Styling My New Oz 500s

[PsFiat]

Here are some pics of my new 500s.
It's a week old and I'm delighted with its performance and handling.
In Australia the S is only available with a 1.4 petrol engine, either with a DL or 6sp manual. I chose the latter.
It's a cheaper car here than in the UK and I optioned it up with sunroof, leather, 16" wheels and Xenon lights.
Driving lights and bumpers are standard. Gets better and better with every kilometre.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

Here are some pics of my new 500s.
It's a week old and I'm delighted with its performance and handling.
In Australia the S is only available with a 1.4 petrol engine, either with a DL or 6sp manual. I chose the latter.
It's a cheaper car here than in the UK and I optioned it up with sunroof, leather, 16" wheels and Xenon lights.
Driving lights and bumpers are standard. Gets better and better with every kilometre.]

Very nice! I liked the Sport models but in the end the grey and dark interiors put me off and the bright interior of my Lounge was what clinched the deal. To each his own I suppose, and I drive fast enough to get into trouble now. At least on a white car those plastic inserts around the number plate don't show up so much.

I wonder if it's possible to transpose the 'Sport' and 'Foglight' buttons (or, in my case, the 'ECO' and 'Foglight' buttons)?

 

[PsFiat]

Pity with the S there is no ivory option, but with the sunroof open it does brighten up the interior - I can paint the dash white, but I'm ok with the satin grey finish.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

Pity with the S there is no ivory option, but with the sunroof open it does brighten up the interior - I can paint the dash white, but I'm ok with the satin grey finish.

True enough, and you don't have the problem of keeping the ivory wheel clean...

How do you find sunlight reflections in the speedo binnacle? I imagine it would be somewhat muted in the Sport's darker interior.

 

[Mila]

I'm in Vic , Melbourne too! East side.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

I'm in Vic , Melbourne too! East side.

I'm out East too, bought mine in Doncaster.

 

[rkt2003]

Looks great ,i used to have the electric sunroof on my 500 loved it i have it on my Punto now,enjoy your new car .

 

[PsFiat]

I'm in Vic , Melbourne too! East side.

Yes I'm in Caulfield...

 

[PsFiat]

True enough, and you don't have the problem of keeping the ivory wheel clean...

How do you find sunlight reflections in the speedo binnacle? I imagine it would be somewhat muted in the Sport's darker interior.

Reflections not too bad at all...don't look at it that much... Maybe I should !?

 

[Mila]

I'm out East too, bought mine in Doncaster.

Not too far, I'm in bayswater and bought mine from nunawading dealer

 

[PsFiat]

Mine's from Brighton...happy with the buying experience?

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

Not too far, I'm in bayswater and bought mine from nunawading dealer

I work in Baysie! I too went to the Nuna dealer originally (it's just down the road) and that's where I decided I'd like a 500, but the people there were hopeless and the saleswoman knew even less than I did about Fiats (except for the price of course). They had one (!) car in stock and that was it. I suspect things have improved recently as I see they've revamped the premises. Doncaster were far more professional at that time.

 

[PsFiat]

I had a Jeep guy deliver the car as the my Fiat salesman wasn't there
It was very quick as he knew nothing about the car! No follow-up calls either.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

I had a Jeep guy deliver the car as the my Fiat salesman wasn't there
It was very quick as he knew nothing about the car! No follow-up calls either.

I never received any follow up calls from the sales people either. On the other hand I've been back with issues so often I'm on first name terms with all the service guys!

 

[Adzee]

I hate the reflection of the steering arm on the speedo in days of high sun level. I have to hold my fingers out toward it to be able to see the fuel and temp gauges . Pita!

I'm in Croydon. Anyone want to drive the black spur some time?

 

[Pompei]

I would love to, but alas I am 800kms away!! I did the spur once "back in the day" on my R1. Great fun. I reckon the 500 would love it.

 

[UFI]

I hate the reflection of the steering arm on the speedo in days of high sun level. I have to hold my fingers out toward it to be able to see the fuel and temp gauges . Pita!

Are you familiar with that latex grip cloth? Get some in black from the hardware store and cut a piece to sit on top of the column. It's naturally tacky so it should stay in place all on it's own. To be fair many cars have this issue.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

I hate the reflection of the steering arm on the speedo in days of high sun level. I have to hold my fingers out toward it to be able to see the fuel and temp gauges . Pita!

I'm in Croydon. Anyone want to drive the black spur some time?

Love to, but the traffic on the Spur last time I was out that way took all the fun out of it. I used to do it often in the 70's but you just can't get a clear run any more.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

Are you familiar with that latex grip cloth? Get some in black from the hardware store and cut a piece to sit on top of the column. It's naturally tacky so it should stay in place all on it's own. To be fair many cars have this issue.

You're quite right; many cars do have sinilar issues - at one time I was driving a Pulsar van that had a light-tan coloured dash-top, just what were they thinking? That threw up glare on the entire bloody windscreen!

I've actually tried that non-slip material. I have to report that any advantage was marginal as the stuff tended to be somewhat reflective itself. I've almost given up trying to read anything in the centre display on bright days and even the speedo/tach isn't that great. The speedo issue was solved however when I fitted a dashcam that displays a digital speed readout - it's nearer eye-level, very accurate and I rely on it more than on the car's instrument. My speedo is up to 5km/h on the pessimistic side anyway, so I can actually drive a little faster too.

 

[306maxi]

You're quite right; many cars do have sinilar issues - at one time I was driving a Pulsar van that had a light-tan coloured dash-top, just what were they thinking? That threw up glare on the entire bloody windscreen!

I've actually tried that non-slip material. I have to report that any advantage was marginal as the stuff tended to be somewhat reflective itself. I've almost given up trying to read anything in the centre display on bright days and even the speedo/tach isn't that great. The speedo issue was solved however when I fitted a dashcam that displays a digital speed readout - it's nearer eye-level, very accurate and I rely on it more than on the car's instrument. My speedo is up to 5km/h on the pessimistic side anyway, so I can actually drive a little faster too.

Buy some polarised sunglasses, problem solved.