Hi
Got my 500L a few weeks ago. Driven 2500miles (Italy and back).
Didn't get anything like the 67mpg promised. I know this was extreme testing conditions by Fiat to be able to claim that, but I got around 52mpg which I suppose ain't bad, considering the diesel I purchased averaged £1.04/ litre (Calais) and £1.02 in Luxembourg even on the motorway service station.
Handled very well and the CBC came into its own when my wife decided to cut in front of a truck so we didn't miss our exit. She was more concerned about the reaction of the driver, she forgot to keep her eyes front. The traffic had come to a standstill and when she slammed the brake, it felt like nothing was happening at first but the car came to a halt a few ins. from the car in front. Phew!!!
Can anyone shed light on Daytime Running Lights?
It appears no rear lights come on. Is this normal? Can rear DRL be programmed to come on? It just seems silly that no rear lights are included. We only discovered this when in long dark tunnel and cars behind flashed us.
Any advice/ knowledge?
PS Saw some brilliant old 500s in Italy

Glad you like the car.

Actually 52mpg isn't bad for a new car, and doubtless running fast. Is it the 1.3 or the 1.6 Diesel by the way?

As for the daytime running lights: the rears don't light up because the lights are intended for oncoming drivers and pedestrians. In poor conditions, or tunnels, you needd to switch on the lights as normal.

It is possible to disable the daytime lights via the computer, but since they may save a crash I can't see the point. Also, I have no idea of the regulations. Here they are not compulsory, but abroad.... ?

If you want lights on the back of your car turn on the lights . DRLs are just that, (The clues in the name DAYLIGHT running lights) when you go into a tunnel it ceases to be daylight so you turn on the lights.

He has a point, DRL increases the visibility of the car for safety but only at the front. I can see the case for the back lights being on as well.

Most tunnels are lit so you don't need lights but it's not a bad idea to turn them on for safety and I think the highway code tells you to do so. Not many people in the UK turn lights on in a tunnel (tunnels are fairly rare in the UK) but they do abroad which is why he got flashed or because it was a dark tunnel.

Lounge has auto lights :slayer:

Nice write up, glad there's now a third here enjoying his fantastic new car

I hate auto lights and wipers, because there will always be times when they come on in the wrong situation, or don't come on in the right one Most people I know who have them have disabled the things.

I always switch on my lights in tunnels because it is just sensible to be seen, and British tunnels are not always so well lit, and anyway the sudden contrast between bright daylight and dim lighting does decrease visibility. Lit cars in the Dartford tunnel are always much more visible than the unlit ones.

I like the Lounge, but why is that glass roof standard? It robs rear head space to an unacceptable degree and makes the car unsuitable for anyone carrying modern adults in the back. A clanger on Fiat's part I reckon.

Interesting that on a What Car public viewing (Youtube) punters generally liked the car a lot, but questioned the gear lever, the handbrake, and the seats with embost writing on them - so it isn't just me :devil:

I like auto wipers and lights, especially on the 500L as they work allot better than the Bravo. The wipers have not come on once in error yet and we've had lots of rain. On the Bravo they would go as fast as they could the moment there was a little condensation on the inside of the screen. The 500L has a condensation sensor I believe.

How can auto lights come on at the wrong time, only come on when it's dark? Great for tunnels.

The embossed seats and glass roof are awesome (though no good for well above average height adults in the back as it robs allot of headroom with seats forward and upright), the gear change is very very nice

The handbrake is just weird

Well I hope thay always do exactly what you want.

Keep us posted with the driving and the economy, these things matter. And don't forget the grumbles, no car is perfect no matter how good it might be, and we need to know.

I might buy one one day and I find the criticisms more usefull than the praise to be honest. Everything is a trade off and cars are no different, expecially cars in fact.

Put my niggles so far in the members motors thread

Don't get lounge if you don't like the roof, seats, lights and wipers?!

I wouldn't. But of course the deal is good, and when you spec up the other models to get the kit you want you pay more than for the Lounge with it bundled in. So, either pay more to get what you want, or pay less to get what other people come resale time might want, and you don't like yourself.

The Fiat conundrum.

Yea, guess it's similar with other manufacturers or perhaps the top of the range is price a little higher to stop that. For me who wanted everything Lounge has it seemed like a really good deal as it isn't much more and you do get allot of stuff.

As an entry-level model, the Pop Star is pretty well kitted though. I saw one at a dealer with what I assume are the standard chrome alloys, and it didn't look as good, but a Pop Star with a good engine (1.6 Multijet or TwinAir) plus those upgraded alloys would appeal more to me than a Lounge with a 1.4 petrol or 1.3 Multijet under the bonnet would.

The trim levels on the 500L aren't like those on the Panda, 500 or Punto in that no model is really a 'poverty spec' - they're all thoroughly well kitted regardless of trim. However I should imagine the lowest seller will be the Easy in the UK, because of the lack of 'look good' bits like alloys, which the UK seems to value more highly than other markets.