Sadly the Twinairs have been discontinued over here for some bizarre reason, probably down to lack of sales but even still it's just a tick box on an order I would have thought. Maybe just as well as I was having bad thoughts of upgrading to a 105 although I'm not keen on the new S interiors at all.
General Do you like your TwinAir?
- Thread starter SB1500
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General Do you like your TwinAir?
:Offtopic:
Having read the full newspaper articles, apparently the cars data was interrogated by VAG experts - no faults were found.
the UK has seen similar cases before - blaming stuck cruise on 140MPH speeding tickets , etc.
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Right - now back to how much we'll miss our twin-airs..!!
Yes, it's :Offtopic
and I started it I know) but still worthy of debate so I've opened a new thread in Leisure Lounge - please can you all continue the discussion of this sad story there.Back to topic, it's good to see a few more posts from folks having fun enjoying their 500's as Fiat meant them to be driven - we've been getting a bit bogged down in the problems recently and it makes a pleasant change.
Folks still longing after cruise control are probably not using their 500's this way. This is a car that's fun to drive; why would you want to give that fun to a computer? Not many folks fit cruise control to a Caterham.
If I was spending the sort of money it costs to buy and run a 105TA, I'd get off the motorway and find a nice twisty road where I could enjoy the driving experience properly. If I just wanted transportation, I'd buy a 1.2 Panda & use the cash I'd saved to do something interesting when I got there.
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I do tend to plan my routes on non motorway roads mostly. As you say, it's what the car was meant for. I enjoy driving mine every time I start it up. The smile stays on my face longer than it has on any other car I have driven...
Just curious to hear 500 TwinAir owners experiences with the engine
How long have you had it?
Why did you buy it?
How has it been to service? (problem free/ridden)
What oil do you use, any leaks / consumption?
Would you want a TA engine in your next Fiat?
A tad late but I thought I'd give my two cents.
I have had mine for 2 years, the entire period I've been driving! I learnt on it and have used it since.
As for why - it's fairly fashionable, and a great size (particularly for a new driver). Of course the noise was a factor, it's a brilliant whizz. Surprisingly a nippy little thing too. The road tax exemption was a factor as well as the exemption from London congestion charge (though this has since changed, sadly).
Easy to service. No problems thus far.
Was initially told on purchase that oil changes/top-ups would be more frequent than other Fiat's. I regularly check the oil level though haven't had to increase it myself aside from the regular service so far.
Would I want one again - hesitantly I'd say probably not. They're definitely fun, but I do find that they're less flexible than most other vehicles I've driven and I stick by that. You quickly get used to it and learn to deal with its fallbacks for the fun of driving it, though I'm now going greater distances than I was before (in my terms anyway) and it's not such great fun in traffic. That's probably me being a bit lazy, though.
MrS
Having previously owned two 500's neither of which even had the option of cruise control, in contrast, our Hyundai i10 1.2 Premium does have it and it is used every day on the M1 when flow permits. When you live quite literally next to a major motorway and use it very nearly 7 days a week, you get to appreciate the benefit of cruise control. Sadly I think Fiat don't quite get it. Just because it's a small car doesn't mean it shouldn't be offered as an option, but having experienced Fiat's totally over inflated pricing for a 500, cruise control would probably be a hideously costly option.
TrevC
Established member
Our other car, and the one it replaced, has cruise control and I never use it. I find when I use a motorway there is so much other traffic around that my foot hovers over the pedals and the constant speed cannot be maintained. Would I replace my 500 TA with another? No, because I like to try different cars. I'll have had it for 6 years next March, which doubles my previous ownership record. This is a testament to its character and reliability - I would have got bored with a "standard" small hatchback by now, so for me the premium price was worth paying.
Without question yes, First Fiat was a 1.2 panda 100k miles and just front pads replaced, I then had a 100hp Panda, 65k miles and just front pads and discs. Then had an Alfa, cost a fortune and there was no magic, went into local dealer and saw a twin air 500c, tried it, loved it (we also had just bought another 1.2 Panda eleganza) Have had this 500 now for three years and apart from drivers door handle breaking have found it to be fun, economical (Average 50mpg) and just great to drive, it's done 50k now and engine has loosened up nicely. On the strength we bought a twin air Panda trekking, again a great little car, love the engine, it's fun, what's not to like...:John B
Hi Charlie I've been into fiats for about 6 years now had Audi A6 allroad before that Land Rover Disco and freelander we replaced the Audi with a 500x and run the 500s as well the wife has the 500x in the winter as we need 4wheel drive living in Northumberland we get SNOW I do less miles in the 500s so we swop in the summer which keeps the mileage down on both cars. I wanted an Abarth 595 but couldn't really justify the extra expense plus I love the twin air engine to much.
thanks,
your MPG figures , and lack of mechanical wear tells me you've got some decent roads near you
our '04 panda is about to have it's rear drums changes at 12 years , 85K
but the fronts were gone at @35K, we did a lot more town work back then.
50K in a TA,
looking forward to that in my punto - but could be 3 years away yet..
charlie - Oxford
I've had one for two days now, and I love it.
Prior to that I had an embarrassing Cinquecento for 12 years.
I love the engine noise, but I wish I knew what it should sound like, for monitoring purposes.
I can't hear the turbo, though. ??
I'd assumed it has one.
Plus, I can't really sense much difference between eco and normal.
I thought it basically turned the turbo off.
More test driving to do yet.
Prior to that I had an embarrassing Cinquecento for 12 years.
I love the engine noise, but I wish I knew what it should sound like, for monitoring purposes.
I can't hear the turbo, though. ??
I'd assumed it has one.
Plus, I can't really sense much difference between eco and normal.
I thought it basically turned the turbo off.
More test driving to do yet.
in a 500..??
in my experience the ECO button changes the mapping,
makes the throttle HARDer to push..
how many miles on your TA..?,
they are still TIGHT until @10K miles.
charlie - punto TA - Oxford
We got our new 500 Twinair 105 Lounge in June and it's just great. We love it's small size and cute cheekiness. I keep it in Sport mode all the time as I think the sudden 'rush' it gives as the engine goes past about 3,500 revs is brilliant. It took me by surprise the first time and now I look for opportunities to use it.
The Twinair is a fantastic little engine - who thought a 0.9 litre two cylinder unit could be so much fun?
Previous car was a Suzuki Swift Sport with a 136 BHP 1.6 litre engine and although it was faster on paper (0-60 in 8.6 secs) the Fiat makes me grin more.
The Twinair is a fantastic little engine - who thought a 0.9 litre two cylinder unit could be so much fun?
Previous car was a Suzuki Swift Sport with a 136 BHP 1.6 litre engine and although it was faster on paper (0-60 in 8.6 secs) the Fiat makes me grin more.
How bizarre - I find there's an enormous and noticeable difference between eco and normal. Contrary to other users I actually can't stand driving in Eco mode - I find it makes the car labour. I recall when I first got the car I watched a review where the driver described eco as 'potentially dangerous', and to be fair, I can sympathise with that - I find it really lacks acceleration in fast moving circumstances.
The turbocharger is definitely noticeable - there is a sudden 'kick in' with the distinct whistle that a turbocharger (should) make. I hear it nearly every time I accelerate from standstill to ~30mph.
I'm no mechanical expert by any means - though perhaps this could be indicative that your turbocharger is, for some reason, failing you? Hopefully a more knowledgeable user may have a better recommendation else perhaps you should have a mechanic take a look. Definitely worth doing - the 'nippiness' and whistle of the turbo are part of what makes it a joyful little car.
Accelerating hard in fast moving circumstances is not ecodriving.
Ecodriving is not everyone's bag and if you'd rather enjoy the spirited performance of the car, that's great - it is, after all, what the TA was designed for.
You don't press the brake pedal if you don't want to stop, and you don't turn on the wipers if it isn't raining. By the same argument, if you don't want to ecodrive, don't press the ecodrive button. Simples!
It'd be great if the eco button got you a 20% improvement in economy whilst retaining the original performance, but we live in the real world, and such concepts exist only in the sales patter of dealers.
Anyone whose priority is economy would do better to buy a 1.2; the TA was designed for performance, not economy.
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Just 20k, on a 2011.
I think a well behaved lady has had it.
I haven't yet discerned much difference.
I've not read the handbook either.
A lady who should have taken the bus.
Make sure it has the correct grade of fresh oil in it, get it warm, then thrash it.
Cheers
D
AGH1965
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Oh, I didn't notice that the TwinAir Eco Button thread (https://www.fiatforum.com/500/445186-twinair-eco-button.html) was continued here.
That's exactly what I meant my comment in the TwinAir Eco Button thread:
You need more power than the eco mode offers to get your car quickly in a gap between other traffic before your lane ends.
AGH1965
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The eco mode isn't necessarily meant for eco driving. In my opinion it's a simple tool for "dummies" to help them improve fuel economy. Without using their brains they can constantly floor the pedal and still accelerate moderately.
That's why it's a button.
If you need more power than eco mode offers, then press the button to turn it off.
TrevC
Established member
I use the eco mode when pootling around town as it makes the engine smoother at low revs. I certainly wouldn't describe it as dangerous. When mine had its first service I was given a 1.2 Lounge as a courtesy car and did my normal commute in that. Subjectively it felt similarly powered to the TA in eco. It also returned similar economy.
