500 Twinair plus with Dualogic

[Aussie500nut]

Hi all

We just took delivery of our new Twinair Plus with Dualogic gearbox.
Funk white with black roof, The following day had the windows tinted.
With the black wheels it looks really great IMHO.

Not exactly new to Fiats but it has been a long time between drinks.
Our first Fiats were a couple of 600's in the early 70's and I restored a 500 Bambino in '84 to drive to work. For many years I have said that I would love another 500 but the only way was to restore another one and I didn't have the time. Then when the new 500 was released, the prices here in Australia were almost nonsensical, so we didn't even look at them.

Now with the $14K drive away for the POP being advertised, we decided to have look see. Very impressed with the features ofthe car but the BIG thing is that Twinair engine. Sounds just like the original "twin" but goes like a scalded cat. No comparison performance wise but still has all the character and funfactor. So we very quickly"upsold" ourselves to the Twinair.

We were quite happy with the manual but since it was such a big change going to the Fiat from a Lancer, we decided to give the Dualogic a try as well. Had read some of the posts about the automatic gearbox here on the forum and was a bit concerned, but after a couple of test drives found it to be easy and fun to drive.

Now that we have one, I absolutely love the paddles and the performance is great. Only have about 600ks on the clock but it is averaging 5.5 litres per 100kms for our general running around. Not sure how accurate the fuel flow gauge is but it can't be too far out. Time will tell.

Still trying to work out the start/stop with hill holder

Anyway, great forum - very helpful

 

[44sunsets]

Great choice of car
I got a new 500C TwinAir Lounge (Dualogic) a month ago (in Crossover Black), it's a little ripper. Love the sound of the little engine, and the Dualogic is trouble-free. I read and researched extensively before I got the Dualogic and it worked out exactly the way the forum members here have described -- it's a great little transmission.

I've done only 200km so far and my fuel consumption is around 9.0L/100km, but most of my driving is around the suburbs for 15-20min trips. The fuel figures are slowly getting better as the engine wears in.

 

[UFI]

Now that we have one, I absolutely love the paddles and the performance is great. Only have about 600ks on the clock but it is averaging 5.5 litres per 100kms for our general running around. Not sure how accurate the fuel flow gauge is but it can't be too far out. Time will tell.

I suggest having a read of the engine break in advice on this forum, you seem to be driving too gently, which apparently can lead to oil consumption problems. My first tank returned 8/100, and at 3200km, not a drop of oil has been used. The last was 5.9, but that includes a 30+l/100km track day.

If you drive gently, you'll find the display pessimistic, if you drive hard, it will read optimistic, because the engine can use anywhere between 0.0 and 35ish l/100, but the computer uses the displayed IC figure in it's calculations.

 

[Aussie500nut]

Hi UFI

Thanks for your reply
Yes I did read the thread on "running in"
We are driving the car the same now as we will when it is"run in"
meaning that we just drive the same all the time.
We don't "flog" our cars, but don't strive for economy either - just drive them like WE own them
We have had quite a few "new" cars over the years and have always done this
Admittedly, the Twinair is a very different engine

My wife drives it in "auto" and just lifts her foot slightly to make it change
She is starting to use the paddles but is a bit apprehensive

On the other hand, I leave it in "auto" and let itchange 1st to 2nd itself
but then use the paddles for most of the next changes depending on terrain etc
And when I feel lazy, I just let the "auto" do its bit - that's the great part about the Dualogic gearbox
It usually changes automatically 1st to 2nd at about 3-3500rpm
and I usually change the next gears at about the same revs -occasionally it will hit 4000rpm
It will try and stay in 5th at 80kph at just over 1500rpm, but I usually paddle it back to 4th gear

When it is has a few more kms under its belt, say 3000km, I will let it stay in 5th
Again, the good part with the "auto" is, if it isn't good for the car, it won't do it

I reset the "average" fuel useage for each trip and it usually shows 6l/100km when my wife drives it in "auto"
and the best it has shown was 5.5l/100 when I drive it.
But I stress that I'm not driving for economy. Just my usual driving

Possibly the reason for the good economy is that we live on the coast surrounded by sugarcane
So when we leave home we drive for about 1 kilometer then speed limit lifts to 80kph
Then after another 3 or 4 kilometers, limit increses to100kph and there is never any real traffic to speak of.
Maybe once in 5 trips might come uo to a slower car and have to overtake.
It is about 15km to the nearest shopping centre or the motorway.
So we rarely get caught in traffic and it is all pretty goodmotoring.

 

[RobinPJ]

Aussie500nut - is your post a poem? Looks like it is - can't get it to scan properly though.....

 

[Aussie500nut]

Aussie500nut - is your post a poem? Looks like it is - can't get it to scan properly though.....

Wasn't intended - not that artistic
Can't help with the scan - although can't imagine why you would want to