Fiat 500....yes or no?

[Roman Moroni]

My currently daily driver is a 09 Smart. I run it too and from work, where parking is at a premium. I spend the majority of my time in the car by myself. I don't need anything bigger as 1) The family car is a Kuga & 2) I've got 'Classic' Impreza tucked up in the garage.

This is my 2nd Smart and have been running them for 4 years, therefore I'm looking for a change. I've considered other smaller cars such as the Up!/Mi/Citigo. I don't fancy a Twingo or KA, therefore I'm seriously thinking about a (2nd hand) 500. I appreciate they come with a bit of an 'image' but I couldn't be further from the stereotypical 500 driver, therefore I don't give a hoot about the image.

So, is there anyone out there who can give an honest and balance opinion on a 500.

TIA

[Roman Moroni]

sawman said:

i have been running a 500 (1.2s) for the last couple of months, it's actually destined to be my daughters car, but we are sharing it until later in the year. I started out looking at 5 year old examples, but viewed many and didnt find one that had all features working (they are probably out there just not in my area!)
Ended up buying a nearly new one figuring that a couple of years manufacturer warranty might be useful.

it's not a bad drive, the 1.2 petrol it not going to break any speed records ( i would have preferred a twin air) but have covered nearly 2k miles and it comfortable enough, and not a bad steer, ours has a black leather wheel and sporty seats both of which make it a bit less girly. The radio is rubbish though, and ours has DAB, which I have yet to hear working

It's made me think about an abarth next.....

The Twin Air is my preferred choice, although the Abarth whets my appetite. The only issue is the cost in buying/running the Abarth. I don't really want to spend a shed load of money for what is effectively a 2nd (even 3rd!) car

[Roman Moroni]

jay-12 said:

It's a car that makes you feel happy every time you jump into one. This car is certainly not quick, but nippy enough, nice and easy to park, cheap to run and looks funky on the outside as much as on the inside. I'd go for it.

Thanks for your input

[Roman Moroni]

steve-5snwi said:

I take it you don't fancy the current smart car ? The 500 runs rings around the UP!, although the UP! is the more refined, better built car. It however lacks the charm of the 500. The Twin Air is the one you want. Rusty exhuast, knacked rear shocks and bushes falling out in the front lower arms are to be expected.

Thanks for the tips.

As mentioned above, the Twin Air is the one I'm currently looking at

[Roman Moroni]

renmure said:

I've had one as an occasional use car for the past 4 years. It's a 1.2 litre petrol and replaced a MINI One. It's cost buttons to run, nothing has gone wrong, it's obviously not fast but doesn't feel ridiculously slow. I also think the interior is fine in a quirky sort of way.

Our intention was to change it after a couple of years for another MINI (which is certainly a more solid, substantial and up-market type car... with a price increase to match) but the Fiat has been so inoffensive and fine that we just never felt the need.

I also bought a set of steel wheels with winter alloys a couple of years ago and the car has been perfect in the sleet/slush/snow.

Thanks for your views. thoughts & advice. Much appreciated

[Roman Moroni]

Sorry for the individual replies, I don't know how to multi-quote

[Roman Moroni]

^^^

Cheers guys

[Roman Moroni]

HustleRussell said:

The workshop runs a fleet of courtesy cars. Recently we had Fiat 500s and Peugeot 108s at the same time. Everybody without exception agreed that the 108 was the better car.

Cheers, I just had a look at the 108, the looks leave me a bit 'meh'

[Roman Moroni]

HTP99 said:

Wife has an 11 plate Twinair Lounge, she has had it for a year, we picked it up privately with 25k on it and it's now on about 35k.

It's brilliant, it has never let her down and I must admit I love driving it too.

When looking though there was a hell of a lot of dross out there, with questionable history and condition, this one was spotted by someone on another forum as he knew I was looking for one and struggling to find anything decent, it was a steal and I reckon if I sold it today I would get very close to what it was bought for a year ago.

I was after either a 1.2 or preferably a Twinair, wife ideally wanted white with Italian flag stripes but was willing to compromise, anyway it is white with stripes.

Cheers

[Roman Moroni]

MorganP104 said:

I've driven my mechanic's courtesy 500 a number of times. Whilst it won't set the world on fire in the performance stakes, it's the sort of vehicle you can drive around at 90% throttle without losing your licence (which is satisfying, in a juvenile sort of a way).

The handling's a proper giggle, and the gearchange is old-school riflebolt, but with a lighter action than in an older car, as befits its target audience.

Downsides? The rear seats are a bit of a joke, and the boot is miniscule. But it's a small car, and that's what the OP wants, so these may not be downsides at all.

I'm coming from a 800cc Smart, so anything is going to be quicker.

You're quite right about the rear seat & boot. It's not a downside in the slightest

Thanks for your insight

[Roman Moroni]

hepy said:

My daughter had a low speed crash (10 mph) and the insurer has written off the car.

Only thing that would concern me about her getting another would be how good they were in a higher speed crash.

I understand your concerns regarding the structural integrity. It's something that has been in the back of my mind ever since I bought my 1st Smart as they didn't have a great reputation. However, all cars are built to a certain specification. I'd imagine it's probably safer then my Impreza as that design is almost a 1/4 Century old!

Given it was written off at such a low speed, it may explain where there's quite a few Cat C/D/N's for sale

Out of interest, where abouts was the impact?

[Roman Moroni]

Valgar said:

The twin air is not at all as economical as they would like you to believe.

I drove a 1.2 for a while, it's pretty slow, like something is holding it back, personally I liked the styling though.

Ta

[Roman Moroni]

nikaiyo2 said:

Had 3 Abarths since 2009, they are great cars.

Do everything you could want, literally never had any kind of a problem. I think in that time 1 set of front pads, a suspension thing under warranty and about 4 tyres. Will miss mine!!!

Must resist, must resist.......................

[Roman Moroni]

renmure said:

OP.. make sure the door handles are ok. Common fault apparently #live'n'learn

Funny, no-one has mentioned it

[Roman Moroni]

Earthdweller said:

We’ve got a 15 plate 1.2 lounge which we’ve had since new

It’s actually ok and quite nippy around town if your prepared to rev it

It will cruise ok at national speed limit and can be be quite fun to chuck around

It’s economical and comfortable ... great little town car, very easy to park and scoot through gaps

Boot is tiny but folding back seats down gives plenty of space

Ours is used for knocking about in and not as a main car

But it has been faultless and seems solid and well built

It’s hard to gush about it tbf but it’s a decent little car that just gets on with it

It sounds not too dis-similiar to the Smart & appears to tick all the right boxes for me.

My greatest fear now, is if I'm going to fit into a 500. I'm 6ft4 and north of 17 stone. I've never had any trouble getting in and out of the Smart, the drivers seat goes back far enough and there's plenty of headroom. I suppose there's only one way I'm going to find out......