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General Is 2010 500 pop differant to drive to 2009?

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General Is 2010 500 pop differant to drive to 2009?

Nick2

Nick2

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Scarily close to ordering now and having been slightly disappointed by the lack of steering feel and bouncy handling during a test drive a while ago I wondered whether the 2010 model is likely to be better in this respect?

Wife's current spec choice is

1.2 Pop
Black with red/black cloth interior
A/C
ESP
Chrome kit
Rear head rests
Vintage wheel trims

I wanted Cha cha but as ever overuled....

I know this is very close to Lounge price but it's just what she wants and I'm not brave enough to argue :-(

Am I to believe that it will now drive more like a 500C ?

Thanks

Nick
 
Last edited:
Has it got the anti-roll bar?

The new one should ride exactly the same as the Ford KA, which has had the modified suspension from launch. Better in other words.
 
Nick2 said:
Scarily close to ordering now and having been slightly disappointed by the lack of steering feel and bouncy handling during a test drive a while ago I wondered whether the 2010 model is likely to be better in this respect?

Wife's current spec choice is

1.2 Pop
Black with red/black cloth interior
A/C
ESP
Chrome kit
Rear head rests
Vintage wheel trims

I wanted Cha cha but as ever overuled....

I know this is very close to Lounge price but it's just what she wants and I'm not brave enough to argue :-(

Am I to believe that it will now drive more like a 500C ?

Thanks

Nick
Click to expand...
*sigh* You do know by the time you end up taking delivery of your car it'll only be 7 or 8 months till the 2011 model comes out. Just order your car and if you don't like the ride then deal with it!

Also tell the wife that the lounge will be worth more come resale time and make up something about the chrome on the vintage trims peeling off like a biznitch and looking horrible.
 
Ulpian said:
Has it got the anti-roll bar?

The new one should ride exactly the same as the Ford KA, which has had the modified suspension from launch. Better in other words.
Click to expand...

I pressume it will have the anti roll bar as it will not be here until April. If so am I right please?

Thank you

Nick
 
Yes, you are right.
However, Maxi has a point. If you hesitate you'll be kicking yourself for not waiting a bit longer. Sometime during 2010 the 500 gets the new twin cylinder engines. Now, there are different opinions about this, but some people ;) think these are worth waiting for.

Maxi is also right about the Lounge - or Sport if it was me. The minute you start speccing up a Pop you lose the advantage of its lower price.
 
Ulpian said:
Has it got the anti-roll bar?

The new one should ride exactly the same as the Ford KA, which has had the modified suspension from launch. Better in other words.
Click to expand...

Dont know about anti roll bars, I am not the sort of person to get under a car, I just drive the thing.
 
Ulpian said:
Yes, you are right.
However, Maxi has a point. If you hesitate you'll be kicking yourself for not waiting a bit longer. Sometime during 2010 the 500 gets the new twin cylinder engines. Now, there are different opinions about this, but some people ;) think these are worth waiting for.

Maxi is also right about the Lounge - or Sport if it was me. The minute you start speccing up a Pop you lose the advantage of its lower price.
Click to expand...
Exactly. The amazing thing is that this guy probably could have bought a good set of coilovers and had them installed with the money he'd have saved if he'd just ordered his car before all the price rises and VAT rise when he first drove it. Yes the ARB does make for a slightly better ride but the 500 is never going to be a magic carpet no matter how much you try.

I've had my car since July and paid a full 1k less than I would today and while yes I don't think the ride is the best I've ever seen in a car (made worse by my 16" multispokes) it's fine for a 1.2 which 99% of the time you're going to be pottering about in. But whatever..... it's not my money that he's flushing down the toilet for a minor suspension revision.

This is what the ARB looks like.

04092009180.jpg
 
my 2010 500 rides better, has better performance, and gets better mpg than in 2009 because i've lost a two stone in weight!

also, just checked on fiat.co.uk and to order a 500 in my spec now costs £1700 more than April 2008 when I ordered mine :eek::eek::eek: Glad I ordered then and saved myself best part of 2k!
 
Thanks all for responses. The "waiting" for the new suspension sort of happened for a lot of dull logistical reasons as well as because the scrappage car only became eligable on 1st Jan this year. My fault as I sold it to myself from my company and picked that date a year ago for no good reason....that cost me the vat increase on its own :-(

Whilst I will be £600 poorer I am where I am on this...

Take the points about depreciation of specced up Pop v Lounge but my wife wants red seats and doesn't want leather. Also plan is to keep it for a long time so depreciation is not so important if we do.

I am interested in the drive as we have had a series of new Minis but fancy a change as well as the better value pricing and cheaper Fiat insurance etc.

One of my first cars was a Fiat Uno and I have had a soft spot for the marque since. Intending to finalise the order with dealer on Saturday.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped me here
 
Nick2 said:
Thanks all for responses. The "waiting" for the new suspension sort of happened for a lot of dull logistical reasons as well as because the scrappage car only became eligable on 1st Jan this year. My fault as I sold it to myself from my company and picked that date a year ago for no good reason....that cost me the vat increase on its own :-(

Whilst I will be £600 poorer I am where I am on this...

Take the points about depreciation of specced up Pop v Lounge but my wife wants red seats and doesn't want leather. Also plan is to keep it for a long time so depreciation is not so important if we do.

I am interested in the drive as we have had a series of new Minis but fancy a change as well as the better value pricing and cheaper Fiat insurance etc.

One of my first cars was a Fiat Uno and I have had a soft spot for the marque since. Intending to finalise the order with dealer on Saturday.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped me here
Click to expand...


There are a few different threads on the ride quality, as a general rule, the 16 inch wheels were worse, followed by 15 inch wheels better, and then the 14 inch better still.


Maybe something to do with less tyre and more wheel. Someone I am sure will quote some numbers to you
 
YouKnowWho said:
There are a few different threads on the ride quality, as a general rule, the 16 inch wheels were worse, followed by 15 inch wheels better, and then the 14 inch better still.


Maybe something to do with less tyre and more wheel. Someone I am sure will quote some numbers to you
Click to expand...
Yeah that's basically the way it goes. I put 14" steelies and winter tyres on my 500 which normally has 16" multispokes and rather tham being bumpy it's now more bouncy in quality. Certainly more comfortable.
 
YouKnowWho said:
There are a few different threads on the ride quality, as a general rule, the 16 inch wheels were worse, followed by 15 inch wheels better, and then the 14 inch better still.


Maybe something to do with less tyre and more wheel. Someone I am sure will quote some numbers to you
Click to expand...

We're finding the round to be bouncier with 16's instead of the standard 15's.

Isn't it to do with "unsprung weight", or something?
 
JimR123 said:
We're finding the round to be bouncier with 16's instead of the standard 15's.

Isn't it to do with "unsprung weight", or something?
Click to expand...
Yes it's partly to do with unsprung weight but mainly to do with the fact that the tyre is part of the suspension and when you go for a lower profile tyre you're effectively making the sping harder and combined with the fact that the 500's suspension is underdamped that makes for an uncomfortable ride.
 
We had our 500 1.2 Lounge for a day now, and it's a 2010 model with the upgraded suspension and must say that's its a lot better than the model we testdrove a couple of months ago. No bouncyness at all and still very comfortable.
 
JimR123 said:
We're finding the round to be bouncier with 16's instead of the standard 15's.

Isn't it to do with "unsprung weight", or something?
Click to expand...

By way of some sort of comparison we are currently using a basic new shape Mini One with standard non alloys wheels/tyres. Having owned fat tyred versions in the past there is an amazing difference in ride quality and I think steering feel with the narrower tyres. Maybe its suspension set up too but I prefer the ride/handling of the basic model.

This may bode well for our 500 Pop on basic 14'' wheels and hopefully the new suspension set up may also help.

Perhaps I should start worrying about my age now that I seem so concerned about ride quality....:eek:
 
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