General Sold our 500TA

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General Sold our 500TA

I've driven a 100bhp 1.0 ecoboost powered Fiesta for a few hundred miles as a hire car, about 2 years ago. Very impressive engine in terms of performance and economy. Not so impressed with the cabin, which I thought drab and dated, but that is purely subjective.
 
Yep, the 1.25 82hp one is on our radar. Also hopefully going to test drive a 14 plate 1.0 Zetec Ecoboost - the non-turbo version (79hp). Intrigued to see how that one goes, haven't driven a 3cyl car before. Guess we'll soon know whether we like it or not once we have had a drive.

Some reviews say you need to "thrash" it to keep up with fast-moving traffic, but having always had 1.2 or 1.4 8v engines with our Fiats, I'm not really bothered about that!

You can pick-up a 500L for very little money now, if you can live with the looks? ;) Very safe and spacious family transport. Think of it more as a Giant Panda than a 500!
 
I've driven a 100bhp 1.0 ecoboost powered Fiesta for a few hundred miles as a hire car, about 2 years ago. Very impressive engine in terms of performance and economy. Not so impressed with the cabin, which I thought drab and dated, but that is purely subjective.

Yeah, I'm just about satisfied with the Fiesta cabin. I like the layout of the switches etc, but it is a bit lacking in colour compared to the 500 range! It's not a deal-breaker though.
 
You can pick-up a 500L for very little money now, if you can live with the looks? ;) Very safe and spacious family transport. Think of it more as a Giant Panda than a 500!

My wife and I have had this conversation several times!:)

We both really want to like the 500L, but sadly it's just not for us. We test drove one a few years back, the basic 1.4 engine was fine to be honest, but it did feel quite hefty and large and the gearstick position was an issue for my wife in particular.

Other than that, it's just a bit too much of a weird mish-mash - think that's partly because we've owned a 500, Panda and Punto and you can clearly see all the individual bits inspired by those cars! But you're quite right that the second hand 500L market is very attractive price wise.
 
Our daughter has just traded in her 64 plate 1.2 500 for a Ford B-Max.
The 500 was too small for her growing family.

Mick.
 
My wife and I have had this conversation several times!:)

We both really want to like the 500L, but sadly it's just not for us. We test drove one a few years back, the basic 1.4 engine was fine to be honest, but it did feel quite hefty and large and the gearstick position was an issue for my wife in particular.

Other than that, it's just a bit too much of a weird mish-mash - think that's partly because we've owned a 500, Panda and Punto and you can clearly see all the individual bits inspired by those cars! But you're quite right that the second hand 500L market is very attractive price wise.

I know what you mean - it does look like when they started designing the 500L they weren't totally sure whether it'd end up with a 500 or a Panda badge. It's certainly not as 500-ey as the 500X, which is a shame.

Your wife mustn't be the only one who found the gearstick an issue as Fiat have raised it higher up in the recent facelift. They have also shared a few bits of the 500X in the revised interior, such as the intrument cluster, which should also address the issue of some people not being able to read the speedo.

I guess the 500X/Tipo is out of your price range and/or a little too big?
 
Thanks for the info Liam - turns out the updated 500L interior actually looks pretty good now! Have to be honest, I didn't even bother looking when I heard about the facelift - I didn't think for one second they would basically transplant the 500X interior. So well done Fiat for a change:)

Anyway, it would be too expensive for us right now as a brand new car, but definitely one to consider in a few years maybe.

And...as it turns out, my wife picked up the Fiesta last weekend. So no more Fiats for the time being:(:(:(

We're both pleased with it so far though. It's a 14 plate 1.25 (82) Zetec in bright red, with five doors. It drives really well to be fair, the engine is lovely and smooth and it's very quiet on the motorway. £30 tax and a lower insurance group too, so ticks all the boxes there. And it looks decent enough - not as nice as a 500 but it's pretty smart, we can live with it!

It is a shame to see the 500 go, but we'd happily have another one in future if we need two cars.
 
Certainly a nice looking car that drives well, and there's a dealer in every town. Enjoy!
 
As Super Uwe got good value major service on a Punto previously, same on Fiesta should be painless. Finding another car in the future not difficult either.
 
One thing that was immediately and plainly evident when we drove in our 500TA was how we were "bullied", tailgated, and generally pushed about.

Drive in our Clio, and we get respect and courtesy. Same as when we're in the Yaris.

The difference between them and the 500 is marked. I'm still me, and still driving on the same roads, but it's really really noticeable.

Regards,
Mick.
I too have left the fold, bought a Vauxhall Corsa, had no problems with my 500 really liked it, very stylish, reliable and had a great Fiat dealer.

Just fancied a change, and the Corsa 1.0 turbo engine it a dream to drive,
never got bullied by other cars when i had the 500 , but i don't live in a big city, but i was very aware of it's small size when i was driving, i just feel safer in the Corsa, it's
hard to describe, because if a suv or a lorry hits you it's all over anyway, but you do feel more secure in a bigger car.

Mean no offence to anyone, enjoyed having the 500, and still come back to the forum to read up on things, i don't do that with my previous cars.
 
Yes, I really enjoyed my 6 years of reliable, fun 500 motoring, but I needed something bigger and would probably have chosen a different car anyway, just for a change.

I had an Astra with the 1.0 turbo engine for a few days last year. It was rated at 108bhp, but felt like it had much more, especially in "Sport" mode. I got 50mpg, too. Very impressed.
 
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