New Boy with new 500 questions

[nickm535i]

Hi to All, it's Nick here

I''m looking for comments from those in the know! I'm saying goodbye this week to my trusty Panda 1.2 Dynamic and hello to a 500 1.2 Pop Dual Logic, something my wife can drive!!! The car was registered by Fiat in 09/09 and I'm buying it with 35 miles on the clock. What can I expect from the car in terms of unreliability: the Panda has been great apart from a couple of temporary power steering failures which reset after turning the ignition off and back on. I test drove a 500 Dual logic last year and was surprised by the engine and road noise compared with the Panda, but I guess I can live with that at the price I'm paying.
Also, I have used Northgate, Canterbury for my servicing, does anyone know how they are on Warranty work?
Much obliged

 

[auto_blanco]

Cant comment on the Dualogic bit, but our 2008 500 1.2 has done 29k miles now and it still drives and feels like new. The front tyres are only half worn and the rears untouched. Front pads have easily more than half left on them too.

Problems, well we had a breather hose split causing a fuel smell (fixed the same day under warranty) and the front washer jets are very poor and break every winter.

We have found it starts much more easily 1st thing in the morning if we wait for the warning lights to do their thing for a few seconds before turning the key, otherwise it occasionally stutters and takes a couple of tries particularly in the winter, annoying but no fault found.

It still has no rattles or squeaks, still returns about 53mpg average and performs very well indeed for a 1.2!

Annoyances, well I find it reasonably noisy in terms of road roar and I wouldnt want to drive 500 miles a day in it but thats literally it.

I would get a new battery fitted as part of the deal and make sure the tyres and brakes are in good condition from standing for that amount of time though.

Its been such a good buy though, £30 tax, Ins grp 2, loads of MPG and its a safe, great looking and fun to drive small car. Course we bought ours when they were cheaper which also helped!

 

[nickm535i]

Thanks Auto Blanco. The dealer is doing another pre-delivery inspection as I expressed my concern re. fluids etc. I've seen cars sitting in compounds for 2 years + back in the 70s and always wondered what happened when some poor unsuspecting punter bought one! Actually, that reminds me, does anyone know how to read a Fiat Vin No. for manufacture date?