Is the Fiat 500 really economical?

Becca87_2

Hi,

I bought a 58 Ford Fiesta 1.4 about 6 months ago, which I love. I drive on the motorway every weekday to and from my workplace, which is about 15 miles each way. I tend to drive at 60-65mph in an attempt to conserve fuel. I half-fill the tank every 4 days or so, which costs me £20-25 each time.

Basically, I'd like to change my car to one that's cheaper to run. I've seen a 59 Fiat 500 1.2 in the same dealership which sold me the Fiesta. Road tax is only £30 per year, which is a big improvement on £125! But would the running costs really be that different?

Thank you in advance for any advice

spugzbunny

I drive a fiat 500. 1.2 pop.

I do 11 mile each way a day. Fill it with £40 every 2 weeks probably. I also commute at weekends some weekends and that would be around £65 - £70 in fuel for 500 miles.

daveyjp

Ford average mpg 45.6

Fiat 55 or 58mpg depending on which 1.2 model it is.

So you should use less fuel, but if it's going to cost you to change the car you will save nothing.

Inactive

daveyjp wrote: »

So you should use less fuel, but if it's going to cost you to change the car you will save nothing.

Agreed, and end up with a smaller car.

Becca87_2

daveyjp wrote: »

if it's going to cost you to change the car you will save nothing.

I would only change the car if it didn't cost much, if anything, to do so. The Fiat is up at £6495, which is £300 less than I paid for the Fiesta, but my car will probably have depreciated since I bought it 6 months ago. I'd have to speak to someone at the dealership about how my monthly finance payments would be affected.

Inactive wrote: »

and end up with a smaller car.

The size of the car doesn't really bother me - the only thing I'd miss would be the extra 2 doors (my current car has 5 doors)! We sometimes drive out for walks with our dog, who sits on the back seat, but luckily she's not very big so we should be able to lift her in through one of the front doors.

Inactive

You can buy a brand new Fiat Panda for £5750, it has 5 doors.

Flearoy

Saving £90 a year on car tax is no basis to swap a car on, especially as the differences in fuel economy at your mileage is such that you'll save little money. You will be stung by the dealer, mark my words, as they aren't charities!

I wouldn't get rid of the Ford if I were you. The amount you'll loose in trade in/depreciation would take forever to save in fuel.

Flearoy

150 miles a week at 129.9 p a litre and 55mpg will cost you £16.08.
150 miles a week at 129.9 p a litre and 45mpg will cost you £19.66.

A whopping saving of £3.58 a week, and at 52 weeks year, £186.16. Add to that your £90 a year tax savings you are £276.16 a year better off to trade in.

Divide your loss at trade-in by that and see how long it'd take to pay off.

jase1

OP, your figures suggest somewhere in the region of 30-35mpg, which seems very low for a newish 1.4 Fiesta. I get more than that (quite a bit more -- about 38-40) out of a 1.6 Focus, and I don't exactly mimse along.

Something is wrong with those figures somewhere. As mentioned you should be clearing 45mpg.

And yes, the savings over a year are not sufficient to offset the cost to change. All this business of saving money by changing to a new car is a myth, unless you have some V6 bus on your drive, because you're spending a large amount of money to save a small one, which means it takes a while to make the money back. Only once you have made that money back will you ever start to save money.

The true way to maximise return on your investment with a car is to look after it, but run it until it drops. Sell it now, and you're just giving someone else the benefit.

mark5

jase1 wrote: »

OP, your figures suggest somewhere in the region of 30-35mpg, which seems very low for a newish 1.4 Fiesta. I get more than that (quite a bit more -- about 38-40) out of a 1.6 Focus, and I don't exactly mimse along.

Something is wrong with those figures somewhere. As mentioned you should be clearing 45mpg.

And yes, the savings over a year are not sufficient to offset the cost to change. All this business of saving money by changing to a new car is a myth, unless you have some V6 bus on your drive, because you're spending a large amount of money to save a small one, which means it takes a while to make the money back. Only once you have made that money back will you ever start to save money.

The true way to maximise return on your investment with a car is to look after it, but run it until it drops. Sell it now, and you're just giving someone else the benefit.

My wifes 2008 Fiesta TDCI is doing 45-46 mpg, so I doubt the OP would get 45mpg in a petrol version. My Focus 1.8 petrol is doing low 30's.

Kilty_2

You'll probably lose something in the region of £2000 by doing this.

Bear in mind that your Fiesta will be traded in at part-ex prices, not retail.