Ok. Despite not actually having driven the TwinAir (only the 1.2), we made a decision and pulled the trigger on a Gelato white TwinAir Lounge with a grey cloth interior and ivory ambience. In addition to the standard Lounge spec, it'll come with the following extras:

- 10 double spoke 16" wheels (same as those on the Cult)
- Xenon lights
- Instercope HiFi system
- Auto dimming rear view mirror
- Leather gear knob

Now we just need to wait around 10 weeks for delivery...

ristretto said:

Ok. Despite not actually having driven the TwinAir (only the 1.2), we made a decision and pulled the trigger on a Gelato white TwinAir Lounge with a grey cloth interior and ivory ambience. In addition to the standard Lounge spec, it'll come with the following extras:

- 10 double spoke 16" wheels (same as those on the Cult)
- Xenon lights
- Instercope HiFi system
- Auto dimming rear view mirror
- Leather gear knob

Now we just need to wait around 10 weeks for delivery...

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be careful the 16 inch wheels ruin fuel economy by about 5% compared to the 15 inch wheels.

Fair enough, but 16 inch wheels are actually standard on the Lounge at least in Finland. I guess I could get the 15 inchers at no extra cost if I wanted to but I prefer the apperance of the 16 inch wheels. The smaller wheels may also ride better, but we were both happy with the ride on the larger wheels.

These are the ones that come stock:



But we prefer these:



We also happen to prefer the non-metallic white to the metallic one

ristretto said:

Fair enough, but 16 inch wheels are actually standard on the Lounge at least in Finland. I guess I could get the 15 inchers at no extra cost if I wanted to but I prefer the apperance of the 16 inch wheels. The smaller wheels may also ride better, but we were both happy with the ride on the larger wheels.

These are the ones that come stock:

But we prefer these:

We also happen to prefer the non-metallic white to the metallic one

Click to expand...

ok looks good = ) but dont complain if you cannot come close to the fuel economy figures! and not only that, the car will feel slower. i cannot believe such a weak engine as the 1.2 69hp would have wheels that are so big and heavy with such wide tires!!

ristretto said:

we made a decision and pulled the trigger on a Gelato white TwinAir Lounge

Click to expand...

Congratulations!

ahmett said:

ok looks good = ) but dont complain if you cannot come close to the fuel economy figures!

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Even with 15 inch rims the 3.8 l/100km (74 MPG) specified for the 500 with TwinAir 80 is unreachable for normal human beings.

yes but instead of 5.0l/100 km you'll get 6.0l/100 km. (this i am quoting for the 1.2)
for the TA instead of 6.0l/100km, you'll get 7.0l/100 km = )

For the record i went from 8.0l/100 km to 7.0 l/100 km when i changed tire width from 195 to 185.

ahmett said:

for the TA instead of 6.0l/100km, you'll get 7.0l/100 km = ).

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I'm getting 4.7 on 195's. Hopefully the switch to 175's will get me into the high threes though

UFI said:

Hopefully the switch to 175's will get me into the high threes though

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Yeah, straight into the high trees, when losing grip in a curve.

AGH1965 said:

Yeah, straight into the high trees, when losing grip in a curve.

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dont be silly 175's are fine if they are a good make. now with 155's you may be having some issues = )

in fact, the stock mini cooper, a more powerful and heavier car has the 175's as standard = )

195's are far too wide for the car.

ahmett said:

dont be silly 175's are fine if they are a good make. now with 155's you may be having some issues = )

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Actually a 1.2 would be just fine on 155's - my 1.2 Panda runs on 155/80x13's and I've never come close to losing it, not even in the snow on summer tyres.

IMO even that's more than is necessary; twenty years ago cars with this sort of power & configuration would have been shod on 135's.

Ahmett, there is nothing wrong with 195/45R16. Besides, it's not only the size that matters. The 500 with TwinAir 80 that Ristretto buys, will likely have Goodyear EfficientGrip tires. These are a kind of eco tires. If 205/40R17 Pirelli P ZERO NERO tires were mounted, then I would agree with you. MINI is a different story. MINI mounts wheels that nobody wants and their option wheels are very expensive. That's just MINI's way of making more money.

AGH1965 said:

Ahmett, there is nothing wrong with 195/45R16. Besides, it's not only the size that matters. The 500 with TwinAir 80 that Ristretto buys, will likely have Goodyear EfficientGrip tires. These are a kind of eco tires. If 205/40R17 Pirelli P ZERO NERO tires were mounted, then I would agree with you. MINI is a different story. MINI mounts wheels that nobody wants and their option wheels are very expensive. That's just MINI's way of making more money.

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195/45 16 tires are FAT. It's like saying there is nothing wrong with obese people = )

jrkitching said:

Actually a 1.2 would be just fine on 155's - my 1.2 Panda runs on 155/80x13's and I've never come close to losing it, not even in the snow on summer tyres.

IMO even that's more than is necessary; twenty years ago cars with this sort of power & configuration would have been shod on 135's.

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yes but cars were much 'skinnier' those days. the heavier a car is, the more likely it is to understeer. so if a car with 800 kgs need 135's to be ok, then a 1000 kg car would need at least, lets say 175's.

my mom's old polo was 1100 kgs or so, maybe even 1200 kgs with me in it and the auto transmission, and it understeered far too much with 155's on it.

i think, with the Fiat 500's crazy short wheelbase and naturally dodgy handling compared to the Mini, the 185's are a good compromise for sporty driving.

ahmett said:

dont be silly 175's are fine

Click to expand...

jrkitching said:

Actually a 1.2 would be just fine on 155's

Click to expand...

I don't know how it is in other countries, but in the Netherlands it is as follows. From 2007 to 2012 or 2013 the smallest tire size for a 500 was 175/65R14. However, in 2010 there was a 500 1.2 ECO Limited Edition (104 g/km CO2) and that car had tire size 155/80R13! Nowadays the smallest tire size is 185/55R15 though. Even the cheapest 500, a Pop with TwinAir 60 (88 g/km CO2), has tire size 185/55R15 these days. However, if you want a 500S, then 195/45R16 is the only tire size you can choose.

Finally took delivery our new 500. The dealer supplied it with the wrong wheels (see earlier in the thread) and rubber instead of fabric floor mats. However, they will remedy both shortcomings as soon as they can get the correct wheels and floor mats in.

Nice car!

Ristretto, what do you think of the 80 hp TwinAir engine in you car? Of course it's still a bit tight, but are you satisfied?

Thanks!

I think it's too early to draw conclusions, but first impressions are positive. There is more character and torque in the engine than the 1.2. The unique puttering sound also adds to the charm. Most importantly - the wife loves it!

Thought I'd follow up on this thread.

The TwinAir now has around 2500 kms on the clock and the engine is noticeably more peppy than it was initially. So far the average fuel consumption is at 6L/100km = 47 UK mpg.

The dealer finally managed to deliver the wheels we originally ordered the car with. A quick snap below.



Winter is arriving, so the car is going to have a Webasto auxiliary heater installed next week - along with a remote by phone (https://www.remuc.fi/?lang=en) and a battery charger. The winter shoes (Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 on 15" wheels) will also go Under the car in the best future...

Winter shoes now on. The soft compound 15" Nokian winter tyres are noticeably more quiet than the 16" summer tyres. The ride is also clearly cushier.

The Webasto aux heater is great - pre-warms the engine and cabin nicely in sub-zero temps (and easily controlled from an iPhone app).

Funny how one of the photos above has disappeared. Monday this week may have been fatal to our little 500. Here's the before image from when we got the correct wheels on the car:



...and here is one from Monday this week:



What happened is that when my wife was driving, a large truck / lorry hit her when he was changing lanes. Apparently he just did not see the Fiat even thought he was on left lane and driving faster, approaching my wife's car from behind?!

Anyway, the first hit was to the rear of the car and it spun it sideways. The Fiat ended up in front of the truck and was effectively being pushed sideways by the truck. It is a small miracle that the car did not flip and that nobody was actually hurt. Let's see if the car will be written off.