you a sore back or anything?

Also let me know what type of seats you have as some more expensive interiors seem to have more padding, whereas Pop models seem to have flat seats which might make a difference?

I'd like a 500 or new Panda in the future and this could be a deciding factor. I feel at the minute, Fiat has put a bit more into the more premium 500 interior with those bigger padded seats , and maybe they bring the car up to new comfort standards

I have an '05 Panda which I love, but I get a sore back sometimes on long journeys. I'm short, and 20 so that's not good!

Always like learning more about these cars as in the future I'd like another Fiat!

Personal Preference

My Sport spec seats weren't great when new but seem to have settled down. They were quite uncomfortable at first. A lot will depend on your height, weight and age. Will also depend on what a 'long' journey is. I haven't done more than 60miles at a time in quite a while.

i find the car fairly comfortable for long journeys in the front seats. in the rear? forget it = )

This is an interesting question in several ways. I only get a sore back (or a back that won't bend) after several hours in a fixed position. So in the morning I can't put socks on, but I've never felt that way after driving any car.

The seats in all 500 versions seem fine to me - they are all firm and keep you in place as the car bounces, ducks, and dives. That's surely a great discomfort - the lack of a stable ride, and the extremely high tyre noise (peaking 97dBA at just 50km/h). I'd expect the 500 and the Panda to ride near identically as they are the same 'platform'.

I don't think the ride will give a sore back - if anything, being thrown around probably helps to prevent soreness. You get a bruised head from the sunroof frame if you're over 183cm/6ft., and if your ears are ringing, that will take your mind off the problem too

-Alex

Yeah,what Alex said

I've driven 600 miles plus in a day a few times and regularly did a 100 Mike commute. The seats and driving position have been absolutely fine. I did miss a center arm rest so retro fitted one and cruise control would be good. Engine refinement is good but road noise is an issue.

On good roads the ride is fine, drive quickly along A and B roads and you'll be a little shaken.

I'm around 1.85 metre and 100kg.

I've got a 500S with sport seats, I'm a little short of 5'11 and I'm in my 20's. I've done a lot of Leeds-Nottingham journeys and a fair few Leeds-Glasgow-Leeds day trips, and I've not got any complaints relating to comfort.

A lot of my passengers are taller than me (6 to 6'2, stick thin to average build) and none of them have complained on long distance trips. They say they like the high seat position (in comparison to a Polo).

I don't think road noise at motorway speed is worse than any other similarly priced or sized car.

The only problem I have ever had was with a particularly large, rugby playing friend. Imagine an adult male gorilla trying to fit into one of those Fischer-Price pedal cars. Because the passenger seat doesn't move up or down (if it does we couldn't work out how), his head was squashed against the roof. His shoulders were too broad to fit the Sport seats and his elbow continually got in the way during gear changes. Suffice to say we ended up taking his car. On the plus, he did say that he had more than enough leg room...

I'm 193cm (6'4") @ 81kg and drive a '11 500 Lounge TA. Haven't had any comfort issues on a 3000 km drive in 4 days. I actually prefer the higher seats over those on my previous car, a VW Passat '00.