Technical Is heat insulated glass standard on the UK Fiat 500?

[Thaddeus]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a second hand Fiat 500 and have got myself quite attached to the idea of heat insulated glass. It seems to be fairly rare when I've narrowed down my searches but I've just checked the Fiat 500 website to build a new one and it doesn't mention it anywhere. It therefore made me wonder if it's a standard feature on all Fiat 500s and only some are listing it on their adverts in an attempt to stand out from the crowd.

I'd also appreciate any advice on its efficacy as it's the key difference, along with parking sensors, that is making me consider spending an extra £400, so if it's not really going to keep the car cooler/warmer, depending on the season, then I can disregard it anyway.

Just in case it's a recent development, I should say that I'm looking at the 62 lounge models.

Many thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[PsFiat]

Have you considered tinting the windows ? That will help with heat insulation and cuts down glare. Can't tint the windscreen tho.?

 

[Thaddeus]

Have you considered tinting the windows ? That will help with heat insulation and cuts down glare. Can't tint the windscreen tho.?

Thanks for your reply. I'd rather not make any adjustments when I've bought the car as I'm at the edge of my budget anyway. I'm just trying to work out if I should be spending extra on heat insulated glass (i.e. does it work and is it an upgrade rather than standard) as I've already decided I can live without the parking sensors.

 

[UFI]

All 500's have the same glass.

Glass is actually a poor conductor already so I don't think an extra insulative coating would do a whole lot.

 

[jrkitching]

You can't (legally) tint the windscreen or front side windows in the UK as they are already tinted to the maximum permissible amount as standard. The rear windows can be tinted but they are too small in relation to the surface area of the rest of the car to make much difference.

Thermal glass has never been a factory option for the 500.

If you are seriously worried about the car getting too hot in the sun, I have two recommendations:

1. Don't buy a lounge - that huge glass roof acts like a greenhouse (though many folks, me included, prefer it because it makes the car feel much more airy and spacious)

2. Choose a white one - white is the coolest colour (in the thermal sense of the word) you can have. It's also likely to be the cheapest if you're on a tight budget as it was the only colour that wasn't an extra cost option when the car was new.

Visibility is good enough that the car doesn't really need parking sensors and particularly if you're on a budget, IMO they certainly aren't worth paying extra for.

 

[Thaddeus]

All 500's have the same glass.

Glass is actually a poor conductor already so I don't think an extra insulative coating would do a whole lot.

Thanks, that's very helpful. I did try to find some idea of what it would do and found an article on a website called "explainthatstuff" (I would link to it but as I'm a newbie, it says I can't, you could find it if you google "how does heat insulated glass work" as it's the third result).

It sounds fairly plausible and I definitely think it is a "thing" in some cars and if I search for it on autotrader, there are definitely some second hand Fiat 500 dealers that are listing it as a feature (11 listings in my area out of the 575 cars).

I never realised buying a car would be so complicated. The problem is, when you discover a new potential feature, you then have to decide how much of a deal breaker it is and I suspect I'll keep the car for a long time so I want to be as sure as I possibly can that I've considered all options.

 

[Thaddeus]

You can't (legally) tint the windscreen or front side windows in the UK as they are already tinted to the maximum permissible amount as standard. The rear windows can be tinted but they are too small in relation to the surface area of the rest of the car to make much difference.

Thermal glass has never been a factory option for the 500.

If you are seriously worried about the car getting too hot in the sun, I have two recommendations:

1. Don't buy a lounge - that huge glass roof acts like a greenhouse (though many folks, me included, prefer it because it makes the car feel much more airy and spacious)

2. Choose a white one - white is the coolest colour (in the thermal sense of the word) you can have. It's also likely to be the cheapest if you're on a tight budget as it was the only colour that wasn't an extra cost option when the car was new.

Visibility is good enough that the car doesn't really need parking sensors and particularly if you're on a budget, IMO they certainly aren't worth paying extra for.

Thanks. I wouldn't say I'm "seriously worried about it getting too hot in the sun", I'm just used to driving around without windows open or air conditioning, as I'm fairly good at regulating my body temperature, so thought it might help keep the car cooler overall (and a bit warmer in the winter). All this may well be pie in the sky which is why I wanted to try to find out if anyone had experience of it etc.

 

[jrkitching]

It sounds fairly plausible and I definitely think it is a "thing" in some cars and if I search for it on autotrader, there are definitely some second hand Fiat 500 dealers that are listing it as a feature (11 listings in my area out of the 575 cars).

These cars are almost certainly no different to the rest; all 500's left the factory with tinted glass as standard.

 

[Thaddeus]

These cars are almost certainly no different to the rest; all 500's left the factory with tinted glass as standard.

Thanks. That definitely makes it a lot simpler.

 

[Clogs]

Rear Parking sensors are really useful as visibility isn't great and you tend to leave a big gap for fear if hitting something without them.

Air con is an essential these days.

 

[Ulpian]

With parking as it is rear sensors are a boon. Front ones, and a rear camera, if available, just make life that much easier in cramped cities. A/C is a must on any car, don't buy one without it, you may be thinking summer and that you don't need it - I'm not so sure - but in winter the A/C is a defogger, and a godsend. Once had you'll never be without.

 

[306maxi]

Tbh if you need parking sensors with such a small car then perhaps you should take a taxi, air con is a good feature though.

 

[UFI]

You can't (legally) tint the windscreen or front side windows in the UK as they are already tinted to the maximum permissible amount as standard. The rear windows can be tinted but they are too small in relation to the surface area of the rest of the car to make much difference.

Thermal glass has never been a factory option for the 500.

If you are seriously worried about the car getting too hot in the sun, I have two recommendations

Tint is not the same thing as Low Emissive 'Thermal' Glass.

http://www.agc-automotive.com/english/products/loweglass.html

Tint keeps you cool in summer, but also in winter. Low E glass has insulative qualities to maintain temperature rather than reflect solar radiation. While low E out performs tint in summer, the real gains are in winter.

Also FWW, some newer 500s have factory dark tinted rear windows.