General stop/start

[Bogwoppit]

It has and will remain firmly Off on the Cross. I had a nasty experience with SS on my wife's smart fortwo. Worked fine 99% of the time but sporadicaly it would fail to restart at the most inconvenient of moments. The main dealer (a Mercedes uber glass and steel tour de force) could of course find nothing wrong but then I had already determined that they couldn't service a field full of cows.

The smart system also worked off the foot brake, as soon as you took your plates of meat off it restarted - mostly. Of course this involved blinding the chap/chapess behind with your brake light, typical Mercedes I guess.

It was our second smart car and a mostly unpleasant experience compared to the first. It made a TwinAir look parsimonious and the servicing costs would have raised the eyebrow of a Maybach owner, never again.

 

[dexydog]

It has and will remain firmly Off on the Cross. I had a nasty experience with SS on my wife's smart fortwo. Worked fine 99% of the time but sporadicaly it would fail to restart at the most inconvenient of moments. The main dealer (a Mercedes uber glass and steel tour de force) could of course find nothing wrong but then I had already determined that they couldn't service a field full of cows.

The smart system also worked off the foot brake, as soon as you took your plates of meat off it restarted - mostly. Of course this involved blinding the chap/chapess behind with your brake light, typical Mercedes I guess.

It was our second smart car and a mostly unpleasant experience compared to the first. It made a TwinAir look parsimonious and the servicing costs would have raised the eyebrow of a Maybach owner, never again.

Have you seen the new one (based on the very pretty new twingo)- now that is one uuuugly car. quite how they managed to morph to that from Renaults version is beyond me.

 

[4x4Panda]

I think sporadic and affecting some not all cars is enough to make it a safety issue. Remember the recent Toyota (accelerator could jam) and Mini (fuel hatch not earthed correctly) recalls. The number of actual cars affected was a tiny percentage.

Is it a safety issue? I do think so, as the driver should reasonably expect to be able to move off without problems and staying stationary in traffic that is moving off is definitely a hazard to other roads users. I think it would be enough to fail ones driving test, that's for sure!

Perhaps FIAT could install an audible warning system to alert the driver for when the system fails and perhaps flash a message up on the rear window to warn other road users

All just 'IMHOs' views expressed above - don't take them too seriously

All the best

 

[Bogwoppit]

The new fortwo hit every branch of the ugly tree and appears to have been designed by two committees who rarely met and argued who should be in charge of the crayon when they did.

Had a long think about the Twingo but they seemed to have made little of the opportunities offered by a rear engine rwd layout and instead concentrated on not offending those used to a more conventional fwd solution. Missed the ball in my humble opinion.

 

[dexydog]

The new fortwo hit every branch of the ugly tree and appears to have been designed by two committees who rarely met and argued who should be in charge of the crayon when they did.

Had a long think about the Twingo but they seemed to have made little of the opportunities offered by a rear engine rwd layout and instead concentrated on not offending those used to a more conventional fwd solution. Missed the ball in my humble opinion.

Rs coming soon......

 

[Bogwoppit]

Rs coming soon......

Now that will be interesting, lot of respect for the Dieppe based guys. First thing I hope they do away with is that horrible variable ratio rack you get on the turbo Twingo.

Still, very happy indeed with the cross and revelling (after a succession of flappy paddles) an absolutely cracking gearchange, either I have a particularly good example or the 6 speed box for the TA Cross is something special, not since a Type R/105 series Spider have I had that much tactile pleasure simply for changing gear - somewhat off topic

Stop/start is crap.

There you go, back on again.

 

[dexydog]

Now that will be interesting, lot of respect for the Dieppe based guys. First thing I hope they do away with is that horrible variable ratio rack you get on the turbo Twingo.

Still, very happy indeed with the cross and revelling (after a succession of flappy paddles) an absolutely cracking gearchange, either I have a particularly good example or the 6 speed box for the TA Cross is something special, not since a Type R/105 series Spider have I had that much tactile pleasure simply for changing gear - somewhat off topic

Stop/start is crap.

There you go, back on again.

Does the light on the switch stay illuminated on each start up once de-activated?
Physical reminder in acknowledgement of its' inability to spoil your day would indeed be nice.
*edit- just read back and richard1066 says it's illuminated all the time but isn't sure if it's de-activated or not.
Boingball confirmed light on=de-activated and remembers setting.

 

[MJG]

I think sporadic and affecting some not all cars is enough to make it a safety issue. Remember the recent Toyota (accelerator could jam) and Mini (fuel hatch not earthed correctly) recalls. The number of actual cars affected was a tiny percentage.

Is it a safety issue? I do think so, as the driver should reasonably expect to be able to move off without problems and staying stationary in traffic that is moving off is definitely a hazard to other roads users. I think it would be enough to fail ones driving test, that's for sure!

Perhaps FIAT could install an audible warning system to alert the driver for when the system fails and perhaps flash a message up on the rear window to warn other road users

All just 'IMHOs' views expressed above - don't take them too seriously

All the best

But I would think the number of cars affected must be even less, or FIAT are not aware of even a significant enough number of vehicles affected.

Our L was recalled for a 'safety' recall to re route a drain which could deposit water onto the alternator. We had never been aware of any issue but presumably FIAT became aware of it through multiple reports of an issue via. the dealer network.

Presumably there must be a threshold to reach before it alerts them to a possible inherent problem and the number of cars affected just hasn't triggered that yet. Maybe if more are affected it may do.

Manufacturers are pretty 'risk averse' these days because of the 'no win no fee' culture we now live in so I do doubt that FIAT would deliberately ignore something they believed could present a significant risk of injuring or even killing someone.

 

[MJG]

Does the light on the switch stay illuminated on each start up once de-activated?
Physical reminder in acknowledgement of its' inability to spoil your day would indeed be nice.
*edit- just read back and richard1066 says it's illuminated all the time but isn't sure if it's de-activated or not.
Boingball confirmed light on=de-activated and remembers setting.

On our 500 the light stayed on. At the next re start the light was still on and the system remained de activated.

I presume the Panda is the same.

 

[dexydog]

On our 500 the light stayed on. At the next re start the light was still on and the system remained de activated.

I presume the Panda is the same.

lubbly jubbly.

 

[Bogwoppit]

Yep, same on the Cross. Light on S/S is off and it remains in that state until you push the button again - no need to reset every time you turn the key.

You could argue that it makes sense to have the light on when it's activated but Fiat are Italian after all

 

[dexydog]

Yep, same on the Cross. Light on S/S is off and it remains in that state until you push the button again - no need to reset every time you turn the key.

You could argue that it makes sense to have the light on when it's activated but Fiat are Italian after all

Nah, in this case- "look at me, I'm switched OFF".

 

[Bundes]

Nah, in this case- "look at me, I'm switched OFF".

when it comes the finance deals, PPS, options, basically everything, you are 100% switched off, child like even, open up for the choo choo train.
Bogwoppit, I will PM u later with the story.

Block me, how ungrateful.

 

[dexydog]

when it comes the finance deals, PPS, options, basically everything, you are 100% switched off, child like even, open up for the choo choo train.
Bogwoppit, I will PM u later with the story.

Block me, how ungrateful.

Why not post on here so everyone can see??
I thanked you for your help but I can do without being spoken to like a child.
Have a good day.

 

[pilgrim42]

Yep, same on the Cross. Light on S/S is off and it remains in that state until you push the button again - no need to reset every time you turn the key.

You could argue that it makes sense to have the light on when it's activated but Fiat are Italian after all

I wish. My TA Lounge still needs S/S deactivating at every key turn. I was hoping the software would be modified at the last service, but no.
Mike.

 

[dexydog]

I wish. My TA Lounge still needs S/S deactivating at every key turn. I was hoping the software would be modified at the last service, but no.
Mike.

Think it's a relatively new addition and can't be changed on earlier models.
I had a late 2012 mito and that had to be turned off each time, drove me crazy as I always forgot.
Worked very rarely and just when I didn't want it to.
Probably battery related but exercised my right to return the car as the dealer was miles away. Lovely car, mind.

 

[Bundes]

Why not post on here so everyone can see??
I thanked you for your help but I can do without being spoken to like a child.
Have a good day.

why not on here? Coz I dont trust you!
BECAUSE UR DEALER NEVER GAVE YOU A GOOD DEAL ON THE PRIVILEGE PURCHASE SCHEME YOU THEN MENTION ALL THE INFO ON HERE TO UR DEALER! U ONLY NEED TO SHOW THE DEALER THE PPS GUIDE & PRICE LIST AND SHOW HIM U QUALIFY.
NOT CRY LIKE A BABY...BUT THESE GUYS GOT THIS INTEREST RATE etc.BLAH BLAB!
I gave you the figures for a top deal. All u need is DEPOSIT, MONTHS & MILES. The dealer saw it was a £4 interest deal and then said no to you. I said to you to go to a different dealer but also to slow down, learn & use ur brain.
IF the PPS deals change in the near future, are u to blame? Maybe.
Maybe its me for helping you out.

Away and pay over 500 bucks interest. And take no options coz ur tight.
U were hard work from the start.

Anyone who wants my help, pm me, I'm happy to help.

.

 

[dexydog]

why not on here? Coz I dont trust you!
BECAUSE UR DEALER NEVER GAVE YOU A GOOD DEAL ON THE PRIVILEGE PURCHASE SCHEME YOU THEN MENTION ALL THE INFO ON HERE TO UR DEALER! U ONLY NEED TO SHOW THE DEALER THE PPS GUIDE & PRICE LIST AND SHOW HIM U QUALIFY.
NOT CRY LIKE A BABY...BUT THESE GUYS GOT THIS INTEREST RATE etc.BLAH BLAB!
I gave you the figures for a top deal. All u need is DEPOSIT, MONTHS & MILES. The dealer saw it was a £4 interest deal and then said no to you. I said to you to go to a different dealer but also to slow down, learn & use ur brain.
IF the PPS deals change in the near future, are u to blame? Maybe.
Maybe its me for helping you out.

Away and pay over 500 bucks interest. And take no options coz ur tight.
U were hard work from the start.

Anyone who wants my help, pm me, I'm happy to help.

.

Exactly my point.
Like I said, have a good day.