There's been plenty of criticism of the 2014 onwards 1.2. So I thought I'd give you a back to back comparison with a Kia Picannto from the same era.

We've just had one for a week. Jeez what a pile of junk! I've never driven a car with my foot buried in the carpet for so long, plenty of occasions when I've had to put it into first just to get up a hill.
Next to nothing happens until over 3k rpm. Over that it sounds like a flymo lawn mower on its last legs.
A really inflexible engine with no redeeming features, fuel consumption seemed horrific over the 500 miles or so even though I didn't measure it.

So I'm happy with our 1.2's.

Interesting comparison. I've not ever driven a Picanto, so I can't comment. I've not driven the Euro 6 1.2 500 either, only the previous incarnation. The engine in that car was perfectly acceptable and we didn't find it particularly laborious to drive.

I have to say though, I find our 1.2 Hyundai i10 which was a direct replacement for our previous TA, a much better car in all respects. I particularly like all of the extra stuff that the 500 didn't offer, cruise control being the main draw for us.

I miss the 500 purely for its styling/looks. I don't miss all the bits that fell off both of the 500's we used to own!

My 2.0 golf is a euro 6, there are noticeable flat spots and times when it lacks some power. Mainly at very low speeds it won't pull at all well in second from a slow roll, very easy to stall like this and you need to be in first for any sort of pull away which for a 150hp diesel is mad as most diesels will happily do without first gear all day, once you're away though everything is Normal.

It odd because it always has the power but if you get it just wrong it will very easily stall so my guess is that they run these engines very lean at slow speeds for pulling away which it why they lack the grunt

haha im sticking with my euro 5 1.4 for as long as i can despite its not so good fuel economy = )

AndyRKett said:

My 2.0 golf is a euro 6, there are noticeable flat spots and times when it lacks some power. Mainly at very low speeds it won't pull at all well in second from a slow roll, very easy to stall like this and you need to be in first for any sort of pull away which for a 150hp diesel is mad as most diesels will happily do without first gear all day, once you're away though everything is Normal.

It odd because it always has the power but if you get it just wrong it will very easily stall so my guess is that they run these engines very lean at slow speeds for pulling away which it why they lack the grunt

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I had a Toyota Avensis that acted just like that. It would stall at the drop of a hat if you got it slightly wrong. I had some truly scary moments on roundabouts when I tried to enter them in second.

Even if you floored it the electronics would just say no and nothing would happen.

Progress

Have had a trio of picantos. 05 1.1SE, which was nice but only 64 bhp; 12 plate Picanto 3, 1250 cc, 84 bhp and nothing under 4K rmp, 13 plate 1 litre 3 pot engine around 60 bhp but more fun yo drive. One less pot = more fun and economy. Originally 5 years warranty but last 2 had 7 years. Very very little went wrong and still own 05 and 13 plate cars. Now have 1.4 turbo 170 bhp 9'speed auto 500X. Last owned a Fiat in 1984, Superstrada, in Rosso red. Great fun to drive with Webber twin choke carb but sorry, shocking electrics...from day one. Owned 128's, 3P etc over the years. Fiat.....Fun In Abundance - Today!

Mikehep said:

Have had a trio of picantos. 05 1.1SE, which was nice but only 64 bhp; 12 plate Picanto 3, 1250 cc, 84 bhp and nothing under 4K rmp, 13 plate 1 litre 3 pot engine around 60 bhp but more fun yo drive. One less pot = more fun and economy. Originally 5 years warranty but last 2 had 7 years. Very very little went wrong and still own 05 and 13 plate cars. Now have 1.4 turbo 170 bhp 9'speed auto 500X. Last owned a Fiat in 1984, Superstrada, in Rosso red. Great fun to drive with Webber twin choke carb but sorry, shocking electrics...from day one. Owned 128's, 3P etc over the years. Fiat.....Fun In Abundance - Today!

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yeah i just cant see myself spending a lot of money on fiats = )

RussH said:

I had a Toyota Avensis that acted just like that. It would stall at the drop of a hat if you got it slightly wrong. I had some truly scary moments on roundabouts when I tried to enter them in second.



Even if you floored it the electronics would just say no and nothing would happen.



Progress

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It's not quite that bad, but it doesn't have the usual diesel low down grunt to drive everywhere round town in 3rd without changing gear, you just need to adopt a different driving style and drop a cog earlier than you would normally expect with a 2litre diesel.

If you floor it it will take off like a bat out of hell. Modern electronics means if you do stall it, it's usually restarted its self in the instant you get the clutch down, so it's not more inconvenient than letting the clutch out again