General 12 Weeks of Ownership

[BeckyBoo1990]

Well I've had Fernando for twelve weeks now and just wanted to share a few experiences/thoughts with you.

Overall I love the car. Very pleased I changed my mind at the last minute and got the black one. I've only seen one other Black sport in my area and I like that he's a little rarer than the BNW ones.

For me Blue and Me has been great and If I was to spec a new one it would definitely be on my need list. The leather sports seats are great I find them really supportive.

Driving position took some getting used to but once you are used to it I really like it now.

I think I've had one DPF regen in my ownership I was on the motorway and MPG dropped to 45ish and there was a funny smokey smell. I do a vary varied mix of driving some long motorway stints and some really short journeys. Everyone who has been in the car thinks its very refined for a diesel.

Fernando has picked up his first car park dint a little 50p sized one on the wheel arch. There was also a little scuff but luckily this has polished out.

Overall quality feels great some of the plastics are a little scratchy inside and the indicator stalks felt a little flimsy at first touch but I think they will wear well.

Two things that I don't particularly like - 1. No glovebox - my stuff moves and vibrates in there and it bugs me! 2. A real life boot lid pull-thing - You have to really grip that bit of material and it can be a little difficult when my hands are full.

 

[RobinPJ]

Two things that I don't particularly like - 1. No glovebox - my stuff moves and vibrates in there and it bugs me!

Does your car have full leather or just the Sport seats? If the latter, and if you don't have Interscope or the memory on the passenger seat, have you discovered the under seat storage compartment?

 

[BeckyBoo1990]

Thanks Robin I do have the underseat storage and a lot of my stuff is in there its just my sunglasses and phone holder that are in the glovebox.

I guess I just need to do a better job at making a non-slip mat.

 

[flashyphotos]

Thanks Robin I do have the underseat storage and a lot of my stuff is in there its just my sunglasses and phone holder that are in the glovebox.

I guess I just need to do a better job at making a non-slip mat.

There is a compartment in the glovebox big enough to hold sunglasses / phone and stop them rolling around,

In the dash tray on passenger side feel towards the centre top and you will find the catch, its only a small drop down compartment but great for spare glasses or hiding the satnavwhen not in use.

 

[The Twins]

Two things that I don't particularly like - 1. No glovebox - my stuff moves and vibrates in there and it bugs me! 2. A real life boot lid pull-thing - You have to really grip that bit of material and it can be a little difficult when my hands are full.[/QUOTE]

A dog lead is the answer to the flimsy boot pull. I made this...

 

[306maxi]

Let's just wait till the OP finds out that 18k service intervals are but a dream with a dismal 500

 

[TrevC]

Another way of making the boot pull strap easier to use is to thread on a key ring

 

[BeckyBoo1990]

Let's just wait till the OP finds out that 18k service intervals are but a dream with a dismal 500

Thanks for all the replies guys. Will definitely try the dog lead and I'll take a look at that compartment.

I never even realised the service intervals were 18k I do between 9-10k so would have it serviced yearly anyway. Thinking about it can anyone recommend a good specialist in the Yorkshire area. It's not due a service until Feb next year, but not sure if I trust the car people to have made a decent job of the one they did before I bought it.

 

[flashyphotos]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Will definitely try the dog lead and I'll take a look at that compartment.

I never even realised the service intervals were 18k I do between 9-10k so would have it serviced yearly anyway. Thinking about it can anyone recommend a good specialist in the Yorkshire area. It's not due a service until Feb next year, but not sure if I trust the car people to have made a decent job of the one they did before I bought it.

Depends whereabouts you are in Yorkshire, If South Yorks its well worth a Trip down to AlfaTechnico In North Notts, Huthwaite (M1 Jnc28) for any Non Main Dealer Servicing, Have also heard good things about AFH1 in Mansfield but not tried them myself,

(Either have got to bebetter than the local Fiat Main Dealer

 

[ahmett]

Let's just wait till the OP finds out that 18k service intervals are but a dream with a dismal 500

Whats wrong with 18k service intervals? = (

 

[jrkitching]

Whats wrong with 18k service intervals? = (

Don't get me started.

Oops - too late for that.

The biggest technical obstacle to extended servicing is oil. A combination of common sense, best practice & oil company recommendations would suggest 10-12k as a practical limit.

Extending the rest is possible but needs decent quality service replacement parts, particularly plugs. Running 18k on copper core plugs will, at best, have the engine running below peak efficiency for about half its life. Also garages will recommend changing pads & discs if they won't make it to the next scheduled service, even if they've got 10k of life left.

 

[306maxi]

I was talking about the fact that a diesel 500 will never do 18k miles between services whereas a petrol one can.

 

[ahmett]

Don't get me started.

Oops - too late for that.

The biggest technical obstacle to extended servicing is oil. A combination of common sense, best practice & oil company recommendations would suggest 10-12k as a practical limit.

Extending the rest is possible but needs decent quality service replacement parts, particularly plugs. Running 18k on copper core plugs will, at best, have the engine running below peak efficiency for about half its life. Also garages will recommend changing pads & discs if they won't make it to the next scheduled service, even if they've got 10k of life left.

haha fair enough. my oil looks very dark for some reason only after like 8k miles!

 

[austenw90]

That is a lovely little 500, the combination of black paint, nice alloys and red calipers really set it off.

 

[jrkitching]

haha fair enough. my oil looks very dark for some reason only after like 8k miles!

"Oil", "Only" & "8000 miles" do not sit comfortably in the same sentence.

Excessively dark oil can be down to a number of factors:

- poor running in procedure

- excessive cylinder &/or piston ring wear

- having a diesel engine.

Ahmett, we all love you but I can't help noticing your posts are often about one of the following 3 things:

- how hard you've driven it

- how little you've serviced it

- how it's broken again.

Just my personal view, but I think there may be a connection there.

 

[ahmett]

"Oil", "Only" & "8000 miles" do not sit comfortably in the same sentence.

Excessively dark oil can be down to a number of factors:

- poor running in procedure

- excessive cylinder &/or piston ring wear

- having a diesel engine.

Its weird because if you look at the dipstic it looks dark (but there again the dipstick is black). When you wipe the oil on a towel cloth, it looks brown = )

 

[RobinPJ]

Its weird because if you look at the dipstic it looks dark (but there again the dipstick is black). When you wipe the oil on a towel cloth, it looks brown = )

That is probably because your engine sh*ts itself when it sees you coming.

 

[ahmett]

That is probably because your engine sh*ts itself when it sees you coming.

Just checked the car's 'vitals'. All's good! Oil level at the Max Mark, Engine Coolant at the Max mark without any leaks it seems, all is well ! = ))

What a smart car, it told me yesterday check stop lights so surely enough one of the brake light bulbs was burnt out, replaced it for 0.70 euros and was back on my way all safe and sound = )

 

[BeckyBoo1990]

That is a lovely little 500, the combination of black paint, nice alloys and red calipers really set it off.

Thanks Austen The red calipers were the OHs idea and I wasn't too sure at first. But I do love them now. I did want an Italian stripe at first to break up all the black but I'm not too sure now. I don't want to add too much.

 

[brynrosa]

Hi, it`s dopey here again! Having seen on this thread the drop down box/slot under the passenger side dash do all 500`s have this? I have a 2010 Lounge and can see the thing but without forcing it am not sure if it should open or not? Any help/advice would be appreciated please.
Thank you.