endrop - for all your online needs

General Potential new 500 owner - help and advice

Currently reading:
General Potential new 500 owner - help and advice

M

MMG

New member
Joined
Feb 6, 2009
Messages
6
Points
1
Hi there,

I'm currently thinking about purchasing a Fiat 500. It seems like this place is a great forum for help and advice.

Couple of questions if anyone has the time to help me out?

- Is the 1.2 engine adequate for a 40 mile round trip commute on motorway/a roads? Thinking about going for a 1.2 Lounge for economy and cost reasons

- Has anyone had any experience with Fiat 500 finance? Have looked at the example on the website of 10% deposit PCP which looks ok, however would need to bump up the mileage limit a little bit. Are these figures negociable in a Fiat dealership? I could purchase the car outright, but this seems like a good way of retaining that amount in savings and paying little each month.

- Anyone got a combined real life MPG from the 1.2 engine?

Any other help, tips and advice would be very much appreciated.
 
MMG said:
Hi there,

I'm currently thinking about purchasing a Fiat 500. It seems like this place is a great forum for help and advice.

Couple of questions if anyone has the time to help me out?

- Is the 1.2 engine adequate for a 40 mile round trip commute on motorway/a roads? Thinking about going for a 1.2 Lounge for economy and cost reasons I use mine to go 17 miles each way every day to work on A roads and dual carriageway. I have the 1.2 Lounge and find it perfect for the mix of roads.

- Has anyone had any experience with Fiat 500 finance? Have looked at the example on the website of 10% deposit PCP which looks ok, however would need to bump up the mileage limit a little bit. Are these figures negociable in a Fiat dealership? I could purchase the car outright, but this seems like a good way of retaining that amount in savings and paying little each month. Sorry can't help with this one.

- Anyone got a combined real life MPG from the 1.2 engine? I'm getting on average (on trip B data which does overall MPG rather than the one that you reset when you fill up) 46mpg. And at only £29 to fill up it means about 350-400 miles roughly depending on how you drive for that money which is good :)

Any other help, tips and advice would be very much appreciated. I love my 500 and am glad I bought it. I use it for commute and nipping round town at the weekend here and there with my toddler son. I find the styling is gorgeous, it's a head turner, the boot is easily big enough for weeks shopping/weekends away, the inside is roomy, the Blue & Me is great and it's cheap to run.

Hope that helps and welcome to the Forum.

Heidi.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Heidi, to be honest your car seems to be pretty much the exact spec I would like, right down to the red leather!

Just reading about the Blue and Me and I think I've hit a bit of a problem. Seems like because its a Microsoft product, it won't work with a MAC formatted iPod... Bit of a let down! :(

Any other opinions welcome!
 
I think you have to reformat your ipod as PC. BUT a much better way is to buy a cheap USB memory stick and put your songs on there and you can then do playlists through WMP. I do that because although my ipod is a pc format the songs I buy on iTunes are MP4 and I can't be bothered to have two versions on my iPod (Blue & Me doesn't play MP4) so I convert and put onto my stick which i keep in my car.

My car is lush - there are some photos in the gallery of the inside (the day i got it) that will show you the red leather and funk white combo.

Everyone on here is great for advice by the way - i came on here before purchasing to see if my son's pram would fit in the boot and I've never left lol. Whereabouts are you from - we are all spread around the country but probably someone on here in your area.
 
Heidi said:
I think you have to reformat your ipod as PC. BUT a much better way is to buy a cheap USB memory stick and put your songs on there and you can then do playlists through WMP. I do that because although my ipod is a pc format the songs I buy on iTunes are MP4 and I can't be bothered to have two versions on my iPod (Blue & Me doesn't play MP4) so I convert and put onto my stick which i keep in my car.

My car is lush - there are some photos in the gallery of the inside (the day i got it) that will show you the red leather and funk white combo.

Everyone on here is great for advice by the way - i came on here before purchasing to see if my son's pram would fit in the boot and I've never left lol. Whereabouts are you from - we are all spread around the country but probably someone on here in your area.
Click to expand...

That sounds like a pretty good way of doing it actually - 16gb memory stick for £15 and a nights worth of reformatting the music, not so bad! I take it its easy to scroll through playlists etc on the stereo?

I'm from N.Ireland - doesnt seem to be too many users from here!! Maybe I can start a new trend!
 
MMG said:
Hi there,

- Has anyone had any experience with Fiat 500 finance? Have looked at the example on the website of 10% deposit PCP which looks ok, however would need to bump up the mileage limit a little bit. Are these figures negociable in a Fiat dealership? I could purchase the car outright, but this seems like a good way of retaining that amount in savings and paying little each month.

.
Click to expand...

Me and my wife ordered our new 500 1.2 Lounge last week on a PCP deal. With a deposit of £950 we are paying 36 monthly installments of £153.38. I found the deal on Fiat's website. I hope this is helpful. I have a link too! :)
http://www.fiat.co.uk/content/?id=12493
 
MMG said:
That sounds like a pretty good way of doing it actually - 16gb memory stick for £15 and a nights worth of reformatting the music, not so bad! I take it its easy to scroll through playlists etc on the stereo?

I'm from N.Ireland - doesnt seem to be too many users from here!! Maybe I can start a new trend!
Click to expand...

Yes it's really easy to scroll through playlists on the steering wheel controls. You have to create playlists through WMP on the stick itself (i.e. songs from the stick) but once I'd done it once I found it easy to do every time. I found the info in the technical section on the forum.

I have the sony ericsson walkman phone too which is compatible for reading text messages from the Blue & Me which is kinda fun.

No haven't seen a NI 500 owner on here yet ... although Jim Magill did own one and he took it all over USA and sold it to a museum over there. Do a search on him on the forum and read all about it.
 
Heidi said:
Yes it's really easy to scroll through playlists on the steering wheel controls. You have to create playlists through WMP on the stick itself (i.e. songs from the stick) but once I'd done it once I found it easy to do every time. I found the info in the technical section on the forum.

I have the sony ericsson walkman phone too which is compatible for reading text messages from the Blue & Me which is kinda fun.

No haven't seen a NI 500 owner on here yet ... although Jim Magill did own one and he took it all over USA and sold it to a museum over there. Do a search on him on the forum and read all about it.
Click to expand...

Cheers, thanks for the info. Have read about Jim's adventures - what an amazing adventure!

Paddy, yeah saw the link to that on the Fiat website, looks not too bad however with all the little options that I wanted it would have to be more than a £950 deposit!!
 
MMG said:
I could purchase the car outright, but this seems like a good way of retaining that amount in savings and paying little each month.
Click to expand...

Hi MMg and welcome to the forum, it is an ideal place to pick up information so that when you go to buy the car you know just what to ask/look for.

Regarding the purchase I personally always buy outright as I hate to pay out hundred/thousands extra as it seems like massive depreciation when you do sell or p/ex for the next one. Of course this is not always an option for everyone but with interest rates at such a low figure it seems daft not to use any savings as they are not earning you very much at all.

Of course, if they are tied up and there might be a penalty to pay for early withdrawal then this might not be financially viable.
 
bought mine on the 50-500 deal 50% down and 50% to pay 2 years later the 1.2 is a great engine for all types of roads it will return 50mpg with a small amount of trying, the only other option is the 1.3 diesel which offers more torque ( but is vertually identical in performance figures :cue backlash:) but costs £1400 more to buy and diesel is 10p per litre more to buy hence why most people looking for the best combo of eco and cost go for the 1.2, arrange a 24hr test drive with you'r dealer (they will do it if they think you'r a seriouse buyer) and do the round trip you won't be dissapointed..(y)
 
Welcome to the forum !!

I own a 1.2 Lounge & have travelled over 11,000 miles in just over 8 months.
The economy is excellent. I regularly drive to Exeter, fifty miles from my home, on very twisty A roads & I usually get 61 to 63 mpg.
I'd say my combined economy is in the mid fifties. The lowest I've recorded
was around 46/48 mpg & this was due to motorway driving. Being a small Fiat it is also quite nippy & lots of fun.
I had a BMW Mini Cooper S before, which had much more power but I don't regret buying the 500. It's worth it for the character alone !!
I hope this helps.
 
Hello and welcome to the forum,

I own a 500 Sport 1.2 which I've had since late May.

1.2 is very perky and loves to be revved up, but it's only when you want to put on a bigger grin on your face! My commute to work is 7 miles but I take the longer route home of 12 miles because it's so addictive to drive. I promise you, you won't be disappointed. I am getting an average of 45 mpg as it's mostly start and stop traffic on class 'A' roads. On the motorway I get a best of 61mpg. And only £35 annual road tax - my previous Streetka cost me £210!!

I didn't take up their finance. I traded in the Streetka and settled the balance in cold, hard cash.

Best of luck in your potential ownership

Exo
 
Hi MMG- Welcome to the forum. :wave:

Cannot help with most of these questions yet as my car does not arrive until March.

But in relation to the PCP deal, I can confirm it is negotiable with the dealer should you decide to take this route.

Like Grimwau says, if you have the cash already to buy outright it may be well worth looking into. I think the question is how long you intend to keep the car and whether you will wish to buy the car at the end of the PCP. If the answer is yes, it will be cheaper to buy outright. :)
 
MMG said:
- Has anyone had any experience with Fiat 500 finance? Have looked at the example on the website of 10% deposit PCP which looks ok, however would need to bump up the mileage limit a little bit. Are these figures negociable in a Fiat dealership? I could purchase the car outright, but this seems like a good way of retaining that amount in savings and paying little each month.
Click to expand...

If you have the funds and self control. You would be mad to finance a 500 if you are intending to keep it for a while.
The interest you will pay extra on the car will not offset the interest you savings would grow.
If you have the self control, pay with your savings. then whatever the payment would have been for the car put back into the savings account. That way the deal you have made is already better by the amount of interest not accumulated.

Not an ideal situation for everyone but for some it's madness to do it any other way.


Welcome To FIATForum.com by the way. :wave:
 
Last edited:
me n the other half went to Birmingham and back on a tank - travelled from Maidstone :slayer:
 
white 500 said:
arrange a 24hr test drive with you'r dealer (they will do it if they think you'r a seriouse buyer) and do the round trip you won't be dissapointed..(y)
Click to expand...


I would agree - arrange a test drive with a dealer - and then if possible have a go in one with more than 6k on the clock - it takes a while for the 1.2 engine to loosen up but when it does you'll be amazed at the difference it makes:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
General Fiat 500 multijet 95 bhp. Potential Glow plug problem.
Replies
14
Views
442
picasso55
P
Mikefraser93
General Help with my 500 please
2 3
Replies
47
Views
1K
vexorg
vexorg
T
Technical Fiat 500 HELP it's all gone mad
Replies
2
Views
377
steveras57
S
Jojo1912
  • Question
Technical 2017 Fiat 500 Lounge. Master cylinder Help Please
Replies
4
Views
589
jrkitching
J
O
  • Question
Technical Hello and help me please
2
Replies
39
Views
2K
osintseva
O
Back
Top