Fiat 500 Facelift?
Discussion
My girlfriend is looking at swapping her slowly-falling-to-pieces Ford Ka for a brand new Fiat 500, but before she goes ahead and orders one, I thought I best see if anyone knows about any potential facelift that's coming soon to the 500? The reason I ask is that it's been out since 2007 with minimal changes to the lineup and with the imminent launch of the 500L it can't be far away!
Does anyone have any info of whether my suspicions may be correct? I can't find much about it on the Internet, but if they are to do it my money would be on a Paris Motor Show unveiling.
Also, is the TwinAir worth the extra outlay over the 1.2 petrol? I suspect it is!
Does anyone have any info of whether my suspicions may be correct? I can't find much about it on the Internet, but if they are to do it my money would be on a Paris Motor Show unveiling.
Also, is the TwinAir worth the extra outlay over the 1.2 petrol? I suspect it is!
Had a twinair for the past 2 months, having come from the diesel 500, (owned from new for 4 years). I live in central London, so the congestion free advantage is a big reason for the purchase. Used purely for city driving, averaging 9mph getting around 27mpg. All start stop driving in heavy traffic. Start stop slow to activate with clutch from the lights, doesn't work with aircon and needs a short run without traffic before start stop activates the next time you stop. First gear starts not smooth, car tends to shake a bit until it gets over 2-3mph. Whole car tends to shake when aircon on and its idling, which is weird! Easy to stall, but that could be more to do with a new clutch, might get better when run in. Engine sounds and feels quite rough/gruff, but as the revs rise, its quite fun. A few other niggles like rattling sun roof, (will be sorted by the warranty)....but its a great little city car, very small for squeezing through gaps and parking. Pretty nippy, feels a bit quicker than the diesel, very torquey with a great gearbox, but the ride is very bouncy and steering pretty vague.
On the whole, I like the car. Has a feel good factor, very practical with the fold down rear seats, (have the lounge version), great blue tooth hands free. For the 12K it cost, can't really complain, but I don't think I would buy another one. I think they will have to improve mpg and refinement.
On the whole, I like the car. Has a feel good factor, very practical with the fold down rear seats, (have the lounge version), great blue tooth hands free. For the 12K it cost, can't really complain, but I don't think I would buy another one. I think they will have to improve mpg and refinement.
I wouldn't bet either way on this.
Fiat model development is generally on hold for anything Euro-oriented, but the 500 is sold in the US. On the other hand, the 500 Abarth has only just been launched there, and the 500 itself was only launched in the US in 2010. To my mind that reduces the chances of an update.
Fiat model development is generally on hold for anything Euro-oriented, but the 500 is sold in the US. On the other hand, the 500 Abarth has only just been launched there, and the 500 itself was only launched in the US in 2010. To my mind that reduces the chances of an update.
Don't know about a face lift but they do keep playing around with the special models/trim levels - I got a Twinair Plus back in late June and they now have "replaced" the Twinair and Twinair Plus with I think Street and new Colour versions, the twinair now basically being an engine choice on the rest of the range... whatever, the twinair engine is great fun but as others keep saying 68mpg is a myth - I've only done 248miles and already had one and a half's tanks worth!! I bought it as a city car but my wife currently is using it "down in the country" - personally I hate the start/stop and Eco stuff so turn them off hence probably why the MPG is not so clever!
I bought on impulse but so far am very happy, handling is OK and the noise of the twinair is intoxicating in a funny sort of a way!
I bought on impulse but so far am very happy, handling is OK and the noise of the twinair is intoxicating in a funny sort of a way!
stephen300o said:
Off the top of my head I can't think of a face lifted model of any car that looks better than launch design. Usually you would get them for the increased reliability, but the 500 is already very good that way.
Whilst not Fiat or Italian, I can think of a few facelifts that improved such as:Porsche 986 (okay, not really about looks but glass window, etc)
Porsche 987 (front lights and bumper were a massive improvement)
BMW E46 (LED rear lights - looked more modern than Gen I E90 that followed)
BMW E90 (got rid of the awful chrome on the top of the grille and altered the lights / bonnet)
There are a good few facelifts that make things worse (I think the "New" MINI's 2004 looked newer but less pure), but I think the Germans have got quite good at launching cars in a manner where one can almost see the mid-cycle re-fresh!
Fiat 500L. Its basically a Fiat 500 version of the Mini Clubman. Looks a bit like a longer panda but vaguely made to look like a Fiat 500.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9dPVxMihzs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9dPVxMihzs
Well, at least the press shots video above shows the actual vehicle.
This: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNVde5HPhYo
is what Fiat are using to sell the thing.
Never has the fact that car manufacturers don't actually sell cars anymore been more obvious.
"Co-creation of value", my arse.
This: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNVde5HPhYo
is what Fiat are using to sell the thing.
Never has the fact that car manufacturers don't actually sell cars anymore been more obvious.
"Co-creation of value", my arse.
jacklewisno1 said:
Fiat 500L. Its basically a Fiat 500 version of the Mini Clubman. Looks a bit like a longer panda but vaguely made to look like a Fiat 500.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9dPVxMihzs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9dPVxMihzs
I have just bought a twinair street, I test drove both the 1.2 and twinair back to back and thought the twinair was much more fun to drive and felt a lot quicker. Fiat are doing some good finance deals at the moment and the rate on the twinair is lower. Was difficult to find one in dealer stock though as I didn't want to wait 8 weeks for one.
Mpg is 40 ish so far but as the engine is tight and the weather is cold I'm sure it will get better. Anyway, It is saving me a fortune over my old mk6 golf gti and is as good fun to drive.
Mpg is 40 ish so far but as the engine is tight and the weather is cold I'm sure it will get better. Anyway, It is saving me a fortune over my old mk6 golf gti and is as good fun to drive.
Bmw325i said:
I have just bought a twinair street, I test drove both the 1.2 and twinair back to back and thought the twinair was much more fun to drive and felt a lot quicker. Fiat are doing some good finance deals at the moment and the rate on the twinair is lower. Was difficult to find one in dealer stock though as I didn't want to wait 8 weeks for one.
Mpg is 40 ish so far but as the engine is tight and the weather is cold I'm sure it will get better. Anyway, It is saving me a fortune over my old mk6 golf gti and is as good fun to drive.
Judging by whats been said on here previously 40 mpg is about right. Ive got a 1.2 and get around 50 mpg. I like it alot but it is sluggish especially when overtaking or going up hills. My new years resolution is to get an Abarth. Mpg is 40 ish so far but as the engine is tight and the weather is cold I'm sure it will get better. Anyway, It is saving me a fortune over my old mk6 golf gti and is as good fun to drive.
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