General 500, not an ideal instructors car?

[loveshandbags]

Thats why i think its important for learners to learn in a car with blind spots.

I found the 500 quite a difficult car to park when I first bought it. I was used to cars with a longer wheelbase and had to re-learn reverse car parking using the mirrors (in downward mode) to check the kerb distance.
Overall it is a very easy car to drive. I learned to drive in my parents Hillman Hunter Estate (an orange one !) with no power steering. Any car after that was a doddle.
Still I never passed my driving test. In 1979 there was a massive backlog of applicants for the driving test in Ireland. Those on their 3rd provisional licence (each one lasted 6 months & I got mine on my birthday at 17) and had already attempted the test (I failed my first test on something stupid) got what was called a 'cowboy' licence. Never felt good about not having earned the driving licence. I did book a test up in the local centre in an attempt to prove that I could get the licence. But once I was asked to show my 'provisional' licence (it was the new full one) - the tester used some choice words pointing towards the door.

 

[blitz7287]

Yes, but this is where Fiat lose out. A truly staggering number of people pass the test and immediately go buy the car they learned to drive in. If you can be that brand you've potentially got a customer for life.

I wish i could of done that i learnt to drive in a mini cooper lol and what an awesome car to drive, naturally insurance and the price still doesn't let me have one.

 

[Super Uwe]

I've always said to people how good visability my Panda has, my seicento before was probably as bad as the 500 is now. A 53/04 plate panda now, is within reach of many new drivers

When i was learning to drive, i said to my instructor (before i had one) 'What about a Panda?' his words were 'Haha not a Fiat'. Typical ford man He went on to get the new Fiesta which i imagine is much like the 500 in regards to rear visabilty

I think you've rather summed up the problem Fiat have to be honest.

The average person in the street still thinks that Fiat make cars which are a pile of poop, unreliable and all-round hunkajunks. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the Panda officially one of the most reliable all-round cars you can buy anywhere?

I just don't understand really why Fiat haven't made more of an effort to shout this from the rooftops. It's criminal really IMO.

 

[rob111gb]

As an instructor for BSM, have to admit it wouldn't be my first choice of car, I'm currently on a 1.2 sport, had a diesel sport and petrol pop.
The very small problems start as soon as the student gets in the car, they normally jam the seat belt between the socket and the plastic trim on the seat base, and complain of the belt cutting across their neck because it's not adjustable!
They occasionally hit the windows button and frighten themselves when the wifey says 'please repeat' (quite funny though!)
I would say 80% of learners get confused and then seem to break the stop/start within 5min! The visibility out the rear windows is poor but not the worst. It's difficult to see the speed on the passengers side, have to judge the speed off the revs and gears! The car is a bit too small if you have a larger student, most people think 'yeah! And??...' when your working with the public you have to make sure you never touch them, and it's very difficult in a small car!
I had my old car in at the garage over 30 times within a year, alot of lost hours and money! The new one has been off the road for 2 weeks within 3 months, got it back again last week! Only shows 'check engine' so I did! It's still there so all is good! airbags unavailable, dodgy clutch and stop/start is dead!!! Apart from that all is good!
Out of 60 to 100 people that have driven and passed there test the fiats, none have bought one and only 3 would like one but wouldn't pay the money for it!
Don't get me wrong it's a fun looking wee car and it can beat anything else round a carpark but I cant wait for my wee corsa!

Not a bad wee car! But not for learners or instructors! Just be friendly to the service people!

 

[306maxi]

As an instructor for BSM, have to admit it wouldn't be my first choice of car, I'm currently on a 1.2 sport, had a diesel sport and petrol pop.
The very small problems start as soon as the student gets in the car, they normally jam the seat belt between the socket and the plastic trim on the seat base, and complain of the belt cutting across their neck because it's not adjustable!
They occasionally hit the windows button and frighten themselves when the wifey says 'please repeat' (quite funny though!)
I would say 80% of learners get confused and then seem to break the stop/start within 5min! The visibility out the rear windows is poor but not the worst. It's difficult to see the speed on the passengers side, have to judge the speed off the revs and gears! The car is a bit too small if you have a larger student, most people think 'yeah! And??...' when your working with the public you have to make sure you never touch them, and it's very difficult in a small car!
I had my old car in at the garage over 30 times within a year, alot of lost hours and money! The new one has been off the road for 2 weeks within 3 months, got it back again last week! Only shows 'check engine' so I did! It's still there so all is good! airbags unavailable, dodgy clutch and stop/start is dead!!! Apart from that all is good!
Out of 60 to 100 people that have driven and passed there test the fiats, none have bought one and only 3 would like one but wouldn't pay the money for it!
Don't get me wrong it's a fun looking wee car and it can beat anything else round a carpark but I cant wait for my wee corsa!

Not a bad wee car! But not for learners or instructors! Just be friendly to the service people!

Completely agree about space. I absolutely hate driving for any distance with someone else other then the wife in the passenger seat. I'm one of those people who likes their personal space and if someone is in the passenger seat they're in my space, if it's the wife I don't mind of course though.

 

[jnoiles]

I found the 500 quite a difficult car to park when I first bought it.

I can't park to save my life. I present the following two thoughts to support my position of not caring how deficient my parking skills are:

- Go it Italy and see how they park 500's. They're tough on them over there.

- An advanced driving instructor once asked me when I last saw the headline "Family of Four Killed in Parking Accident".


There are more important car related skills to acquire than parking.

 

[306maxi]

I can't park to save my life. I present the following two thoughts to support my position of not caring how deficient my parking skills are:

- Go it Italy and see how they park 500's. They're tough on them over there.

- An advanced driving instructor once asked me when I last saw the headline "Family of Four Killed in Parking Accident".


There are more important car related skills to acquire than parking.

Fantastic I can't parallel park inbetween two cars to save my life, just can't do it.....

 

[jrkitching]

- Go it Italy and see how they park 500's. They're tough on them over there.

Worst I've ever seen is Gibraltar. You can play "spot the car without a dent in it" - and award yourself 100 extra I-Spy points if you finally manage to find one!.

 

[Andy Monty]

Fantastic I can't parallel park inbetween two cars to save my life, just can't do it.....

Next you'll be investing in parking radar and camera

 

[mjsmke]

What about if on a narrow residential road people park so badly that an ambulance or fire engine cannot get to someone in need?

I see poorly parked cars everyday round here, and it often results in having to reverse back several car lengths to let others pass.

 

[bgunn]

I find that the lack of care in parking just serves to increase congestion on the road (selfish people who take a space and a half to park their car), and only serves to underline the general lack of discipline in driving these days.

 

[306maxi]

What about if on a narrow residential road people park so badly that an ambulance or fire engine cannot get to someone in need?

I see poorly parked cars everyday round here, and it often results in having to reverse back several car lengths to let others pass.

If I was on a road like that I would get out and actually see how close I was to the kerb and ensure that there was enough space for emergency vehicles.

 

[mjsmke]

If I was on a road like that I would get out and actually see how close I was to the kerb and ensure that there was enough space for emergency vehicles.

A lot of people do. But its shocking how many cars are parked so badly causing an obstruction.

 

[jrkitching]

Picking up on the visibility issue, I find it helps a lot to carefully adjust the passenger seat when you're driving solo. If you raise the seatback to the vertical & line it up with the central pillar, you'll see MUCH more out of the rear passenger window. Unfortunately, adjusting the seat for best front passenger comfort will almost totally block that window.

2 up, the 500 has essentially the same 'over the shoulder' visibility as a van & you need to drive it on the mirrors.

 

[mjsmke]

Picking up on the visibility issue, I find it helps a lot to carefully adjust the passenger seat when you're driving solo. If you raise the seatback to the vertical & line it up with the central pillar, you'll see MUCH more out of the rear passenger window. Unfortunately, adjusting the seat for best front passenger comfort will almost totally block that window.

2 up, the 500 has essentially the same 'over the shoulder' visibility as a van & you need to drive it on the mirrors.

Unless the passenger is very short and doesnt mind the seat pushed forwards.

Im only 5ft5 and my partner is 5ft4 so we have the seats very far forward.

 

[Heidi]

I have had no trouble with blind spots but perhaps that's because I'm used to driving small fiats? I shall ask 'im indoors next week...he's using the car for a week

 

[Lloyd71]

Visibility on the 500 seems like a dream compared to mine now! I swear the B pillars are even bigger and the rear window is just covered up by having 3 rear headrests!

 

[blitz7287]

The blind spots on the 500 aren't as bad as the punto evo