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500 500 Twin Air doing lots of miles

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500 500 Twin Air doing lots of miles

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TheMarketTrader814

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Hello all,

I’m new to the forum. We have a 2012 500 twin air with 36,000 miles. Had it from new but we’ve just moved and the car will now be doing around 20,000 miles a year. Just booked it in for a service and was thinking about a service every 18,000 miles and an oil change in between. Anyone on here have a high mileage twin air? Any advice would be very welcome. I’ve got my concerns about how long this will last!
 
TheMarketTrader814 said:
I’ve got my concerns about how long this will last!
Click to expand...

How long it lasts is really up to you!

As a 63 plate Twinair owner, mine was originally bought as a commute car through my LTD company to do a 100mile a day commute. At the time I could right off £17500 worth of income and corrosponding corporation tax in the first year due to the low emissions of this engine. I did this commute for a while and then left that contract.

Besides this though I loved the Fiat and it's drive way more than our BMW X3, which is probably a little more capable (although not much) but vastly more costly!

The Twinair 500 is perfectly capable! I think it is one of the more capable small cars.
Think of the engine design as half a high performance 4 cylinder 1.8 and it should last with regular oil changes to what you would expect from a larger car.
Mine is now just up to 30000miles. I did replace the top mounts and all 4 shocks with Monroe gas units (the Fiat rear shocks are particularly bad) at 19000miles and it feels like it did when it was new. In fact a year on those replacement shocks still feel great!

Mine has always had an oil service at 6000miles. In fact the Alfa/Fiat specialist I used to take it to in the UK commented, that they were seeing a number of TwinAirs with stretched warn or damaged cam chains due to the oil servicing being left to 18000miles. He suggested 10000mile max for oil services.

So it depends if your prepared to spend a bit keeping up on the maintenance!
I would suggest oil changes at 9 or 10000miles. Changing the shocks gave me that new car feeling back and made a huge difference to the handling and drive of the car. By 18000miles the bushes on the Fiat rear shocks were warn and the rear end felt sloppy!
Mine has also had regular washing (every week when knocking up the mileage) and a polish twice a year. The rear suspension was also inspected and treated to wax oil at 20000miles and the car still looks like a 6 month old 500!

I would guess at 5 years old and 36000miles your not going to get much of a trade in on it. WeBuyAnyCar offered me £5800 in January (then 3 years old) as we were moving to Spain - that felt like giving it away so we imported it. On the other side of the argument, that is still low mileage and if you have looked after the car it will be good for a few more years motoring!
I would guess over the coming miles its going to need - Brake disks, pads, front suspension top mounts and shocks - assuming that none of this has been done so far. Still way less expensive than the monthly payments or upfront cost of a new car!
 

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The TA spins at 2,000 at 60, pretty much any NA 4 cylinder spins at 3,000+.

I know which I'd rather have.
 
Thanks for the feedback. The car had new discs and pads at 29,000. Main reason I’m not hugely confident in the engine is an oil leak from the timing chain cover we had just after 3 years. To be honest, FIAT were good and covered the significant labour cost to replace and I was just left with the parts bill. Also, a couple of months ago we needed a new drivers door handle as it was on the brink of coming off [emoji23][emoji23]
 
TheMarketTrader814 said:
Hello all,

I’m new to the forum.
Click to expand...

Hello and welcome :wave:

TheMarketTrader814 said:
...thinking about a service every 18,000 miles and an oil change in between.
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:yeahthat:

Also ensure both brake and clutch fluids are changed every two years.

It'll last as long as it does; there are known common issues such as wiring, door handles etc but whether you have a significant problem is a bit of a lottery with any car given that sort of usage. I wouldn't put Fiat at the top of the reliability list but they're nowhere near the bottom, either. Given the known history of the car and the fact you likely won't get much for it if you sell it now, you haven't a lot to lose by keeping it, and perhaps much to gain.

Find a trusted independent garage with an understanding of modern Fiats - depending on a franchised dealer for everything is likely to be an expensive strategy on an older, higher mileage car.

On the longevity issue, my 1.2 Panda has just turned 80,000 miles and everything on the car is still original apart from front brakes, wiper blades and tyres :).
 
From my experience until recently with a TA engine commuting, lights and level check every 500 miles (weekly). Oil did 9000 and was due another change if I'd kept it. Tyres last 30k minimum. Next to no oil usage. Plugs were still going at around 23k. I think you'd be unlucky to have problems. (y)
 
jrkitching said:
Hello and welcome :wave:



:yeahthat:

Also ensure both brake and clutch fluids are changed every two years.

It'll last as long as it does; there are known common issues such as wiring, door handles etc but whether you have a significant problem is a bit of a lottery with any car given that sort of usage. I wouldn't put Fiat at the top of the reliability list but they're nowhere near the bottom, either. Given the known history of the car and the fact you likely won't get much for it if you sell it now, you haven't a lot to lose by keeping it, and perhaps much to gain.

Find a trusted independent garage with an understanding of modern Fiats - depending on a franchised dealer for everything is likely to be an expensive strategy on an older, higher mileage car.

On the longevity issue, my 1.2 Panda has just turned 80,000 miles and everything on the car is still original apart from front brakes, wiper blades and tyres :).
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Thanks for the feedback. I’ve got no intention of selling, just wanted to know about the experience of others and get some maintenance tips. I sometimes read that modern cars should be capable of 200,000 miles without any major work. I’ll be interested to see how it does over the next few years, particularly with the twin air engine.

Would love to replace with a Panda when the time comes.
 
Most modern engines (as in since the mid 80s) should be capable of 200,000 miles without any major _engine_ work, provided cambelts are changed on schedule and they're not overheated. When was the last time you heard of someone having a bottom-end rebuild or new piston rings fitted?

Expect everything else to wear out and need replacing though.

Will be interested to know how it fares.
 
TheMarketTrader814 said:
........Also, a couple of months ago we needed a new drivers door handle as it was on the brink of coming off [emoji23][emoji23]
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Lies! Lies! Lies! I don't believe you! Are you serious? Fiat have produced a car whereby the door handles just come off?.........:devil:
(former owner of two of Fiat's finest small cars which both had their door handles break off and were replaced under warranty.....odd that innit?) :D

Oh, and two out of the four 500's I saw go through an auction house just last week, were missing at least one door handle......:rolleyes:
 
frupi said:
Lies! Lies! Lies! I don't believe you! Are you serious? Fiat have produced a car whereby the door handles just come off?.........:devil:

Honestly, it was almost coming of in our hands [emoji23]

I had a 2001 Punto for a while and never actually experienced anything like that. Will keep you posted on what else falls off..
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Steve145 said:
Most modern engines (as in since the mid 80s) should be capable of 200,000 miles without any major _engine_ work, provided cambelts are changed on schedule and they're not overheated. When was the last time you heard of someone having a bottom-end rebuild or new piston rings fitted?



Expect everything else to wear out and need replacing though.



Will be interested to know how it fares.
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Good point Steve145, I’ll expect to replace a few things before the engine gives up the ghost.
 
UFI said:
The TA spins at 2,000 at 60, pretty much any NA 4 cylinder spins at 3,000+.
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UFI, I don't understand. I guess you mean 2000 rpm, but it can't be 60 mph and it can't be 60 km/h. So, what do you mean?
 
All I would add to the above is that it's cost effective at a major service to have iridium plugs installed, as they have double the life.
Like all cars, they have their weak areas. The doorhandle thing isn't unique though - quite a lot of reports of Merc C-class interior handles coming off, and that repair costs around £500 just for the parts.
Manufacturer's reliability ratings here:
http://www.reliabilityindex.com/manufacturer
 
TrevC said:
.......Like all cars, they have their weak areas. The doorhandle thing isn't unique though - quite a lot of reports of Merc C-class interior handles coming off, and that repair costs around £500 just for the parts.
Manufacturer's reliability ratings here:
http://www.reliabilityindex.com/manufacturer
Click to expand...

Whilst I agree that no car is perfect, I formally worked at a car auction site for over 12 months. I can positively tell you that I have yet to see a single Merc C class with a missing door handle that has gone through auction, and I drove them onto the stand during bidding. On the other hand, I've seen Fiat 500's running into double figures, that have had at least one door handle missing.

The reliability index for the 500 isn't so hot by the looks of it.....:(
 
Not as good as some, but comfortably above average at 78 (average is 100), and better than the Mini, for instance. As a manufacturer, Fiat are in the top half, which may surprise some.
 
And the Hyundai i10 2nd Gen 2014 on, scores a ten on the reliability index. :p

I of course have to plug the i10 as it replaced our 500 TA. Thus far, over 2 years into ownership, not a single issue with the car save a clutch cable adjustment. A stark contrast to both 500's we owned, both having several warranty fixes. We took the £349 3 year service plan option with the i10 and other than fuel and one punctured beyond repair tyre, the car has been far more reliable than either 500 we owned.
 
frupi said:
And the Hyundai i10 2nd Gen 2014 on, scores a ten on the reliability index. :p

I of course have to plug the i10 as it replaced our 500 TA. Thus far, over 2 years into ownership, not a single issue with the car save a clutch cable adjustment. A stark contrast to both 500's we owned, both having several warranty fixes. We took the £349 3 year service plan option with the i10 and other than fuel and one punctured beyond repair tyre, the car has been far more reliable than either 500 we owned.
Click to expand...

Mother in law has an i10 on a 13 plate.. Damn boring to drive and its been back to the dealer three times with autobox issues. Their 12 plate i20 is better, but does no better than 35mpg. Think I will stick with a TwinAir!

The door handle hinge is a straight forward enough fix, although neither of our 500s have needed one in 3 1/2 years
 
p6baseunit said:
Mother in law has an i10 on a 13 plate.. Damn boring to drive and its been back to the dealer three times with autobox issues. Their 12 plate i20 is better, but does no better than 35mpg. Think I will stick with a TwinAir!

The door handle hinge is a straight forward enough fix, although neither of our 500s have needed one in 3 1/2 years
Click to expand...

Let's be fair here, your M-i-Law's i10 is probably the first generation i10 model as it is a 13 plate (the 2nd Gen came out on a 14 plate), and yes that particular model is a boring car. It has an awful, boxy type shape apparently favoured by customers in the Far East. The newer model is far more asthetically pleasing.

I would never personally have an autobox on any car anyway, what's the point of paying the extra tax? unless of course you have loads of money or are genuinely unable to drive a manual vehicle. Even in city traffic, I'd plumb for manual every day.

Whilst the i10 is not so cutsey looking, the Fiat 500 is beaten hands down on the reliability stakes by the latest generation i10 and many other leading manufacturers. I can also, in my opinion, state the i10 is a far more comfortable car to drive over longer distances.

To be fair, you cannot defend the indefensible, the 500 door handle issue is utterly, incredibly poor by any manufacturer standards. You are one of the lucky ones in relation to your door handles remaining intact. An untold number of door handles sold by dealers is testament to a poor design. At least ours were under warranty when they inexplicably broke off, many other owners aren't so lucky and have to pay to have them replaced.

Anyway, we've veered off topic......(y)
 
The i10 is bound to be a reliable car - Hyundai couldn't afford a 5 year warranty if it wasn't. We all decide on our car purchases with our own set of criteria, and a good or bad experience will influence this.
Apart from a minor leak from a coolant hose, my 500 was totally fault free for the 6 years and 45000 miles I owned it, with no problems arising in the TA engine, which is the OP's main concern. How it will fare after 100,000 miles or more, who knows, but adopting the sensible servicing practices mentioned above will help improve its chances. By that time it will be worth buttons anyway, so not worth spending much money on a major repair.
 
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