Hello,
I am thinking about buying used Fiat 500. I was looking for Longue with 1.2, or 1,4 petrol engine, but today I find ad with 1.3 MJ 75 HP -
what is Your opinion about this engine? could You compare it to petrol versions?

What do you plan to use the car for? Town work, distance driving, motorways etc?

OrangeSport said:

What do you plan to use the car for? Town work, distance driving, motorways etc?

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Mostly town driving (8km to work) - so I first think about petrol version, but diesel is in the same price in used cars (2008-2009)

this 1.3 MJ 75HP is the same engine as in Opel/Vauxhall Corsa C?

Antoine said:

Mostly town driving (8km to work) - so I first think about petrol version, but diesel is in the same price in used cars (2008-2009)

this 1.3 MJ 75HP is the same engine as in Opel/Vauxhall Corsa C?

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If you do mostly city driving petrol is the only choice since all the new diesel engines have a DPF and they get clogged up. Despite having owed 2 1.4s the 1.2 is the pick of the punch which may explain what the secondhand models are the same price.

loveshandbags said:

the 1.2 is the pick of the punch which may explain what the secondhand models are the same price.

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Don't overlook the TA. The 1.2 may suit you more, but it's worthwhile trying them all, the TA has an emphasis on fun (with economy secondarily).

If you can, try getting a post 2010 car. The suspension is considerably better. Its simple, for town driving with economy you get the 1.2. If you want more fun, you get the 1.4. The TA is expensive for no reason and its definitely not cheaper to run than the 1.2 and not that much faster.

ahmett said:

If you can, try getting a post 2010 car. The suspension is considerably better. Its simple, for town driving with economy you get the 1.2. If you want more fun, you get the 1.4.

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Probably about right.

ahmett said:

The TA is expensive for no reason and its definitely not cheaper to run than the 1.2 and not that much faster.

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I take umbrage with that. And having driven both, the TA is quite a bit quicker (certainly through the gears).

It'd be interesting (to some of us) to see comparative BSFC graphs for the three petrol engines.

ahmett said:

If you can, try getting a post 2010 car. The suspension is considerably better. Its simple, for town driving with economy you get the 1.2. If you want more fun, you get the 1.4. The TA is expensive for no reason and its definitely not cheaper to run than the 1.2 and not that much faster.

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This makes me wish I could use both the like and dislike buttons together!

There are reasons why the TA is more expensive - not least of which is I'm sure FIAT weren't doing all the (very considerable) development and testing needed to bring this engine to market for free.

Most here would say it's capable of producing significantly more power (than the 1.2) when called on to do so, but as yet, no one has managed to get anywhere near the mpg figures FIAT would like you to think it's capable of.

Personally I'm far from convinced that the TA is particularly efficient at producing power, except perhaps under an extremely artificial set of conditions which you're highly unlikely ever to reproduce in normal driving, but that's not, in itself, a reason not to buy one.

If you want the cheapest car to run, then definitely get a 1.2 - though the 1.2 Panda (essentially the same car mechanically) will be cheaper still.

If Poland is anything like here TAs are a bit like hen's teeth on the secondhand market. Very few sold so their secondhand price is at a premium. Judging by the car that the OP has if he is looking to progress from the model that he currently has a diesel might be marginally better at the pumps than a petrol (namely a 1.2) but will cost him a lot more in the long run.
The OH has been driving my petrol mito in preference to her diesel mito and finds it a lot more pleasurable to drive than a noisy Diesel engine. Unless you doing big mileage and / or can get the diesel cheaper than petrol (e.g. Recovering the vat) in a small car petrol is best.
In relation to the BSFC the only advantage of the 1.4.is that at 4000 rpm + it comes into its own. If you're lugging your 500 around town the 8 valve has more low down torque.

jrkitching said:

Personally I'm far from convinced that the TA is particularly efficient at producing power, except perhaps under an extremely artificial set of conditions which you're highly unlikely ever to reproduce in normal driving, but that's not, in itself, a reason not to buy one.

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Remember it's 300cc smaller than the 1.2 engine, though. Of course, there's work to be done - it's the first of a new generation of engines, and it's clear from the 105PS version that more development time was subsequently done, indicating that marketing pressures probably prompted the launch of the 500 Twin Air.

As ever with these questions, test all of the cars and see which you like best; economy shouldn't be the only reason for choosing a particular engine type.

It is far more important to be able to live with your choice long term, otherwise the money you think you'll save in economy will be thrown down the drain when you sell the car to get something you do prefer!

If I was buying a new 500 I would find it hard to resist the temptation of a TA but let's not loose sight of the title of this thread since I reckon the OP is on a budget. Buying with the head can be foolhardy since if you don't keep the sensible purchase you end having to sell and buy again. It can all come down to how you drive. If you can show considerable restraint the TA can be economical. Turbos are addictive and in real life hurt economy.

loveshandbags said:

If you can show considerable restraint the TA can be economical. Turbos are addictive and in real life hurt economy.

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If you regularly show that much restraint, you won't be benefitting from the performance & I'd question the logic of paying all the extra money needed to buy it in the first place.

I don't see the point of paying extra for a TA if you're going to be continually worrying about how much fuel it's using. If you can't really afford to drive it as it's meant to be driven, buy something else .

jrkitching said:

If you can't really afford to drive it as it's meant to be driven, buy something else .

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I thank you. People need to gain some perspective here, if you drive the TA enthusiastically, it hardly suffers from wallet busting/oil field draining fuel consumption. It just uses a bit more - like any car would, if driven enthusiastically.

if its a quicker car your looking for you could chose the 0.9 twinair engine 105bhp

k13r4nstoneacre said:

if its a quicker car your looking for you could chose the 0.9 twinair engine 105bhp

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Except the 500 isn't available with that engine, only the 500L.

k13r4nstoneacre said:

if its a quicker car your looking for you could chose the 0.9 twinair engine 105bhp

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Welcome to here.

Am I right, judging from your name, that you work for Stoneacre Fiat??

RobinPJ said:

Welcome to here.

Am I right, judging from your name, that you work for Stoneacre Fiat??

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yes i do as a young apprenticeship

Good for you for being here then!

I take it you are on the oily side of things not the sales side? (Actually I'm not sure which side is oilier....)

Welcome Sorry if my response seemed a bit abrupt..

If the newer/higher power TA engine is going to be shoved into the 500, that'll probably appeal to a few people who are looking for a quicker car..