Fiat twin air, why the love?
Discussion
The motoring press and PH in general rave about this engine.
Having now had a couple of twin air 500's as rentals, I just cannot understand why? They sound and drive just like the worlds worst ever diesel engine, with the exhaust having fallen off and the turbo boost pipe having blown off the manifold too. I actually thought there was something wrong with it, as did my passengers.
It runs out of revs almost immediately, not helped by three 1st gears, two 5th gears and a diesel like redline, it's totally gutless except for a tiny diesel like band of torque 2/3rds up the rev range that lasts for barely a nanosecond. Having slowed at a junction it can't even get moving from a rolling start in 2nd without dipping the clutch, revving it and slipping the clutch back in.
And it drinks, Christ does it drink! No redeeming features whatsoever. Even the guys at SIXT said that it's the most negatively commented upon car on return, with people sometimes coming back after just a few minutes because they think there's actually something wrong with it.
What an utter dogs
t of an engine,
However the 1.2 four pot 500's I've also rented have been lovely little things, as is our 1.1 four pot Panda.
Anyone else not feel the love for twin air?
Having now had a couple of twin air 500's as rentals, I just cannot understand why? They sound and drive just like the worlds worst ever diesel engine, with the exhaust having fallen off and the turbo boost pipe having blown off the manifold too. I actually thought there was something wrong with it, as did my passengers.
It runs out of revs almost immediately, not helped by three 1st gears, two 5th gears and a diesel like redline, it's totally gutless except for a tiny diesel like band of torque 2/3rds up the rev range that lasts for barely a nanosecond. Having slowed at a junction it can't even get moving from a rolling start in 2nd without dipping the clutch, revving it and slipping the clutch back in.
And it drinks, Christ does it drink! No redeeming features whatsoever. Even the guys at SIXT said that it's the most negatively commented upon car on return, with people sometimes coming back after just a few minutes because they think there's actually something wrong with it.
What an utter dogs
t of an engine, However the 1.2 four pot 500's I've also rented have been lovely little things, as is our 1.1 four pot Panda.
Anyone else not feel the love for twin air?
yellowjack said:
Fiat twin air, why the love?
1. Zero rated for VED ?
2. No congestion charge ?
Otherwise, I have no idea.
But so much better ways of doing it. I know its been mentioned a lot on PH recently but Ford's 1.0 Ecoboost is what I believe a tiny engine should feel like; I was stunned by the refinement of it.1. Zero rated for VED ?
2. No congestion charge ?
Otherwise, I have no idea.
Balmoral said:
Lots about the Fiat 500 Twin Air
I'm glad it's not just me that feels like this. I found it really tricky to drive in town, mainly because the normal gearchange indication (i.e. the engine noise) was half what you'd expect. I also found I could feel each cylinder firing through the steering wheel when it was running at a steady 50 in top gear.I thought the gear ratios were far too tall, so it encourages you to drive in a much lower gear than normal to avoid bogging it down & to smooth out the vibrations, probably shoving the consumption right up.
I've never driven the 4 pot, so can't comment on that. Cabin was very good though, really high spec. I can see why they're attractive as white goods buys.
alangla said:
it encourages you to drive in a much lower gear than normal to avoid bogging it down & to smooth out the vibrations, probably shoving the consumption right up.
I forgot to mention that, once you're cruising it feels like it's really labouring, yet the dash indicator wants you to shift up! Then there's the ECO button, which just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...Rawwr said:
But so much better ways of doing it. I know its been mentioned a lot on PH recently but Ford's 1.0 Ecoboost is what I believe a tiny engine should feel like; I was stunned by the refinement of it.
5th Gear still preferred the 1.6 to the 1.0 though and I seem to recall they were not far apart on price - but low VED is a bonus I suppose.Not tried the Twin Air.
Ozzie Osmond said:
Balmoral said:
1.1 four pot Panda.
Now that's a great little car, although under-appreciated in UK.The current base model 1.2 is a bargain listed at £8,900 OTR. (£1,000 cheaper than 500)
I've driven a 500e... all electric. I'd say that was the best 500 I have driven. Very very refined for a small car (they added extra duck down duvets in there to mask the noises you can hear due to lack of engine), and I think its power was something faintly daft for such a car... 120 hp ish and a boat load of torque from 0 RPM. It was extremely spritely, even with 2 fat yanks crushed in the back. Shame they are only selling them in California.
LuS1fer said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
Balmoral said:
1.1 four pot Panda.
Now that's a great little car, although under-appreciated in UK.The current base model 1.2 is a bargain listed at £8,900 OTR. (£1,000 cheaper than 500)
Balmoral said:
LuS1fer said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
Balmoral said:
1.1 four pot Panda.
Now that's a great little car, although under-appreciated in UK.The current base model 1.2 is a bargain listed at £8,900 OTR. (£1,000 cheaper than 500)
Well I love mine! I really do! I will admit to being unsure about the engine for the first couple of months, but after that you learn about its foibles and appreciate its charms. I know it won't be for everyone but I love the way it goes about its business (apart from the too short 1st gear).
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff