General Mini 500c roadtest

[306maxi]

Just a bit of feedback for those who are waiting for a 500c to arrive and haven't driven one yet or just for anyone who's wondering.

I've been driving past the dealers all week because I'm temping near them and today decided to relent and go for a drive in a 500c. They were busy so just chucked me the keys and let me drive it myself.

First off it was a Pasadoble Red Lounge 1.2 with ivory ambience, standard 15" wheels and black cloth seats. Didn't seem to have anything nonstandard. Do note parts of my review are for the 500c and parts are with regards to the difference between the 16" and 15" wheels.

I would post pictures but they're on my phone and Nokia made the USB connection a silly one and I can't find the cable just yet.

First things first, the roof seemed to operate fairly easily and was smooth etc etc. With the roof the whole way down the visibility is NIL but everyone already knew that. You have to hold the button down to put the roof back up which is silly IMHO as it should be 1 touch to put it back up most of the way and then hold it down so fingers and hair don't get trapped (minor detail I know but it annoyed me). I could be wrong but there seemed to be a lot of condensation in the 3rd brakelight on the one I drove so that'll be one to check in the future for owners. Road noise didn't seem to be that much higher compared to my hatchback but of course that has wider wheels but it wasn't terrible or anything and wouldn't spoil a nice drive on a sunny day, what was nice was the fact that you could hear the engine better which was good.

Ride. The 500c rides much much much better than my car, I'm sure that a good part of that is down to the smaller rims but the revised rear suspension really does seem to have done the job. Would it be the same with 16's on it as mine is? Possibly, but it did seem a lot more supple than for just having smaller rims.

Handling. The combination of smaller rims and better rear end made the 500c feel miles more chuckable than my car. You weren't hitting bumps mid corner and having your confidence thrown, it just soaked everything up and gripped well. I can't stress how much better to drive this was than my car. I've had a couple of moments where my car has not reacted nicely to bumps and the 500c felt like it wouldn't have had any problems at all at least with the 15" wheels.

What's different? To me it felt slightly faster than my car but I think that was partly down to the skinnier low resistance tyres which will always make a difference and also the fact that you could hear the engine. You can feel the fact that it doesn't have a roof and isn't as rigid, you get a weird wobble through the wheel when you're going over bumps, it's not horrible or anything and the car doesn't feel like it's made out of damp loo roll tubes or something but you can feel the loss in rigidity.

If I were to buy one I'd get one in pop spec and just add the bits you need. If I were to spec a pop up with all the bits I wanted it'd be a good £490 cheaper.

Positives
Well it's got no roof obviously
Handles better
Rides better
Looks good (not necessarily better than the hatchback, just different)
Standard wheels look nice

Negatives
Price is a bit steep considering the hatchback is not exactly bargain basement
It's got no roof and you can feel it just a bit
Rear visibility when you've got the roof all the way down
I personally feel the hatchback looks a little less girly.

Would I buy one myself? Not in place of my hatchback no, but if my wife wanted another car no problem at all.

 

[csabaszalma]

Nice review!

 

[bettyb]

thanks for that maxi, i'm waiting for a 'c' but have only test driven the hatchback - very reassuring, ta!

 

[306maxi]

Managed to find my MicroSD adaptor so here are some not particularly great pictures but you guys know what a 500c looks like anyway

Frontal view

Rear view

Rear suspension - Note the Anti-rollbar inside the beam axle (the hatchback doesn't have this)

I went out and had a look at the rear beam on my 500 and it doesn't have the hole in the rear beam where the ARB goes through so it sadly wouldn't be a retrofit item for the hatchback.

 

[306maxi]

Nice review!

Thanks

thanks for that maxi, i'm waiting for a 'c' but have only test driven the hatchback - very reassuring, ta!

No problems, hope you enjoy it when you get it

 

[Midlife Crisis]

thanks for that maxi, i'm waiting for a 'c' but have only test driven the hatchback - very reassuring, ta!

Same for me so thanks for taking time to report back and add photos. Mine will be red with black roof so seeing those pics has made me even more excited!

 

[eribiste]

Well Done Maxi,

Thanks for that, I reckon that was a well written mature review. You do realise it only makes the waiting harder to bear........

 

[MissR]

Well Done Maxi,

Thanks for that, I reckon that was a well written mature review. You do realise it only makes the waiting harder to bear........

see not just me who thinks you're old Maxi

Good review though BTW

 

[DraigFlag87]

Rear suspension set up is similar to that on the Abarth, understandable considering most of the roof is missing! Now, just a few more months to go before Fiat release the Abarth 500C

Does the 1.4 Pop have the same suspension as this? The one i had for a month rolled considerably less than i thought it would in the corners, no way near as level as the Abarth rides through the bends, but lets just say i was pleasantly surprised at the lack of body roll on the 1.4 pop. Want the gearbox too!

 

[306maxi]

Rear suspension set up is similar to that on the Abarth, understandable considering most of the roof is missing! Now, just a few more months to go before Fiat release the Abarth 500C

Does the 1.4 Pop have the same suspension as this? The one i had for a month rolled considerably less than i thought it would in the corners, no way near as level as the Abarth rides through the bends, but lets just say i was pleasantly surprised at the lack of body roll on the 1.4 pop. Want the gearbox too!

You've not been following things have you?

All hatchbacks bar the Abarth have the same suspension give or take spring rates and dampers so if you look under any hatchback at the moment you'll see suspension very similar but without the ARB.

The ARB hasn't been put in because of too much roll per se, it's that the springs had to be very stiff without the ARB (on the hatchbacks) to stop the car being rolly polly in the corners which means that they don't handle bumps very well at all. If you have a good understanding of suspension it'll make sense but to most people I'm just speaking gibberish

There won't be an Abarth 500c. If they stiffen the car up to Abarth level, give it a heavier engine etc etc the car is going to have tremendous scuttle shake and be an absolute nightmare. The wobble through the steering wheel on the car I drove today wasn't a huge deal but if Fiat Abarthises the 500c they'll be laughed at by the press and considering how well the 500 has done for the brand over the last 2 years they're not going to put a foot wrong like that.

 

[Ulpian]

Re: Mini 500c road test

I heard that there is going to be an Abarth 500c. The ARB allows softer springing without the roll, instead of using the very stiff springs (as at present with the 500) which have trouble coping with bumps. The torsion beam is a spring medium too. With the speeds the Abarth is capable of the last thing they want is for the thing to actually take off on the rough bits

I wouldn't be surprised if one of the reasons for using the ARB in the C was to minimise the stresses placed by the suspension on the body shell; that and the fact that they need to make the car as comfortable as possible. Anyway, all the 500s are to get the ARB soon, so it's academic.

 

[306maxi]

Re: Mini 500c road test

I heard that there is going to be an Abarth 500c.

Who from? A reliable source or is it just someone who read it in Autocar or AutoExpress which are both nothing more than tabloids which endlessly churn out scoops which are nothing more than cars dreamt up by them that never amount to anything. There's a distinct lack of coverage in the reputable press so I very much doubt it.

I remember writing an email to AutoExpress stating how ridiculous their Ferrari Dino renderings and story were and got a reply back which more or less admitted that they do just make their stuff up as they go.

Autoexpress is famous for madeup stories like this one -> http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/204171/ferrari_420_dino.html so there no need to take their ramblings as any proof of the existence of an A500c

 

[Ulpian]

I can't for the life of me remember where it was, but I wouldn't mention it if it was only in Autocar since I too consider it no better than a rag.
It might have been an American site, and not borrowing from our mags either.

Sorry to be so vague. I can't see why not actually. The C is pretty rigid and could easily cope with more power. They might strengthen the bar above the boot for reinforcement, but it could cope with another thirty hp without any trouble, surely?

 

[306maxi]

I can't for the life of me remember where it was, but I wouldn't mention it if it was only in Autocar since I too consider it no better than a rag.
It might have been an American site, and not borrowing from our mags either.

Sorry to be so vague. I can't see why not actually. The C is pretty rigid and could easily cope with more power. They might strengthen the bar above the boot for reinforcement, but it could cope with another thirty hp without any trouble, surely?

As I said in my first post you can feel some scuttle shake so while the 500c is hardly floppy it's just not as rigid as a tintop car. Now that was on a 1.2 500c which has a light engine and small wheels which is the best case scenario. When you stiffen up the suspension, add bigger wheels and a bigger engine this puts more stress on the shell, now the 500c I drove today was certainly fit for a car to potter around in for sure and perhaps have the occasional spirited drive where you chuck it into corners a little but it's just not what you'd expect from something branded as an Abarth.

Testdrive a 500c on some slightly bumpy roads straight after having driven the hatchback and you'll see what I mean about the scuttle shake, it's absolutely nothing to worry about for anyone who's ordered one because it's just a faint wobble which happens with all convertibles. I drove the 500c on roads I drive quite commonly in my car and the difference was marked.

Mark my words though it's the sort of thing which would really spoil the Abarth factor of the car.

But hey I've only driven the car and applied simple logic and known behaviour of softops to get an idea of what a 500c Abarth would be like......

For those who think I've just made scuttle shake up as part of my vindictive and merciless crusade against the Abarth 500c........
http://www.parkers.co.uk/glossary/?term=Scuttle+shake

 

[T14086]

You can feel the fact that it doesn't have a roof and isn't as rigid

never noticed that? thats the good thing about these type of open tops is that they dont have the 'banana' feel of most convertibles (saab was the worse one I have driven)

 

[306maxi]

never noticed that? thats the good thing about these type of open tops is that they dont have the 'banana' feel of most convertibles (saab was the worse one I have driven)

It wasn't mindblowingly bad by any standards but if you go for a back to back drive over some bumpy corners in a 500c then a hatchback you'll notice it just coming through the wheel. It's faint but it is there

 

[DraigFlag87]

It's fair to say that Fiat will be investing a fair old chunk into the Abarth roadster (Lotus platform) atm, not to mention setting up the Alfa/Fiat/Chrysler franchise in the USA, however, considering the 500C is already being mass produced on the same line as the Abarth 500 (amongst others) then why not? Those willing to buy a 500C, would you rather have a 500C or an Abarth 500C? (assuming the price is similar )

I did read it on 3 different sites though (not partner sites) and it was printed in more than one news paper that the A500C will exist.

 

[306maxi]

It's fair to say that Fiat will be investing a fair old chunk into the Abarth roadster (Lotus platform) atm, not to mention setting up the Alfa/Fiat/Chrysler franchise in the USA, however, considering the 500C is already being mass produced on the same line as the Abarth 500 (amongst others) then why not? Those willing to buy a 500C, would you rather have a 500C or an Abarth 500C? (assuming the price is similar )

I did read it on 3 different sites though (not partner sites) and it was printed in more than one news paper that the A500C will exist.

Those sites all steal stories off each other so as not to be caught out and be seen to be behind the other sites.

As I said the 500c shell probably wouldn't be rigid enough for an Abarth so they'd have to retool the production line so it's not simply a case of Mario saying to Luigi "Letsa go and a makea an Abartha 500a ca. Eh Luigi! Go and email Janusz in tychy and tell him to start putting Abarth engines and suspension in the 500c shells". This is one of the reasons why 500c's are being delayed, Fiat simply couldn't afford to shut down parts of the production line to retool for the 500c's as they had full order books for the Panda, 500, Abarth and Ka.

Sadly logic and reasoning is lost on most people here so I'll give up and let time prove me right that there will be no Abarth 500c or that if there is one it's not as good a car as the hatchback Abarth 500. It frustrates me greatly when I try and show a reasoned argument and someone comes along and attempts to combat it with stuff like "would you rather have a 500C or an Abarth 500C?" or "I can't see why not". I can't see why I don't have a bedroom full of horny supermodels but that doesn't mean if I go next door they'll be waiting.

Also AFAIK the Abarth coupe/roadster has been shelved for the forseeable future due to the current economic climate. If I had to guess at a new Abarth model I'd say a roadster is far more likely than a 500c.

 

[DraigFlag87]

Sadly logic and reasoning is lost on most people here so I'll give up and let time prove me right that there will be no Abarth 500c or that if there is one it's not as good a car as the hatchback Abarth 500. It frustrates me greatly when I try and show a reasoned argument and someone comes along and attempts to combat it with stuff like "would you rather have a 500C or an Abarth 500C?" or "I can't see why not". I can't see why I don't have a bedroom full of horny supermodels but that doesn't mean if I go next door they'll be waiting

No body said it would be better than the A500 hatchback, maybe i suggested it would be better than a normal 500C, but faster/better looking is not always "better" to some people (other wise you would have bought an Abarth 500 right?) But to jump to conclusions that it will be a "bad" car is a bit daft. What about the convertible beamers? Mini's? They are fast/tuned up convertibles and guess what, they sell in thier thousands. At least the 500C has the benefit of extra rigidity via the A,B AND C pillars still existing. Who really gives a toss whether it arrives or not? (chances are it will) But i'm happy with my Abarth, most other people are happy with their 500C

 

[Ulpian]

Re: Mini 500c road test

Strewth. The 500 is a lot more rigid than most full convertibles with a lot more power, and I'm sure a bit more weight to add rigidity, combined with a lot more power, would suit huge numbers of people. And it would be a cheap solution to fast open top mini-motoring.

Very soon there will be the 900cc twin, with around 105hp, and that should be nippy too, and very economical. Then there is the estate version, and maybe a 4x4. 500 motoring is about to become very complex: what fun for us all.

Frankfurt later this month will introduce something new; it's become a bit stale here recently due to the dirth of new Fiats.