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General New Member & 500 convert

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General New Member & 500 convert

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Balltofeet Fiat

New member
Joined
Jan 2, 2008
Messages
17
Points
9
Location
Kent
Hello new member here.

I alwasy thought Fiat were rubbish. I have test driven today the new 500 and yes there was a buzzing sound in driver's door trim, the ride was unsettled and crashy in the Sport and the stereo was tinny. But I ordered a basic Popular 500. I am a keen VAG enthusiast & have got used to VW, Audi and whisper it quietly Skoda build quality.

However, my inspection of the 500 found the interior good, panel gaps fine and engine area fine.

I cannot afford to spec my 500 to 12K, but with the white & red retro seats I believe the Pop is the best value of the lot as this gives you the retro white steering wheel. I ahve gone with the diesel.

Why then have I bought one if I am a VAG fan and so critical of French & Italian build quality. One answer style and panache! A further reason to buy is I believe the depreciation will be low enough to :worship:rival the MINI and the Audi TT in the next 2 years.

How many of you have ordered the diesel variant - I have a diesel pop, but given I have specified the HoFi subwoofer upgrade I now read a long wait - I will contact FIAT UK tomorow - this option seems popular. :worship:
 
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Balltofeet Fiat said:
Hello new member here.

I alwasy thought Fiat were rubbish. I have test driven today the new 500 and yes there was a buzzing sound in driver's door trim, the ride was unsettled and crashy in the Sport and the stereo was tinny. But I ordered a basic Popular 500. I am a keen VAG enthusiast & have got used to VW, Audi and whisper it quietly Skoda build quality.

However, my inspection of the 500 found the interior good, panel gaps fine and engine area fine.

I cannot afford to spec my 500 to 12K, but with the white & red retro seats I believe the Pop is the best value of the lot as this gives you the retro white steering wheel. I ahve gone with the diesel.

Why then have I bought one if I am a VAG fan and so critical of French & Italian build quality. One answer style and panache! A further reason to buy is I believe the depreciation will be low enough to :worship:rival the MINI and the Audi TT in the next 2 years.

How many of you have ordered the diesel variant - I have a diesel pop, but given I have specified the HoFi subwoofer upgrade I now read a long wait - I will contact FIAT UK tomorow - this option seems popular. :worship:
Click to expand...

You cant get the subwoofer at the moment, not an option you can get. You will have to wait until you the car and then get it retro-fitted at the dealer. This is what I was told 3 weeks ago as I wanted it too, so now I have to wait.

You are lucky to get a test-drive, I was told by my dealer that all dealers arent supposed to even show off the car until the 21st and he wont even budge so I can take a peek, never mind a test-drive. I have to wait until a few days after the 21st to even be in for a chance to get a test drive.

Needless to say I have ordered the 1.3 diesel in Lounge trim with a few extras so I am sure I wont be disappointed. I just wish I didnt have to wait about 6 months in total to get it. :eek:
 
seadragon said:
You are lucky to get a test-drive, I was told by my dealer that all dealers arent supposed to even show off the car until the 21st
Click to expand...
Officially we're not supposed to, but thankfully some dealers are more interested in keeping their customers happy and (as a result) actually selling cars than keeping Fiat happy! ;)
 
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Quite alot of people over at www.NF500.com have gone for the diesel option. It's a great little engine, I tried a Panda fitted with one and it was great. The MPG read out on the trip computer was astonishing!

I think I'll be looking at a 1.2 though. I'm used to having 'peppy!' cars so the 1.2 will do me fine. And it's only £35 to tax which is fantastic. It's a sweet free-reving little thing too!

What colour have you gone for? I agree about the Pop spec, it's just want yer need for fun, chic motoring!
 
I take my words back. My dealer has just given me a ring. Their 1.4 Sport is here and he said I can come take a peek and he will take me for a spin in it after work today :D:D
 
Just got back from test-drive on 1.4 Sport, WOW !!! Looks amazing, interior and exterior quality is great but interior VERY compact in the back. Boot is larger than you think (pathetic excuse for a parcel shelf though).

Steering super-precise, corners like its on rails, suspension good, nice revving engine (but I will be happy with my 1.3 MJ).

I think whatever version and engine you go for you wont be disappointed, I know, I will be totally thrilled when I get mine.

All dealers have to have a White on show for the launch, states so in a letter from Fiat. MY dealer will have a 1.4 Lounge in White on show, also a 1.4 Sport in Red and a 1.3 Lounge in Cha Cha Cha Azure.

Apparently there are some spies from Fiat who are going to catch out those dealers who are flouting the rules and allowing test drives and putting cars in the showroom, so beware !!!!(y)

Super car, CANT WAIT :slayer:
 
A car can corner like it's on rails and body roll. Anyone ridden on a Virgin Pendolino train.:D
 
al ot of you seem to go for the disel version. hmm is it good then? james may on top gear said the diesel is a bad choice for it.how come you lot aint going for a petrol as its a tiny car?the diesel good then?
 
james is wrong
that diesel engine is bullet proof and powerful low maintenance no cam belt

we had a 90hp version in our doblo shop van and we spent half our time out in it looking for a bmw to beat we absolutely thrashed it changed gear without lifting the throttle revved it to governer daily and it still runs sweet after 3 years of torture and would still return 47/55 mpg

i have seen 75hp panda diesel cars running close to 75 mpg on a regular basis
 
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littlepip17 said:
james is wrong
that diesel engine is bullet proof and powerful low maintenance no cam belt

we had a 90hp version in our doblo shop van and we spent half our time out in it looking for a bmw to beat we absolutely thrashed it changed gear without lifting the throttle revved it to governer daily and it still runs sweet after 3 years of torture and would still return 47/55 mpg

i have seen 75hp panda diesel cars running close to 75 mpg on a regular basis
Click to expand...

the main reason i want the diesel is economy and i have also heard, as above, the engine is really good, bullit prrof and also really light, so thats teh only choice for me. the mpg you get on the 1.2 and 1.4 is not that briliant really, so those 2 arent even close to being an option for me.

i felt hardly any body roll on my drive, so i guess we all look at different parts.i was very happy in general with the car, but will have to get used to the fact there is no space inside the car (y)
 
I have a Diesel and it is great. Remember Top Gear is about 'show'. The advice is not exactly great.. I get 5.4l/100km and I have a heavy right foot. It's still only done 1,200km so I'm not going to thrash it just yet. Overtaking is fine and I work in an area (the Langhe, Piedmont) where the roads are really bendy and hilly (a favorite for European bikers in the summer) it goes road corners beautifully and goes up the hills without any fuss. I had a Mini Cooper and it doesnt compare but still is fantastic - not a harsh, tiring ride like the Mini though.
The deisel is a good choice. Why waste money on fuel when you can have just as much fun with less expense..? Only a overpaid TV presenter would have a different view perhaps. I thought the Top Gear test was strange - as though he was trying hard to hate it but couldn't. Hardly surprising..
 
richit said:
Why waste money on fuel when you can have just as much fun with less expense..? Only a overpaid TV presenter would have a different view perhaps.
Click to expand...

Hey, I'm not an overpaid TV presenter and I have a different view! :D

It does slightly baffle me how people can shun petrol for being more expensive when they happily put up the massive expense of new car depreciation...

Beats a hasty retreat... ;)
 
I guess that depends on how many miles you do, doesn't it? I just sold my Corolla (yawn) I had it from new and had done 90,000km in two years and got a really good price for as it was a diesel. I think it was much better to pay the extra - I more than got the money back and wasn't depressed everytime I had to fill up - hey, that's worth the extra alone!
 
Having drifted off-topic; Balltofeet FIAT I reckon you are the least likely FIAT convert I've ever seen! A self-confessed VAG fan and the first to make a positive remark here about a FIAT's depreciation. I really, really hope the 500 does it for you and brings you to the path to true enlightenment. ;)
 
T14086 said:
drove one yesterday with a sub in it
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The demonstrators are fitted with extras (alloys... sub etc) which arn't available straight away for customer production cars :( I would have liked the Interscope sounds system.

Hopefully there will be a sound package that can be added retro-fit, or something aftermarket from Blaupunkt that would work seamlessly.
 
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richit said:
Why waste money on fuel when you can have just as much fun with less expense..? Only a overpaid TV presenter would have a different view perhaps
Click to expand...
Surely it is consumer choice - I have owned petrol and diesel units YET currently drive a 1.4 petrol [not in 500 guise, thankfully :p] - am I an overpaid TV presenter :confused:
 
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