Fiat 500 - General Question
Discussion
I have had a few versions, all been really reliable with a few, small consistent issues that are well known.
The ESP /hill hold often throws a wobbly with all sorts of error messages on the dash. Annoying rather than anything else. It’s caused by a £10 brake sensor that’s under the dashboard. Ten minute fix.
Door handles- Either snap completely or work loose. If it works loose it’s a £10 part to repair and about an hour labour (it’s perfectly possible to do at home with basic tools, but it is a faff)
If the handle snaps off the door it’s a replacement handle. Be around £100 to replace.
If the handle feels loose on the door or has a bit of play it’s probably on its way out.
Blue and me (the connectivity on the stereo for phones etc) isn’t great and whilst it can be upgraded for newer iPhones it’s a 60 adapter and again a bit of a faff to fit.
Other than that I’ve had no real issues. Paint work on the front is a little soft and prone to chipping. The only other thing is to take a decent drive to make sure you can get comfortable in it. The steering wheel relative to the seat takes some getting used to; either end up too close to the pedals or very straight arms. I understand you can buy an aftermarket steering wheel boss extender that makes a big difference but I’ve just got used to it. I find the steering wheel itself too big/thick and is the one thing I would change (but I’ve never got round to it!)
Finally, not a fault per se but for a small car the turning circle is huge.
There are loads of parts suppliers and independent specialists so they’ve proved to be cheap to run and own.
The ESP /hill hold often throws a wobbly with all sorts of error messages on the dash. Annoying rather than anything else. It’s caused by a £10 brake sensor that’s under the dashboard. Ten minute fix.
Door handles- Either snap completely or work loose. If it works loose it’s a £10 part to repair and about an hour labour (it’s perfectly possible to do at home with basic tools, but it is a faff)
If the handle snaps off the door it’s a replacement handle. Be around £100 to replace.
If the handle feels loose on the door or has a bit of play it’s probably on its way out.
Blue and me (the connectivity on the stereo for phones etc) isn’t great and whilst it can be upgraded for newer iPhones it’s a 60 adapter and again a bit of a faff to fit.
Other than that I’ve had no real issues. Paint work on the front is a little soft and prone to chipping. The only other thing is to take a decent drive to make sure you can get comfortable in it. The steering wheel relative to the seat takes some getting used to; either end up too close to the pedals or very straight arms. I understand you can buy an aftermarket steering wheel boss extender that makes a big difference but I’ve just got used to it. I find the steering wheel itself too big/thick and is the one thing I would change (but I’ve never got round to it!)
Finally, not a fault per se but for a small car the turning circle is huge.
There are loads of parts suppliers and independent specialists so they’ve proved to be cheap to run and own.
You’d be surprised.
If you look closely it has pretty big front seat space relative to the back (which is admittedly tiny, it’s really a 2 seater with the rear seats useless past the age of 7...), no doubt helped because it’s quite tall for the wheelbase.
I’ve had a 6’4, 18 stone passenger in it who had head and leg room to spare with the seat right back.
If you look closely it has pretty big front seat space relative to the back (which is admittedly tiny, it’s really a 2 seater with the rear seats useless past the age of 7...), no doubt helped because it’s quite tall for the wheelbase.
I’ve had a 6’4, 18 stone passenger in it who had head and leg room to spare with the seat right back.
Without going into too many specifics, there are three people in the extended office who have had 500s, the proper sized ones, not these mini SUV monsters. All thirties, early forties girls, none of them particularly car oriented, all of them educated to bachelor level or higher so they're not thickies, all of them you'd think were target market for these things.
As daughter was hanging her nose towards a 500 asked them independently how they'd got on, as none of them still had a 500. Each of them gave similar answers, essentially glad to get rid, always in the garage, out of warranty a moneypit, barge and pole type responses.
Of course these may be untypical, and it could be that the dealer they all used is particularly useless. Anyway it put dear daughter off one as she got similar responses from her survey from her office.
As daughter was hanging her nose towards a 500 asked them independently how they'd got on, as none of them still had a 500. Each of them gave similar answers, essentially glad to get rid, always in the garage, out of warranty a moneypit, barge and pole type responses.
Of course these may be untypical, and it could be that the dealer they all used is particularly useless. Anyway it put dear daughter off one as she got similar responses from her survey from her office.
Gmlgml said:
You’d be surprised.
If you look closely it has pretty big front seat space relative to the back (which is admittedly tiny, it’s really a 2 seater with the rear seats useless past the age of 7...), no doubt helped because it’s quite tall for the wheelbase.
I’ve had a 6’4, 18 stone passenger in it who had head and leg room to spare with the seat right back.
I’m 6’3” and whilst I drive the sporty version I can still fit a pair of adults in the back. If you look closely it has pretty big front seat space relative to the back (which is admittedly tiny, it’s really a 2 seater with the rear seats useless past the age of 7...), no doubt helped because it’s quite tall for the wheelbase.
I’ve had a 6’4, 18 stone passenger in it who had head and leg room to spare with the seat right back.
We have owned 3 Fiat 500s. One twin jet basic one for my daughter and two 595 Abarths for my wife. They are brilliant cars and if I am honest, I prefer to drive the Abarth when my wife is out instead of anything else in the garage as it is fun, nimble and makes a nice sound. Over the last 5 years that we owned them they have been faultless. And i am 6 f 3 and fit comfortably inside a 500. We have now moved to Italy and have just ordered yet another 595 Abarth LHD.
Mr Tidy said:
My Mum's first car was a 1967 Fiat 600.
Then in 1972 my Dad bought a Fiat 125 and in 1974 Mum swapped her 600 for a 127, followed by a 128. I inherited Dad's 125 in 1977 and later had a 132 1800ES.
But while they may have been great cars then, right now I'd rather drive a BMW Mini!
Care to elaborate? Then in 1972 my Dad bought a Fiat 125 and in 1974 Mum swapped her 600 for a 127, followed by a 128. I inherited Dad's 125 in 1977 and later had a 132 1800ES.
But while they may have been great cars then, right now I'd rather drive a BMW Mini!
Never owned one myself so this is 2nd hand info but my sister had one for about 18mths - an auto with a stick (not the buttons). After she picked it up it immediately started jumping out of gear so it went back and was fixed under warranty. Fast forward a year and half later and it started again; wouldn't engage reverse on a number of occasions and then started jumping out of gear when driving along and refusing to re-engage; would only do so after stopping and waiting 20mins and then starting up again....but apparently even then it was hit and miss.
It is a well documented issue for the auto's if you look it up on Google. If memory serves it had something to do with an actuator ....but I could be wrong. I believe to fix it was going to cost around half the value of the car so she chopped it in against something else in the end.
She did love the car but needs an auto so because of that would never have another as she couldn't trust it.
It is a well documented issue for the auto's if you look it up on Google. If memory serves it had something to do with an actuator ....but I could be wrong. I believe to fix it was going to cost around half the value of the car so she chopped it in against something else in the end.
She did love the car but needs an auto so because of that would never have another as she couldn't trust it.
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