General Dear Forum, I have a problem......

[PandaLounge]

As some of you may be aware (rather embarrassingly) I am now on my third Fiat 500.

The second was a pure impulse buy (being a 500C) and it turned out to be, IMHO, the single biggest (and most costly) mistake I have made.

That said, Dear Forum, I think I may also now be in a right old pickle.

I have recently been diagnosed with degenerative arthritis, which I assumed was attributed to work as it is affecting my right ankle. Being on the go all day it seemed a logical conclusion to draw.

However over the past month I've decided that the Vespa needed using more and so its been doing the daily commute to and from work. On the odd occasion that I've needed the car (because of laziness) I've just taken the Punto saving messing around with the driveway / garage arrangements.

To my surprise the intense pain that I normally experience has all but gone. This I assumed was a change in analgesia.

However, and much to my huge disappointment, on Friday I took the little 500 to work. On the drive there my ankle started to throb, perhaps I'd just twisted it getting in the car? When I parked up I could barely stand, let alone walk into the building.
The same thing happened on my drive home and I was in agony for the entire night. Yesterday we dove a 60 mile round trip and I was in tears when I tried to stand getting out of the car. Today we did the same journey in the Punto and not a single ache, throb or sob!!

This all but ties in and I can't believe that I haven't noticed before. It all started around Christmas 2008 and has gradually got worse. This has been the last three years of owning a little 500.

I have spent all weekend trying to adjust my seating position, but to no avail. The little white sod is crippling me and I never even knew!!!!

Thing is what do I do? Financially I'd be committing suicide (AGAIN!) by trading in early, but then because my car is causing all my problems it'll either a) continue to make things worse or b) get left in the garage costing me £189 pcm and not going anywhere!?!?

This all might seem quite lame, but its the fusion of "THANK F**K I KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING SO, SO MUCH PAIN!!!" and "Boll**ks, I love my car, but its turned into Kathy Bates from Misery!"

Currently I'll be approx. £1300 out of pocket. To change to a Punto Evo will almost break even as there is room for a discount. Or, wait and see of the new Panda (with a new platform) would also be OK to drive?

Help!!

Very much in pain and at your mercy

Steve

 

[306maxi]

Doh! As for the Panda, it will be much the same platform so one would imagine that there would be the possibility of having the same driving position or a similar one. It is bigger so there is the chance that the driving position will be different, but it's probably about 9-12 months off at least.

 

[custard]

I feel your pain
I have the same from an old ankle ligament injury
some cars just cause it to flare up

 

[PandaLounge]

Doh! As for the Panda, it will be much the same platform so one would imagine that there would be the possibility of having the same driving position or a similar one. It is bigger so there is the chance that the driving position will be different, but it's probably about 9-12 months off at least.

Yeah, DOH would seem to sum it up well.

That is my concern about the new Panda. Perhaps not different enough and as you say also a bit distant too having not actually been officially launched yet.

:bang:

 

[PandaLounge]

I feel your pain
I have the same from an old ankle ligament injury
some cars just cause it to flare up

Its ironic though because its been pure fate that I have even noticed that my car aggravates it that much!

No other car I've driven has had that affect

 

[custard]

Its ironic though because its been pure fate that I have even noticed that my car aggravates it that much!

No other car I've driven has had that affect

well I suppose it depends on your vies on the car if its worth working on?
perhaps swapping the seat from the other car to test?
ust ot see if a seat swap would do it

 

[T14086]

get a doblo.

 

[loveshandbags]

I can emphatise with your situation. My late mum bought a high spec Beamer with a manual gearbox and reverted to exchanging the car for a triponic Merc on a 'loan basis' so that you could get around.
Looking at the seats you've had in the Pop and then the leather in the 500c - I found the leather seats more comfortable compared with my current Lounge seats. If you did go ahead with the new Lounge replacement I reckon you will sitting higher up in a more 'sit and beg' position since I used to sink down a bit in the leather.
If the ankle giving trouble was the the left one I would nearly say it was worth trying a dualogic. I don't know if it really an option to drive a dualogic with the left leg only.
Ergonomics is peculiar area. Microsoft have a full time person working in a facility in Sandyford to minimise claims from employees for RSI and they are constantly 'tuning' employees seat and posture position. I haven't work for them but they were a key customer of a company that I worked for.
Would it be worthwhile getting a drive of a dualogic possibly with a car fitted with the Lounge seats ?

 

[Melanabb]

I had a 500, I now have Punto Abarth. Although I haven't been in pain while driving 500 I do understand your trouble as I feel that Punto's pedals are easier on legs and ligaments. Health is the most important thing you have. You don't know if the new Panda will be any different. Go get Punto Evo...