Firstly, thanks for a fab forum!
I've been lurking for a week now - since the start of my 500 obsession
What i need to know is - am i losing my marbles trading in my peugeot 407 sw sport for a beautiful, perfectly formed 1.2 lounge in bossa nova white with chrome, bumpers and italia side stripe?

I'm a 40+ woman and was fine before love hit me.....:devil:

You are SO not mad! Welcome to the forum sheeno! When's the little'un due?

Fear not. You are a perfectly sane person who recognises a brilliant little car when she sees one, and knows that with oil prices going only one way, fun at an affordable price is the funniest fun of all.

Cheers.
Due in April - a feisty little aries me thinks! She's just soooo pretty. Even my husband understands and hasn't even put up a fight
Only thing that worries me is the fact I'll be up and down the motorways quite a bit. Had a test drive in a 1.4, but no motorway driving. Anyone had their 1.2's out on the motorway? How's the noise and ride?
Thanks

sheeno said:

Anyone had their 1.2's out on the motorway?

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Not had it on the motorway yet but have had it upto 70 on a dual carriage way. The 1.2 engine is really smooth and refined so no worries there. There's some muted wind noise around the wing mirrors but it's neglible to be honest. There's a bit of wind noise around the glass roof where the glass meets the metal, but apart from that it's a very relaxed and refined car to drive. The engine is far smoother than the 1.4

well done, good choice of car... tbh the 1.3 is better for motorway use, the 1.2 will be fine but youll find long inclines a bit of a pain, and overtaking in fast moving traffic becomes an art form all part of the fun of small cars.

nuovapanda said:

well done, good choice of car... tbh the 1.3 is better for motorway use, the 1.2 will be fine but youll find long inclines a bit of a pain, and overtaking in fast moving traffic becomes an art form all part of the fun of small cars.

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The 1.2 isn't as bad as you're making it out to be. You've got to drive a 1.2 500, not a Panda, to be able to appreciate any comparison.

Read the post again... I have stated the 1.3 is the better motorway car, its faster and has loads more torque and low down grunt, fact
The 1.2 will be fine I agree, but the diesel will be better for longer distance mway stuff.

Thanks, I'm looking forward even more to April now
Can't wait to be able to park without the stress.

I am 40+ bloke and I am as excited about my wife's new 500 coming as she is!

Plus being 40+ my memories of small noisy cars is such that I find any new car a revelation in comparison.

You don't say if the Peugeout is petrol or diesel. I am guessing you don't need the space or you wouldn't have got this far! The 500 is almost exactly half the weight of the Peugeot, it will feel so different. I have an Audi A3 2.0T, the 500 1.4 we are getting has half the power yet the Fiat felt plenty lively enough. I love the variety of the different cars.

We went for the 1.4 as we are trading in my wife's Alfa 147 2.0 and it felt the right choice for mostly short journies bombing around.

From what I have read the 1.2 is the quieter cruiser, the 1.4 has a more rorty exhaust and generally a sportier (louder) sound.

It will be a very different driving experience but I am sure you will love it.

Cheers
Baldrick

Thanks - the 407 is a diesel, so like you say, couldn't be much different! Really great at cruising along the motorway, and exceleration is great - pretty much can pass what you want (except speed cameras!). I'm not a speed demon, so can live with less power - would rather keep my licence anyway
My first ever car was a shiny new fiat panda 750 in white with 'go faster' stripes - I'm hoping my 500 will be somewhere between the 2! I think this will feel more like my car and less of a family 'great but dull' vehicle

You had a real Panda... now youre talking

o oh...careful, Nuova fancies you now!

You'll love the 1.2 and you haven't gone mad!!! The other joy will be seeing 40+ mpg on a petrol!!!

Baerius said:

o oh...careful, Nuova fancies you now!

You'll love the 1.2 and you haven't gone mad!!! The other joy will be seeing 40+ mpg on a petrol!!!

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I've been getting 50+

LOL, Im too old to fancy anyone these days

Suasexed said:

I've been getting 50+

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OMG Nice one 50 mpg¬!!! Why did I buy a diesel????

O i forgot to ask,,,How's it going Sua now you've got your cAR/?? I saw the dealership low light photo...got any more? Are you loving it? Have you posted a review yet??

Aw bet you're on cloud 90

Suasexed said:

I've been getting 50+

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Take it out of the garage then tom :nerner:

Yoshi

PS if thats the case why indeed pay the extra for the 1.3mjt....the 1.2 is a great little motor and is £1400 cheaper.

nuovapanda said:

You had a real Panda... now youre talking

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It's amazing how many peeps that have had had one of the old Pandas stick with FIAT. And of course the 750 had the really basic seats like my 903cc Bella had - only the 1000cc had "comfy" seats. I only veered from the true path coz FIAT were going through what I have recenty seen descibed (diff. make) as a "Eurobox" phase. If the 500 hadn't been launched as quick as it has then I would probably now be in a Grande Punto in Maranello Red with multisopke wheels.

Agreed, with cars like the Stilo, last Punto, Idea and facelifted Multipla it was looking like Fiat had lost the plot, however the new Panda and now the Bravo and 500 have firmly got them back to being great again. I wouldnt be in a Grande though, bit dull in my opinion.
If it werent for the 500 Id still have my MR2.

nuovapanda said:

Agreed, with cars like the Stilo, last Punto, Idea and facelifted Multipla it was looking like Fiat had lost the plot, however the new Panda and now the Bravo and 500 have firmly got them back to being great again. I wouldnt be in a Grande though, bit dull in my opinion.
If it werent for the 500 Id still have my MR2.

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It would be the Sporting :devil:. My Punto Sporting (MK2 pre face-mangling) in Broom Yellow (one of only two yellows I've liked on cars, the other being Porche's colour of the late sixties) was a great car.

My sister had a 1.2 Grande Punto (now a new Bravo) and we did a booze run to France+Belgium last December in it and it was fantastic and very nice to drive. I doubt if FIAT have ever made a car that was bad to drive, even the vans are superb.