Well, Tuesday was the day of reckoning and I picked up the car and took it home. I will leave the dealership experience alone and just focus on the car.
The car in question is a 1.2 Lounge in BNW with chrome moulding kit and o-star alloys (16'). Just as way of background previous cars include a mx5, 206 Gti and current second car a Citreon c4 picasso.
Prior to purchase I had a very limited test drive on a fully loaded 1.2 lounge.
This is my take on the car.
First impressions:
1. The white is growing on me but I am not sure if I should have plumbed for a different colour.
2. The alloys are very, very nice. (as are all the 16' ones especially the lambo type)
3. The car has come with a hole in the dash for the Fiat GPS and more importantly, the revised suspension.
4. After sitting in the car - for 3 hours I noticed the relatively hard plastics on the door and the fact that the seats are not terribly supportive.
5. The roof does not intrude (I am 6ft tall).
6. I do really like the interior white dash and I am really pleased I plumbed for black ambience.
7. I like the boot only open on the remote key fob.
8. The sound system (standard) is really very good. The interscope thing must be absolutely superb.
9. The chrome moulding kit is growing on me as it breaks up the lines and provides, albeit, limited protection to the doors.
10. The alloys highlight the rust on the brakes, front and rear.
11. The seat mechanism is not very good, I prefer a lever that lifts and tilts the seat giving better access to the back. (especially with two young toddlers).
Driving impressions:
1. The engine is very gutsy and I really like it. You have to get it going for some va va vroom but once its there is really nice. I didn't thrash the car I am still taking it easy. The 1.4 must feel much, much better in this regard. Again I may try and get a test drive in one later in the year.
2. The handling is fun with the ride firm but not overly harsh. In fact it brings back memories of the 205 GTI - which I loved. Given all the comments about it not being as good as a Mini and the figgetty ride I was expecting the worse. However, it really isn't that bad and was as enjoyable as a gen 1 Mini cooper I test drove years ago.
I think although the ride and handling are not as sharp as a Mini with the 1.2 engine it really is greater than the sum of its parts.
3. The gearchange is a little sloppy (but then my last manual car was a MX5 which has a great shift).
4. The handling again it really is very good with the ULP tyres and new suspension - I would love to see what difference lowered springs make.
Grumbles.
1. The leather steering wheel is not as nice as I hoped. I think the wheel in the sport is nicer from the pictures but am not sure.
2. The seats lack any kind of lateral support (the C4 picasso is better in this regard).
3. The plastic gear knob is awful although the size is nice. Given that is one bit I hold onto, I will definately change it to something else.
4. I need to get to grips with blue and me, as its not very intuitive.
5. The whole petrol cap thing is weird, I don't see why it needs a key to open and close.
6. Why did Fiat only have one touch closing on the driver's side and not the passenger side?
7. And why is there only one remote key fob?
8. The brakes could do with more bite.
9. Its all a little too much plasticiky inside.
Overall impression.
1. For what I paid a little under £9k it really is a fun little car which is chuckable and relatively non-threatening. I am not sure I would spend £11k on one.
I still like it but if I was doing it again these options I think would be worth having:
1. Leather seats in brown just for the support
2. An opening sunroof as I find it weird not being able to open it and really miss the fresh air (I am not wholly sure about this as I need to see how big the actual aperture is).
3. Interscope for the sound.
4. Front fog lamps just to look better than two black boxes.
5. Different colour and I really like the electro grey.
err that's it.
Given my grumbles my update plan is as follows:
1. Definately a better gearknob.
2. Prospect of seeing if I could fit the leather steering wheel from the abarth.
3. While I would love some stripes and rear spoiler, I am not convinced of spending the money on something I cannot see when in the car (I accept the alloys are similar but I am sure (? lol) that the lower profile has added handling)
4. Lowered springs but only if they given a better ride and flatter cornering without losing comfort.
5. Something to make the engine sound deeper (so maybe a backbox if Miltek do one, and or an induction kit)
6. A leather interior from a written off 500, simply for the sports seats and I don't like the standard sport trim.
7. Maybe a speaker upgrade but its seems like a lot of effort so I may just plumb for a under seat subwoofer (again only if its makes a really big improvement).
8. Do something about the brakes.
9. Do something about the grill in the front - either paint silver or put a logo on it.
Hope you enjoyed reading and its of some help to some.
cheers
sam
The car in question is a 1.2 Lounge in BNW with chrome moulding kit and o-star alloys (16'). Just as way of background previous cars include a mx5, 206 Gti and current second car a Citreon c4 picasso.
Prior to purchase I had a very limited test drive on a fully loaded 1.2 lounge.
This is my take on the car.
First impressions:
1. The white is growing on me but I am not sure if I should have plumbed for a different colour.
2. The alloys are very, very nice. (as are all the 16' ones especially the lambo type)
3. The car has come with a hole in the dash for the Fiat GPS and more importantly, the revised suspension.
4. After sitting in the car - for 3 hours I noticed the relatively hard plastics on the door and the fact that the seats are not terribly supportive.
5. The roof does not intrude (I am 6ft tall).
6. I do really like the interior white dash and I am really pleased I plumbed for black ambience.
7. I like the boot only open on the remote key fob.
8. The sound system (standard) is really very good. The interscope thing must be absolutely superb.
9. The chrome moulding kit is growing on me as it breaks up the lines and provides, albeit, limited protection to the doors.
10. The alloys highlight the rust on the brakes, front and rear.
11. The seat mechanism is not very good, I prefer a lever that lifts and tilts the seat giving better access to the back. (especially with two young toddlers).
Driving impressions:
1. The engine is very gutsy and I really like it. You have to get it going for some va va vroom but once its there is really nice. I didn't thrash the car I am still taking it easy. The 1.4 must feel much, much better in this regard. Again I may try and get a test drive in one later in the year.
2. The handling is fun with the ride firm but not overly harsh. In fact it brings back memories of the 205 GTI - which I loved. Given all the comments about it not being as good as a Mini and the figgetty ride I was expecting the worse. However, it really isn't that bad and was as enjoyable as a gen 1 Mini cooper I test drove years ago.
I think although the ride and handling are not as sharp as a Mini with the 1.2 engine it really is greater than the sum of its parts.
3. The gearchange is a little sloppy (but then my last manual car was a MX5 which has a great shift).
4. The handling again it really is very good with the ULP tyres and new suspension - I would love to see what difference lowered springs make.
Grumbles.
1. The leather steering wheel is not as nice as I hoped. I think the wheel in the sport is nicer from the pictures but am not sure.
2. The seats lack any kind of lateral support (the C4 picasso is better in this regard).
3. The plastic gear knob is awful although the size is nice. Given that is one bit I hold onto, I will definately change it to something else.
4. I need to get to grips with blue and me, as its not very intuitive.
5. The whole petrol cap thing is weird, I don't see why it needs a key to open and close.
6. Why did Fiat only have one touch closing on the driver's side and not the passenger side?
7. And why is there only one remote key fob?
8. The brakes could do with more bite.
9. Its all a little too much plasticiky inside.
Overall impression.
1. For what I paid a little under £9k it really is a fun little car which is chuckable and relatively non-threatening. I am not sure I would spend £11k on one.
I still like it but if I was doing it again these options I think would be worth having:
1. Leather seats in brown just for the support
2. An opening sunroof as I find it weird not being able to open it and really miss the fresh air (I am not wholly sure about this as I need to see how big the actual aperture is).
3. Interscope for the sound.
4. Front fog lamps just to look better than two black boxes.
5. Different colour and I really like the electro grey.
err that's it.
Given my grumbles my update plan is as follows:
1. Definately a better gearknob.
2. Prospect of seeing if I could fit the leather steering wheel from the abarth.
3. While I would love some stripes and rear spoiler, I am not convinced of spending the money on something I cannot see when in the car (I accept the alloys are similar but I am sure (? lol) that the lower profile has added handling)
4. Lowered springs but only if they given a better ride and flatter cornering without losing comfort.
5. Something to make the engine sound deeper (so maybe a backbox if Miltek do one, and or an induction kit)
6. A leather interior from a written off 500, simply for the sports seats and I don't like the standard sport trim.
7. Maybe a speaker upgrade but its seems like a lot of effort so I may just plumb for a under seat subwoofer (again only if its makes a really big improvement).
8. Do something about the brakes.
9. Do something about the grill in the front - either paint silver or put a logo on it.
Hope you enjoyed reading and its of some help to some.
cheers
sam
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