I am just finalising the spec for my new 500 TA lounge and I'm struggling on the interior - leather or B/W check and the exterior colour.

I have heated leather seats in my current car (Smart for two) - and they have been really practical. I'm just concerned the interior will be really dark if I have them in the 500. Also, there have been a couple of older posts on here about problems with leather seats. Any up to date problems and/or opinions on how they are now? I think they look lovely on the website, but I also really like the checked ones with black ambiance (being a bit of a ska girl).......

Outside, I love the BNW and am not sure about the Funk White but I've seen a couple of pics on here of the Funk White and think it looks stunning. But worth the extra £££s? ....oh dear, what to do! I want to get it ordered then I can get on and drive it!!

You all seem like a pretty balanced and well informed lot - any views out there?

Manchester Lass said:

any views out there?

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I think the BNW/Black Ambience/Black Check Seats combination is a classy & practical choice which suits the car well. You'll save around £1500 over the leather seats/funk white version & I'll bet you could have a lot of fun with that £1500.

No doubt someone else will be along in a few minutes to tell you the exact opposite.

The Lounge spec check seats are well known to be very difficult to keep clean..

I have BNW with white ambience o spoke chrome etc and my seats are still as new ( car only 3 months old though) To be honest Id have gone for leather but the £750 Fiat contribution was about to run out I would however have chosen TAN as I personally feel the black looks drab and the red leather (Audi TT) is very much love it or hate it hopw that help Oh Yes I also loved funk white but not for that amount of cash

Hi & welcome

Just thought I'd throw my tuppence worth in.

I was worried about leather sagging, so I didn't go for it in my Lounge. As for the black & white check, I'd try & look at it in person before you make a decision on it - it makes your eyes go funny! Not my cup of tea, despite also being a bit of a ska girl The leather does look very nice & I'm sure it's easy to keep clean, perhaps other people who have leather can give their opinion.

The Funk white is really nice, but not worth the £ in my opinion. BNW is a creamy white & suits the 500 really well and is much better value at free!

Thank you all so much - just knowing about the problem keeping the checked cloth clean means I'll go leather. I like a coffee in the car on my way home from work which can get a bit hazardous

And I think I secretly agree about the BNW colour - I do think it looks retro, and I rather like that.

So that means I'm gonna go BNW, 16" wheels, side strip, chrome mirrors, enhanced hi fi, dualogic gearbox and bi-xenon headlights. What a little beauty - I can't wait!!

Thanks again to all of you

Manchester Lass said:

I am just finalising the spec for my new 500 TA lounge and I'm struggling on the interior - leather or B/W check and the exterior colour.

I have heated leather seats in my current car (Smart for two) - and they have been really practical. I'm just concerned the interior will be really dark if I have them in the 500. Also, there have been a couple of older posts on here about problems with leather seats. Any up to date problems and/or opinions on how they are now? I think they look lovely on the website, but I also really like the checked ones with black ambiance (being a bit of a ska girl).......

Outside, I love the BNW and am not sure about the Funk White but I've seen a couple of pics on here of the Funk White and think it looks stunning. But worth the extra £££s? ....oh dear, what to do! I want to get it ordered then I can get on and drive it!!

You all seem like a pretty balanced and well informed lot - any views out there?

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We've had a few others come on to say that we're a bit nuts so thanks for the compliments .

Welcome aboard Manchester Lass.

Funk White. I think it's brillant but it's expensive but not worth it if you're on first names with your body shop repair 'man'. The colour is also wearing very well - no fade and no chips so far. The OH loves the colour. If I had a choice between the colour or Leather I would opt for the colour !
https://www.fiatforum.com/members-motors/268276-irish-500-1-4-funk-white-causeway.html

Leather. On a previous model, I had the red leather and it was fabulous but I got a sag in the middle. Some have had this replaced under warranty although you 'have to work for it'. IMHO red is the best colour.

Checked ones - assume you're referring to the Chequered clock often referred to as the houndscloth. A bitch to keep clean. But I can live with it. Having a professional carpet cleaning machine has helped .

Black ambiance. I like the white ambiance and wouldn't change it for the world. I also like the Sport model in the 500 range (there might be some 'old' stock around) and would take the black ambiance with the half leather seats - great compromise. If you could get a Sport model I would spec the Glass panaromic sunroof which is good value (but works out a little dear on the Lounge since you're already getting the glass roof).

Climate control is worth getting if you're glass roof cann't open.

EDIT: With Dualogic I would spec ESP primarily for the hill holder feature.
Chrome mirrors - prefer the body coloured mirrors - more classy - can always add the chrome afterwards if you want to 'upgrade'.
16s - I love mine on the 1.4 but would probably leave them as standard at 15s.
stereo upgrade - probably no.
Xenon - no. just get the bulbs changed.

Which colour leather are you going for? Tan would look lovely...

Although I've had the leather sag I'd have it again

FloJo said:

Which colour leather are you going for? Tan would look lovely...

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I must say I'm partial to the tan on the volare blue and it looks pretty OK on the BNW as well. Did you manage to get the ££££ to go for it ? (did I add enough pound signs on there ? )

Wow, loads to think about. I hadn't even considered the Sport version, but I will now. Back to the website builder thingy.....I wonder what the main advantages of the Sport are over the Lounge??

I have to say, I wondered about tan leather (red just isn't me I'm afraid ) - I just didn't know if there would be too much going on - tan, cream and white?????

With the cream ambiance, does the steering wheel get grubby??

Thanks for the ESP tip - it is hilly where I live and I have that hill stability thing now, it's brilliant! I would never have known that so I appreciate the insight.

On the headlights, I wouldn't have a clue what to do to change bulbs - how girly. I had just read that the headlights aren't great, and there aren't any street lights near where I live so I thought I'd need these. That said, at over £500 it's an awful lot....

Oh dear, I've got more work to do haven't I...

Thanks for the link to the picture of the Funk White car, that is gorgeous, and I love the little badges. Are they factory fitted?

Now my head is spinning with it all - but what lovely things to think about. What I love about this forum is the sheer enjoyment in the posts about these little cars, I'm so looking forward to getting mine.........though I need to get it ordered don't I!!

Manchester Lass said:

Wow, loads to think about. I hadn't even considered the Sport version, but I will now. Back to the website builder thingy.....I wonder what the main advantages of the Sport are over the Lounge??

I have to say, I wondered about tan leather (red just isn't me I'm afraid ) - I just didn't know if there would be too much going on - tan, cream and white?????

With the cream ambiance, does the steering wheel get grubby??

Thanks for the ESP tip - it is hilly where I live and I have that hill stability thing now, it's brilliant! I would never have known that so I appreciate the insight.

On the headlights, I wouldn't have a clue what to do to change bulbs - how girly. I had just read that the headlights aren't great, and there aren't any street lights near where I live so I thought I'd need these. That said, at over £500 it's an awful lot....

Oh dear, I've got more work to do haven't I...

Thanks for the link to the picture of the Funk White car, that is gorgeous, and I love the little badges. Are they factory fitted?

Now my head is spinning with it all - but what lovely things to think about. What I love about this forum is the sheer enjoyment in the posts about these little cars, I'm so looking forward to getting mine.........though I need to get it ordered don't I!!

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The headlights are fine

Personally the red leather is one of my favourite things about the car

Manchester Lass said:

Wow, loads to think about. I hadn't even considered the Sport version, but I will now. Back to the website builder thingy.....I wonder what the main advantages of the Sport are over the Lounge??

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Manchester Lass said:

Sport model is officially discounted. And does not come in white ambiance when you could get it. Seats were great and for the boy racers they liked the spoiler. New model is called the Twin Air + but its not out yet
I have to say, I wondered about tan leather (red just isn't me I'm afraid ) - I just didn't know if there would be too much going on - tan, cream and white?????
Tan looks good but does not sell as well as the Red. As a man the red does it for me but the houndscloth is OK but you'll have to drink your coffee when you get to the office !
With the cream ambiance, does the steering wheel get grubby??
My better half would keep it clean but I have to 'work' on it a bit.
Thanks for the ESP tip - it is hilly where I live and I have that hill stability thing now, it's brilliant! I would never have known that so I appreciate the insight.
Worth the extra with the Dualogic. Nearly a must if it's hilly otherwise you cann't drive with the 'dead left foot' unless you like using the handbrake.
On the headlights, I wouldn't have a clue what to do to change bulbs - how girly. I had just read that the headlights aren't great, and there aren't any street lights near where I live so I thought I'd need these. That said, at over £500 it's an awful lot....
A lot to pay if you have good eyesight. Bulbs are very resonable. A link can be posted later on. Plenty have done the upgrade.
Oh dear, I've got more work to do haven't I...
Thanks for the link to the picture of the Funk White car, that is gorgeous, and I love the little badges. Are they factory fitted?
Badges are around £30-£40. Ordered as an acessory. Dealer will put them on probably for free.
Now my head is spinning with it all - but what lovely things to think about. What I love about this forum is the sheer enjoyment in the posts about these little cars, I'm so looking forward to getting mine.........though I need to get it ordered don't I!!

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Never easy. The extra bits add up quickly. Set yourself a budget on the extras and try and stick to it. BNW is a great price . Delighted that you liked the pearlescent white - it's a rare colour in Dublin at €900 ! but I hear there are plenty in the UK. At £700 it's a little cheaper over there. It also works well with the white ambiance whilst with the BNW seems to match better with the black ambiance.

Hi Manchester Lass
I have the leather seats. On a looks-only basis I love the Lounge seats I think they look classy and wonderful and really suit the car – however, I knew I'd never be able to keep those seats clean and didn't want to have a car interior that I'd obsess over – so I went for the leather (tan). I am very happy with it.

I have the ivory interior and the ivory steering wheel and I have found it keeps clean, but I don't have grubby hands(!) and so my steering wheel is clean! I don't think the average user would find it gets dirty – but I'm not a 'detailing' obsessive so I don't mind a touch of grubbiness!

Hope that helps

McrLass, good options for customisation, if you can afford all the items you mentioned then go for them.

btw people tell you what they find best so its just our opinions, so my opinions below.

-Funk white - is nicer looking

-Leather - we have that in our Rav4, its either too hot or too cold with exception of 3 or 4 months. Shame 500 does not have heated seats

-Duallogic - very nice but a bit jerky, do test-drive it

-Xenons - I HIGHLY recommend these, when you turn them on the street lights up - they are self-levelling so don’t worry you will not blind anyone. Ignore the bulbs changing thing, you prob won’t do it or change anything else when you get the car. Its true bulb technology has come a long way that normal bulbs are fine, but for 6 months in the year when its dark you will not regret the purchase, also the lights look good when we drive into Kensington or Chelsea… Lol but then again evry other car has Xenons in central, last statement was a waste of time

- Side strips with logo fine - good buy

- Climate is good - not sure if you were thinking about it, but I prefer something with rotary dials, sopmething about rotary wrist motion is nicer than pushing a button

- we went for self-dipping mirror thing – luxury, nice & it works

- rear sensors - not required, where we live we back down a slope with limited visibility on one side due to hedges, as we have a school down the road too its useful to have the sensors in case a kid runs past at a bad moment.

- Extra power punched hi-fi aka interscope – if you are into music then you will enjoy the 500 megawatt throbbing base under your seat and the extra punch from the upgraded speakers. Did you know its the best place to listen to pop/rock music is in a car or concert where you can feel the vibrations of motion or loudness of base through your body.

- 16” spokes, yes go get them – we made a mistake of not looking inot these properly and did not get them, but normal 15" are fine too. 16” just look better – Listen to Maxi on this one.

Only other extra we bought (from RUI - a member here) was the armrest, 20 minute Job to fit and worth it, especially if you are getting duallogic.

Minimum spec should be; BNW, 16”, Xenons, hi-fi. Anyway its my opinions. Good luck.


Here is our car; https://www.fiatforum.com/members-motors/271643-our-new-smeg.html

Actions speak louder than words.

We have a BNW TA Lounge with check seats and ivory ambience.

I'm sure Funk White is very nice, not that I've knowingly seen one, but I can think of dozens of things we can better spend £700, or whatever it is. Still, that is entirely up to you.

It is easy to angst about what spec to get, but once you've had the car for a while perhaps you would just enjoy it for what it is.

Anyhow, to my mind you have already made the most important and correct choice- getting the TwinAir.

This is awesome, thanks to all of you. 306maxi - the red leather does look fab (thanks for the pic) I know it’s not me but it looks really good. Loveshandbags – so that lovely Funk White car is yours – you must get loads of admiring glances. I’m afraid driving to the gym without coffee is a non starter – so I’m back to leather. Juwlz – you said you have tan, and I’ve now found a picture of a real car (rather than the Fiat website images) on here – I think it looks lovely, and now I think I might go tan and ivory instead – and just be careful!

Finally, arorat, thanks for your opinions, and pictures. Love your car – it’s a beauty. I love music, with a passion :slayer:, so the interscope is an essential for me and I like the look of that arm rest!

So within 24 hours it looks like my spec is completely different - and even more expensive (eek) I suppose what I realise is that we all have our preferences, and actually these all look pretty damn good -- Cheers everyone.

Manchester Lass said:

This is awesome, thanks to all of you. 306maxi - the red leather does look fab (thanks for the pic) I know it’s not me but it looks really good.

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No problems Leather is a good option on any car I reckon, you'll really like it.

Italian car = red leather. End of.*




* Unless your wife doesn't want it of course.**




**FRA

Manchester Lass said:

I’m afraid driving to the gym without coffee is a non starter – so I’m back to leather. Juwlz – you said you have tan, and I’ve now found a picture of a real car (rather than the Fiat website images) on here – I think it looks lovely, and now I think I might go tan and ivory instead – and just be careful!

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Good point re coffee & leather, I managed to spill a few drops of coffee on the first day on both seats, got the stains out though. This morning I am in position of 3 x 400ml spray cans of Supaguard (all three for £11 of ebay ) will spray the seats with this stuff to keep stains off.


Don't forget to read threads on polishing & waxing the car - its an eye opener as to what you can learn from the experts here.