Fiat 500 - How are you getting on?
Fiat 500 - How are you getting on?
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Discussion

riwiho

Original Poster:

3,800 posts

236 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
quotequote all
To all the Fiat 500 owners: How are you finding life with the new 500?

I have now seen a number in the flesh and I think they look great. Is life with the 500 the joy you had planned? Any issues? Happy/Sad?

I did test drive a 1.4 Sport and found the whole experience pleasurable except for the central console rubbing against my left leg. The interior was a great place to be, felt solid and modern.

Is there a price list to be found on the internet for all available option as there seem to be some ballooned prices on auto trader and I would like to know how factual they are.

Thanks

Nuova500

8,975 posts

231 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
quotequote all
patmahe said:
bump
dID YOU CRASH YOURS?????

i'M LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF OWNING MINE

riwiho

Original Poster:

3,800 posts

236 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
quotequote all
So you both own 500s ?

Do you have anything to contribute?

riwiho

Original Poster:

3,800 posts

236 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
quotequote all
I see patmahe deleted his posts..............................have you binned it?

patmahe

5,899 posts

225 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
quotequote all
Sorry - deleted my posts as they were causing confusion. I'm not an owner just curious to see how others are getting on - I'm a potential owner.

ETA: Have tested a 1.4 sport and was impressed nippy fun and modern just as it should be. Brakes seemed overly strong to me but other than that was well impressed.

Edited by patmahe on Wednesday 16th April 16:17

stephen300o

15,464 posts

249 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
quotequote all
Seems all good so far then, no leaks, electrical glitches or rattly trim?

flattotheboards

6,688 posts

227 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
quotequote all
I saw three yesterday, white looks like the colour to have imo.

Pwig

11,998 posts

291 months

Wednesday 16th April 2008
quotequote all
riwiho said:
To all the Fiat 500 owners: How are you finding life with the new 500?

I have now seen a number in the flesh and I think they look great. Is life with the 500 the joy you had planned? Any issues? Happy/Sad?

I did test drive a 1.4 Sport and found the whole experience pleasurable except for the central console rubbing against my left leg. The interior was a great place to be, felt solid and modern.

Is there a price list to be found on the internet for all available option as there seem to be some ballooned prices on auto trader and I would like to know how factual they are.

Thanks
A simple driving position adjustment sorts out the left leg problem.

Nuova500

8,975 posts

231 months

Thursday 17th April 2008
quotequote all
No leaks, rattle, trim problems as yet......

Seating position is quiet high, but that's something you soon get used to.

Ride is quite firm, not unplesantly so though.

quality of material inside is very good IMO opinion too, certainly does not feel like a cr that is £3500 cheaper than a similar specced Mini.

penryar

311 posts

248 months

Thursday 17th April 2008
quotequote all
Well the missus picked up her 1.2 Lounge Dualogic last week. Not managed to get my hand on the keys much, but she absolutely loves it. Feels nice and solid, no rattle or squeaks. The Fiat dealer over here was great, and the only thing I pick fault with, is that one of the stickers has got a couple of air bubbles.
Oh and the fuel consumption is a little better than the V8 Rangie!!
Here it is


riwiho

Original Poster:

3,800 posts

236 months

Thursday 17th April 2008
quotequote all
What do you think the lead time on a new 500 is if one was to order one this week?

Looking at all the press about fuel prices, road tax etc it makes sense to me.

Nuova500

8,975 posts

231 months

Thursday 17th April 2008
quotequote all
Id see if there are any in stock in a dealer first, they have some that they ordered lying around.

Wessex in Glous have some -- http://www.wessexloves500.co.uk/stock.html , ask for Simon Kerr & tell him Mark from NF500 sent you



Edited by Nuova500 on Thursday 17th April 13:16

patmahe

5,899 posts

225 months

Thursday 17th April 2008
quotequote all
I have been told 7 weeks for a lounge or sport spec car and late June for a Pop

riwiho

Original Poster:

3,800 posts

236 months

Thursday 17th April 2008
quotequote all
Thanks chaps.

Spent the day researching and am moving closer towards a decisions. Only trouble I have is that I really like the Abarth which is obviously not due till end of year (at best) and I dont know if I can be arsed to wait unless I know it will be that special.

Hard one to call. Fiat should do the right thing and develop a corking Abarth that is worth waiting for but then there is always that outside chance it will be tame.

What would you do? Spec a loaded 1.4 sport or reserve a Abarth and get a run around for 6 months?

AndyWoodall

2,689 posts

280 months

Thursday 17th April 2008
quotequote all
In my case I'm waiting for the Abarth.

130bhp or so is perhaps a little disappointing when the Punto Abarth is producing 155, but the essesse kit will bring it upto 160bhp which will be a nice boost from my 125bhp Lupo GTI. I'd say the chances of the 500 Abarth being a dud are very slim. The Panda 100HP is excellent, so the chassis is sound, the Punto Abarth is getting very good early reviews, but it will be interesting to see what the mags make of it nearer the June launch date. I'm very keen to hear what EVO have to say on that car.

The Abarth interior looks very good over the standard car, stitched dash, flat bottomed steering wheel, you don't know how much joy it gives me to see Fiat putting such effort into their cars. I always imagined the Mk5 Golf GTI or a MINI Cooper S would be my next car, I never thought I would go back to a Fiat. My other halfs Panda 100HP feels bomb proof and I love taking it out. I am tempted this summer to give in and go for the Punto Abarth, and I will certainly be getting an extended test drive, but for me the size and looks of the 500 will probably make me hold out for the cheaper car.

That said, the standard 500 is a fine car, so if you have to have one then I'd say its not a wrong decision to go for one now. Me, I have to have the hot version, so I've got to wait.

One last thing to consider, there will be relatively few authorized Abarth dealers, so you might have a trek to your nearest one. In an ideal world the garage where we got the Panda from (TJ Vickers Shrewsbury) will be an official dealer, but judging by what I've read I'd say that is unlikely and central urban areas will get them so Brum is likely to be my nearest.

Edit to say; 500 owners, keep the pics coming, love to see the different combinations!




Edited by AndyWoodall on Thursday 17th April 18:04

Nuova500

8,975 posts

231 months

Friday 18th April 2008
quotequote all
The wife is so pleased with mine that she is holding out replacing the FR-V to see how good the 500 Giadineria is.

Wozza

203 posts

305 months

Friday 18th April 2008
quotequote all
Had ours for 2 months now. Was a surprise pressie for the wife. She absolutely adores it and loves tearing round in it.

Ours had to go back to the dealer after a week to have a bolt checked which had come loose and a noise sorted which turned out to be a air con pipe rubbing under load. All fixed very quickly and promptly. Our overall service from Fiat has been terrific overall - Mike and Anita at Ancaster Catford could not have been more helpful.

Car is really solid and I love the attention to detail with things like the Blue and Me and interior detailing. We have the 1.4 and whilst it gets along ok, I wouldn't want it to be any slower either..... The ride can be a little crashy on the 16" wheels but I think they're essential for the looks anyway wink

We have our 1.5 year old son in the back and the car is proving surprisingly practical - easy to get him in and out. We still get the shopping and his buggy in the boot, etc.

Overall a resounding thumbs up from us spin





penryar

311 posts

248 months

Friday 18th April 2008
quotequote all
Forgot to say, the only thing that has annoyed me so far has been the fact that the 500's now come with Daytime running lights!! Lights are the last thing you need in the Dordogne in the middle of summer.

Nuova500

8,975 posts

231 months

Friday 18th April 2008
quotequote all
penryar said:
Forgot to say, the only thing that has annoyed me so far has been the fact that the 500's now come with Daytime running lights!! Lights are the last thing you need in the Dordogne in the middle of summer.
They can be turned off via the menu system.

jacobyte

4,764 posts

263 months

Friday 18th April 2008
quotequote all
Here's ours, with new wheels fitted this morning.

Warning - bad photo in dodgy light and dirty car...