500 Test driving a 500 on saturday

[MrTc]

Hi Guys, im not a Fiat 500 owner yet!
but test driving one saturday! so MIGHT be real soon!
i have an astra at the mo, but had a scare with a potential autobox fault!
thankfully it wasnt, but discovering the fault now has worried me enough to think i should get rid incase!
always loved the 500s , so discussed a part ex, offerd a good deal
its a 14 reg, 10250 miles pop
but i do have a question for you who already own one, my last few cars have all had air con! this doesnt! will it be missed? i only use the car weekends or when im off work, the windows wind down lol
whats the cold blower like?
when I didnt have air con i didnt know any better obv lol
and have any of you swapped the wheels for alloys? i may do that in the future.
thanks in advance for replys!
from a Possible soon to be 500 owner!

 

[jrkitching]

Hello and welcome :wave:.

A/C is a nice to have, as much for its ability to demist the car quickly on damp days as for its ability to cool the car on hot ones. But it's not essential; twenty years ago, A/C couldn't even be specified as an option on most small hatchbacks. Only you can decide how important it is to you.

Alloy wheels are purely cosmetic, so it's personal choice; just be aware they'll cost you more in fuel, tyres and possibly insurance.

As for the rest, I'd suggest you spend a couple of hours browsing the forum; most of what you need to know is here. Be aware that 500 prices reflect the car's cutesy looks, not its build quality, reliability or dealer support. You can get essentially the same car for less money by buying a Panda - if you shop around, you can get a brand new 1.2 Panda for £6995. You'll likely pay at least £2k more for the equivalent 500.

Be aware that dealers set forecourt prices to give them headroom to make the trade in look attractive. Main dealer retail book for a '14 plate 1.2 500 pop is about £6600.

You don't mention if you're looking at another automatic; if so, pay close attention to what's currently being said about the dualogic; some folks have had expensive failures just after the car comes out of warranty.

IMO the 500 is a car better bought new than used, especially in pop trim.

 

[zanes]

Be very, very careful and thorough with the test drive.

A 14 plate POP (which I presume is a 1.2) would be "bang on" for being saddled with the "EU6 issue" that affects 1.2s (and is discussed at length on this forum).

I wouldn't be surprised to find that this car has been rejected/traded in because of this issue.

If you want a basic and reliable car, you could do far better than the 500.

 

[jrkitching]

Be very, very careful and thorough with the test drive.

A 14 plate POP (which I presume is a 1.2) would be "bang on" for being saddled with the "EU6 issue" that affects 1.2s (and is discussed at length on this forum).

I wouldn't be surprised to find that this car has been rejected/traded in because of this issue.

If you want a basic and reliable car, you could do far better than the 500.

:yeahthat:

You can rean all about the EU6 issue here.

 

[MrTc]

Thanks guys, i really dont know what to do know tbh, I guess i have to see how the car performs tomorrow, if anything dont feel right then it has to be a no.
it would be a manual version, as ive been put off by autos, and having to go to autobox specialists
and now time for one of those stupid question which shows im new to fiat lol
is a pop different to a colour therapy? are they different models or is that just purely the different colour styles on the therapy??
my astra has given me lots of greif the last few weeks, i really dont want to trade and end up entering more greif on a newer car!
ive been reading the post that was linked about the euro 6 thanks for that.
will obvioulsy let you know how i get on tomorrow!

 

[MrTc]

Just looked at the specs on the website it says a Euro 5 engine???

 

[Super Uwe]

Thanks guys, i really dont know what to do know tbh, I guess i have to see how the car performs tomorrow, if anything dont feel right then it has to be a no.
it would be a manual version, as ive been put off by autos, and having to go to autobox specialists
and now time for one of those stupid question which shows im new to fiat lol
is a pop different to a colour therapy? are they different models or is that just purely the different colour styles on the therapy??
my astra has given me lots of greif the last few weeks, i really dont want to trade and end up entering more greif on a newer car!
ive been reading the post that was linked about the euro 6 thanks for that.
will obvioulsy let you know how i get on tomorrow!

All the best with it tomorrow!

I personally haven't driven one of these 1.2s with the throttle issue that has featured on Watchdog, but basically you will soon know if there is a problem as (a) it won't pull away without you needing to give it a good 3000rpm or more, and (b) you'll really struggle on hills too. That is the gist of it all.

I would try not to worry about it too much, but if you find there are issues then try and keep a note of them and come back here - loads of people on here to help you out.

As for the Pop and Colour Therapy specs - they are basically the same, except Colour Therapy has air con as standard along with one of five (I think) pastel colours, matching gear knob and slightly jazzier steel wheel trims. My wife has one in Volare Blue which is the best colour in the range (in my opinion of course!).

 

[MrTc]

thanks super uwe, must admit im finding things abit confusing , i really need to speak to the dealer tomorrow,
things like its a 14 reg, so i read its a euro 6 spec engine? on the website it says euro 5
i thought as you say the colour therapy had air con ( I havnt asked, but i didnt think i noticed it on the car yesterday)
i didnt think it was stop/start, but again the advert says it is
this is also Volare blue which i love! (I have a mk2 cortina light blue which is very similar)
it has the matching gear knob too, the cream steering wheel, and front seat tops, and yeah the wheels have the white hupcap trims, much smarter than the plain silvers ive seen.
I guess ill know how it feels when i drive it, been driving along time , and drive vans, trucks etc everyday too, so i should know what feels right or wrong.
I guess its the same with every car, i read the good, then i read the bad lol
and i think im unlucky so ill get the bad ha ha
i need to get it right as the astra is very sentimental as it was my dads, but with the potential autobox fault and a close escape with issues and warrenty, i feel its time i need to move on.
shall i post a link of the car on the dealers website? then you can see?
what reg is your wifes? and shes happy with it? no issues? and i see yove had a few fiats in your time too, so they cant all be bad right? lol
appreciate your reply tho m8 , thanks

 

[JTD_Liam]

If the gearknob is just plain black (and it has wheeltrims and no A/C) then it's a Pop. If the gearknob is partially blue (matching the exterior paint) then chances are it'll be a Colour Therapy. However, as SuperUwe said, Colour Therapy also get A/C, so look out for that too. It's not hugely noticeable because there's no A/C 'button' as such - the A/C switch is signified by a tiny snowflake on the fan control, and you just push the fan dial in to switch on the A/C (an orange light then appears on the fan control). All 500s from about 2010 got Start/Stop, so on a 14 plate it will have it. You can switch it off though - the button is opposite the heated rear window switch beneath the heater controls.

Personally I wouldn't want a Pop - you can get far more car for your money by going with something different (including a Fiat Panda). The Pop is just too basic for the price they command. I had one as a courtesy car recently - no aircon, no alloys, no Bluetooth, no leather steering wheel or radio controls on the wheel (all which the Lounge & S models get). My Parents (until yesterday) had a 500 Lounge and the Pop felt like a chore in comparison, not helped by the fact it appeared to have one of the dodgy batch of 1.2 engines. Didn't do it for me at all I'm afraid. The Colour Therapy is the absolute minimum spec 500 I'd get because it'd have aircon, and ideally I'd get a Lounge or S as I do use the Bluetooth and prefer the leather steering wheel to the strange feeling plastic one on Pop & Colour Therapy models.

The starting point for a 500 is quite high. If you look around a bit more, you can end up with a much higher spec 500 than the Pop, without spending very much more. I'd also be very wary of a 14 plate 1.2 - I've driven a few 500 1.2's and the difference between one with the engine software problem and one without is night & day. As you go to pull away from standstill, look out for the revs jumping or surging, along with the need to 'floor it' to get up an incline. If you experience this, I'd be inclined to walk away. The dealer may say 'we'll sort that' but the problems are well documented and the software updates are available now, so the dealer should've applied such update to any effected car in their stock as far as i'm concerned. The Euro 5/Euro 6 thing is a confused subject and I don't think we know for sure if that's the cause of the throttle response problem, so I'd just look out for the above symptoms rather than thinking about whether it's Euro 5/Euro 6 - chances are you won't get the right answer from a dealer anyway!

 

[Officina red]

I have a 500 that had the throttle problem, you will know just pulling away if it's ok or not,
But regardless i could not buy any car now without aircon,
I know that we didn't used to have it, but we didn't used to have television or antibiotics either and i wouldn't want to go back to not having them.

 

[MrTc]

Thanks Liam!
the gear knob is defo blue and saying that I did see a snowflake type thing on the heater control! i admit i was looking for an AC button!
so i do have a few questions tomorrow , air con, euro 5/6 ,
ill see how it pulls away for sure, if theres any hessitation ill say no!
as it stands im trading my car, and parting with 2.5k if i take the 500
there is another in the showroom a pre reg 15 in mint green, that would cost another 2.5k ish has all the extra's, i guess i could also ask about that
but owning a brand new car does bother me, as all the marks on the astra have come from supermarkets or my own carpark at home! also the price decrease the minute i drive away
and the fact i only use a car on weekends, sometimes just a saturday, so its double the layout and would be a massive chunk out of saving, i know its just sitting in the bank lol
anyway least im going there with a bit more knowledge, and questions
really appreciate all the replys and advice so far! thank you!

 

[MrTc]

I have a 500 that had the throttle problem, you will know just pulling away if it's ok or not,
But regardless i could not buy any car now without aircon,
I know that we didn't used to have it, but we didn't used to have television or antibiotics either and i wouldn't want to go back to not having them.

Ha ha So true!
we didnt used to have cars, and I aint gonna ride a horse LOL
well as it sounds a colour therapy should have it tho! my 1st check!
what reg was yours a 14 i guess? and you HAD the problem? so is it now sorted or have you moved on carwise?

 

[Officina red]

Ha ha So true!
we didnt used to have cars, and I aint gonna ride a horse LOL
well as it sounds a colour therapy should have it tho! my 1st check!
what reg was yours a 14 i guess? and you HAD the problem? so is it now sorted or have you moved on carwise?

Yes mine is a 14 plate bought May 2014 , i had the update done last friday , it shocked me how much of a difference it made, it drives great now.

 

[MrTc]

Yes mine is a 14 plate bought May 2014 , i had the update done last friday , it shocked me how much of a difference it made, it drives great now.

Glad its sorted for you m8, must of been a nightmare the past year!!

 

[chelseaanastasia]

Hello!


Just thought id comment on this post as I am currently going through buying a new fiat 500 popstar 1.2.


I already have the 1.2 'pop' version which does have air con but my car has a problem setting off. I have taken it back to the dealer 4 times where they supposedly did the new update and although yes it can get up hills and does not feel as powerless as it did before my setting off problem is still there. It restrains itself every single time I pull off (like the brakes on slightly) unless its quite swiftly and with plenty of revs which for everyday town driving is not great and stresses me everyday!


Anway, I was told by Fiat HQ that my dealership had signed my car off that they had done the update and so any problems (like the setting off) I have now I have to deal with the dealership or basically change my car. I love the fiat 500 as its quirky and cheap to insure so I will hopefully be sticking with it. I have an appointment tomorrow where I am test driving the new popstar model which has only recently come out. I note that this 1.2 uses the newest model engine which is 'euro 7' the latest engine addition since the whole euro 6 problem which fiat have now held their hands up for.


Fingers crossed its smooth and I can have a stress free driving life in the future! (due to the car and not other drivers ha)


Chelsea.

 

[ahmett]

Hello!


Just thought id comment on this post as I am currently going through buying a new fiat 500 popstar 1.2.


I already have the 1.2 'pop' version which does have air con but my car has a problem setting off. I have taken it back to the dealer 4 times where they supposedly did the new update and although yes it can get up hills and does not feel as powerless as it did before my setting off problem is still there. It restrains itself every single time I pull off (like the brakes on slightly) unless its quite swiftly and with plenty of revs which for everyday town driving is not great and stresses me everyday!


Anway, I was told by Fiat HQ that my dealership had signed my car off that they had done the update and so any problems (like the setting off) I have now I have to deal with the dealership or basically change my car. I love the fiat 500 as its quirky and cheap to insure so I will hopefully be sticking with it. I have an appointment tomorrow where I am test driving the new popstar model which has only recently come out. I note that this 1.2 uses the newest model engine which is 'euro 7' the latest engine addition since the whole euro 6 problem which fiat have now held their hands up for.


Fingers crossed its smooth and I can have a stress free driving life in the future! (due to the car and not other drivers ha)


Chelsea.

Hi Chelsea Euro 7 doesnt exist so before buying the car make sure you test it and are happy with it.