Fiat 500 Twinair - Any common issues?
Discussion
I posted in the Fiat, Alfa Romeo & Lancia section, but have realised here might get a better response.
A bit of background - the car will be for my sister whose R50 Mini Cooper is on its last legs after 6 years with her and 90+K on the clock.
Our Mum's 1st car was a Fiat 600 so I suppose there is a bit of nostalgia at work here!
She has decided a 500 Twinair will be her next car so I've been recruited to help her search.
It has to be a Twinair because to her it sounds like a 60s/70s 500 did - so please don't tell me she needs a 1.2, diesel or Abarth!
Since she retired last year she probably only does a few thousand miles a year, and most of that is short trips in stop/start traffic - she lives in an outer London Borough.
So I'd really appreciate anything people can tell me about common faults, things to look for, etc.
TIA.
A bit of background - the car will be for my sister whose R50 Mini Cooper is on its last legs after 6 years with her and 90+K on the clock.
Our Mum's 1st car was a Fiat 600 so I suppose there is a bit of nostalgia at work here!
She has decided a 500 Twinair will be her next car so I've been recruited to help her search.
It has to be a Twinair because to her it sounds like a 60s/70s 500 did - so please don't tell me she needs a 1.2, diesel or Abarth!
Since she retired last year she probably only does a few thousand miles a year, and most of that is short trips in stop/start traffic - she lives in an outer London Borough.
So I'd really appreciate anything people can tell me about common faults, things to look for, etc.
TIA.
My work pal bought an early twin air last year, he loved it, but it had issues that neither fiat or local high performance specialist could sort out, so the dealer took it back and refunded.
On a more general 500 note, the post 2017 cars seem much better built, we have a 2017 1.2 and its been fine generally. It still has both door handles and has only let me down once, when the rubber gear linkage popped off leaving me with only 3rd gear. Currently is has a rather crusty sump, which needs to be replaced as its weepimg slightly. Before buying ours i looked at 2013/ 14 vintage ones, but couldnt find one locally that had everything working properly.
I was looking for a twin air really, but there were no post 2017 ones available at the time
On a more general 500 note, the post 2017 cars seem much better built, we have a 2017 1.2 and its been fine generally. It still has both door handles and has only let me down once, when the rubber gear linkage popped off leaving me with only 3rd gear. Currently is has a rather crusty sump, which needs to be replaced as its weepimg slightly. Before buying ours i looked at 2013/ 14 vintage ones, but couldnt find one locally that had everything working properly.
I was looking for a twin air really, but there were no post 2017 ones available at the time
Edited by sawman on Thursday 3rd June 08:43
bangerhoarder said:
They’re perhaps not as frugal as you’d expect - but still reasonable. I’ve seen averages in the mid 30s.
Indeed. My sister-in-law had a couple of these and they encourage spirited driving, dare we say 'in the Italian style', which doesn't help economy.I love the sound they make, sort of a demented 2CV tone.
We've had one as a runabout for the last 7 years. It's done about 35k now and literally nothing has gone wrong. It gets absolutely no attention apart from a minor service come MOT time. There's a ding on all four corners and the alloys are seriously scraped. Gets a quick rinse over every couple of months and even then the red paint comes up like new. Great piece of kit.
The only thing I would say is that the engine makes it very different to most 1.2ltr 4 cyl shopping trolleys . That little two cylinder turbo whilst I love it can be quite lumpy at low revs and has a very narrow power band so you have to work to get the best out of it so a test drive is recommended. Slick gear box. Economy is nowhere near the 80 odd mpg they claim because it's a little Fiat and loves to be thrashed. Don't know what ours does but would expect late 30's around town. It is RFL free and shillings to insure though.
Only other down side for me is the seat is a little on the high side and is non adjustable. It's fine but would imagine could be tiresome on a longer journey if you don't have another car. A test drive will answer that for you.
If you like it though as I do it's a great little cheap reliable car in my experience and good fun to boot.
The only thing I would say is that the engine makes it very different to most 1.2ltr 4 cyl shopping trolleys . That little two cylinder turbo whilst I love it can be quite lumpy at low revs and has a very narrow power band so you have to work to get the best out of it so a test drive is recommended. Slick gear box. Economy is nowhere near the 80 odd mpg they claim because it's a little Fiat and loves to be thrashed. Don't know what ours does but would expect late 30's around town. It is RFL free and shillings to insure though.
Only other down side for me is the seat is a little on the high side and is non adjustable. It's fine but would imagine could be tiresome on a longer journey if you don't have another car. A test drive will answer that for you.
If you like it though as I do it's a great little cheap reliable car in my experience and good fun to boot.
My missus has one in her Alfa...... sounds aboslutely horrific - broken infact.
Servicing is a little more expensive than the 1.2 oddly. Budget for spark plugs every 12 months, and oil which is on the expensive side.
The only other thing to add, is that 1st gear is that short, it's pretty much useless (not sure if that's just limited to the alfa, but I imagine not). Consumption is pretty terrible too compared to many of the other cars in it's class.
That being said, she's not had an issue with it. It lives a tough life being absolutely thrashed to death by the missus from cold, and it rarely travels for any decent mileage.
Servicing is a little more expensive than the 1.2 oddly. Budget for spark plugs every 12 months, and oil which is on the expensive side.
The only other thing to add, is that 1st gear is that short, it's pretty much useless (not sure if that's just limited to the alfa, but I imagine not). Consumption is pretty terrible too compared to many of the other cars in it's class.
That being said, she's not had an issue with it. It lives a tough life being absolutely thrashed to death by the missus from cold, and it rarely travels for any decent mileage.
Rowe said:
Budget for spark plugs every 12 months, and oil which is on the expensive side.
There's gotta be something wrong with yours unless it's doing mega millage. I don't even know where the dip stick is on ours, it's still on it's original set of plugs and I can't believe you could treat it any worse.Thanks for the feedback everyone.
Our Mum bought her 600 in 1967, but sadly passed away last November at 98.
I bought my E90 as a Mum-taxi in 2019 but the next year everything went horribly wrong, as I was only allowed to see her a couple of times after March 2019.
So I'm much more likely to sell my equally rusty 55 plate E90 than my 56 plate Z4MC - although both have working indicators!
I really have no interest in any FWD turbo scrabble-wagon POS.
I'm just looking for some feedback for what my sister wants.
Colonel D said:
Tidy you could always go the extra mile, be the #1 son, get an Abarth, give mum the crappy Z4M and you have a lovely 595 in place of the rusty old BMW 
The 595 even comes with flashing orange lights, I'm still unsure what they do, my E90 hasn't got them.
But I think you may not have read my post too thoroughly - I did say my sister retired last year (as she was 66)! The 595 even comes with flashing orange lights, I'm still unsure what they do, my E90 hasn't got them. Our Mum bought her 600 in 1967, but sadly passed away last November at 98.
I bought my E90 as a Mum-taxi in 2019 but the next year everything went horribly wrong, as I was only allowed to see her a couple of times after March 2019.
So I'm much more likely to sell my equally rusty 55 plate E90 than my 56 plate Z4MC - although both have working indicators!
I really have no interest in any FWD turbo scrabble-wagon POS.
I'm just looking for some feedback for what my sister wants.
Hey man.
We have a 500c outside with the TwinAir.
Things I like? The noise. The turbo woosh.
Things I don't? The absolute absence of ANY torque. You can't even roll out at a junction in 2nd. Which means down into 1st, which means the car lurches. Every. Single. Time.
We've taken ours from 27k - 55k with just a coil pack failing. That was it. They are simple little engines and easy cars to live with.
Every single garage in the UK sees one every single week, so repairs aren't a fight at all.
We have a 500c outside with the TwinAir.
Things I like? The noise. The turbo woosh.
Things I don't? The absolute absence of ANY torque. You can't even roll out at a junction in 2nd. Which means down into 1st, which means the car lurches. Every. Single. Time.
We've taken ours from 27k - 55k with just a coil pack failing. That was it. They are simple little engines and easy cars to live with.
Every single garage in the UK sees one every single week, so repairs aren't a fight at all.
Mr Tidy said:
But I think you may not have read my post too thoroughly - I did say my sister retired last year (as she was 66)!
Our Mum bought her 600 in 1967, but sadly passed away last November at 98.
I bought my E90 as a Mum-taxi in 2019 but the next year everything went horribly wrong, as I was only allowed to see her a couple of times after March 2019.
So I'm much more likely to sell my equally rusty 55 plate E90 than my 56 plate Z4MC - although both have working indicators!
I really have no interest in any FWD turbo scrabble-wagon POS.
I'm just looking for some feedback for what my sister wants.
Yep, totally misread the post Our Mum bought her 600 in 1967, but sadly passed away last November at 98.
I bought my E90 as a Mum-taxi in 2019 but the next year everything went horribly wrong, as I was only allowed to see her a couple of times after March 2019.
So I'm much more likely to sell my equally rusty 55 plate E90 than my 56 plate Z4MC - although both have working indicators!
I really have no interest in any FWD turbo scrabble-wagon POS.
I'm just looking for some feedback for what my sister wants.
sorry to hear about your mother. From the sound of reports here, it's not going to be kind on your sisters bacckMy local garage told me to be very careful with Twinairs as they do need a regular oil change with the right stuff.
One of colleagues has one (a 105) and she loves it. But she did tell me she needed to keep her eye on the oil level.....(!)
Make sure your sis gets one with a FSH, preferably with Fiat.
One of colleagues has one (a 105) and she loves it. But she did tell me she needed to keep her eye on the oil level.....(!)
Make sure your sis gets one with a FSH, preferably with Fiat.
Well thanks for all the feedback everyone.
We had a day trip down to the South Coast today and my sister has bought an 18 Plate Twinair 85bhp.
I had a brief drive in it and I can see what people meant about the lack of torque.
I'd never want to try to drive at 30 in 4th - 2nd seemed much better!
But she loves it, and that's all that matters.
We had a day trip down to the South Coast today and my sister has bought an 18 Plate Twinair 85bhp.
I had a brief drive in it and I can see what people meant about the lack of torque.
I'd never want to try to drive at 30 in 4th - 2nd seemed much better!
But she loves it, and that's all that matters.
Mr Tidy said:
Well thanks for all the feedback everyone.
We had a day trip down to the South Coast today and my sister has bought an 18 Plate Twinair 85bhp.
I had a brief drive in it and I can see what people meant about the lack of torque.
I'd never want to try to drive at 30 in 4th - 2nd seemed much better!
But she loves it, and that's all that matters.
Cool. They are strangely endearing. My wife's 500 makes me smile when I see it/sit in it/drive it.We had a day trip down to the South Coast today and my sister has bought an 18 Plate Twinair 85bhp.
I had a brief drive in it and I can see what people meant about the lack of torque.
I'd never want to try to drive at 30 in 4th - 2nd seemed much better!
But she loves it, and that's all that matters.
AC43 said:
Cool. They are strangely endearing. My wife's 500 makes me smile when I see it/sit in it/drive it.
They are indeed! I can certainly see the appeal. In some ways it feels similar to her Mini Cooper. I forgot to mention that Mum's 1967 Fiat 600 was the first car my sister drove after passing her driving test, so that may have had a bearing too.
Luckily by the time I started driving the 600 had been replaced by a 1971 Fiat 127, which was a fantastic little car.
Anyway her 500 is being delivered next week.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff