I'm thinking of buying a 500s 2014 year, it's a 1.2.

It will mainly be used for a 100 mile commute on mostly dual carriageway. Now I know it's not the fastest engine etc but there seems to be differences on opinions as to whether it would be up to the job?

Additionally could someone advise on when the cambelt should be changed.

Many thanks

Hello and welcome to the forum.

The 500 is designed as a city car. Whilst perfectly capable of a 100 mile commute on dual carriageways, IMO you could buy a better car for that purpose for the money. Personally I'd want something with better seats if I were going to spend that much of my life sitting in a car.

If you're doing it on a daily basis, you're going to be covering something in the order of 25,000 miles pa. Again, the 500 will do this, but be prepared for more than a few repair bills for replacing wearing parts (suspension, etc).

OTOH if the 100 mile commute is only going to happen once a week, then you'll likely be fine with it.

Opinions vary on cambelt replacement but almost everyone will say that a 2014 year car will need doing immediately if still running the original. It'll destroy the engine if it breaks, so I'd err on the side of caution and replace every 4 yrs / 40000 miles, whichever comes first. At least one chap here who drives his car hard replaces it annually.

Best if you can try one on a fast road and judge the performance for yourself. My feeling is although no ball of fire, the 1.2 500 goes better than other 1.2s I have driven, namely a Corsa and Clio.

I find the seats pretty good, and so does Honest John, but it's probably body shape dependent. Again, try one.

When I had some test drives back in 2011, I found the twinair 85 engine addressed the performance issue. No cambelt to worry about on that either, but essential that the correct oil has been used. You would also get slightly better economy with a 1.2.

As JRK says above, worth considering other options. Diesels are cheap at the moment and would suit your journey. A 2014 Kia Ceed may have some warranty left.....

While I have commuted 70-92 miles a day before now, I had an awful loan car after taking a 6 year old Vauxhall in for a £1000 repair. If I had same journey time today I would go for this, find the (extra) money and buy the car in several years and ignore the large excess mileage I'd done. The reviews of this engine appear to be glowing. You could get a new 500 0.9 Twin Air Lounge (looks comfier than a 'S' ) but not for this money.


https://www.whatcar.com/car-leasing...tchback/10t-gdi-gt-line-5dr/3391687/47346268/

The beast will do the mileage okay. I drove from Lincolnshire to Newport in Wales in one and I was surprised just how well the motor went. It'll do 65-70 all day.

The "problem" won't be the 500 though, it'll be the (any) "small car" under these conditions, so as above, try one to see how it fits you.

If it's too small for you physically, or you have to hunch over the wheel/can't fit your feet around the pedals etc. then it'll be tiring, if you use it day after day. You'll flake out before the car does.

On the other hand.. I had a 126 once. You can do anything if you like the car enough..


Ralf S.

Thanks for all the replies most helpful. I'll give it an extended test drive and see how I get on!