General Drove a TA today

[306maxi]

Is the 500 absolutely style over substance though?

 

[Murano16v]

Is the 500 absolutely style over substance though?

Some of them certainly are - all the silly special editions Gucci, GQ, pink .

I generally like all things Italian, but there is a lot of style over substance - great looking coffee machines, toasters etc that never really work that well

 

[stu0710]

Is the 500 absolutely style over substance though?

Someone hand Maxi a ladder quick to climb out of the whole he's digging himself!

The 500 is definitely style over substance - it's a Panda but cooler, smaller, less practical and more expensive..........but we still choose to buy them anyway. Buying a 500 is an admission of believing in style over substance, but as owners, we've learned to embrace it or we'd all be driving Pandas.

 

[Aussie500nut]

my 2 cents worth
I have commented on quite few threads that the 500 is about "fun" and for me the TA (with Dualogic) does it all.
We didn't even look at the 1.2 as we wanted the sound of the TwinAir - it's part of the fun or "x" factor for us.

As already stated there are other Fiats that offer better value, and a whole lot of other makes that give you more for less, in a lot of cases 4 doors.
Simply more bang for your buck.

But we choose to buy the 500, so it's not purely a head decision. It is definitely style over substance

I don't really love the 1.2, it's functional, economical and propels the car, that's about it.

But if it had been a TA you would love it - it's the nature of the beast

The "fun" or "X" factor is not about the car - it's about how the car makes YOU feel.
I've been driving for 48 years and it has been a long time since I enjoyed driving as much as I do in the 500.
Have had better much more expensive cars too.
And to be honest the ride is not that good - quite harsh, good handling but we are not on a race track.
It is just the very clever mix that Fiat have achieved in creating the character of this car.

Before I get flamed - this is just MHO....

 

[306maxi]

Please don't tell me what i would love.

Cheers

Daniel

 

[44sunsets]

Buying a 500 is an admission of believing in style over substance, but as owners, we've learned to embrace it or we'd all be driving Pandas.

The 500 doesn't win in an objective comparison with other city cars, but it's just so much fun, which for me trumps everything else. It has character -- it's so much livelier than the competing Suzuki Alto, Nissan Micra etc.

 

[RobinPJ]

Personally I think that the 500 is not really "fun". I think when some people say "fun" what they really mean is that they are not embarrassed to be seen driving one.

So it's success is down to it being not naff like a Hyundai, not hideously expensive like an Audi A1, and not too impractical like a Smart.

 

[scout]

Please don't tell me what i would love.

Cheers

Daniel

I would never be so presumptuous .

Some people (and I'm not saying this is you either) fall into the category of "As long as it gets me from A to B in reasonable comfort that’s good enough for me". My wife falls into this group and it really wouldn't matter what car we had, as long as it was cheap to run, roomy enough for four and reliable. She drives a Honda Civic 1.8 which I find unexciting to drive but it does mean I don't need to run a family car, hence the 500.

I'm sure you did your homework (judging by many of your coments probably more than most) before you bought your car and you obviously had your reasons to buy the 500. For me, as I spend a lot of time in my car, I wanted something that would give me the big grin (which does not mean performance) I got from driving my V6 along with being cheaper to run, so far the 500TA has not disappointed.

I have to agree that the 500 is a car bought mainly with the heart, the fact that it is 'relatively' cheap to run is an obvious bonus and satisfies the head.

 

[306maxi]

Personally I think that the 500 is not really "fun". I think when some people say "fun" what they really mean is that they are not embarrassed to be seen driving one.

So it's success is down to it being not naff like a Hyundai, not hideously expensive like an Audi A1, and not too impractical like a Smart.

I agree completely!

 

[306maxi]

I would never be so presumptuous

I know It's a pet hate of mine when someone who barely knows me talks about what I'd love.

Unlike most here, my 500 won't be traded in after 3 or 4 years, for something else that I'll claim to love and then get rid of a few years later.

 

[scout]

I know It's a pet hate of mine when someone who barely knows me talks about what I'd love.

Unlike most here, my 500 won't be traded in after 3 or 4 years, for something else that I'll claim to love and then get rid of a few years later.

My wife has already laid claim to my 500 when we change the Honda (we got it new in 2006 and it has 150,000 miles on it) and my daughter who is 17 this month has also put dibs on it when my wife has finished with it. I wouldn't mind but I don't want to change it for a long time anyway. I have a feeling the 500 will be with us for a good few years yet . My wife was angling for it before I took delivery as she claims to need a 'narrower' car for driving down the lanes she has to travel to work. Still it may mean that an Abarth 500 could be gracing our drive in a couple of years time (695 would be nice)

 

[306maxi]

Sounds like you're loyal to your cars then My dad has had his 500 for 30 + years, his 504 for about 23/4 and my mums Saab 900 for about 18. It's in my blood i guess

 

[Super Uwe]

I know It's a pet hate of mine when someone who barely knows me talks about what I'd love.

Unlike most here, my 500 won't be traded in after 3 or 4 years, for something else that I'll claim to love and then get rid of a few years later.

What? You mean you're not trading in your 500 later on this year?

You've changed your tune....:nerner:

 

[44sunsets]

I think when some people say "fun" what they really mean is that they are not embarrassed to be seen driving one.

The 500 regularly gets bagged out for being a "girl's car", at least here in Australia. Referred to as a "hairdresser's ride", "****-weak", "can't climb a hill" etc.

Certainly seems to discourage some weaker willed people from getting a 500 -- they know their mates won't ever stop giving them s*** about it.

 

[RobinPJ]

Those people need new mates.

 

[306maxi]

and they need to stop caring what others think, surely trying to impress other men is, in itself a bit gay?

 

[ahmett]

and they need to stop caring what others think, surely trying to impress other men is, in itself a bit gay?

My favourite was when a male Mini Cooper driver told me that the Fiat 500 is a chick's car = )

 

[The Twins]

Lol, I thought it was so funny when a female member on here took the hump with maxi and wrote "at least I'm married to a real man who doesn't drive round in a girls car"
Because we have two 500's and most folk don't see any difference in them I'm always getting comments about me "using the wife's car" and "bet you can't wait to get back in your car after driving that Micky Mouse car". Lol.
Really cracks me up. People are so quick to judge based on their small minded view of what is an acceptable car for a man.

 

[RobinPJ]

My neighbour's wife commented that it wasn't a "real car". I just thought to myself "neither is your husband's nasty Hyundai Santa Fe".

 

[scout]

My mates tried to take the pi$$ but after having a ride in the car they soon changed their mind. Personally I've never got a car because its what is percieved to be the right one. My choices are always based on what suits me at the time. To worry about what others think is to get yourself into an early grave.

After all if they have a problem with the car you drive it is exactly that, THEIR PROBLEM.