Tuning New 500L driven.

Currently reading:
Tuning New 500L driven.

What I really meant was that a tie-up with Illy, for instance, would have been much more prestigious. Apart from being much better coffee, you could have had that really smart, aluminium theme carried on in the interior. (As a multiple Panda owner, my participation in this discussion is entirely theoretical as I don't go in for décor.)
 
(As a multiple Panda owner, my participation in this discussion is entirely theoretical as I don't go in for décor.)

I'm more and more thinking that Fiat is using colourful and techy design to bring in customers. I love some of their colour combinations and dashboard design, but I do wonder at most of the special models. If it brings in the customers, fine, but I wonder if an older buying group (me for example) might not be so seduced and start looking for good engineering without the frippery, at lower cost :D

I wonder how large a slice of the market the new Vauxhall/Opel Adam, which is flagrantly copying Mini, Fiat and Citroen in providing a fashion accessory, will grab? It is remorselssley targeted at the uber-cool young, the fashionistas, and is said to start at around £11000.

This is a growing market segment and I wonder how many 500 owners will jump ship?
 
In another thread I expressed my doubts about the next step for the 500. I dislike the 500's retro looks, as I don't thinks there's a place for retro-ness in products like cars, but that's not the issue here; the real problem arises when the existing model becomes tired. Do you go more retro - shorter wheelbase and front-opening doors like the earliest of the Nuova 500? Do you go really retro to a Topolino look? Or do you produce gross and bulbous abortions like the later Mini models, or the non-Panda-based 500s that have started to appear.

My comments on espresso machines was heavily tongue in cheek; apart from anything else, how do you froth your milk for your cappuccino?
 
And who wants to have a crash with a water boiler flying round inside the car....or ever of course :eek: I really just don't get it.

I'm going to think anyone with this coffee pot bubbling away in their car on the way to work is a total pratt; making the 500L an idiot's car...

In fact this silly device helps reinforce my feeling that me and Fiat are not moving in the same direction... what next I wonder?
 
Last edited:
What I really meant was that a tie-up with Illy, for instance, would have been much more prestigious. Apart from being much better coffee, you could have had that really smart, aluminium theme carried on in the interior. (As a multiple Panda owner, my participation in this discussion is entirely theoretical as I don't go in for décor.)

Don't berate yourself :) I think everyone's opinion is valuable. Perhaps some people might simply not be representative of the audience that the vehicle is targeted at, but it's all useful in some way :)

Personally I don't agree that the 500 is too retro, sure I'd be lying if I said it was an entirely modern car, sure it does have a lot of retro touches but aside from the fact that it's a 3 door and the roofline compromises rear headroom, none of it gets in the way of it being a good car and a fairly useable one at that.

Personally I much prefer the 500 interior to the Mini one for instance
2007_Mini_Cooper_S_dash.jpg


To me that is trying too hard and is compromised by the fact that it's been retro-ised.

To me the 500 interior is great, it would be nicer to see some better quality materials, but it's very useable and functional and the single instrument cluster works really well. I'm not a fan of it in ivory because I think it goes towards the Mini end of the scale plus it adds another colour to the interior which doesn't work well IMHO.
idyyc7.jpg


In terms of looks I think a 500 with some nice wheels in a nice colour and without any of the silly a bar and bonnet line chrome trims can look like a fairly modern car?

I don't have any great pictures with me at work, but I don't think my car looks anything like one of the silly contrived (IMHO of course....) 500's in a retro pastel colour driving around with the retro chrome trims and every bit of accessory chrome that can be found.

280m7ls.jpg


35idv0h.jpg


Of course all of the above is just opinion, but I think a 500 in a nice modern colour with some nice wheels and without too much chrome, can look fairly modern?

Whereas something like this looks a bit OTT?

5446128046_a911b85d8d_o.jpg
 
That's a very nice comparison there with those pics of the 500 and the Mini. I think the 500's interior is bang on really, nice and simple but looks elegant enough. The new Panda also has a nice simple interior as well but has enough character to make it feel like it is of decent quality.

Just needs (IMO) a bit of an update with the textured interior plastics. The electric window switches, handbrake etc are around 10 years old now, even pinching the ones out the new Panda would be a nice enough touch.
 
I like the light and wiper switchs on the new Panda, they work well and the indicators don't self cancel on a whim as they always do on older Fiats, but I don't take to the new handbrake at all.

I wouldn't buy an Up, but the reassuringly solid-feeling rubberised plastic conventional handbrake in it is far more pleasant to the touch, and also works with a very solid and comfortable movement and is, dare I suggest, better.

It does look like Fiat is going with the new handbrake design across all the new products though.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top