I always find these "what should I do" threads a bit strange.

if it were up to me I'd get a 1.2 lounge in with red leather, 16" multispokes and side rubbing strips.

Draigflag will come on here and tell you to get an Abarth.

Rui would come on here and say to get a By diesel, but to then take the rear trim off it.

Different people do different things and you should do your own thing because without knowing you all people can do is suggest what they would do.

Set yourself a budget and write down a realistic list of things you want and just go shopping.

get a By diesel, but to then take the rear trim off it.

I learnt this a long time ago…. don’t buy something that you intend to discard for a better item if you can afford to wait and save up. In my case it was getting a mid-priced TAG type watch from Argos many many years ago when my wife said… "save up and get the TAG you always wanted" !! so I saved for 12 months and I am glad I did. Used that philosophy many times.

In your case go for the cheapest option, which may not be a fiat at all, if it is get one which will give you a good return for part-ex for your Abarth - its only 12 months away right !!

Agreed, but there are valid comments to make (espcially by us dispassionate ones who may make more rational choices than Multispoke who is salivating at the thought of a new car).

On that subject, I would want a very good, and verified, reason why it is missing its history. And even if there was a good explanation I would think about the effect of that come resale time, if you are keeping it short term. (And people will definitely be put off even if you sell it on outside the warranty period.)

RobinPJ said:

Agreed, but there are valid comments to make (espcially by us dispassionate ones who may make more rational choices than Multispoke who is salivating at the thought of a new car).

On that subject, I would want a very good, and verified, reason why it is missing its history. And even if there was a good explanation I would think about the effect of that come resale time, if you are keeping it short term. (And people will definitely be put off even if you sell it on outside the warranty period.)

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Very good point. I'd be wary of a nearly new car not having any history; do you know if it has a PDI stamp from the original dealer or has that gone altogether?

If it's the latter then I think you would have to do some more digging before going ahead with it - maybe find out if it had had any sort of low mileage service as well.

By the sounds of what you said, the Sport is the one for you as it is essentially what you want. I know it's only for a year, but at the end of the day you don't want to be driving a car that isn't really what you want.

Hopefully you can get the answers you need, if not then I suppose the Pop will do!

I wouldn't touch a car that didnt have service history unless its an old £1500 run about because you could be walking into something thats been clocked, not serviced properly and a whole host of other stuff, my fiesta didnt have service history but it was my first car and a cheap run about, i wouldn't spend thousands on a car that didnt. plus the fact i can imagine there harder to shift on when your bored with it.

arorat said:

I learnt this a long time ago…. don’t buy something that you intend to discard for a better item if you can afford to wait and save up. In my case it was getting a mid-priced TAG type watch from Argos many many years ago when my wife said… "save up and get the TAG you always wanted" !! so I saved for 12 months and I am glad I did. Used that philosophy many times.

In your case go for the cheapest option, which may not be a fiat at all, if it is get one which will give you a good return for part-ex for your Abarth - its only 12 months away right !!

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I really looked and chased the only Abarth for sale in Ireland at the moment but his price is still out of reach. Dissy heights of €16k.
Not into driving a Panda for the 12 months until the Abart comes within reach although unsure if it is all that sensible with the model being changed.
Like driving a Fiat - they have always served me well - except for that 147.
So it will come down to a new pop on scrappage (wheels, blue, chrome) or a manly secondhand one ( incl. tints, spoiler, decent colour, good seats, etc.)
Budget is €9k for the secondhand and another €2.5k for the new one.
Seems a no brainer but I like the manly sport despite the age and I keep the old marea w/e for the odd run for moving large stuff.
Did search for a Euro 5 1.4 but they weren't imported in 2010. TW took over in 2011.
Not really prepared to stretch for a 1.2 lounge but would go all to jump a gap for the Abarth but its too big.
It's funny how you can struggle when its your own money you're spending. You have to live with your mistakes.

I can only add, you have 2 options: go with your heart or your head... Ask yourself: is it be a bigger bother to drive something I don't much like for a year but it will sell better or I get to drive what I like more but can hit me in the wallet come re-sale time? Its only a car mind you, and only for a year... That said I would't want to go back to Subaru even if it did had another 100 horsies more than my current car

RobinPJ said:

...I would want a very good, and verified, reason why it is missing its history. And even if there was a good explanation I would think about the effect of that come resale time, if you are keeping it short term. (And people will definitely be put off even if you sell it on outside the warranty period.)

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http://www.carzone.ie/search/Fiat/500/1.2-Spor/201111201675209/advert?channel=CARS

Mileage is genuine. Paintwork is not far from concours. Previous owner didn't realise that you have to service the car at 12 months even if you have only covered 6k miles in a year & 9mths. Garage have booked in it for a dealer service next Tuesday to 'recover the damage' and re-instate the missing service book. Will impact the car at re-sale time.
Manly spec appeals to me more than driving around in a higher valued 2011 pop spec model which should ideally have the white ambiance and red seats for re-sale. Could get stuck with this temporary car for more than 12 months. Could live much better with the 1.2 sport with the better seats. Financial accountant says that the new pop much better with the stop start and the real spare wheel - could come in handy on some back road . Unsure if the June 09 sport spec had the tidy rear end of the 2011 pop .
P.S. the previous owner got himself a brera 3.2L (on a trade in). Not too sure what lesson you can learn from that !

Hello ... I'd strongly recommend a [2nd hand] 1.3MJ Pop.

Id go for the sport. I went for the sport with no extras an ive not seen another sport with the standard alloys.

One thing i don't understand. You say you want something more economical (so i'm guessing you want to save money)... so why not keep your current 500 and save £1000's???

mjsmke said:

Id go for the sport. I went for the sport with no extras an ive not seen another sport with the standard alloys.

One thing i don't understand. You say you want something more economical (so i'm guessing you want to save money)... so why not keep your current 500 and save £1000's???

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Hi mjsmke. I sold the 1.4 sport about 2 weeks ago so I was primed to close a deal on an Abarth - the same one I was chasing at the end of last year - but the garage that has it now wants more for it that it had been on the market last year ! I was unhappy with the open road mpg on the 1.4 (not bettering 40mpg) and found that to drive it comfortably I had to leave in sport mode - I have more trottle sensitivity on maintaining a steady speed. It was ok around town getting around 35mpg. TBH if gave very resonable mpg for the performance it gave. I have read that quite a few individuals who upgraded to an Abarth from a 1.4 sport found it more economical - the turbo giving 'free' power. It is rare that I would drive a car for economy - I would drive it briskly at times. I loved the spec on the 1.2 sport but from a pm with you I certainly miss the buzz from the 1.4 The new pop with the stop start is attractive and would expect to get in the high 40s around town. I did make a phone call last Fri about importing a new Abarth from the UK where I may have an opportunity being able to re-claim the VAT because the emissions are under 155grs/km. I would dearly love to know when the multi-air is coming into the Abarth 500 because it would lower my VRT exposure since the emissions should be below 140grs/km. It's a bit like buying your 2nd house .
Is your 1.4 sport the stop start model or the Euro 5 one ? - because if it is they seem quite scarce.

1st500 said:

Hello ... I'd strongly recommend a [2nd hand] 1.3MJ Pop.

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Don't do enough mileage for a diesel covering around 6k but that could change. Did drive a multijet 2-3 months ago and was very impressed with the torque from the engine. Did see a BNW white sport which made me look twice. Is it easy to upgrade the 75 bhp with a chip change to 95 bhp ? That would give the best of both worlds. Probably the best interim buy to dropping from a 1.4 to a 1.2

I would go for the second hand. It is the same engine but second hand car is sport model wich I like more. And its cheaper.

The' Fiat 500 Nuova Shop' in the UK do an ECU upgrade for the MJ for about €300, you just send them over your ECU and they remap and send back 2 days later, having read reviews in Auto Italia its very impressive and gives you 95bhp and much increased torque, it's completely reversible too.

Is your 1.4 sport the stop start model or the Euro 5 one ? - because if it is they seem quite scarce.

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Yes, mine has stop start as standard.

1st500 said:

Hello ... I'd strongly recommend a [2nd hand] 1.3MJ Pop.

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http://www.cbg.ie/car_detail.aspx?ID=4180005

This is the 2nd multijet that I have seen for sale in Ireland. I like the sport spec & the city reg and can live with the BNW and the standard alloys. Mileage high for a '08 at 38k miles or should I say compared with the petrol models. Amazed at the mileage you're getting on Fuelly. 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 ?

multispoke said:

Is it easy to upgrade the 75 bhp with a chip change to 95 bhp?

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Yes, as said, but it is not advisable as the 75 bhp engine has a very simple entirely mechanically controlled turbo. Hence increasing output is achieved entirely by increased fuelling only (bore wash, oil pollution and dpf issues would immediately spring to mind).