I've driven a 500c and a pre-ARB hatchback and yes there was a difference. Not OMFGWTFBBQ massive, but there was a difference.
General Anti-roll bar as standard?
- Thread starter crabman
- Start date
Currently reading:
General Anti-roll bar as standard?
I've driven a 500c and a pre-ARB hatchback and yes there was a difference. Not OMFGWTFBBQ massive, but there was a difference.
So there I was, in the Fiat showroom, looking at the new 2011 spec twinair.
Peak underneath, no ARB.
What is the current situation, if anyone knows.
Cheers
D
Peak underneath, no ARB.
What is the current situation, if anyone knows.
Cheers
D
the one I looked at had one... with out a doubt. The one I drove had one also.... And all the press cars seem to have them as they have all commented on the improved ride / handing balance.
It may be that there is simply a stiffer/thicker beam on the new cars. This would achieve exactly the same result as having an ARB (it's not strictly an anti-rollbar anyway)
I'll ask the wet behind the ears salesman on Wednesday.
Could be good for a laugh.
Cheers
D
Could be good for a laugh.
Cheers
D
Definately no ARB on any car in the showroom.
According to the '500 expert' there have been no changes to the rear suspension since the car was launched. Only the fronts of the Twin Airs needed beefed up due to the weight of the new engine.
The current brochure doesn't list one either, but does list the front one.
This is the same for 500 and 500C.
Bounce test reveals very firm rear suspension again
Cheers
D
According to the '500 expert' there have been no changes to the rear suspension since the car was launched. Only the fronts of the Twin Airs needed beefed up due to the weight of the new engine.
The current brochure doesn't list one either, but does list the front one.
This is the same for 500 and 500C.
Bounce test reveals very firm rear suspension again
Cheers
D
this thread is useless without pics
I agree... although I'm not buying this to be honest. The press was all full of the change to the 500 suspension some time ago. The autocar review comments on the fact the suspension has been sorted now (in the test of the TwinAir), and the flippin thing was visible when I looked under the car. And under a 1.2, and under another 1.2 at a different dealer. HOWEVER it wasn't visible on a 1.2 which was not registered, sitting at the back of the show room. Draw your own conclusions....
Does no one listen to this guy?
As I said above a thicker beam would do EXACTLY the same thing and would be cheaper to manufacture also. Lets not get caught up with ARB envy because the beam on the pre-2010 cars was also an ARB, just not as stiff.
If Rallycinq says there's no seperate bar running through the beam then I reckon there's no seperate bar running through the beam.
The problem with the 500 really is the dampers. It could be that Fiat have taken to fitting decent dampers and the ARB is the same as the pre 2010 cars or it could be that there's a new beam which is stiffer than the pre 2010 beam without having a seperate bar running through it.
Yeah, I'm happy enough with the explanation, I just can see why two demo cars, from the same production line should be different. But either way, the one I drove felt much better than the previous one I'd tried.
As long as the car handles well that's all that matters. What combination of beam construction, dampers, springs they've used is rather irrelevant as long as it handles well.
And as long as the car behaves in the same way as the one you tested....
Definitely. It would be very strange to change things when the changes were so well received.
At some point in the future (after the warranty is finished and when the dampers are on the way out) I plan on putting a set of Bilstein coilovers and I may well put a different rear beam on as well as some disc brakes on the back.
Some quotes from the Autocar road test:-
The 500's chassis used to be its weakest link, a choppy ride and rather ordinary handling a disappointing contrast to the polished appeal of the rest of the car. But with the debut of the 500C in July last year came some suspension changes, mostly affecting the rear axle, which have done much to civilise this baby Fiat. The sudden, occasionally bouncing progress – particularly acute aboard the Sport – has mostly been banished, and small bumps are absorbed without much turbulence reaching the cabin.
Also improved is the Fiat's electric power steering.
The 500 handles better now, too. It feels far more settled with the reduced bounce, and that encourages you to corner harder, as does the crisper steering.
The 500's chassis used to be its weakest link, a choppy ride and rather ordinary handling a disappointing contrast to the polished appeal of the rest of the car. But with the debut of the 500C in July last year came some suspension changes, mostly affecting the rear axle, which have done much to civilise this baby Fiat. The sudden, occasionally bouncing progress – particularly acute aboard the Sport – has mostly been banished, and small bumps are absorbed without much turbulence reaching the cabin.
Also improved is the Fiat's electric power steering.
The 500 handles better now, too. It feels far more settled with the reduced bounce, and that encourages you to corner harder, as does the crisper steering.
I wouldn't trust the ramblings of a magazine who says that the sport has different suspension which it plainly doesn't.
As always this sort of stuff is subjective and to really analyse things the cars should be driven back to back.....
The Ka lists as having a rear twist beam and an additional anti roll bar.
I know a Ford dealership that will not mind if I roll around the floor.
Time to go see the difference.
Cheers
D
I know a Ford dealership that will not mind if I roll around the floor.
Time to go see the difference.
Cheers
D
They might not be talking crap actually. 1.4 models do have a different rear beam part (presumably a touch stiffer) along with those discs and the springs are higher rating and a touch shorter. The dampers are also higher rated to match.
I first noticed this in ePer in the form of part numbers, I then bought loads of 500 parts and have seen with my eyes and then confirmed actual ratings in the FIAT eLearn manual. Now I know that not all 1.4s are Sports, but it is likely that a 1.4 reached a magazine in Sport guise, hence their comparison.
Oh I realise that different engines have different spec suspension bits but regardless of whether they're sports, lounges or pop's all there is no difference across spec levels.
keeforelli
Member
the ford does have a different set up in springing and damper rates to the improved 500-
i am very to try out the revised 500- the KA is very good..
