General Opinions on when to sell

[dlk2000]

Hi all,


Just wondering if there is any consensus on when is the best time to call it a day and invest in another car.


I have a 2008 1.4 sport which I have owned for around 7 years. It had one previous owner, but was basically a new car when I bought it and had only done 16k. It has now done 86k and I am wondering whether I should sell it now or keep it and run it into the ground.

It has been very reliable and I have had hardly any trouble with it. It needed both front wheel bearings done a few years ago and I think all the brake discs will need replacing soon, but otherwise all seems fine. My concern is that this isn't going to last and it will start getting very expensive to maintain.

I use the car for my daily commute of about 8 miles and make long journeys a couple of times a year, so I would say my usage is pretty average and I make sure it is serviced annually. Am I worrying about nothing?

 

[Al D]

Allegedly the early cars better put together, which your experience seems to confirm. Most manufacturers or independently of them their dealers have "scrappage schemes" on anything pre winter 2010. Though not with Fiat, I spent £3000 on a Clio, then spent £2500 in following year fixing things. Eventually you just lose faith in them. I'd have an 18 plate 1.2 Lounge myself and put yours towards it.

 

[chris3234]

Brake discs are penny's on a fiat if you can do them yourself you could get new discs and pads for under £50
If there's nothing else needing doing soon I'd keep it happily

 

[Ralf S.]

In my experience, cars tend to get a bit saggy around the 120k mark.

Having said that, once you fix everything that is worn out then, they'll go to 180k when there's another round of failures.

86k makes me chuckle.. It's brand new still


Ralf S.

 

[Goudrons]

I would say with 86k on the clock you might likely be looking at a clutch replacement sooner rather than later, if it ain't had one already.

If you look on Honest John's MOT files, the main causes for fails are suspension.
https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/mot/fiat/500/2008
So you've likely a few bills there at some point.

Going off the information owners post on here, there's very little to worry about, perhaps a few gremlins with the electrics and the odd door handle issue.

But writing all that, if yours is in good fettle, they still sell for good money and you'd probably have a queue of buyers knocking your door down.
After 7 years it probably owes you nothing and cashing in now before it really does have a long list of problems might be something to consider.
As you're asking this now, you're probably half convinced yourself it's time for a change, but what are you considering changing it for?

 

[John202020]

The cost to fix things in the next year or so is probably less than what you'd loose driving it off from the dealer(new)?

 

[dlk2000]

Allegedly the early cars better put together

That's reassuring! I had been reading some of the horror stories on here and thinking I'd been lucky, but I suppose that's the same with any car forum.

I'm really in two minds about changing it as it's still in good nick and has been no bother, so probably still worth something. When I have a look at what else is out there though, it seems like I would have to spend a fair bit just to get something comparable. This is what let to my original purchase, as the 1.4 seems to be fairly well equipped compared to other cars of the same price

 

[TrevC]

You still see quite a few 2008 ones around, which suggests they last pretty well. You are doing the right thing with regular services, just make sure this includes changing the cambelt/waterpump/tensioner every 5 years.

 

[dlk2000]

just make sure this includes changing the cambelt/waterpump/tensioner every 5 years.

just about to book it in for that actually. Probably get the aux belt done too as its sounding a little noisy.

If I do end up keeping it then I'm considering changing the seats or covers. It has those half leather, half grey fabric ones that I've never been overly keen on and the perforated vinyl has cracked on the drivers one.

 

[chris3234]

just about to book it in for that actually. Probably get the aux belt done too as its sounding a little noisy.

If I do end up keeping it then I'm considering changing the seats or covers. It has those half leather, half grey fabric ones that I've never been overly keen on and the perforated vinyl has cracked on the drivers one.

Just replaced mine for that Very reason

 

[dlk2000]

Just replaced mine for that Very reason

did you go for used seats or covers? Seems pretty easy to get a passenger seat but not a drivers one (for the similar reasons I'm assuming)

 

[chris3234]

I replaced all of the seat's both front and back from a salvage car

 

[TrevC]

Yes, makes sense to replace the auxiliary belt too - it has to be removed to get to tha cambelt anyway, and won't cost much. On some cars the cambelt cover doesn't extend all the way down, so a broken aux belt can get wrapped around the cambelt and lunch the engine. Don't know if that can happen with the Fiat 1.4.

 

[dlk2000]

I replaced all of the seat's both front and back from a salvage car

ah ok, might end up going down that route then. Full leather or something would be nice!
:rumour:Just out of curiosity, did you tell your insurance about it?

 

[chris3234]

ah ok, might end up going down that route then. Full leather or something would be nice!
:rumour:Just out of curiosity, did you tell your insurance about it?

No as I changed the seats like for like half leather seats from another 500 sport so everything functions as normal

 

[John202020]

You still see quite a few 2008 ones around, which suggests they last pretty well. You are doing the right thing with regular services, just make sure this includes changing the cambelt/waterpump/tensioner every 5 years.

If you can't DIY, remember to check Fiat's price too, its a fixed price service item, and they were the cheapest for me a year or so ago.

 

[alexGS]

If it’s a 2008 500 Sport 1.4 with Dualogic, it’s probably not far off needing a new clutch and potentially a new actuator, which might be enough to tempt you into an Abarth 595 instead

-Alex