- Joined
- Oct 6, 2005
- Messages
- 106
- Points
- 72
Been lurking since I got my 500, and not really having much to say so to contribute a bit I thought I'd give my impressions on my 500 after hitting the 1000 mile mark.....
Overall impression, I love this car! Still feels very solid and very tightly put together. No rattles, knocks or squeaks yet.
Love the turning circle, not surprising considering the size of the thing.
Stereo is pretty good, although the speakers do vibrate a bit on 'bassy' numbers. I love the sound stage sounding like it's right on the centre of the dashboard. May look at changing the speakers in the back in the near future, but I'm awaiting Mr. Elvin's photographic blog on installing his!
MPG is not bad, getting around 51mpg at the moment, and this has increased. My wife took it for it's first long blast a week ago down to her mothers which after being on the motorway for 50 odd miles has loosed it up considerably.
Being only the 1.2 Engine, it does need to be worked a bit, and it does seem to run out of puff on hills if you don't plan them better. However, I was surprised how lively it was towards the top end on the motorway, 65 to 80mph does come quick for such a small engine.
No evidence of using any oil, checked it at the weekend and if anything I would say it's got too much in it!!
The colour is a bugger to keep clean, it's the Cha Cha Cha Azure (stupid name), and this time of year it just seems to attact dirt. Especially the back end. It just seems to be a dirt magnet at the back!
Don't like having a small fuel tank (did mention this a while back), but it is a novelty going to the garage and a fill up cost less than £30! I'm spending more time at the petrol pumps because of this, whereas before in my old car (Clio 1.5 dCi diesel) I could do over 600 miles to one tank.
Getting on with Blue&Me ok, although I had to change my phone. I did have a Samsung D500 before which did not really work at all with it. It did pair up, it could dial numbers but Blue&Me then just disconnected even though the phone was still making a call. I've since got a free upgrade with a Sony Ericson w890i and I can report that all features work well.
Been playing with the Eco-Drive thingy as well. Installed it with no fuss on the car and got some nice graphs at home. Keep getting told off for staying in 1st, 2nd and 3rd too long! But, that's how your supposed to drive Fiats!
Got a small 8Gb USB Gizmo Jnr plugged into the fragile looking USB slot which works ok. Only trouble having a large memory stick full of songs, it did take the Media Player quite a while to index everything. I don't like the way the Head Unit just says 'Media Player' all the time while listening to MP3s, I woud prefer the Song ID to be displayed on there.
Looking to get the Chrome Bonnett line on it as I think it adds an even more retro feel to the front end. And wouldn't mind getting the Italian flag wing decals on it too. Just to personalise it a bit more.
Hoping to get involved in the 500 'scene' a bit with this car. Already have details for the Auto Italia in Bristol next year and hope the IoW run comes about. Couldn't make the New Forest run unfortunately, although it would have been not too far away.
There, I think I've rattled on enough. Have a good Xmas one and all!
Pete
Overall impression, I love this car! Still feels very solid and very tightly put together. No rattles, knocks or squeaks yet.
Love the turning circle, not surprising considering the size of the thing.
Stereo is pretty good, although the speakers do vibrate a bit on 'bassy' numbers. I love the sound stage sounding like it's right on the centre of the dashboard. May look at changing the speakers in the back in the near future, but I'm awaiting Mr. Elvin's photographic blog on installing his!
MPG is not bad, getting around 51mpg at the moment, and this has increased. My wife took it for it's first long blast a week ago down to her mothers which after being on the motorway for 50 odd miles has loosed it up considerably.
Being only the 1.2 Engine, it does need to be worked a bit, and it does seem to run out of puff on hills if you don't plan them better. However, I was surprised how lively it was towards the top end on the motorway, 65 to 80mph does come quick for such a small engine.
No evidence of using any oil, checked it at the weekend and if anything I would say it's got too much in it!!
The colour is a bugger to keep clean, it's the Cha Cha Cha Azure (stupid name), and this time of year it just seems to attact dirt. Especially the back end. It just seems to be a dirt magnet at the back!
Don't like having a small fuel tank (did mention this a while back), but it is a novelty going to the garage and a fill up cost less than £30! I'm spending more time at the petrol pumps because of this, whereas before in my old car (Clio 1.5 dCi diesel) I could do over 600 miles to one tank.
Getting on with Blue&Me ok, although I had to change my phone. I did have a Samsung D500 before which did not really work at all with it. It did pair up, it could dial numbers but Blue&Me then just disconnected even though the phone was still making a call. I've since got a free upgrade with a Sony Ericson w890i and I can report that all features work well.
Been playing with the Eco-Drive thingy as well. Installed it with no fuss on the car and got some nice graphs at home. Keep getting told off for staying in 1st, 2nd and 3rd too long! But, that's how your supposed to drive Fiats!
Got a small 8Gb USB Gizmo Jnr plugged into the fragile looking USB slot which works ok. Only trouble having a large memory stick full of songs, it did take the Media Player quite a while to index everything. I don't like the way the Head Unit just says 'Media Player' all the time while listening to MP3s, I woud prefer the Song ID to be displayed on there.
Looking to get the Chrome Bonnett line on it as I think it adds an even more retro feel to the front end. And wouldn't mind getting the Italian flag wing decals on it too. Just to personalise it a bit more.
Hoping to get involved in the 500 'scene' a bit with this car. Already have details for the Auto Italia in Bristol next year and hope the IoW run comes about. Couldn't make the New Forest run unfortunately, although it would have been not too far away.
There, I think I've rattled on enough. Have a good Xmas one and all!
Pete
