I just want to wish you all a Happy New Year with your 500s
Whether they are problematic or not, I hope everyone gets to enjoy that sense of happiness which comes from driving a 500 - and may it last all year...

It's been nearly a year now with 0UR500 (2008 model, Lounge, 1.4 Dualogic with aggressive stripes and Sport wheels).

And since I refurbished the wheels months ago and fitted a new set of quieter tyres (Hankook), I have no problems or challenges to report

I had a good feeling about this car the day we met, and nothing has changed that. In the last ten months it has clocked up nearly 25,000km problem-free thanks mainly to a long weekly commute by my partner. We didn't expect to use the 500 for long trips, but it's proved better than we expected (or remember of my previous 500 that was five years newer when I had it), with features like the air conditioning that works (unlike the Stilo's which has given consistent trouble, or my newer 500's which also leaked). Despite a lot of use, there's been no tailgate or windscreen wiper problems (unlike my newer 500...)

Nothing has broken or come off. This 500 has a surprisingly rattle-and-creak-free cabin (surprising because it's better than the Giulietta I owned earlier in the year), especially considering this car is seven years old. The Lounge cloth seats are comfortable and show no wear at all.

We've had no suspension noises and both engine and gearbox run smoothly and quietly. The Dualogic's clutch control is exemplary and I think the regular usage helps with this.

For some reason, the fuel economy is consistently better than that newer 1.4 Dualogic, even though it has the same 16" tyre size. 6.4L/100km average rather than 7.0.

I have every intention to keep this little car as it's such a gem to drive and look after. The only things I would change is to have a colour other than black and not to have an opening sunroof (have headroom instead)

Although people continually ask "is it the Abarth model?", we wouldn't want to spend three times the money. We really have no problem with the 1.4's performance and I have been impressed by the 500's quality - it must have been a particularly good day at the factory... it is hard to believe the same factory produced the worst car I have ever owned: a 1981 FIAT 126!

-Alex

Happy New Year.

It's looking good but I know what you meet about black!

RussH said:

Happy New Year.

It's looking good but I know what you meet about black!

Click to expand...

Cheers - she's pretty high maintenance, likes to have a bit of lippy on now and then (stone chip touch ups) and there's a blemish or two from things like supermarket trolleys and the acid attack of bird droppings...! None of which would show as much on a white car

The hand-polished wheels, uncoated, haven't exactly helped with the maintenance requirements

-Alex

Love your custom numberplates

I have no problem with my black Dualogic 500 either, it's still working fine. The only troubles have been related to people dinging my car in parking lots, which sadly is inevitable... and they don't leave a note

I remember a few years ago talking to a car salesman and he mentioned that you would only ever own 1 black car after which you would revert to another colour.

Many a true word, seeing your comments.

My OH's 500 dualogic is doing fine after14 months so no doubt in 2 yrs time she will change for another.

My Alfa Giulietta will be leaving me in March after 2 yrs (Great Car) but I am going to be more sedate and buying an early 70th birthday present, Jaguar XE Prestige 2.0 Petrol. But of course it has to be Italian Racing Red.

Bit late but Happy New Year to all.

44sunsets said:

Love your custom numberplates

Click to expand...

Cheers!
I have the plate 'ALEXGS' which I was going to put on - then a friend rightly pointed out that this wasn't supposed to be 'my' car, as I had said that I "bought it for Ben". But really I intended it as a shared backup car. So to reinforce that new plan, I bought the plates 0UR500. Technically I still own the car but we both drive it whenever we want

I have no problem with my black Dualogic 500 either, it's still working fine.

Click to expand...

Good to hear, long may it continue. I was just thinking today how many new Puntos there are (sold cheap for the past couple of years) and most of those are Dualogics - this can only be a good thing for parts availability/knowledge of the system in years to come.

The only troubles have been related to people dinging my car in parking lots, which sadly is inevitable... and they don't leave a note

Click to expand...

Yes, we suffered a small round ding in the driver's door recently - Ben reckons he knows when it was - someone parked really close. The good thing is that I had a few other dents in two other cars and I got the dent repair guy around here. You know, the guy with the big canvas bag of special rods and fluoro-yellow plastic mirrors on suction cups. I know what he does but have no idea how to do it... But it is good value when you get about ten dents fixed for $120!

chas379 said:

I remember a few years ago talking to a car salesman and he mentioned that you would only ever own 1 black car after which you would revert to another colour.

Many a true word, seeing your comments.

Click to expand...

Hmmmm... I've owned a number of black cars... The metallic black 166 facelift being one of the last. The plain black Alfa Spider was rather more sensitive (scratches would appear far too easily) and I used to dread even washing it.

My OH's 500 dualogic is doing fine after14 months so no doubt in 2 yrs time she will change for another.

Click to expand...

Ahh... Maybe I misunderstand, but given that cars last longer than ever, I've often wondered why someone would go through the hassle and expense of changing to another car that's much the same?

I have a friend who's owned four black Golfs - they all look identical to the average person, but he saw various reasons to change between them.

That said, I suppose my blue GTV is rather similar to my black Spider (which in hindsight I probably shouldn't have sold). This black 500 is a lot better than the blue 500 I used to have... And half the price... So I'm sure that was worthwhile

My Alfa Giulietta will be leaving me in March after 2 yrs (Great Car) but I am going to be more sedate and buying an early 70th birthday present, Jaguar XE Prestige 2.0 Petrol. But of course it has to be Italian Racing Red.

Bit late but Happy New Year to all.

Click to expand...

Thanks Chas
Jaguar XE - I think I saw one recently - very glamorous. Really making a proper attempt to rekindle the spirit of the original E type, aren't they?

That would be a big and worthwhile change from a Giulietta. I was never particularly happy with the build of my QV (rattles, squeaks) and I struggled with the springy clutch and the notchy gearchange. Like most Italian cars, I'm sure that some are Monday-morning and some are Tuesday-morning.

-Alex

alexGS said:

Hmmmm... I've owned a number of black cars... The metallic black 166 facelift being one of the last. The plain black Alfa Spider was rather more sensitive (scratches would appear far too easily) and I used to dread even washing it.-Alex

Click to expand...

I didn't set out to buy a black car (I'd owned one before!) but the opportunity to grab the 'last' manual 500C Lounge Twinair in the country (allegedly) along with the fantastic red leather interior was too good to pass up. Since then I've asked myself many times, "Why, oh why did I buy black (again)?".

But then I wash and polish it and see it standing in the sun with black paint gleaming and chrome glittering and think, "Yeah, that's why!"

I hope to have it for many years - time alone will tell.

alexGS said:

Ahh... Maybe I misunderstand, but given that cars last longer than ever, I've often wondered why someone would go through the hassle and expense of changing to another car that's much the same?
-Alex

Click to expand...

Speaking from personal experience, I would be now inclined to change the car around 5 year mark. Being not at all mechanically minded person (I DO know a lot about cars, put not in a practical way sadly) it becomes too expensive to get garages to fix ever increasing problems. My Grande Punto Abarth (which I had for 5 and half years) developed various problems in the last year of ownership which cost me around 1K to fix. I should have traded it in sooner...

I believe that if you are good with the spanners there are no reason why you couldn't keep the car until it dies. I have now downsized and I'm very happy with my decision. With 3 and 1/2 years warranty left I'll hopefully will get some cheaper motoring!