Fiat 500 - your opinion?

roadiegirl

Hi there! I'm currently looking at the 1.2 pop Fiat 500, but was just wondering if anyone has/had one? I've done a fair bit of internet research but would like some honest (and hopefully unbiased) opinions before I go for a test drive!
Any help is gratefully appreciated!

Tally-Ho_2

roadiegirl wrote: »

Hi there! I'm currently looking at the 1.2 pop Fiat 500, but was just wondering if anyone has/had one? I've done a fair bit of internet research but would like some honest (and hopefully unbiased) opinions before I go for a test drive!
Any help is gratefully appreciated!

My sister in law has one. She thinks the world of it and loves its 'retro' looks.

Good points are it is fun to drive, reliable, very economical and easy to park - an ideal town car.

Bad points - very very cramped in the rear compared to similar cars and also the high price (however the residuals should be higher when selling).

Tally

roadiegirl

Its only for me, possibly my boyfriend as a passenger. I'm only 19 so no plans for children for quite some time yet, so the back seat issue isn't too much of a problem!

asbokid

roadiegirl wrote: »

I'm only 19 so no plans for children for quite some time yet, so the back seat issue isn't too much of a problem!

Who needs a back seat?!

Our first-born Dylan was conceived on the bonnet of a Mk3 Fiesta!

http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/fiat/500/
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/fiat/fiat-500-road-test/
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/fiat/fiat-500-long-term/

roadiegirl

asbokid wrote: »

Who needs a back seat?!

Our first-born Dylan was conceived on the bonnet of a Mk3 Fiesta!

http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/fiat/500/
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/fiat/fiat-500-road-test/
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/fiat/fiat-500-long-term/

Not on about the conceiving part haha. Thanks for the links, will make for some bedtime reading tonight!

Tammer

My friend, who is a millionaire, has one as he uses it to park in the city centre.

He says it's the best thing he ever bought. He has previously had a Porsche Carrera and a BMW X5.

Browntoa

very nippy but feels under powered sometimes (comparing to a Peugeot 106 1100cc that I have driven in the past) but that may be part of the economy set up as does seem to kick in when accellerated hard

slight issues with the windscreen washers ( seem to pop out if they freeze and need replacing ) that may have been addressed now

not the best view through the rear side windows when overtaking or reversing

quieter than other equivalents like the Yaris etc

bigjl

I would seriously think about spending the extra and getting the TwinAir engine.

There was never nuch in the way of discounts on Fiat 500's now dealers, or at least the two I have driven past, seem to have the 1.2's on special offer.

I am tempted to say that this may be down to the reduced demand since the TwinAir has been introduced, they never have any TwinAir's around just the demo model, so as you get free road tax, free London Congestion Charge and decent fuel consumotion without the need for a diesel then it seems a good buy.

Some, including TopGear reckon that the TwinAir isn't as good on fuel as claimed, but then agiain what member of the motoring press ever does?

Even more benefits if you are self employed.


The biggest clue I got about the lack of demand, and therefore future residuals, is that the salesman tried to push me toward the 1.2's stacked up in the showroom rather than the TwinAir I had come in to view.

roadiegirl

I had considered the Twin Air version, but its just that bit more expensive, and I'm still a student at the end of the day and have to cope with stupidly high insurance costs, so I'm trying to be as MSE as possible, although in the long term the twin air might save me more money, I'm going to have to have a think on that one! The london congestion charge doesn't affect me either (live in the north), but its worth bearing in mind!

Sambucus_Nigra

We bought one last year - and it is great for city driving. I've taken it on long journeys and like any small car, it can get a little uncomfortable after a while but for short and medium journeys and parking in cities it's superb. Lovely little car.

Kilty_2

Isn't it just a Panda with a fancier exterior for twice the price?