Is it better to get the diesel because its 16V and its hydraulics tappets and you dont have to have the tappets adjusted every now and then

It's also a fair bit more expensive and unless you do a lot of mileage you are unlikely to recoup those costs over the petrol.

I ran a diesel panda MJ for 9 months. Absolutely hated it, never want a diesel again. I think in all honesty given that you are going to get 45+ mpg out of a 1.2 that'd be a better option.

I think that a 1.3 is just too small for a dismal. It's laggy and rattly. Though it is quicker at some in gear acceleration points it's not worth it IMO.

Go test drive, see for yourself.

In my experience the most offensive thing about having some bloody great AGA craned into the front end of a small car is all that extra mass. It unbalances the car and seriously compromises the handling. Never again for me! Our 1.2 petrol gives comfortably over 46 mpg without trying and is a sweet drive too.

If the 1.2 8v is maintained, the tappets won't need adjustment until well over 72k. I've known Punto's with mileages beyond 100k that are still on their factory-set tappets.

The 1.4 16v petrol has hydraulic tappets if you're that set on them.

D4nny8oy said:

If the 1.2 8v is maintained, the tappets won't need adjustment until well over 72k. I've known Punto's with mileages beyond 100k that are still on their factory-set tappets.

The 1.4 16v petrol has hydraulic tappets if you're that set on them.

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Thanx for all in info but If I was geting a 500 it would be a 1.3 or 1.2 1.4 is too much on tax or fuel

Agree with you the 1.4 is a dog, financially. The 1.2 is probbaly the best-buy although small petrols are incredibly weak low down.

As said above the 1.3 isn't a great engine, but there is a big jump in consumption (as you can see from my signature). As I seem to mention often I also have a diesel Citroen C4P, which is really nice to drive (v. quiet and with sufficient torque and quite a good sound too) - but the Fiat is nothing like that!

The best bet would be the new MultijetII, which should give a realistic economy of between and 55 (absolute worst) and 80 mpg - with 95bhp!

However, it is expensive. Still, a fast car giving real world figures of around 70+mpg has to be worth looking at.