Any tips when looking for a Fiat 500 TwinAir?
Discussion
After running her 2006 R50 Mini Cooper for 6 years that is just about hanging on my sister has decided to go retro again and wants a 500, but it has to be a TwinAir so it sounds like a proper Fiat 500! 
The fact our Mum had a Fiat 600 as her first car may be a factor here!
Anyway because she has particular colour requirements we haven't found too many that fit the bill, but are hoping to look at a metallic purple one on a 16 plate on Tuesday.
So do they have any specific issues that I need to look out for?
And how much difference is there between the 85bhp and 105bhp engines - the performance figures don't look much different.
Thanks for any help.
The fact our Mum had a Fiat 600 as her first car may be a factor here!
Anyway because she has particular colour requirements we haven't found too many that fit the bill, but are hoping to look at a metallic purple one on a 16 plate on Tuesday.
So do they have any specific issues that I need to look out for?
And how much difference is there between the 85bhp and 105bhp engines - the performance figures don't look much different.
Thanks for any help.
I would suggest she drives one (of any colour...) before making a final decision.
They are definitely an acquired taste and can take a little bit of getting used to. Thankfully, she’s looking at a later model - the early ones were somewhat underpowered and needed to be driven hard to make progress. The fuel economy suffered accordingly to the point where they were noticeably worse than a four-pot 500
The 500 is an old design now, and utterly outclassed by stuff like a Fiesta or Yaris, but it’s a triumph of marketing over substance and consequently still very desirable amongst the appropriate demographic
Coming from a Cooper, I would have thought she’d be looking at a 500 Abarth. Still outclassed by its rivals, but an absolute riot to drive with a properly entertaining soundtrack.
They are definitely an acquired taste and can take a little bit of getting used to. Thankfully, she’s looking at a later model - the early ones were somewhat underpowered and needed to be driven hard to make progress. The fuel economy suffered accordingly to the point where they were noticeably worse than a four-pot 500
The 500 is an old design now, and utterly outclassed by stuff like a Fiesta or Yaris, but it’s a triumph of marketing over substance and consequently still very desirable amongst the appropriate demographic
Coming from a Cooper, I would have thought she’d be looking at a 500 Abarth. Still outclassed by its rivals, but an absolute riot to drive with a properly entertaining soundtrack.
Mr Tidy said:
After running her 2006 R50 Mini Cooper for 6 years that is just about hanging on my sister has decided to go retro again and wants a 500, but it has to be a TwinAir so it sounds like a proper Fiat 500!
The fact our Mum had a Fiat 600 as her first car may be a factor here!
Anyway because she has particular colour requirements we haven't found too many that fit the bill, but are hoping to look at a metallic purple one on a 16 plate on Tuesday.
So do they have any specific issues that I need to look out for?
And how much difference is there between the 85bhp and 105bhp engines - the performance figures don't look much different.
Thanks for any help.
I don't know much about the Twinair engine but in terms of the rest of the car, the Lounge comes with more kit than some of the other regular 500's; the most obvious being the (fixed) glass panel in the roof. You also get parking sensors, rear wash wipe, TPMS, chrome pack, leather steering wheel etc.The fact our Mum had a Fiat 600 as her first car may be a factor here!
Anyway because she has particular colour requirements we haven't found too many that fit the bill, but are hoping to look at a metallic purple one on a 16 plate on Tuesday.
So do they have any specific issues that I need to look out for?
And how much difference is there between the 85bhp and 105bhp engines - the performance figures don't look much different.
Thanks for any help.
The original owner of my wife's car had added leather, integrated nav (TomTom) and an opening sunroof. Climate is the other desirable option that springs to mind.
I guess the other version you might want to look at is the Sport which looks more like the Abarth. Don't know about the specs. That's the one I'd have gone for but my wife wants the more retro-looking Lounge with the ivory bits on the dash.
Logically, they don't seem to make much sense. But, strangely enough, I like bombing around in it.
This one popped into my in box the other day.
Epic Blue, leather, privacy, Tom Tom, 16's.
Reserved already - the ones with leather and toys don't hang around.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105132...
Epic Blue, leather, privacy, Tom Tom, 16's.
Reserved already - the ones with leather and toys don't hang around.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105132...
Digging up an older thread, but I've been running an 09 Ford Ka as a shed this summer and discovered that the Ka and 500 are basically the same car underneath. Yes I know the Fiat has a reputation for the door handles falling off, but other than that I think it's nicer looking than the Ka and while an Abarth version is probably a bit OTT for the local shopping and 'park anywhere' use of the Ka I quite like the idea of the Twin-air.
Mention above of the earlier models not being so good on fuel though? How new do I need to go to avoid this? My Ka is the 1.2 petrol engine and I average just under 50mpg on a lot of shorter local trips and have seen nearly 60mpg on a slightly longer journey when I made the effort to drive a bit more gently. I could be tempted to just get one of the sportier looking 1.2 models, but quite like the idea of the Twin for some reason. £0 road tax is nice too, though £30 a year for the Ka/1.2 500 isn't bad either.
My only thought is that for some reason the 500 boot looks like it might be slightly smaller than the Ka, though that could just be due to the shape of the car. I use my Ka to drive to local gigs so I need to be able to fit my gear in as below:
Seen a couple of 12 plate models for sale near us for £4,500 or so. While I'm not looking just yet, I might see where I'm at in the spring, but in the meantime just keeping an eye on prices and what is available near me.
Mention above of the earlier models not being so good on fuel though? How new do I need to go to avoid this? My Ka is the 1.2 petrol engine and I average just under 50mpg on a lot of shorter local trips and have seen nearly 60mpg on a slightly longer journey when I made the effort to drive a bit more gently. I could be tempted to just get one of the sportier looking 1.2 models, but quite like the idea of the Twin for some reason. £0 road tax is nice too, though £30 a year for the Ka/1.2 500 isn't bad either.
My only thought is that for some reason the 500 boot looks like it might be slightly smaller than the Ka, though that could just be due to the shape of the car. I use my Ka to drive to local gigs so I need to be able to fit my gear in as below:
Seen a couple of 12 plate models for sale near us for £4,500 or so. While I'm not looking just yet, I might see where I'm at in the spring, but in the meantime just keeping an eye on prices and what is available near me.
Just to come back to this thread; I got warned off the TwinAir elsewhere due to it being 'a bit needy' and more likely to fail due to poor servicing/incorrect grade oil. Hard to know if some of this is just anti Fiat attitude or not though. I've noticed the Alfa Mito has a 2 cylinder engine, which I guess is the same one as the 500 and it strikes me that if it were that bad there would be threads all over about them blowing up...
While I'm still tempted by the Abarth version, I think that realistically the 105HP TwinAir still makes a reasonable middle ground between the 1.2 and the Abarth option(s). I've come across a few very low mileage examples, especially when looking for a 500C so I'm wondering if it's a question of get a good one and look after it? I don't mind doing oil changes myself more frequently even.
It's not our main car, so wouldn't be expected to slog up and down motorways, maybe just a junction or two at most as I use the smaller car to drive to gigs as I do now with my 1.2 Ka. A little more poke would be nice though without going as hardcore as the Abarth (especially reports of the hard ride).
While I'm still tempted by the Abarth version, I think that realistically the 105HP TwinAir still makes a reasonable middle ground between the 1.2 and the Abarth option(s). I've come across a few very low mileage examples, especially when looking for a 500C so I'm wondering if it's a question of get a good one and look after it? I don't mind doing oil changes myself more frequently even.
It's not our main car, so wouldn't be expected to slog up and down motorways, maybe just a junction or two at most as I use the smaller car to drive to gigs as I do now with my 1.2 Ka. A little more poke would be nice though without going as hardcore as the Abarth (especially reports of the hard ride).
OldSkoolRS said:
Just to come back to this thread; I got warned off the TwinAir elsewhere due to it being 'a bit needy' and more likely to fail due to poor servicing/incorrect grade oil. Hard to know if some of this is just anti Fiat attitude or not though. I've noticed the Alfa Mito has a 2 cylinder engine, which I guess is the same one as the 500 and it strikes me that if it were that bad there would be threads all over about them blowing up...
While I'm still tempted by the Abarth version, I think that realistically the 105HP TwinAir still makes a reasonable middle ground between the 1.2 and the Abarth option(s). I've come across a few very low mileage examples, especially when looking for a 500C so I'm wondering if it's a question of get a good one and look after it? I don't mind doing oil changes myself more frequently even.
It's not our main car, so wouldn't be expected to slog up and down motorways, maybe just a junction or two at most as I use the smaller car to drive to gigs as I do now with my 1.2 Ka. A little more poke would be nice though without going as hardcore as the Abarth (especially reports of the hard ride).
It does need a specific grade of Oil, and that even differs on if the car is Euro 5 or Euro 6. The other thing is to make sure that the little oil strainer in the UniAir module is kept clean (even though it's not part of the service schedule) as that controls the valves, and if left can clog and cause failure of the module which is quite expensive.While I'm still tempted by the Abarth version, I think that realistically the 105HP TwinAir still makes a reasonable middle ground between the 1.2 and the Abarth option(s). I've come across a few very low mileage examples, especially when looking for a 500C so I'm wondering if it's a question of get a good one and look after it? I don't mind doing oil changes myself more frequently even.
It's not our main car, so wouldn't be expected to slog up and down motorways, maybe just a junction or two at most as I use the smaller car to drive to gigs as I do now with my 1.2 Ka. A little more poke would be nice though without going as hardcore as the Abarth (especially reports of the hard ride).
Not sure on the 500s, I have the Mito TA 105, and these are fitted with a Dual Mass Flywheel to dampen the vibration of the naturally unbalanced engine, these can be a bit weak, along with the clutch itself. I think they are also fitted to 500s from a certain year, but unsure. Again on the Mito the service interval is 18,000 miles which is far too long. I'll be having mine done annually which is about 8-10k mileage for me.
The engine is quite coarse, but has a lot of character, peak torque is quite low down, and despite a red line of 6k its had enough by 5. They drive like a diesel, but easy to make progress once you get used to them. Once you are up to speed they are quiet, and a 6th gear helps on the motorway, though you'll be making use of the box for overtakes etc. My Mito 105 is averaging 40 mpg on my work commute of 9 miles, and I can get it into the 50s on a longer run.
Personally, if you look after it, or take it somewhere who knows how to look after it, it's unlikely to be any less reliable than anything else.
WelshPetrolhead said:
Personally, if you look after it, or take it somewhere who knows how to look after it, it's unlikely to be any less reliable than anything else.
Thanks for the great feedback and owner experience. I thought it must be the same engine in the Mito. Your last comment makes sense to me too. Of course when I actually start looking there will be a total lack of any for sale, but good to know it's an option. I know that sticking with the 1.2 is more straightforward as I've already done jobs like timing belt, spark plugs/leads and brakes on my mechanically similar 1.2 Ka. It just seems like if I'm spending 3-4 times as much on a 500 then it would be nice if there was some improvement in performance too, which the TwinAir would give (and some character too by the sounds of it).
I'm also tempted by the Mito if I didn't go for the convertible option of the 500, so it's good to know the TwinAir foibles/things to look for.
OldSkoolRS said:
Thanks for the great feedback and owner experience. I thought it must be the same engine in the Mito. Your last comment makes sense to me too.
Of course when I actually start looking there will be a total lack of any for sale, but good to know it's an option. I know that sticking with the 1.2 is more straightforward as I've already done jobs like timing belt, spark plugs/leads and brakes on my mechanically similar 1.2 Ka. It just seems like if I'm spending 3-4 times as much on a 500 then it would be nice if there was some improvement in performance too, which the TwinAir would give (and some character too by the sounds of it).
I'm also tempted by the Mito if I didn't go for the convertible option of the 500, so it's good to know the TwinAir foibles/things to look for.
Have a look around both the fiat and alfa owner forums, plenty of info on them. I've not actually had mine all that long, but always read as much as I can, so I know what I'm letting myself in for. I'm really happy with mine. If you're handy at doing the basics if you pick one up, do the oil straight away, and clean the strainer and then you know exactly where you are at. One other thing to note is the dipstick is integrated into the Oil Cap, and its basically oil coloured, so very difficult to read Of course when I actually start looking there will be a total lack of any for sale, but good to know it's an option. I know that sticking with the 1.2 is more straightforward as I've already done jobs like timing belt, spark plugs/leads and brakes on my mechanically similar 1.2 Ka. It just seems like if I'm spending 3-4 times as much on a 500 then it would be nice if there was some improvement in performance too, which the TwinAir would give (and some character too by the sounds of it).
I'm also tempted by the Mito if I didn't go for the convertible option of the 500, so it's good to know the TwinAir foibles/things to look for.
As an aside, my mum had a 2010 500 with the 1.2, was a solid little car. You'll get better economy from the 1.2 over the TA, but the TA in 105 form will have it on performance. I think between the TA 85 and the 1.2, I'd go for the 1.2, but if its a TA105 against a 1.2 I'd take the TA.
WelshPetrolhead said:
Have a look around both the fiat and alfa owner forums, plenty of info on them. I've not actually had mine all that long, but always read as much as I can, so I know what I'm letting myself in for. I'm really happy with mine. If you're handy at doing the basics if you pick one up, do the oil straight away, and clean the strainer and then you know exactly where you are at. One other thing to note is the dipstick is integrated into the Oil Cap, and its basically oil coloured, so very difficult to read
As an aside, my mum had a 2010 500 with the 1.2, was a solid little car. You'll get better economy from the 1.2 over the TA, but the TA in 105 form will have it on performance. I think between the TA 85 and the 1.2, I'd go for the 1.2, but if its a TA105 against a 1.2 I'd take the TA.
That's handy to know about the dip stick as I wouldn't have guessed that and then probably started looking though menus to see if it was on the dash like one of my old company cars used to have. As an aside, my mum had a 2010 500 with the 1.2, was a solid little car. You'll get better economy from the 1.2 over the TA, but the TA in 105 form will have it on performance. I think between the TA 85 and the 1.2, I'd go for the 1.2, but if its a TA105 against a 1.2 I'd take the TA.
The 1.2 Ka seems fine, if a little flat, but it's intended as a cheap run about to last me until I get some pension money though. It has planted the seed of a nippy small car and I like that it is so easy to park.We use the main car for longer trips so this can be more of a fun car.
Some of our gigs have very little parking, so it's been handy when I can squeeze the Ka into a little space. I can fit my two guitars, amp and bag of cables, etc in the Ka boot though I'll have to check that I can fit my guitar through the smaller opening on the 500C. Obviously the 500 Hatch is pretty much the same as the Ka boot, so would be fine (the Mito probably even better).
I'd guessed the TA105 would be the one to go for, though of course typically there aren't so many of those around. Currently on AT there are only two TA105 500C nationwide and they are over budget (hoping for £8k or less), so I'm going to have a long search when the time comes I think if I want the 500C rather than the standard 500 hatch.
Thanks for the help/info.
Gassing Station | Alfa Romeo, Fiat & Lancia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff