Fiat 500 - improved suspension - since when?
Discussion
Afternoon all - I wonder if someone can help?
I've read a couple of comments that the 500 is now being fitted with improved (Ford-sourced?) suspension. Does anyone know when this change happened?
My other half is considering one and the dealers tell us that there are some existing unregistered cars knocking around. I guess I'll need to check build dates to make sure that the car we potentially end up with actually has the improved set up.
Any help much appreciated.
And is it fair to assume that there is very little scope for haggling on price, given that residuals are so good?
Thanks in advance
Wrighty
I've read a couple of comments that the 500 is now being fitted with improved (Ford-sourced?) suspension. Does anyone know when this change happened?
My other half is considering one and the dealers tell us that there are some existing unregistered cars knocking around. I guess I'll need to check build dates to make sure that the car we potentially end up with actually has the improved set up.
Any help much appreciated.
And is it fair to assume that there is very little scope for haggling on price, given that residuals are so good?
Thanks in advance
Wrighty
Have just got a 2010 500 with the new suspension. As far as I know anything built this year has the revised suspension, which include a rear anti roll bar.
With reference to doscount, well ours was discounted by £300, but it is a non stop start car, that was only built 1 mth ago.
I would be surprised if what the dealer referred to is anything older than 2010.
With reference to doscount, well ours was discounted by £300, but it is a non stop start car, that was only built 1 mth ago.
I would be surprised if what the dealer referred to is anything older than 2010.
Edited by CatherineJ on Tuesday 27th April 16:59
wrighty78 said:
Thank you Catherine - much appreciated.
How are you finding the 500C, if you don't mind me asking?
Love it to pieces. Have just done 600 miles in it and it's currently returning around 45 mpg. The blue and me system is first class and the only fault I can find is that there is a rattle from I think the knee airbag cover.How are you finding the 500C, if you don't mind me asking?
No it's a 1.2.
The general advice was to not get a 1.4 and to be honest the 1.2 was a pleasent surprise to be honest. The 1.4 I understand to be thirsty and would be more likely a factory order car as they don't sell too many of them. I tried a 1.2 with 450 miles on and 4,000+. The one with 4,000 miles was pretty good and our car is already showing promise It's quite an eager little engine and will sit at 90 quite happily.
In terms of a long journey, well the longest i've done is 40 miles and it's not too bad. Noise wise, well it is more tyre noise than anything.
I did try a 75 bhp diesel when they first came out and that left me a little underwhelmed, although I understand the new 95 bhp car to quite good (although shockingly pricey).
Residuals on them are good. I have across a £17,000 Diesel 500C By Diesel model, so you have to be careful because the cost of one can add up a lot for a little car.
The only thing I might caution on, is the servicing costs. I believe they aint that cheap to service, but it is only every 18k miles.
The general advice was to not get a 1.4 and to be honest the 1.2 was a pleasent surprise to be honest. The 1.4 I understand to be thirsty and would be more likely a factory order car as they don't sell too many of them. I tried a 1.2 with 450 miles on and 4,000+. The one with 4,000 miles was pretty good and our car is already showing promise It's quite an eager little engine and will sit at 90 quite happily.
In terms of a long journey, well the longest i've done is 40 miles and it's not too bad. Noise wise, well it is more tyre noise than anything.
I did try a 75 bhp diesel when they first came out and that left me a little underwhelmed, although I understand the new 95 bhp car to quite good (although shockingly pricey).
Residuals on them are good. I have across a £17,000 Diesel 500C By Diesel model, so you have to be careful because the cost of one can add up a lot for a little car.
The only thing I might caution on, is the servicing costs. I believe they aint that cheap to service, but it is only every 18k miles.
wrighty78 said:
Thanks for the feedback - that's really interesting. I was assuming the 1.2 would be thoroughly gutless.
I guess we'll go and testdrive a couple and see how we go.
Yes do. Possibly a good idea is if you try a 2010 car for new suspension, see if you can try a secondhand 1.2 with a good few miles on. Quite a few of the 2008 cars for sale have 20-30k on them, so would be a good indicator. I guess we'll go and testdrive a couple and see how we go.
I thought the 1.2 was horrendous, buzzy little thing, sorry. The 1.4 is much better and peaky, likes to rev, and of course the source of the Abarth engine less a turbo. The 1.4 should average just under 40 mpg so not exactly thirsty depends on what you consider thirsty I suppose.
The new suspension is on all 500C and the 2010 model year cars. It makes a HUGE difference. I wouldn't have bought a standard 500 before this, the suspension was so flawed/useless for UK roads. Very harsh.
I have a Abarth 500 and my Wife a 500C. 500C rides very well for UK roads so by proxy I would assume 2010 500's ride just as well. The Abarth rides a lot better too than the previous model 500's but is very stiff.
The new suspension is on all 500C and the 2010 model year cars. It makes a HUGE difference. I wouldn't have bought a standard 500 before this, the suspension was so flawed/useless for UK roads. Very harsh.
I have a Abarth 500 and my Wife a 500C. 500C rides very well for UK roads so by proxy I would assume 2010 500's ride just as well. The Abarth rides a lot better too than the previous model 500's but is very stiff.
Lagerlout said:
I thought the 1.2 was horrendous, buzzy little thing, sorry. The 1.4 is much better and peaky, likes to rev, and of course the source of the Abarth engine less a turbo. The 1.4 should average just under 40 mpg so not exactly thirsty depends on what you consider thirsty I suppose.
The new suspension is on all 500C and the 2010 model year cars. It makes a HUGE difference. I wouldn't have bought a standard 500 before this, the suspension was so flawed/useless for UK roads. Very harsh.
I have a Abarth 500 and my Wife a 500C. 500C rides very well for UK roads so by proxy I would assume 2010 500's ride just as well. The Abarth rides a lot better too than the previous model 500's but is very stiff.
We have a 1.4, it gets about 35mpg on a run. much nicer sounding engine though.The new suspension is on all 500C and the 2010 model year cars. It makes a HUGE difference. I wouldn't have bought a standard 500 before this, the suspension was so flawed/useless for UK roads. Very harsh.
I have a Abarth 500 and my Wife a 500C. 500C rides very well for UK roads so by proxy I would assume 2010 500's ride just as well. The Abarth rides a lot better too than the previous model 500's but is very stiff.
Suspension, better too hard than too soft.
wrighty78 said:
stephen300o said:
We have a 1.4, it gets about 35mpg on a run.
Is that all???? 
Back to the drawing board then. Fiat quote a combined figure of 48, extraurban 56 and urban 39. I know you can never trust the official figures, but I would be hoping for low 40s on a run.
Why so thirsty?
wrighty78 said:
stephen300o said:
We have a 1.4, it gets about 35mpg on a run.
Is that all???? Back to the drawing board then. Fiat quote a combined figure of 48, extraurban 56 and urban 39. I know you can never trust the official figures, but I would be hoping for low 40s on a run.
Why so thirsty?
stephen300o said:
wrighty78 said:
stephen300o said:
We have a 1.4, it gets about 35mpg on a run.
Is that all???? Back to the drawing board then. Fiat quote a combined figure of 48, extraurban 56 and urban 39. I know you can never trust the official figures, but I would be hoping for low 40s on a run.
Why so thirsty?
Lagerlout said:
stephen300o said:
wrighty78 said:
stephen300o said:
We have a 1.4, it gets about 35mpg on a run.
Is that all???? Back to the drawing board then. Fiat quote a combined figure of 48, extraurban 56 and urban 39. I know you can never trust the official figures, but I would be hoping for low 40s on a run.
Why so thirsty?
Well that's a bit more promising!
We'd be using it for a mix of stop/start around London and occasional motorway trips. I'm not expecting mega-mpg around town, but if I could get 45-ish on a motorway bimble I'd be happy.
And please don't tempt me with an Abarth. I popped in to the Marylebone dealership last week and they've got one in the showroom - lovely looking little car. (repeat to self: I will make do with a 1.4 Lounge, I will make do with a 1.4 Lounge).
Planning to arrange a testdrive for Saturday.
Thanks for the feedback!
We'd be using it for a mix of stop/start around London and occasional motorway trips. I'm not expecting mega-mpg around town, but if I could get 45-ish on a motorway bimble I'd be happy.
And please don't tempt me with an Abarth. I popped in to the Marylebone dealership last week and they've got one in the showroom - lovely looking little car. (repeat to self: I will make do with a 1.4 Lounge, I will make do with a 1.4 Lounge).
Planning to arrange a testdrive for Saturday.
Thanks for the feedback!
Given that so many of you were kind enough to post responses, I thought I should perhaps update you! We took a good long test-drive and were very happy with the ride and handling, and the willingness of the 1.4 engine. And the OBC seemed to be showing low-40s mpg, which was promising given that the engine had only covered about 150 miles.
We've decided to take the plunge and have ordered a 1.4 Lounge. After much deliberation we opted for a black one with "sport" alloys and we're told it will take 8-12 weeks to arrive.
Sorting out a test-drive proved a little more difficult than expected. I visited and called two dealers, but neither returned calls or showed any real interest in giving us even a basic level of customer service.
In the end we went to Bishops in Guildford, who were excellent. Very friendly, not at all pushy. Highly recommended.
So now we've just got to count down the weeks until it arrives....
We've decided to take the plunge and have ordered a 1.4 Lounge. After much deliberation we opted for a black one with "sport" alloys and we're told it will take 8-12 weeks to arrive.
Sorting out a test-drive proved a little more difficult than expected. I visited and called two dealers, but neither returned calls or showed any real interest in giving us even a basic level of customer service.
In the end we went to Bishops in Guildford, who were excellent. Very friendly, not at all pushy. Highly recommended.
So now we've just got to count down the weeks until it arrives....
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