multispoke said:

If the PDF ? light is on (it was on the last one for sale) what can service costs would one be looking at to fix it ?

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Often if the light is on it just means that the regeneration process was interrupted more than three times - i.e. it just needs a long drive to clear. However I would immediately walk away from any diesel with any hint of any kind of DPF or turbo issue.

personally but a nearly new, i.e. ex demo, ex company car from reputable firm, one that can afford on the dot money no object servicing. never an ex hire car. fastest cars in the world.

buy new and lose quite a few grand depending on model before you even drive it. the moment its taxed and plated its depreciated by two grand plus. let someone else take the depreciation hit and buy something with a few thousand on the clock. we'd all love a new motor, but unless you've more money than blood cells is the depreciation worth it??

61ason61 said:

personally but a nearly new, i.e. ex demo, ex company car from reputable firm, one that can afford on the dot money no object servicing. never an ex hire car. fastest cars in the world.

buy new and lose quite a few grand depending on model before you even drive it. the moment its taxed and plated its depreciated by two grand plus. let someone else take the depreciation hit and buy something with a few thousand on the clock. we'd all love a new motor, but unless you've more money than blood cells is the depreciation worth it??

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I was offsetting the €2k+ first year depreciation by getting €2.7 scrappage allowance on a '00 Fiat Marea with no cambelt change (this offer is over in 12wks) Otherwise I wouldn't consider a new one. All in price of a new 1.2 BSN with key extras & splits is €11,400. May never get that opportunity again. Really tempted on getting either a 1.2 '09 or 1.3 Multijet '08 for between the €9k.3-€8.5k mark with the desired sport spec.

I think I remember reading in the brochure that the 75 is 8V and the 95 is 16V, but may be wrong - couldn't find the info on the FIAT website.

TrevC said:

I think I remember reading in the brochure that the 75 is 8V and the 95 is 16V, but may be wrong - couldn't find the info on the FIAT website.

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Hi Trev, pretty sure that they are both 16 valves. I think that the 1.2 is the only 8 Valve in the 500 range. Of course having said that the TwinAir is also 8 valves but still 4 valves per cylinder which I think is what you were alluding to.

multispoke said:

I was offsetting the €2k+ first year depreciation by getting €2.7 scrappage allowance on a '00 Fiat Marea with no cambelt change (this offer is over in 12wks) Otherwise I wouldn't consider a new one. All in price of a new 1.2 BSN with key extras & splits is €11,400. May never get that opportunity again. Really tempted on getting either a 1.2 '09 or 1.3 Multijet '08 for between the €9k.3-€8.5k mark with the desired sport spec.

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why not buy it in england and drive it back, pound cheaper than euros??

Wont get 2700 euros for his marea.

61ason61 said:

why not buy it in england and drive it back, pound cheaper than euros??

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Once back in Ireland I have deal with the VRT man. This varies from 14%-20% of the 'Irish' market value depending on the emissions. Plus if it is a new car I would have to pay VAT on top of the VRT althought I can get the VAT of a new car in the UK. Typical 'basic' Abarth costing £12k excl. vat becomes €20k+. Some businesses are able to recover VAT but it is hard to explain that you need an Abarth to deliver goods to customers ! Buying in the UK is excellent value if you remain there. At least the diesel & the petrol used to be a little cheaper in Ireland - but not much difference now.

Well the anguish of having no 500 is now over. The multijet that I was chasing has - guess - no history - dealer couldn't find it! I have put a wee deposit (well €400) on a car that I saw late this afternoon. It had no picture on www.carzone.ie so I took a chance and ambled over to the garage before COB (no call to say I was coming). It was 'love' at first sight. The agony of what colour? What extras? Is the 1.2 good enough, twin air - a lot of money when it's half way between an Abarth and a normal 500. Well I bought May 2009 Funk (€9,800 - slightly over budget) white handbag spec (chrome & white ambiance with a 1.4 Euro 4 engine (no Euro 5 in Ireland - or if there is one - I cannot find them). It has 4K miles on it (yes - just 4k miles) and on driving it found that this engine was barely broken in and is prime material for loosing up. Suspension felt better than the 2008 with 39K on the clock - unlikely it has newer suspension but at least it's the 'sports' one. No leather but the chequered seats are fine. Has tints and to make it a little special it is the 465th car out of a 500 'collection edition'. Not really sure was that means. You could add on the bits on a lounge i.e. A bar and the bonnet chrome bit. Also has climate. Like the white ambiance with the funk white - works well together. 3 of the 16inch multispokes are marked - refurb required - but they're not too bad. Typres are continental - look like new. Bought by a woman who couldn't manage the baby and the pram with just 2 doors. Have already planned some little improvements with red paint on the callipers and the red ringed hubs, denso plugs and an ITG CAI. Picking it up tomorrow. It will be a little strange to see my 'old' black 500 glowing in the dark down in the garage.
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Fiat/500/1.4-16V-/201113201802185/advert?channel=CARS

I don't quite understand.... you sold a 1.4 to get..... another 1.4?

306maxi said:

I don't quite understand.... you sold a 1.4 to get..... another 1.4?

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I sold a manly 1.4 08 sport with 39k for a handbag spec 1.4 lounge 09 with 4k in a funk white that snared me...

TBH preferred the suspension setup on the 1.4, can live with the mpg (although this one had only averaged 28.8mpg on the readout !), was not prepared to risk a multijet (do not do enough miles pa), like the bit of power in the narrow rev band & the 6 speed. The Abarth is still out of my reach. And this one has a 3rd year warranty which I would not get if I stretched for the Abarth because it would be an import.
This car was bought with my heart as opposed to my head. I did not go out to buy it. Ask me next week if I'm happy with the purchase . I don't think I would have been happy with a speced up 1.2 pop after coming from a 1.4 sport even though it would have been brand spanking new. The 00 marea weekend lives another day and will have to justify it's €2.7k existance & not snap a cambelt . Confident that this one will be easier to sell on when the time comes and I'll enjoy it in the meantime.
Many thanks for all your inputs. Really appreciated.

Glad you got what you loved in the end. Life is to short not to Enjoy!

Melanabb said:

Glad you got what you loved in the end. Life is to short not to Enjoy!

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https://www.fiatforum.com/members-motors/268276-irish-500-1-4-funk-white-causeway.html

Thanks Melanabb. I have had the car for 3 days and I had delighted with it and in particular the 'new' engine. I have been surprised at how good the suspension is (quite a difference between one with 4K as opposed to 39k despite new rear shocks). And my wife likes to go out at night for a little blast in (with me in the driver's seat of course). She wants to me to take her 09 mito diesel so that she can drive it full time. There is an upside in being able to carry a handbag .