General 500 driving position.

[grungdog23]

Well I still carnt get to grips with the driving position on my 500. when I had a test drive I thought yes, ill cope and will all be fine... Ive tried all the settings, but it dont work for me... Either sit too high with my head touching the sun roof or not low enough with my bottom pushing through the 2 inch gap in the seat rear and my legs being pushed up from the buldge at the front ot the seat! My arms ache on the non reach steering wheel and the gas pedel is set to high... kills my foot on a run. such a shame really as I still like the looks of the 500. A good looking car... any one else having any probs....? cheers.

 

[jnoiles]

Nope. Works fine for me.

 

[booklady]

me too and my husband has no complaints!

 

[MissR]

I find it very different to my current car but after 1/2 hour drive it felt 'normal'

 

[OrangeSport]

It does differ from a lot of cars, but we find it really comfy & that is what really sold the car to us on the test drive. The only think that took a little getting used to was the "springy" gas pedal.

As a rule of thumb, if I didn't get comfy in a car on a test run I would assume that I never would....

 

[keeforelli]

Well I still carnt get to grips with the driving position on my 500. when I had a test drive I thought yes, ill cope and will all be fine... Ive tried all the settings, but it dont work for me... Either sit too high with my head touching the sun roof or not low enough with my bottom pushing through the 2 inch gap in the seat rear and my legs being pushed up from the buldge at the front ot the seat! My arms ache on the non reach steering wheel and the gas pedel is set to high... kills my foot on a run. such a shame really as I still like the looks of the 500. A good looking car... any one else having any probs....? cheers.

how tall are you?

 

[RobW]

it's typical Italian legs apart stuff, you need to be sitting pretty close to the wheel too

 

[Ulpian]

I read 'sun roof'.

This robs headroom for taller people and forces an uncomfortable seating position. I can get very comfortable in the 500, and the Panda on which it is based (and my shape is as un-Italian as it is possible to be), but with the sun roof and its intrusive frame the car is a complete no-no.

 

[juliecully]

I find mine really comfortable to drive but I'm only 5'2"! I do have the seat as close as it goes to the wheel. And yes the accelerator is springy but I can rest my heel on the floor ok at this position. Maybe I'm italian built.

 

[newfi]

I find mine really comfortable to drive but I'm only 5'2"! I do have the seat as close as it goes to the wheel. And yes the accelerator is springy but I can rest my heel on the floor ok at this position. Maybe I'm italian built.

I have only had a test drive so far but it seemed very comfortable then.

I'm only 5'0" so had the seat as far forward as possible - but I'm used to that - and don't think I'll ever have a car where my head reaches the roof!

 

[Luxy]

I have to agree, it is by no means a comfortable car to drive. My other car is a Honda and that is a, by a country mile, a more comfortable drive.

But the 500 is alright for driving round town for short distances.

 

[MissR]

I have only had a test drive so far but it seemed very comfortable then.

I'm only 5'0" so had the seat as far forward as possible - but I'm used to that - and don't think I'll ever have a car where my head reaches the roof!

Lol I'm a midget too

 

[Heidi]

all fine for me ... i don't sit miles back from the steering wheel and my left knee 'rests' on the central console. I don't find the accelerator a problem. Have driven to cornwall and manchester and not found it to be uncomfortable, but I do have the leather seats which I think are more comfortable than the fabric ones. Husband is over 6ft and his head is nowhere near the glass roof nor the cover.

 

[Heidi]

Lol I'm a midget too

I'm 5ft8 and all ok for me

 

[RobW]

I have to agree, it is by no means a comfortable car to drive. My other car is a Honda and that is a, by a country mile, a more comfortable drive.

But the 500 is alright for driving round town for short distances.

nonsense

I drove up to Scotland in it last month via east London, only stopping for fuel 400 miles/ 6 hours - got out of the car feeling like I could do it again

Off to the 'ring in a few weekends time, will be a similar journey and I cannot wait

 

[306maxi]

nonsense

I drove up to Scotland in it last month via east London, only stopping for fuel 400 miles/ 6 hours - got out of the car feeling like I could do it again

Off to the 'ring in a few weekends time, will be a similar journey and I cannot wait

I was a little stiff after driving down to Kent the other day but not extraordinarily so. I did get about an hours sleep in the passenger seat while the wife drove which I wouldn't ordinarily be able to do in a small car comfortably

Drove the wifes Subaru today for about 500m and by god it was the weirdest experience..... it felt like I was sitting on the floor, the steering wheel rim was thinner, the gearshift was totally different etc etc.

 

[Murano16v]

Too much information Maxi

 

[keeforelli]

nonsense

I drove up to Scotland in it last month via east London, only stopping for fuel 400 miles/ 6 hours - got out of the car feeling like I could do it again

Off to the 'ring in a few weekends time, will be a similar journey and I cannot wait

i agree!

comfort is subjective, but while very upright, and different to other bigger cars, i do find the driving position very comfortable and very commanding!

your high up, but i find i have the right relationship to all the controls, and to me it just feels right....have been on some very long journeys and loved it!

and im 6'3!

tho as maxi said, getting back into a standard car does feel strange after tho!

 

[Luxy]

Comfort is subjective, and also comparative. Compared to my Honda the 500 is not for me a comfortable car to drive - but its less than half the price and is very suitable for the type of driving I do in it (short distances).

It's not just that it is a small car, had a Mini convertible before - also much more comfortable (and expensive).

 

[tonywalk]

it's typical Italian legs apart stuff, you need to be sitting pretty close to the wheel too

I'm 6'2" and can get my knees under the steering wheel. I've got some room between the top of my head and the (non-sunroof) roof.

The driving position is typically FIAT and therefore suits me down to the ground - out of all the FIATs me and my sister have owned between us, I've not failed to find a decent comfy driving position in any of them. Contrast that with cars from VW and Mazda which have serious driving position faults (VW-Handbrake too close to gearstick, Mazda-steering wheels too low at highest position).