General 500 Twin Air - Yay or Nay?

[seeka]

Hi guys,

I've just registered.

The 500 Twin Air. Is she any good? I'm looking at a 2011 with 69k. Is it a good little car? Anything I should be on the look out for when I go to look at it? Would you buy one or go for the 1.4 sport?

Any help or advice is appreciated.

Cheers!

 

[theninezero]

I've had a TA 85 for the past year, and it's absolutely brilliant - great fun to drive (especially with Eco off), and cheap to insure and tax. I've never managed anywhere near the claimed MPG, but sensible driving on long runs I've had it to about 54mpg - a comibination of town and motorway, including the occasional heavy footed fun, and I tend to average low 40s.

Bad points are that parts are quite expensive compared with the VAG stuff I'm used to, and that the ride isn't great (mines on 16s, which don't help - I'm actually looking to swap for something smaller).

I'm not planning on getting rid of mine!

 

[500virgin]

Having just got one for the wife.

Avoid it. Over priced parts very little technical help and
A right pain.

When it did run it was a fun little car

 

[jackwhoo]

Unless you really really really want a twin air ,get the 1.4.

The twin air motor is either loved or loathed in equal measure.

 

[Mercky]

If it has been looked after properly it should be absolutely fine, correct oil is essential

 

[explorer121]

Have a TA 2012 with 36 k on the clock. No problems as yet and runs well. As many people say it's a marmite engine but I can honestly say it is great fun comfortable and still shocks the hell out of other more powerful cars !
Zero road tax and 40-55 mpg, what's not to like !

 

[UFI]

Twinair for it's timing chain if nothing else.

 

[TrevC]

Try before you buy, it is a different kind of engine to the normally aspirated 4-cyl.
Loved mine, ran it for over 40,000 miles with no issues. As with all cars, make sure it has been serviced correctly. Since the valve actuation uses the engine oil, it is vital that the correct type is used.
As UFI says, no timing belt to change, so that saves a few hundred pounds every few years

 

[werdna]

And...they are capable of making heads turn ! See my sig below.

 

[jackwhoo]

Lots of people saying check the correct oil has been used. Not sure how this is possible on a six year old car with 69 thousand mikes on the clock.

 

[Mercky]

Lots of people saying check the correct oil has been used. Not sure how this is possible on a six year old car with 69 thousand mikes on the clock.

Well if the correct oil had not been used it would not have reached 69k! One can also check service receipts and records if available. If I was buying a car with that mileage I would immediately change the oil regardless for peace of mind.

 

[jackwhoo]

Well thinking further about it , that is only 6 services. If all done by Dealer the correct oil should have been used.
My experience of service records is the brand and grade of oil not always documented.

 

[Mercky]

Unfortunately it was quite common for dealers not to use the correct oil particularly on the early cars, this resulted in some cases with failure of the uni air module.

 

[jackwhoo]

Sounds like it's a lottery regarding knowing if correct oil has been used.

 

[Mercky]

Not really, if the cars running ok then it's ok! And as I said, change the oil anyway on purchase

 

[sharpandroid]

I bought my 500s TA 105 a couple of weeks ago, a 15 plate with 14000 on it so I can't comment on reliability or service costs yet.
You need to drive one and compare it to a four cylinder version, they are very different, I would compare it to riding a single cylinder bike against an inline four if you have ever ridden bikes.
The power is good, the economy is very good if you want it to be, they do sound a lot different and it's just good fun to drive.
It takes time to get used to how they work, so don't be dissapointed if it feels wrong at first.

Hope this helps.

Oh yes and Clarkson loved the one he tried.

https://www.driving.co.uk/car-reviews/the-clarkson-review-fiat-500-twinair-2011/

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

Yay!!!!!

 

[BloodyHematite]

I've had the 85hp TwinAir for about 1.5 years now (about 10k miles over the time), and have been happy with it. I test-drove the normal 1.2 4cyl, and consider the TwinAir better. It has more torque low-down and the engine noise forces a smile on your face. It also feels faster than it really is, so you can enjoy sporty driving practically anytime and everywhere.

 

[berzins42]

fiat mechanic here- fiat 500 twin-air have a 2 major problems
1. Flywheel failure (if driving aggressive.) i have seen even on 2015 with 15k catastrophic flywheel failure. on some cars in 1 year i changed 2 times. but most of those cars was company cars- pica delivery , etc. (where people don't care about car)
under normal driving shouldn't bee e problem
2. Twin air modules- sticking actuators, sticking lifters, broken lifter springs. need to replace hole module.

sorry for bad English

 

[Wayne g]

My wife and I are on our 2nd 500. The first being the 1200 lounge and currently a twin air 500s.
We loved the Lounge but absolutely adore the twin air. Drive wise is far, far more fun and the noise makes me smile every time we accelerate.
Cheap to run and insure and the tax is well.....free!


It's no sports car but more than keeps up if you drive within a sensible target of UK speed limits and is happy as can be doing a fair bit more on bigger roads....


my wife's had everything from (original) mini's to TVR's and Mercs over the years and she still says that the 500's and the Fiat barchetta she had about 15 years ago are still a dead heat as her all time favourite motors for grin factor.