I’m at a bit of a loss with this, I’ve had the 500X 1.6 diesel 66 reg for three weeks and driven it for 2 weeks on off as it’s been in at the dealership for some jobs.

I’m having a lot of difficulty with the clutch pedal, the clutch pedal is very high up the highest of all the three pedals. Now I’ve tried to get comfortable but it’s so high and also heavy to press I literally have a ache ankle, calf cramp and pain up the leg trying to just drive a short 10 mintier ride in town.

It’s hard to stop start drive and have the left foot hovering over the pedal as the ankle is at right angles it soon becomes painful along with the rest of the leg.

I’ve tried the seat higher, lower, closer to pedals, lower down and further back and nothing changes this.

I’ve spoken with the fearless hip who say they can’t adjust a clutch for the stiffness or height. I’ve had a friend try driving it tonight and straight away he said the problem is the pedal is so high when pressing and then releasing the pedal your heel comes off the Florida with the pedal being high and the foot is suspended mid air just resting on the pedal.

Surely I cannot be the only one struggling with this if it’s a characteristic of the car, are the pedals on all 500x set at different levels.

I’ve had to say to the dealership I cannot possibly drive it like this.

And thoughts guys would be helpful

I've just checked the pedals on my 1.6 diesel popstar. The clutch pedal is about half an inch higher than the brake pedal. I find the clutch operation quite light and easy to use, much better than my Panda 4x4 was.

I'd suggest you go to another dealer and try a different 500X to see if it is better for you or similar. Is the seller a Fiat dealer or independent?

Robert G8RPI.

My clutch is also about half inch higher than the brake pedal, and the accelerator is lower again, they go down in height left to right. The dealership is a independent, I am going to go back tomorrow because as yet they’ve not proved to be very reliable with other work they’ve carried out on the car since I got it, they’ve called me yesterday to discuss the clutch creaking they said someone will call me regarding the issue and rejecting the car. I have looked at others for-sale online and zoomed in on the photos and the pedal appear to be the same height as mine. Surely I cannot be the only person finding it difficult to get a comfortable leg position in this car. I had the 500 before this and that was light and easy to get comfortable yet the 500x has more adjustment to driving position that the 500. Thanks guys for taking the time to look at your pedals and reply.

g8rpi said:

I'd suggest you go to another dealer and try a different 500X to see if it is better for you or similar. Is the seller a Fiat dealer or independent?

Robert G8RPI.

Click to expand...

It’s a independent Alfa/fiat dealer

Good advice from Robert, try another. If it is unusually heavy, there must be a fault. You are legally entitled to reject the car within 30 days, but I don't think this has been tested in court yet.
I also changed from a 500 hatch to my 500X (1.4 Multiair) and haven't noticed any problem with clutch weight or pedal position. I'll study the latter and report back.

Update: I went to the dealer again today and saw the sales manager who after some persuading as he was busy agreed to come and have a look at the car and sat in it and pressed the clutch and immediately said there is something not right with that, and said they’ll fit a new clutch. I pleased they finally agree that it’s definitely very heavy but I am surprised as last week I’d booked it in complaining the pedal seemed too high and was stiff and a mechanic had driven the car to get it in the workshop and had just greased the pedal to prevent the creaking pedal. Anyway I’ve had a terrible experience from them so far so I will see how this goes getting it repaired. I’d spoken to a service manger on Friday and was advised the sales manager would call me back so went today as no call since Friday and was told they had a sales event on today and that he was too busy to even come look at my car, he would call me Monday and if I wanted to reject it I was to get in touch with the finance co, not helpful at all or anyway to speak to a customer. He eventually as you’ve read came and looked at the car. The other problems which are poorly repaired stone chips, a vibration in the dashboard will be done at same time but the head light lens that they chipped last time it was in on Wednesday they will not repair. The rejection route through the finance company will be a long road to go down as the dealer are not going to be helpful and say yes it’s faulty so we’ll take it back.

Advice on rejecting a car here:
https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/

I'd have considered turning up unannounced to the sale event, mingled with prospective buyers and made the salesmen fully aware you were there.

That'd wake em up a bit.

Apart from the clutch issues
You won't have anything to go on regards for stone chip's
It's a used car it's going to have cosmetic damag ant expect the dealership to repair a small stone chip's for you

If you want to reject the car, make sure you do it within 30 days of purchase. ANY fault within 30 days now gives you the right to return the car for a full refund regardless of what the dealer or finance company tell you. If you are uncomfortable with the car or dealership and can find another at a similar price I suggest you reject it and go elsewhere.


Robert G8RPI.

I agree with Robert.
Plus don't let the dealer run down the time you have to reject the car with promises that it will be fixed.

jackwhoo said:

I agree with Robert.
Plus don't let the dealer run down the time you have to reject the car with promises that it will be fixed.

Click to expand...

The clock stops from the moment a fault is pursued. With my previous dispute with Ford, which lasted several months, as I had reported one of the major faults within days, I was able to reject it without penalty after 7 months. Incidentally, one of the problems was the clutch.

chris3234 said:

Apart from the clutch issues

You won't have anything to go on regards for stone chip's

It's a used car it's going to have cosmetic damag ant expect the dealership to repair a small stone chip's for you

Click to expand...

Hi thanks for the reply I’d be inclined to agree with you normally being a used car however they’re a main dealer and after my test drive and upon agreeing figures I shook hands on the deal with the agreements of some repairs:

Two stones chips to bonnet lip.
Mark removed from the headliner.
Headlight lenses were badly scratched so they agreed to replace these.
Parcel shelf was broken and agreed replacement
Replace the missing puncture repair kit, compressor and emergency refuelling pipe.

So as I say normally I would agree but when you agree to get the sale then that’s a bit different.

They replaced the lights and then damaged and cracked the right hand one and on turning up to collect the left has chips in it.

g8rpi said:

If you want to reject the car, make sure you do it within 30 days of purchase. ANY fault within 30 days now gives you the right to return the car for a full refund regardless of what the dealer or finance company tell you. If you are uncomfortable with the car or dealership and can find another at a similar price I suggest you reject it and go elsewhere.


Robert G8RPI.

Click to expand...

Well Sunday when I went I was promised again it’d be fixed and he assured me after his initial refusal to see me that day he’d contact me on Monday (yesterday) and once again no call if I’m totally honest I don’t need to be chasing them like this and their attitude stinks. I do think it’s best to reject the car, do I do this through the finance Alfa Romeo finance company because that’s what he said on Sunday, they didn’t even want anything to do with the rejection, basically came across as yes you can reject it but we’re not interested.

Dean500 said:

Well Sunday when I went I was promised again it’d be fixed and he assured me after his initial refusal to see me that day he’d contact me on Monday (yesterday) and once again no call if I’m totally honest I don’t need to be chasing them like this and their attitude stinks. I do think it’s best to reject the car, do I do this through the finance Alfa Romeo finance company because that’s what he said on Sunday, they didn’t even want anything to do with the rejection, basically came across as yes you can reject it but we’re not interested.

Click to expand...

To the vendor.

You only have to give one opportunity to repair and they must do so "without delay". There's a useful guide on the Which website and another on MSE. Also think the CAB has one too. I'm on my phone so too fiddly to dig out now.

Dean500 said:

Well Sunday when I went I was promised again it’d be fixed and he assured me after his initial refusal to see me that day he’d contact me on Monday (yesterday) and once again no call if I’m totally honest I don’t need to be chasing them like this and their attitude stinks. I do think it’s best to reject the car, do I do this through the finance Alfa Romeo finance company because that’s what he said on Sunday, they didn’t even want anything to do with the rejection, basically came across as yes you can reject it but we’re not interested.

Click to expand...

Hi,
Sorry you are still having trouble.
See the link TrevC first posted
https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/
but my understanding is you reject it to the dealer. The involvement with the finance company depends on contract details (I don't know these and don't want to). Either the dealer will give you the money back and you repay the finance company any amount owing (or transfer loan to different car), or they repay the finance company directly and the finance company pay you back any deposit etc. In either case you reject the car to the dealer (email backed up by recorded delivery letter to the registered address of the company, might not be the showroom) and tell the finance company at the same time. If you have breakdown cover or some insurance policies (inc. home) you may have free legal advice so check the terms and talk to them too if you have it.


Robert G8RPI.

g8rpi said:

Hi,
Sorry you are still having trouble.
See the link TrevC first posted
https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/consumer-rights/
but my understanding is you reject it to the dealer. The involvement with the finance company depends on contract details (I don't know these and don't want to). Either the dealer will give you the money back and you repay the finance company any amount owing (or transfer loan to different car), or they repay the finance company directly and the finance company pay you back any deposit etc. In either case you reject the car to the dealer (email backed up by recorded delivery letter to the registered address of the company, might not be the showroom) and tell the finance company at the same time. If you have breakdown cover or some insurance policies (inc. home) you may have free legal advice so check the terms and talk to them too if you have it.


Robert G8RPI.

Click to expand...

Thanks guys for the help it’s greatly appreciated.

So I’ve spoken to the finance company today and they have advised to email themselves all the details and said that they’ll get their customer relations department to take it from there. I asked about contacting the dealership and they told me if they contact me to just say I’m rejecting the car and that they will be in touch.

I’m thinking as a insurance I better do as you say and send the dealership a email and a letter stating my position.

Any further thoughts from what I’ve been advised?

Never been down this route but this is what I'm thinking:

1) You complained to the selling company / dealer
2) The took no action / ignored your complaint
3) You contacted the finance company etc. etc.
4) they have said ignore the dealer and deal with them

If you can document/prove the above facts to date then you are better off by no longer getting involved. Bit like insurance company claim situations. Admit nothing and forward all correspondence to the them unanswered by you.

I would just ask the finance company if they would recommend you let the dealer know that you have passed this rejection case into their hands and should cease further direct communications etc. etc.

Personally I think the best you can do is to establish in your own minds eye and comfort zone that you have correctly passed the issue/complaint into the next legitimate escalation route/authority. PLEASE! Just keep careful records should they ever be needed!

Yeah. Good advice imo. The dealers had their window of opportunity, not used it and its now at the next level. Don't feel any urgency to contact the dealer out of courtesy.

But like s130 generally alludes to, just make sure from here on in you follow the prescribed route....... whatever that is and keep all documents/ emails/ records.

To be honest I find it amazing that they've done what they have over a clutch pedal, surely there was some solution which would have remedied this for a few hundred quid max. it'll cost them a lot more now.