Whilst at the 'stealer' waiting for a bodge job on the wife's 500c aka 'Ruby' .. don't ask I see from the catalogue that you can get a rear diffuser to stop buffeting whilst the top is down.

Has anybody bought one of these and found them effective ?

The kids complain of being cold / buffeted when in the back with the roof down so I would invest if they were any good, however at just over £100 one of the kids may end up on eBay to pay for it

its winter so why have the roof down

Just getting ready for the 'summer' , if we get one this year

When we bought the car last year the roof was always off when it was dry and the kids loved it except for the few stretches when we got to a national speed limit and they got buffeted and huddled down in the back and I don't see much point in stopping to put the roof up all the time I hit a national speed limit.

Cledwen said:

Just getting ready for the 'summer' , if we get one this year

When we bought the car last year the roof was always off when it was dry and the kids loved it except for the few stretches when we got to a national speed limit and they got buffeted and huddled down in the back and I don't see much point in stopping to put the roof up all the time I hit a national speed limit.

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You live in North Wales and you honestly think you're going to get a summer this year? Dream on

lots of helpful advice there

We had one when we had an MX5, it did certainly cut down on the wind and the buffeting. Hope this helps a little bit.

306maxi said:

You live in North Wales and you honestly think you're going to get a summer this year? Dream on

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Stuff the summer it's easier with the roof down to lasso the sheep

Cledwen said:

Stuff the summer it's easier with the roof down to lasso the sheep

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"Lasso"... that's a new name for it

I hadn't heard of this diffuser thing. On the couple of occasions when we had the roof down before winter set in, the kids weren't complaining of being cold in the back when the roof was right down but we all complained about the thumping noise when the roof was in the half way position. Forgive my ignorance but is this noise what you refer to as 'buffeting'? That noise also seems to be worse when you have the netting thing up at the front of the roof. Am sure there is a technical term for the 'netting thing' but haven't a clue what it is - am sure someone will enlighten me.

However I haven't really driven with the roof down enough times yet to know what may or may not be an issue (except rear visibility). Am looking forward to summer!

Midlife Crisis said:

I hadn't heard of this diffuser thing. On the couple of occasions when we had the roof down before winter set in, the kids weren't complaining of being cold in the back when the roof was right down but we all complained about the thumping noise when the roof was in the half way position. Forgive my ignorance but is this noise what you refer to as 'buffeting'? That noise also seems to be worse when you have the netting thing up at the front of the roof. Am sure there is a technical term for the 'netting thing' but haven't a clue what it is - am sure someone will enlighten me.

However I haven't really driven with the roof down enough times yet to know what may or may not be an issue (except rear visibility). Am looking forward to summer!

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The 'Wind Stop' as it's called on the Fiat website (just found it)

http://www.fiat-accessories.com/Fiat-500c-Wind-Stop

will only stop the buffeting when the roof is fully down.

Bit pricey when it's just a posh pair of tights stretched over a frame

The thumping you refer to we have also have and I don't think you can get away from it, something to do with the air pressure build up and release as you drive along. Try driving a modern car (all my VAG group cars have done this) with only the front windows down at speed and you'll get the thumping too, so much so it can hurt the ears. Open the rears just a touch to release the air pressure and it goes away.

The 'netting thing' neither helps for the back seat passengers but does make it noisier in the car so we don;t bother.

I love the fact the roof goes up and down so quick so you can take advantage of the 10 minutes of summer at a moments notice

You'll have to check the book or the launch information, but with the half-open roof the car isn't supposed to be driven above something like 40mph - I can't remember what speed exactly. High speed open motoring demands that the roof be rolled right back and, for reduced buffeting, the diffuser used.

It was always like this with roll-roofs. My old Dyanes had a halfway option, which could be opened from the driving seat, but this couldn't be used above about 35mph because of the air pressure problem causing the canvas to flutter and make one hell of a din. Rolled right back the car could cruse silently (ish) at 80. Flat out in other words. This position demanded the canvas be manually rolled and clipped in place though; no problem really.

Seems like the same laws of physics apply to the 500c.

RobW said:

its winter so why have the roof down

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Cos its sunny, doh!

Cheers

SPD

RobW said:

its winter so why have the roof down

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Ya big pooof....

As long as the sun's out, the roof should be down.

And for the record the rear wind diffusers as a rule do help.

I used a wind deflector on my VW Bug & you could certainly tell when it was fitted. I think VW were charging around £160 for them, 5 years ago, so the Fiat price doesn't seem too bad. I'd definitely recommend one.

nottsfiat07 said:

"Lasso"... that's a new name for it

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Mick, you need to lasso them as they are wise to the "come here little sheep, I've got a fresh turnip for you" ploy.

Makes me think of Baldrick's remark of a turnip shaped like a thingy, especially so in the context that you are inferring, lol.

grimwau said:

Mick, you need to lasso them as they are wise to the "come here little sheep, I've got a fresh turnip for you" ploy.

Makes me think of Baldrick's remark of a turnip shaped like a thingy, especially so in the context that you are inferring, lol.

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These Welsh sheep have got wise to the turnip ploy - they're a lot more sophisticated nowadays

Cledwen said:

These Welsh sheep have got wise to the turnip ploy - they're a lot more sophisticated nowadays

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Why do they demand Ipods or Wii consoles or summat?

And a bottle of Strongbow

Cledwen said:

And a bottle of Strongbow

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The ones round here will "perform" for a bottle of Frosty Jacks!

I think you all know too much about this...

Considering the number of teenage pregnancies in Worksop, I don't think sheep are ever in the frame

Pardon me, but now the better weather's with us I'm trying to crank up this old thread again. Same as the original question; has any cabrio owner rushed out and bought a FIAT wind stop, and if so, does it do the job of reducing the buffeting with the roof all the way down?