General 500L Prices
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General 500L Prices
Very seductive car isn't it!
Dr Zoidberg
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I just popped into my local dealer and had a seat in one and was pleasantly surprised by it.
It's noticably bigger than I expected which is a good thing for me, and has more than enough room inside. The display one was a Popstar trim (or european equivalent) with a couple of extras fitted and it felt well enough assembled to me.
I'll certainly be interested in a test drive once they are on sale and we know what sort of price we'd realistically have to pay.
It's noticably bigger than I expected which is a good thing for me, and has more than enough room inside. The display one was a Popstar trim (or european equivalent) with a couple of extras fitted and it felt well enough assembled to me.
I'll certainly be interested in a test drive once they are on sale and we know what sort of price we'd realistically have to pay.
I must admit to being disappointed by the way the range is going. All models are going to be 500s or the 500's strange looking cousins.
They also seem to be going down the "car as life-style accessory" rather than car as.....well, car. I probably will replace my Panda MJ with a new one next year, but I have to say that if I was looking to change a Punto or Bravo then I'd have to look elsewhere.
And another thing I don't quite get, instead of giving the 500L Rollover Mitigation Doodahs, why not just give the bloody thing the steering and suspension all the other models should have been given years ago. Instead of boasting another load of acronyms, they could have had motoring journalists praising its driving characteristics, which can lead to more sales than something no buyer actually cares about.
They also seem to be going down the "car as life-style accessory" rather than car as.....well, car. I probably will replace my Panda MJ with a new one next year, but I have to say that if I was looking to change a Punto or Bravo then I'd have to look elsewhere.
And another thing I don't quite get, instead of giving the 500L Rollover Mitigation Doodahs, why not just give the bloody thing the steering and suspension all the other models should have been given years ago. Instead of boasting another load of acronyms, they could have had motoring journalists praising its driving characteristics, which can lead to more sales than something no buyer actually cares about.
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Got to agree with you. I've read that the boss of Fiat wants to move away from mass market cars. Odd decision, but they must presumably have done their sums. The Fiat Forum will become the 500 500 500 500 500 Forum
The Focus range starts at £1000 below the 500L and the Astra £2000 below. I think that says it all to be honest.
Still, from a personal persective, what I want is a car.
I'd like it to be good looking. The original GP was, the 500L isn't.
I'd like clear and concise instrumentation not an "Innovative 5" touch screen." I'm quite capable of pressing the station preset button on the radio. I can also press the source button as well.....without looking.
I do try to make my driving more cost efficient and rely on simply dividing the number of miles I drive by the amount of fuel I use. I certainly wouldn't rely on any electronic in car device. My Panda usually tells me I've used between 5 & 10% more diesel than I actually have. A VW Golf I rented recently told me I'd got 64 mpg. It was actually 54.
Premium hi-fi system developed in collaboration with Dr. Dre. Come on, that would be like buying sunglasses developed in collaboration with Stevie Wonder. Hi-Fi developed in collaboration with Bower & Wilkins I'd pay extra for.
I've just had a radical idea. Instead of being able take calls, listen to texts (that you obviously can't reply to) and "manage" my music, I'd rather just turn my phone off.
I'm sure there are people who need to be in contact all the time, but by and large they won't be driving a 500L. They'll be in a 3-Series/A4/Mondeo or similar.
FIAT tried the hybrid car before, it was called a Croma and it was an abject failure. They tried to re-invent the wheel before and I don't like the thought that they might be trying it again.
Still, from a personal persective, what I want is a car.
I'd like it to be good looking. The original GP was, the 500L isn't.
I'd like clear and concise instrumentation not an "Innovative 5" touch screen." I'm quite capable of pressing the station preset button on the radio. I can also press the source button as well.....without looking.
I do try to make my driving more cost efficient and rely on simply dividing the number of miles I drive by the amount of fuel I use. I certainly wouldn't rely on any electronic in car device. My Panda usually tells me I've used between 5 & 10% more diesel than I actually have. A VW Golf I rented recently told me I'd got 64 mpg. It was actually 54.
Premium hi-fi system developed in collaboration with Dr. Dre. Come on, that would be like buying sunglasses developed in collaboration with Stevie Wonder. Hi-Fi developed in collaboration with Bower & Wilkins I'd pay extra for.
I've just had a radical idea. Instead of being able take calls, listen to texts (that you obviously can't reply to) and "manage" my music, I'd rather just turn my phone off.
I'm sure there are people who need to be in contact all the time, but by and large they won't be driving a 500L. They'll be in a 3-Series/A4/Mondeo or similar.
FIAT tried the hybrid car before, it was called a Croma and it was an abject failure. They tried to re-invent the wheel before and I don't like the thought that they might be trying it again.
In this country the Croma had the most appalling driving position, with the relationship of all the major controls very bad. Likewise the Bravo, which, like the Giuietta that is based on it, has no proper place for a clutch foot to move and a badly placed seat. Oddly, the Punto is easy to get comfortable in. The Bravo was a very pretty car, but shortage of rear space combined with a poor driving position killed it. I fear the 500L might have the same clutch space problem since the passenger foot space in the LHD version is limited and the car was obvioulsy engineered for LHD markets. But I'll wait to see what they do for us before I get cross on that one. And I think the Mk2 version of the Croma, which we didn't get, was actually handsome, but then I like 'interesting' cars 
As for the enhanced stereo on the 500L, well, the boom box goes where the spare wheel should be...
I don't think we need another Fiesta or Astra, or Golf, but I wish the 500L was a bit cheaper. It's no good Fiat trying to go upmarket unless the product is truly desirable, and Fiats still have a bad reputation here no matter what we might know.
Oh, and on the bigger wheels I think the 500L looks rather interesting; I like it in fact. And the interior is a good place to be - as long as you don't intend to carry people with heads in the back when you get the glass roof:devil:
As for the enhanced stereo on the 500L, well, the boom box goes where the spare wheel should be...
I don't think we need another Fiesta or Astra, or Golf, but I wish the 500L was a bit cheaper. It's no good Fiat trying to go upmarket unless the product is truly desirable, and Fiats still have a bad reputation here no matter what we might know.
Oh, and on the bigger wheels I think the 500L looks rather interesting; I like it in fact. And the interior is a good place to be - as long as you don't intend to carry people with heads in the back when you get the glass roof:devil:
stuartmunn
New member
The Giulietta is a different platform from the Bravo ...
No, it's a slightly modified form of the same platform, just as the new 500L sits on a modified Punto platform. Thats why both the Bravo and the Giulietta have the same cramped pedal box and the same poor rear legroom.
Platform design is terribly expensive which is why these things are shared between models, and even makes.
The Corsa and Punto share a platform, just as the 500, the Panda and the new Ka do. There are modifications, but the fundamentals remain the same.
Platform design is terribly expensive which is why these things are shared between models, and even makes.
The Corsa and Punto share a platform, just as the 500, the Panda and the new Ka do. There are modifications, but the fundamentals remain the same.
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yep an evolved Bravo floorpan
[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Compact_platform[/ame]
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They won't have that over on the Alfa forum, insisting that the Giulietta is an all new platform.
I've heard that before, yet I had one for a week and had no trouble at all with resting my left foot, oddly enough on the foot rest. I must admit I enjoyed that week enormously, and, in comparison with a Golf TDi that I had a few months later I also found it endearing. Something I wanted to go back to again and again. The Golf I handed back to Avis and just walked away. It left no impression other than that it was a competent machine.In this country the Croma had the most appalling driving position, with the relationship of all the major controls very bad. Likewise the Bravo, which, like the Giuietta that is based on it, has no proper place for a clutch foot to move and a badly placed seat. Oddly, the Punto is easy to get comfortable in.
I haven't I must admit, but then my Luddite attitude extends to all sorts of things, such as an aversion to fashion designers who make watches, for instance. I wouldn't buy a shirt designed by Seiko, so I wouldn't buy a watch designed by DKNY.
Beats audio is actually very good, have you tried their stuff?
I know little of Dr. Dre (is he a Phlebotomist?) but would guess that he is a producer so apart from his name I'm not sure what he brings to audio reproduction. I'm also deeply suspicious when I see the likes of Premiership footballers wearing a pair of the good doctor's headphones.
After all, why would you trust the judgement of people who set fire to their bathrooms, or even turn the traction control of their Ferrari off when they're giving it a bootfull.
I'm sure his products are very good, but Audi are using Bose and Jaguar and Maserati both use Bower & Wilkins while FIAT are using products associated with a man who wears sunglasses indoors.
To be fair there is very little carryover from the Bravo.
Best post I've read for ages...!
Mrs homeward says it sounds like me having "one of my typical rants..." -- which, to me, is a compliment...!
Even as "a man who wears sunglasses indoors", sometimes (I'm extremely photosensitive... -- as is my son, god bless...), I have to agree with just about every word.... Thank you!
And Bose audio really isn't very good, although it has a certain cachet.
Practically every maker seems to be teaming up with somebody in the sound business these days.
Does the Giulietta have a foot rest? I wear size 11 shoes and I couldn't find anywhere to the left of the clutch for my foot to go. LHD versions of course are different. A friend who is 6'3" jumped in and almost immediately out of the car, so uncomfortable did he find it.
But then we all have different ideas about comfort. And I'd agree wholeheartedly about the Golf. The Giulietta at least looks great, and especially so from the back at night.
Practically every maker seems to be teaming up with somebody in the sound business these days.
Does the Giulietta have a foot rest? I wear size 11 shoes and I couldn't find anywhere to the left of the clutch for my foot to go. LHD versions of course are different. A friend who is 6'3" jumped in and almost immediately out of the car, so uncomfortable did he find it.
But then we all have different ideas about comfort. And I'd agree wholeheartedly about the Golf. The Giulietta at least looks great, and especially so from the back at night.
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popped into Thames Fiat, Slough on Saturday
gf (who is a mum of 3) was not taken with it, felt it as too big.
she asked why they didnt just make a longer 500...
gf (who is a mum of 3) was not taken with it, felt it as too big.
she asked why they didnt just make a longer 500...
Slight inaccuracy there, Audi actually use Bang & Olufsen not Bose as I inadvertently put earlier. B&O are rather more a case of style over substance to be fair, but Bose do have serious Hi-Fi credentials. When their 901 speakers came out (rather a long time ago) they were a real revelation; and still are. I heard a pair that a neighbour can't bear to get rid of recently and they really are superb. Of late, however, they seem to be concentrating on compact stereos and surround sound speaker systems. Wow that's a lot of Ss.
There are times when I've wished I were taller, but with my huge 5'8" frame I find I can fit anybody's (those were the days) bed without my feet sticking out of the end, I can ride a bicycle, any motorbike the right side of a BMW GS1200 and drive almost any car without discomfort. I also take size 9 shoes so I find it fairly easy to get comfortable in an Alfa or almost anywhere for that matter.
For most people wearing a pair of sunglasses in doors is a style statement but for you it must be a necessity. I wonder if you sometimes get people making comments, as I probably would, although not loud enough for you to overhear.Best post I've read for ages...!
Mrs homeward says it sounds like me having "one of my typical rants..." -- which, to me, is a compliment...!
Even as "a man who wears sunglasses indoors", sometimes (I'm extremely photosensitive... -- as is my son, god bless...), I have to agree with just about every word.... Thank you!
