Introduction
My Second 500 and love them 
500 2012 Fiat 500 Lounge s/s
- Thread starter Judders
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sandeel999
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Looking for one for my partner, all the ones round here seem overpriced and have so many stone chips the bonnet needs respraying yet still all at top prices. Been looking for weeks now on a budget of 5-6 grand and cant find a decent one anywhere.
IMO secondhand 500's are way overpriced; for £5-6k you could get far better value from a different marque or model. An equivalent Panda of similar age and specification may only be half the price for what is functionally a better car; if you shop around and pay cash, £6k will get you close to the entry point for a brand new one with three years warranty.
500 residuals are driven by fashion, not technical merit. Without considerable DIY expertise, I wouldn't want to own one out of warranty, no matter how cheaply I could buy it. Many of the typical 3-4yr old forecourt cars I've seen could easily cost you another £2k in repairs in the first year of ownership, and that's if you get a good one.
Stone chips are common on all secondhand Fiats; solid red seems to be the worst colour to have in this respect.
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sandeel999
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Yeah keep telling the other half to get a panda like my 14 plate. 20000 miles only 2 stone chips and so much better to drive, more room, not as bouncy and way more comfy and not 2 grand overpriced for a few snazzy bits in a smaller worse package. Noticed the same with minis i think its cos there both girly cars and most buy on looks/colour alone and dont look at initial cost as most female owners of 500 that i know (only 1 so far) dont even realise its a panda underneath mostly. Most 08/09 plates round here are still topping 4 grand ridiculous price
I spent £1500 on parts for our 5 year old car when we bought it.
Ours is silver but has not suffered badly at all for stone chips @ getting on for 70k
sandeel999
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See an awful silver one saturday just under 50k 2013 sport and probably 50 stonechips The red one was horrific never seen so many chips that was 57k 2012 it shew so bad that i cant ever see it selling in that condition unless they have poor eyesight.
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You say this but I purchased my 2008 car with 71k on the clock 2 years later and it now has nearly 83k on the clock. All I've done is the rear shocks timing belt (mileage/age) and front wishbones. All of which are common faults. I also still have the standard hatch wiring and I frequently use the boot on the car.
It's not necessarily going to be unreliable!
Does have quite a few stone chips to be fair, however it's done quite a lot on the M25 since I've had it.
sandeel999
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2 more 500s looked at today lol. Both described as immaculate and well looked after with careful owners. 1st one 12 plate 26000 miles rear quarter panel offside different shade completely ? Owner obviously wore rings as scratched all over door and repeatedly banged drivers door on wall/garage as paint missing on door edge for about 8 inches.
2nd one 12 plate 52000 dent in passenger door and rust on chips on bonnet, dirty seats again both above top money of dealer price. Another wasted 150 miles on the panda.
2nd one 12 plate 52000 dent in passenger door and rust on chips on bonnet, dirty seats again both above top money of dealer price. Another wasted 150 miles on the panda.
Yes, things change when you see a car in person, pictures never show the full story.
sandeel999
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Bought an mr2 54 plate 43000 miles very good body one stone chip and clean underneath
