500 Impending ownership

[Beefcake85]

Good morning. I just wanted to say hello and confirm that I'm very much looking forward to owning a Fiat 500 dualogic in the next few weeks. A couple of questions: firstly I'm intending to tow the car with an A frame behind my motorhome and wondered if there was any advice or tips/pitfalls I could be made aware of and, secondly are there any years of manufacture best avoided? I've read lots of reviews and have come across very mixed messages about reliability and suitability for my plans. Any help much appreciated.

 

[steveras57]

Before making your purchasing decision might be worth trolling through all the threads here on the forum regarding trouble and expense incurred by others with the duologic gearbox!, have to be honest if you can drive a car with a proper manual gearbox then my advice would be to get one of those and save yourself a lot of potential heartache and expense with a duologic car! ,if however you have to have a auto then theres a load of better options out there- mainly small and Japanese! that will avoid the fiats problems.

 

[AnthonyH]

Good morning. I just wanted to say hello and confirm that I'm very much looking forward to owning a Fiat 500 dualogic in the next few weeks. A couple of questions: firstly I'm intending to tow the car with an A frame behind my motorhome and wondered if there was any advice or tips/pitfalls I could be made aware of and, secondly are there any years of manufacture best avoided? I've read lots of reviews and have come across very mixed messages about reliability and suitability for my plans. Any help much appreciated.

Eeeek. The dualogic is a no go. If you've not bought it - don't.

 

[Beefcake85]

Eeeek. The dualogic is a no go. If you've not bought it - don't.

Oh! I know it can be towed as I've seen them for sale with an A frame attached and also companies advertising fitting the frame. The dualogic isn't a true automatic so afaik it's fine to tow. Do you mean that it's just not a good driving experience? This is exactly why I'm on this forum, to get informed views.

 

[AnthonyH]

I mean - don't buy it. The dualogic will break down and you'll pay thousands to repair it.

 

[Beefcake85]

Sorry to seem a bit dopey but do you mean they're just unreliable full stop or not good as a tow vehicle?

 

[AnthonyH]

Sorry to seem a bit dopey but do you mean they're just unreliable full stop or not good as a tow vehicle?

These gearboxes are so unreliable you may as well set fire to your money.

I don't know how to be any clearer.

 

[Beefcake85]

Ok I get it! I had my doubts about any semi automatic so I think I'll play safe and go for a manual. Many thanks for your help, I think you've saved me a few bob!

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Ok I get it! I had my doubts about any semi automatic so I think I'll play safe and go for a manual. Many thanks for your help, I think you've saved me a few bob!

Good decision. The forum is littered with posts by people who've had expensive problems with them. The manual box, on the other hand, is as reliable as any of the competition and better than some. I've had several Pandas all with the manual box and never had a problem. If you were to really press me, at higher mileages the oil seal and bearing on the input shaft from the clutch seems to be what goes first. so, If you ever get a clutch done this needs to be carefully checked as it's worth doing - if needed - while the box is out of the car. Our latest Panda needed a clutch a couple of years ago and the bearing was absolutely fine but there were problems with the hydraulics however they are all mounted exterior to the box so relatively cheaply sorted.

We've run Pandas as our second car for many years - forty I think? and We will buy another if the present one (2010 Panda 1.2) eventually wears out. Wouldn't go near the automatic or Twin Air with a barge pole though.

 

[Beefcake85]

Good decision. The forum is littered with posts by people who've had expensive problems with them. The manual box, on the other hand, is as reliable as any of the competition and better than some. I've had several Pandas all with the manual box and never had a problem. If you were to really press me, at higher mileages the oil seal and bearing on the input shaft from the clutch seems to be what goes first. so, If you ever get a clutch done this needs to be carefully checked as it's worth doing - if needed - while the box is out of the car. Our latest Panda needed a clutch a couple of years ago and the bearing was absolutely fine but there were problems with the hydraulics however they are all mounted exterior to the box so relatively cheaply sorted.

We've run Pandas as our second car for many years - forty I think? and We will buy another if the present one (2010 Panda 1.2) eventually wears out. Wouldn't go near the automatic or Twin Air with a barge pole though.

That's brilliant news (in a way). I really wanted first hand advice so that's very much appreciated, many thanks

 

[The Panda Nut]

Sorry to seem a bit dopey but do you mean they're just unreliable full stop or not good as a tow vehicle?

Do a search on dualogic and then decide which way to go. Thay drive really nicely BUT they are complex and extraordinarily difficult and expensive to repair if any big problems arise, I would love one but I would not advise buying one, not even a new car with one very sadly.