Hi everyone. New to the site today so would like to say hello. I am in the market to buy a new car and really like the 500's. I owned a Multipla about 4-5 years ago and only had 1 problem with it which was a known re-call with Fiat and was fixed promptly. Would like some honest feed back about the 500's as I have been told by friends of friends that they can't wait to get rid of theirs. I only need a small car to get to from A to B and this is ideal for me. Thanks in advance for your help
General Honest feed back
- Thread starter yoda1970
- Start date
Currently reading:
General Honest feed back
I love my twin air lounge, great about town with enough umph for occasional long journeys. Had it for two years so far from new, 22000 miles, and no desire to change the car anytime soon.
Piccolo Nero e Bella
Prominent member
I've had my Twinair Lounge 500C for 18 months now and despite a number of problems early on (promptly fixed under warranty) wouldn't swap it for anything currently in my price range - and not much beyond it either!. The partner's Pop 1200 500C is about 16 months old and had no problems whatsoever.
We're both delighted with our respective vehicles.
We're both delighted with our respective vehicles.
Cars are always a very personal thing and sometimes the heart rules the head so these questions can be a little bit tricky to answer.
We have 2, both 1.2's one Lounge and a 500S. One is on 7k miles, the other 1.5k miles. Zero issues with either of them.
The 7k one is doing around 55mpg, the other 44mpg. We swapped an Alfa Giullitta for one of them and that was a great car but the 500S (mine) also has that feel good factor that's quite hard to define.
IMHO, and I'm quite picky, the build quality is pretty good.
Dynamically they are outclassed by the VW Up or the Ford Fiesta. Ride/handing isn't class leading. Refinement for such a small car is quite impressive though.
This is where the heart rules the head though. Saying your VW Up is better is a bit like me going on about how wonderful my Bosch Dishwasher is. Yea it's good but I don't get much joy out of tuning it on each day
We have 2, both 1.2's one Lounge and a 500S. One is on 7k miles, the other 1.5k miles. Zero issues with either of them.
The 7k one is doing around 55mpg, the other 44mpg. We swapped an Alfa Giullitta for one of them and that was a great car but the 500S (mine) also has that feel good factor that's quite hard to define.
IMHO, and I'm quite picky, the build quality is pretty good.
Dynamically they are outclassed by the VW Up or the Ford Fiesta. Ride/handing isn't class leading. Refinement for such a small car is quite impressive though.
This is where the heart rules the head though. Saying your VW Up is better is a bit like me going on about how wonderful my Bosch Dishwasher is. Yea it's good but I don't get much joy out of tuning it on each day
Last edited:
Cars are always a very personal thing and sometimes the heart rules the head so these questions can be a little bit tricky to answer.
Dynamically they are outclassed by the VW Up or the Ford Fiesta. Ride/handing isn't class leading. Refinement for such a small car is quite impressive though.
This is where the heart rules the head though. Saying your VW Up is better is a bit like me going on about how wonderful my Bosch Dishwasher is. Yea it's good but I don't get much joy out of tuning it on each day
Have to agree with you here, I use my car every day and it never ceases to put a smile on my face. For many years i drove euro boxes as company cars and when I got the chance to buy my own I decided I didn't want a ronseal car but one that made me feel good to. My 500c does that a VW up doesn't.
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2014
- Messages
- 4,579
- Points
- 828
Fiats do give you the feel good factor. My old mk2b Punto Active used to put a smile on my face, and my current Grande Punto does the same, lol!
I've just swapped my '63 plate 1.2 Panda for a '14 plate 500S (euro 5) and the difference is remarkable the 500 is quicker off the mark and a lot more eager to cruise at 70 than the Panda ever was,has a lot more of the feel good factor too.I don't agree that the VW Up is the better car, my niece has the Seat Mii clone and I really can't see why people rave about it,I found it very average to drive with lots of body roll,almost no power (60hp) and pig ugly as well.Just make sure you get a car with the Blue & me though
I have a 2014 500S Multijet diesel which I would definitely recommend and have heard lots of good reports on the Twinair too.
However if you are considering the 1.2 petrol version then the euro6 should be avoided like the plague! So to be on the safe side be very wary of any 1.2 from 2013 onwards.
Make sure you read the Euro6 thread on this forum before making any decisions.
However if you are considering the 1.2 petrol version then the euro6 should be avoided like the plague! So to be on the safe side be very wary of any 1.2 from 2013 onwards.
Make sure you read the Euro6 thread on this forum before making any decisions.
Last edited by a moderator:
This is an enthusiast's forum, so it's only reasonable to expect that will give a certain bias to what's being said.
For many of the folks here, the 500 is the ideal car for them; whether it's the ideal car for you depends on what you want, your perceptions about what constitutes an ideal car, how long you plan on keeping it, how you're going to finance it, and much, much more. Knowing that you 'only need a small car to get from A to B' isn't really enough information to give a truly fair assessment of whether a 500 will be right for you.
The above warning about the current 1.2 should be taken seriously; sadly this issue isn't yet resolved and there are a number of recent new 1.2 buyers here who would love to just be able to walk away. If you're thinking about buying new with this engine, read the last ten pages or so of the thread and watch the youtube clip of the Watchdog report.
I'd suggest your next logical step is to test drive at least a 1.2 and a TA; if you're still serious about a 500, come back and tell us a little more about your expectations from the car and any concerns you may have, and I'll try to give you as unbiased a view as I can.
For many of the folks here, the 500 is the ideal car for them; whether it's the ideal car for you depends on what you want, your perceptions about what constitutes an ideal car, how long you plan on keeping it, how you're going to finance it, and much, much more. Knowing that you 'only need a small car to get from A to B' isn't really enough information to give a truly fair assessment of whether a 500 will be right for you.
The above warning about the current 1.2 should be taken seriously; sadly this issue isn't yet resolved and there are a number of recent new 1.2 buyers here who would love to just be able to walk away. If you're thinking about buying new with this engine, read the last ten pages or so of the thread and watch the youtube clip of the Watchdog report.
I'd suggest your next logical step is to test drive at least a 1.2 and a TA; if you're still serious about a 500, come back and tell us a little more about your expectations from the car and any concerns you may have, and I'll try to give you as unbiased a view as I can.
Last edited:
My 500 diesel is economical but with a bit of poke under your right foot when you need it and fun but confidence-inspiring handling, even though I have the earlier type back axle which has got the car the nickname "Skippy"...
The only issues I've had are the usual niggles:
- Boot handle filling with crud and needing a flush through with WD to get operational again
- Washer jets popping out in cold weather
- Split screenwash pipe soaking the rear passenger footwell
- Split wiring in the boot hinge area making the rear wipers appear possessed
- Rusty front top mounts
Other than that there's plenty of room for carrying stuff, esp if you go for the split folding rear seats and the cabin is roomy and feels good quality and I'm very pleased with my 500 and enjoy driving it
The only issues I've had are the usual niggles:
- Boot handle filling with crud and needing a flush through with WD to get operational again
- Washer jets popping out in cold weather
- Split screenwash pipe soaking the rear passenger footwell
- Split wiring in the boot hinge area making the rear wipers appear possessed
- Rusty front top mounts
Other than that there's plenty of room for carrying stuff, esp if you go for the split folding rear seats and the cabin is roomy and feels good quality and I'm very pleased with my 500 and enjoy driving it
ahmett
Prominent member
i didnt have any problems either at 27,000 km = ) good days back then haha
ahmett
Prominent member
do let us know how you get along.
Dingopuppy
New member
I've had my 1.2 black 500 Lounge Dualogic (called Nero) from new, for almost 3 years, (25,600miles) and have just ordered my new one, exactly the same lounge model, colour, & extras (though more things are standard now) the only difference is the one thing I wish I'd ordered on my present car- this one is a convertible- climate control, chrome mirrors and fog lights are now standard, I've ordered side strips with 500 badges, chrome bonnet strip & a-bar, the blue&me with tom-tom sat-nav again plus a tft instrument panel, I've not ordered leather as I didn't like the choices, last time I had a 'pop' upholstery fitted as its plainer- not an option this time.
I'm planning on keeping this one as a fun second car around the practical 'work' LandRover Freelander2 I have, so I'm meeting someone to discuss a leather retrim when I get the vehicle- including the door panels and rear side panels- I'm planning pics if this goes ahead.
Basically I'm still as much in love with my car as I was before I bought him.
Issues: the drivers door handle fell off after 3 days (as did my neighbours!) fixed immediately by the great dealership (GMD of Durham, UK!) there was an issue with the engine one night coming home- warning lights, loss of power then stop! I called the AA (free with the car!) they brought me home & took the car to the dealership- it was fixed the next day under warranty- a coil (?) I think was faulty.
The only gripes I have are:
I wish Blue&Me could be windows or Apple- or that someone would make an App to let the car work properly with my iPhone, reading texts like the freelander does!
The air conditioning button light is RUBBISH!!!
The stop&start can be unnerving sometimes if something big parks on your tail!
Oh- and the centre armrest I bought on eBay is worth every penny!
I should've said- I wouldn't be changing my car at all- but with £1,500 FIAT contribution & £800 off the list price on my spec I'm handing my car over, and getting a new one for the same monthly lease charge, and no deposit. *BOOM!
Still no delivery date mind you!
Oh and one more gripe TOM-TOM doesn't work with Apple computers either- crashes every computer I have when I try to update!
I'm planning on keeping this one as a fun second car around the practical 'work' LandRover Freelander2 I have, so I'm meeting someone to discuss a leather retrim when I get the vehicle- including the door panels and rear side panels- I'm planning pics if this goes ahead.
Basically I'm still as much in love with my car as I was before I bought him.
Issues: the drivers door handle fell off after 3 days (as did my neighbours!) fixed immediately by the great dealership (GMD of Durham, UK!) there was an issue with the engine one night coming home- warning lights, loss of power then stop! I called the AA (free with the car!) they brought me home & took the car to the dealership- it was fixed the next day under warranty- a coil (?) I think was faulty.
The only gripes I have are:
I wish Blue&Me could be windows or Apple- or that someone would make an App to let the car work properly with my iPhone, reading texts like the freelander does!
The air conditioning button light is RUBBISH!!!
The stop&start can be unnerving sometimes if something big parks on your tail!
Oh- and the centre armrest I bought on eBay is worth every penny!
I should've said- I wouldn't be changing my car at all- but with £1,500 FIAT contribution & £800 off the list price on my spec I'm handing my car over, and getting a new one for the same monthly lease charge, and no deposit. *BOOM!
Still no delivery date mind you!
Oh and one more gripe TOM-TOM doesn't work with Apple computers either- crashes every computer I have when I try to update!
Last edited:
ahmett
Prominent member
i guess for the 3 year plan people instead of stumping up the cash and buying the car out it makes better sense to just keep on leasing and getting a new car.
I bought my car cash so obviously would keep it forever until it dies as selling it would be a huge loss of cash.
Dingopuppy
New member
Because my present one isn't a convertible, just that- I'd not even have looked, as I hadn't thought about it, but I had a letter from my dealership saying Fiat were making a £750 contribution to the price, and £750 loyalty discount... & £800 off list price- so, out of idle curiosity I asked- the final deal is that I hand over my car, and nothing else- not one penny- my monthly payments stay the same (still would have stayed the same per month on my present car, as I still owe nearly £6,000) but I get a shiny new new car. And the roof comes off. ??
I will add- that this one I have no intention of swapping- in 3 years I'll paybthis one off and keep it for fun... unless there is a new generation of 500 with built in sat nav in the dash!
Last edited:
