General australian newbie, hi, few questions re 2013 500s

[rhyde]

hi all
Anastasia is my name,
I've been browsing around this forum for quite a bit, and found it to be filled with some really nice peeps, which is great to see. I would really like to stick around.

Im from Australia and I'm about to buy a 2013 500s, in manual and have a few questions.

Please be gentle with me, and I apologise if these questions have been asked before many, many times. This is the first forum I've ever joined, so please be gentle.

Im buying a near new model, with 0020kms (less than 100kms) on it, so it will come with the full three year warranty.

Ive come off a 2004 mini cooper which gave me a world of problems and financial headache, I'm hoping the 500s wont be in the same territory.

I absolutely, like many here, love love love the fiat 500, so i thought id ask a few questions before i pull the pin.

1. Is the 500s in manual, just a pop with a bodykit on it?

2. Do I or should have anything to worry about buying this car?

3. is it reliable?

4. is this suitable for a daily driver?

5. Are servicing schedules really only necessary once a year?

6. Of all the fiats I've seen for sale in Australia, whether it be a 2008 model,or 2012, all are sold with really low kilometres, are these engines capable of doing high kilometres, the most I've ever seen for sale is one with 90,000kms, and that has been for sale for over a year. Why are people not doing high mileage on these cars, are they not capable of it. I would like to keep it for a very long time.

7. Are engine parts expensive for the car?

8. After the warranty ends are these cars good for the bin, or safe and reliable to own for many years to come.

9. As i cant afford the 900cc twin air version in the turbo or an Abarth, and the 500s is my only option are performance upgrades doable, and reliable.

Sorry for the questions, i really want this car, but bloody people have been in my ear about it being a fiat, and really putting a downer on me, and thirdly because the engine is so compact, its very hard to service

please help, and again sorry for so many questions.


thanks anastasia

 

[306maxi]

hi all
Anastasia is my name,
I've been browsing around this forum for quite a bit, and found it to be filled with some really nice peeps, which is great to see. I would really like to stick around.

Im from Australia and I'm about to buy a 2013 500s, in manual and have a few questions.

Please be gentle with me, and I apologise if these questions have been asked before many, many times. This is the first forum I've ever joined, so please be gentle.

Im buying a near new model, with 0020kms (less than 100kms) on it, so it will come with the full three year warranty.

Ive come off a 2004 mini cooper which gave me a world of problems and financial headache, I'm hoping the 500s wont be in the same territory.

I absolutely, like many here, love love love the fiat 500, so i thought id ask a few questions before i pull the pin.

1. Is the 500s in manual, just a pop with a bodykit on it?

2. Do I or should have anything to worry about buying this car?

3. is it reliable?

4. is this suitable for a daily driver?

5. Are servicing schedules really only necessary once a year?

6. Of all the fiats I've seen for sale in Australia, whether it be a 2008 model,or 2012, all are sold with really low kilometres, are these engines capable of doing high kilometres, the most I've ever seen for sale is one with 90,000kms, and that has been for sale for over a year. Why are people not doing high mileage on these cars, are they not capable of it. I would like to keep it for a very long time.

7. Are engine parts expensive for the car?

8. After the warranty ends are these cars good for the bin, or safe and reliable to own for many years to come.

9. As i cant afford the 900cc twin air version in the turbo or an Abarth, and the 500s is my only option are performance upgrades doable, and reliable.

Sorry for the questions, i really want this car, but bloody people have been in my ear about it being a fiat, and really putting a downer on me, and thirdly because the engine is so compact, its very hard to service

please help, and again sorry for so many questions.


thanks anastasia

1. The s spec is a lounge spec with a bodykit. The pop is base spec, the s is a higher spec.


2. Nope


3. relatively speaking yes, but 500's can have their little foibles but nothing major.


4. Depends what you want to do with it, carrying 6 kids? Nope. But for what it's made for yes.


5. Depends on mileage, but yes they generally only need one service a year.


6. People in Australia don't buy small cars to buy big mileages. I've done over 100,000 km's in my 1.2 with no major issues.


7. Engine parts? People don't generally have to replace any part of the engine in a 500.


8. The body is galvanised, the rest of the bits are proven. How well you going to maintain it etc etc etc will dictate how long it lasts.


9. The S over there is a 1.4? Not really upgradable really.....


I'm from Australia, sadly a lot of people haven't moved on since the convict days and their knuckles still tend to scrape the ground. A 500 will be far more reliable than a Commodore or Falcon

 

[rhyde]

thanks 306maxi
i feel a bit more at ease with ur response

id love to hear from a few more peeps

4am in the morning another aussie is awake lol
no its just me no 6 kids, im a teacher, the most ill carry is some books and students homework corrections
and for the record ive never owned a commodore or falcon, couldnt think of anything worse

1. The s spec is a lounge spec with a bodykit. The pop is base spec, the s is a higher spec.


2. Nope


3. relatively speaking yes, but 500's can have their little foibles but nothing major.


4. Depends what you want to do with it, carrying 6 kids? Nope. But for what it's made for yes.


5. Depends on mileage, but yes they generally only need one service a year.


6. People in Australia don't buy small cars to buy big mileages. I've done over 100,000 km's in my 1.2 with no major issues.


7. Engine parts? People don't generally have to replace any part of the engine in a 500.


8. The body is galvanised, the rest of the bits are proven. How well you going to maintain it etc etc etc will dictate how long it lasts.


9. The S over there is a 1.4? Not really upgradable really.....


I'm from Australia, sadly a lot of people haven't moved on since the convict days and their knuckles still tend to scrape the ground. A 500 will be far more reliable than a Commodore or Falcon

 

[rhyde]

im already thinking mods...... hmmmmmm
im liking the chrome petrol cap for it

 

[306maxi]

Don't put any extra chrome on it Looks far better without.

 

[PsFiat]

Hello from a fellow Aussie. I have a 500s on order and Maxi's comment about your Pop/500s query isn't quite accurate, as models vary between the UK and Oz. Here in Oz the 500s is sold with a 1.4 engine and 6sp gear box. The Pop is a 1.2 with a 5sp manual. The S also has upgraded suspension and 4 wheel disc brakes- and that body kit. So here the S and the Pop are quite different cars.

 

[306maxi]

The s doesn't have upgraded suspension. It's just different to that of the other models.

 

[rhyde]

Hello from a fellow Aussie. I have a 500s on order and Maxi's comment about your Pop/500s query isn't quite accurate, as models vary between the UK and Oz. Here in Oz the 500s is sold with a 1.4 engine and 6sp gear box. The Pop is a 1.2 with a 5sp manual. The S also has upgraded suspension and 4 wheel disc brakes- and that body kit. So here the S and the Pop are quite different cars.

hi psfiat
thanks for your comments, much appreciated
just curious what did u order and where u from and do you have much of a wait. Despite the fact that im looking at like new demo, less than 0020kms and there is no wait, i was told there was a massive amount of 500s in stock with no wait time.

what colour did u buy and did u get any uppgrades. any freebies?
The run out price is 19k on a brand spanking 2013 500s is this correct?

 

[306maxi]

And all 1.4 normally aspirated 500's have 6 speed boxes. It's not really a feature or upgrade over anything in any other 500. Neither are the 4 wheel disc brakes on a slow car like the 500

 

[PsFiat]

Ordered the car way back in Aug last year, due to arrive in the next week or two. Ordered Gelato White, with an electric sunroof, the cause of the delay, and the upgrade pack with bigger wheels, better lights and leather seats. Your price sounds about right, but you might be able to crunch a better deal as it's a 2013 plated car- last year's model according to the car trade and in terms of resale value...I think the next batch of 2014 cars after this month's shipment arrive in September.

 

[PsFiat]

And all 1.4 normally aspirated 500's have 6 speed boxes. It's not really a feature or upgrade over anything in any other 500. Neither are the 4 wheel disc brakes on a slow car like the 500

Just pointing out that the Pop and S are different here, only one engine option for the Pop, a 1.2 and the S is only available as a 1.4.

 

[UFI]

Neither are the 4 wheel disc brakes on a slow car like the 500

But you also get vented front brakes with a 1.4 and on a track they would be handy

 

[UFI]

9. As i cant afford the 900cc twin air version in the turbo or an Abarth, and the 500s is my only option are performance upgrades doable, and reliable.

The Twinair Lounge won't be as fast as a 1.4S. In fact, the extra weight of the glass roof and alloys will bring it closer to the 1.2 in performance.

There's really only 2 seconds between all of them in 0-100km/h times so I'd be looking at maybe the base 1.2, it's cheapest, most economical and the engine has the longest track record. Biggest plus is you don't get that silly US Turbo style body kit. A diesel van will leave them all in it's dust, so why pretend?

FWIW, I've got a Twinair Sport (not 'S' with the original 'pure' shape).

 

[Scuderiazar]

Welcome Anastasia
I placed an order for a 1.2 pop about 10 days ago and I wasn't fussy about color choice as I want one asap. I got a phone call the next day saying I could have a gelato white with grey interior which was fine by me. ( someone ordered it but has changed color options) so I am pretty lucky I think. Its supposed to be arriving with a bunch of others at the end of the May/beginning of June.
I am originally from Scotland and have had a Fiat Panda, 3 Uno's, 3 Punto's including the Punto GT (turbo) all been great cars nothing major ever went wrong really just wear and tear items, I always got mines serviced once a year as I don't do high mileage.
For my 500 that is coming I have ordered online..... chrome mirror covers for the door mirrors as I don't like the black plastic ones on the pop. I have also ordered LED daylight running lights/side lights and also low and high beam globe upgrades......I think that's all the upgrades I will do.

 

[UFI]

the 500s is my only option are performance upgrades doable, and reliable.

Don't forget there are two ways to gain 'performance' one is to add power, the other is to loose weight. A set of light weight wheels would reduce the 0-100 time by maybe a second and only add reliability. UFI went on a diet the day I got him, I even added lighter valve caps (I weighed all my spares and used my lightest four ). A carbon bonnet, rear seat delete and more Ti carbon parts are planned but for now I've lost interest a bit.

 

[44sunsets]

Sorry for the questions, i really want this car, but bloody people have been in my ear about it being a fiat, and really putting a downer on me, and thirdly because the engine is so compact, its very hard to service

People on Aussie forums seem to love bitching about FIAT (you'll hear about "Fix It Again Tony" a few thousand times etc) but most of them have no actual experience with one; they're talking out of their arse.

I was concerned about reliability as well but my car has done perfectly fine, have had it for exactly a year now. If you're buying used, just make sure it's been serviced properly and looked after -- buying a dodgy used car can bring a world of pain.

Being an Italian design you may have to get used to a few oddities and quirks, but it's no big drama. I love my TwinAir 500C, I have no regrets at all. Brings a huge smile every time I get in to drive it.

Don't worry about servicing, these cars are pretty straightforward -- as Maxi says, even a chimp could service one. If you're ultra picky, you can always find a local independent Italian car specialist rather than an expensive FIAT/Alfa dealership.

 

[Joseph500]

Also from Australia. I have had my Abarth 5oo for just over 2 ½ years and I have had ZERO issues with her (it is always a her). The 500 is such an awesome little car that gets a lot of attention (of a nice kind) and it is so easy to adore. You will not regret the purchase

It will cost far less than a Mini to service, thou I will suggest that in Australia that you should always use an Italian car specialist for servicing – they are found in most capital cities. The 1.4 is motor proven design that should last for a long time.

Other than space (which is not as small as most may think – certainly more than your Mini) they are quite a capable little car.

That looks like a good deal – buy it !!!! and ENJOY

 

[rhyde]

Hi all
Just wanted to take the time to say a public thank u to all those that have contributed to this thread. My concerns seem to be washing away and for that I thank u all.

 

[Sprite1962]

Does anybody have current real world prices for the 500C Pop/Sport/Lounge?