General New 500C - storage or secret compartments?!

[Emmlo]

I'm new here, hi!
I've driven Fiat 500s for the last 12 years, and today I purchased a 2019 500c. I expected it to be basically the same as my previous cars, with the lovely addition of a soft top, but so far all I see are the differences!
I am sad to have lost my secret storage compartment under the passenger seat, I didn't realise it wasn't standard in all 500s. I've also noticed the the little loose change storage hatch to the side of the wheel column isn't there.
So, any exciting little hidden nooks and crannies I can look out for, or other features that will make me feel better?! I can't help that I just love storage!

 

[mj2k]

It's perfectly possible to retro-fit that under-chair secret compartment to the passenger seat if you want, assuming there's no subwoofer under there instead - it's a bit of a faff to take the seat base apart (mostly around removing the plastics) but there are plenty of them on Ebay (I've got one advertised, complete with the front rail) if you miss that

 

[chris3234]

The gloveshelf hidden box was removed in later cars for a proper glovebox
And the change draw was changed to a useless mesh net thingy too

 

[mj2k]

The gloveshelf hidden box was removed in later cars for a proper glovebox
And the change draw was changed to a useless mesh net thingy too

I don't really 'get' that hidden box, seems to be designed for putting the car's manual into from what I can see, but the catch on it is so complicated and stiff you need the manual to understand how to open it

As for the change drawer, is that the little thingy which covers the OBD2 socket? If so, I wonder if that could be swapped over too? If not I guess I'd better have a look for it, assuming it's fitted to the Abarth...

 

[chris3234]

I don't really 'get' that hidden box, seems to be designed for putting the car's manual into from what I can see, but the catch on it is so complicated and stiff you need the manual to understand how to open it

As for the change drawer, is that the little thingy which covers the OBD2 socket? If so, I wonder if that could be swapped over too? If not I guess I'd better have a look for it, assuming it's fitted to the Abarth...

No there is a small hole in the center piller area below the gearstick

 

[mj2k]

No there is a small hole in the center piller area below the gearstick

Ahh, I'll have a look for that, there's nothing more satisfying than finding a previous owner's small change in a strange location, though equally there's nothing more unpleasant than sticking your fingers into some little hidden space and pulling out a previous owner's moldering, half sucked sweet

 

[A3jeroen]

You could always try it for taste...

gr J

 

[mj2k]

You could always try it for taste...

gr J

I did find some spilled Christmas glitter, a chamber music CD and half a packet of Werthers Originals (luckily unsucked) when I got my car; I wasn't tempted to try the sweets, but it all pointed to the previous owner being 'of a certain age'...

 

[A3jeroen]

Older than me?

gr J

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

I don't really 'get' that hidden box, seems to be designed for putting the car's manual into from what I can see, but the catch on it is so complicated and stiff you need the manual to understand how to open it

As for the change drawer, is that the little thingy which covers the OBD2 socket? If so, I wonder if that could be swapped over too? If not I guess I'd better have a look for it, assuming it's fitted to the Abarth...

I use the 'secret' compartment for the car's documents (rego insurance etc) - the manuals won't fit. I wouldn't put spare change in the flip out compartment - the rattling would drive me spare...!

 

[mj2k]

I use the 'secret' compartment for the car's documents (rego insurance etc) - the manuals won't fit. I wouldn't put spare change in the flip out compartment - the rattling would drive me spare...!

I'll save that for half-eaten sweets then, so I can give the next owner a nasty surprise when / if I eventually sell it on

 

[mj2k]

Older than me?

gr J

Almost definitely - Ayrshire 108-year-old says Werther's Original are key to long and happy life

 

[mj2k]

@Emmlo leaving aside all the stuff about manky sweets, I hope you found out what you needed to know

Drop me a PM if you are interested in the seat cubby, Fiat probably stopped adding it because nobody knew it was there, but I think having a proper glovebox and a decent sized media screen is a pretty good substitute for the other little cubby holes, though with a little ingenuity you should be able to re-add most of them if you want. Maybe the one I haven't found yet in the gear lever surround can be re-added too, if the facelift surround's the same shape as the pre-fl. From my fiddling with a pre-facleift it appears the car's interior is pretty customizable as long as you're careful not to break any plastic tabs when taking stuff off, and as long as you've got somewhere to stash the original bits and bobs it's easy enough to return to standard spec if you come to trade it in or sell it on at a later date.