Mine is very lumpy, bumpy, grumbly, jerky etc but the 1.2 hire car I've got today drives like a normal car and is much more pleasant. Mine is in for diagnostics and I'm thinking of trading it in. I expect lawnmower noises but not uncomfortable gear changes etc. Your polite and candid advice, please!

PocoBeep said:

Mine is very lumpy, bumpy, grumbly, jerky etc but the 1.2 hire car I've got today drives like a normal car and is much more pleasant. Mine is in for diagnostics and I'm thinking of trading it in. I expect lawnmower noises but not uncomfortable gear changes etc. Your polite and candid advice, please!

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It's not so long since folks were complaining that newish 1.2's were driving like that but that the TA they'd test driven was just fine :bang:.

Seriously, though, most folks seem to report the TA drives well; those reporting issues like yours have generally found out subsequently that their car is faulty in some way.

Keep pestering your dealer until you're happy. Youy could always ask to test drive the same model as yours; if it's markedly different, you'll likely notice straight away.

Excellent response, thank you. I love the aesthetics of my car and just want smooth gear transitions. The 3 year warranty expires in 2 weeks and I don't care if the car is the for the duration of the issues are sorted out.

PocoBeep said:

Mine is very lumpy, bumpy, grumbly, jerky etc but the 1.2 hire car I've got today drives like a normal car and is much more pleasant. Mine is in for diagnostics and I'm thinking of trading it in. I expect lawnmower noises but not uncomfortable gear changes etc. Your polite and candid advice, please!

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You mean this suddenly started to happen and was fine before? Is it manual or DL?

I only bought it on Saturday and assumed this was how the 500 was until I drove the hire car. My TA is a manual and there's a fine balancing act between clutch and accelerator to stop it jerking.

PocoBeep said:

I only bought it on Saturday and assumed this was how the 500 was until I drove the hire car. My TA is a manual and there's a fine balancing act between clutch and accelerator to stop it jerking.

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Unless you bought it privately off a man in the street you should have more than a 2 week warranty even if that is all that's left of the dealers warranty, by statutory rights should give you 3 months on a used car that it is fit for purpose at the very least

Yes, sorry I bought with the remainder of the 3 year Fiat warranty and a 6 month independent garage warranty.

TA's are a bit grumbly by nature and you do need to get used to them, I'm not saying it's the issue here, there may well be a fault. Try driving in Eco mode and see does it feel better. A 1.2 will always feel smoother regardless.

We drive a 85TA and I can agree that it took some getting used to.

Our drive is long and steep, and I find that reverse gear is way too high and it needs some good control to get up smoothly without riding the clutch all the way up.

Also, pulling away in first - even on the flat - needs deft control of the throttle and clutch for a smooth getaway. Perhaps first gear is a little too high too?

Other then that, it goes like the proverbial rocket! I'm very very VERY pleased with it and it's put the fun back into my driving. I wish I'd bought one years ago.

Town driving, and also locally, it's good in ECO - quieter and smoother.

Good luck, and keep pestering the dealer. I agree, get a test drive of another TA to see if you get on better with it.

Regards,
Mick.

PocoBeep said:

Mine is very lumpy, bumpy, grumbly, jerky etc but the 1.2 hire car I've got today drives like a normal car and is much more pleasant. Mine is in for diagnostics and I'm thinking of trading it in. I expect lawnmower noises but not uncomfortable gear changes etc. Your polite and candid advice, please!

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My TA felt very similar when I first got it and I had doubts I'd made the right decision. It was gutless, easily stalled, especially in ECO, gear changes were rough, reverse crunched every time and fuel economy was average. This was partly due to a slow hydraulic leak in the clutch. However, after about six months (and a repaired leak!) it steadily became smoother, more responsive, more fun and the MPG improved markedly. No doubt I was adapting to its idiosyncrasies as well.

Why a 3yo car should feel that way is another thing but given my experience the first thing I'd do is get the clutch checked out.

I'm hoping the diagnostics will show up something interesting that improve matters. I read a lot before opting for the 0.9 TA and do love the car - I also own a 2.4 petrol Jeep and bought the Fiat for fuel economy(!) and nippiness - but am surprised at just how much smoother the 1.2 is to drive. If I turn the 0.9 in reverse, it sounds like the back end is going to fall off and I hope the neighbours can't hear! Fourth gear is much smoother than 5th at 50mph and the car will take getting used to, which is fine, providing I know what it should and shouldn't be doing. Test drive of other 0.9 TA will take place tomorrow afternoon and I'll be riding the garage hard if there is much difference between the two!

Thanks for that, Mercky. It's amazing just how much smoother then 1.2 is. Not a bit, but shedloads! My car is better in every other respect, btw

Mick F said:

Also, pulling away in first - even on the flat - needs deft control of the throttle and clutch for a smooth getaway.

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I agree only partly, since it's astonishing how well the TwinAir drives off if you release the clutch pedal WITHOUT touching the accelerator pedal!

PocoBeep said:

If I turn the 0.9 in reverse, it sounds like the back end is going to fall off and I hope the neighbours can't hear!

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That isn't normal! There is definitely something wrong!

AGH1965 said:

That isn't normal! There is definitely something wrong!

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It looks like it's a common problem but I have reported it to the garage. They have just let me know I need a new clutch pedal switch https://www.fiatforum.com/500/344774-fiat-500-twinair-gearbox-groan-reverse.html

At least you won't have to pay for it......warranty job!