Technical Outside Temperature gauge 500 iPoP

[Eyebaws]

Hi Folks,
New to the forum after buying a 61 plate Fiat 500 "iPop" in Black.
Enjoying the car so far. Great fun to drive (Starting to get used to the ribbing about a guy driving a fiat 500!!).
Can anyone tell me if this car (essentially a 1.2 pop with bluetooth,start stop etc) should be able to tell me the outside temp? Doesn't currently show me it on the dash. (Although I can see that it is there.. just doesn't light up with a temp)

 

[Super Uwe]

Hello Eyebaws,

Welcome to the forum.

Unless you have the colour coded wing mirrors (i.e. they ain't black plastic) then you probably don't have the temperature indicator. We have a Pop and don't have it either.

Know what you mean about seeing all the different symbols on the dash; if you look at a particular angle you can also see stuff like "Sport" etc.

 

[Eyebaws]

Thought that may be the case!
Thanks

 

[loveshandbags]

Hi Folks,
New to the forum after buying a 61 plate Fiat 500 "iPop" in Black.
Enjoying the car so far. Great fun to drive (Starting to get used to the ribbing about a guy driving a fiat 500!!).
Can anyone tell me if this car (essentially a 1.2 pop with bluetooth,start stop etc) should be able to tell me the outside temp? Doesn't currently show me it on the dash. (Although I can see that it is there.. just doesn't light up with a temp)

Welcome to the Forum Eyebaws.

Hate to 'break the bad news' to you but IIRC the outside temperature feature is part of the colour coded electric mirrors option in that the sensor is on the passenger mirror. It's not there on the Pop unless you have specified that 'extra'. There's a thread on the FF of other options that you could consider if you really wanted it.

I had a black 500 and I thought it was quite manly but if you only have the steelies you could take the hub caps off to 'cut down on the ribbing'.

edit: just noticed that Super Uwe got there before me.

 

[Eyebaws]

Welcome to the Forum Eyebaws.

Hate to 'break the bad news' to you but IIRC the outside temperature feature is part of the colour coded electric mirrors option in that the sensor is on the passenger mirror. It's not there on the Pop unless you have specified that 'extra'. There's a thread on the FF of other options that you could consider if you really wanted it.

I had a black 500 and I thought it was quite manly but if you only have the steelies you could take the hub caps off to 'cut down on the ribbing'.

I have taken the hubcaps off and replaced with white multi-spoke hubcaps as a temporary measure! haha..
Whilst on that subject, how big am I able to go on the pop, alloy wise?

 

[jrkitching]

Whilst on that subject, how big am I able to go on the pop, alloy wise?

AFAIK all of the factory option 500 wheels for the 1.2 will fit, but if such things are important to you, be aware that any change from the standard steelies will worsen the ride, reduce fuel economy, accelerate the rate of wear on the suspension and most likely increase your insurance premium. If you want to fit non-FIAT alloys, you'll likely also need wobbly bolts, since the 500 is designed for 98PCD wheels.

 

[loveshandbags]

I have taken the hubcaps off and replaced with white multi-spoke hubcaps as a temporary measure! haha..
Whilst on that subject, how big am I able to go on the pop, alloy wise?

I would suggest 15inch and if you can pick up a set of the Sport ones on ebay IMHO they would suit the 1.2 the best. 'Bigger' wheels as JR has correctly pointed out have downsides - the only plus would be the looks and possibly better braking on the basis that you fit a decent set of tyres.
A spoiler just like the Fiat one would look good as well. Best to stick with 'Dealer options' as much as possible so you don't run on 'thin ice' with the insurance. Still any changes should be declared on the policy.

 

[jrkitching]

...and possibly better braking...

On a 1.2 with 69bhp, solid discs & drums I'd be surprised if you'd see much of an improvement over the OEM fit. An A500SS with uprated ventilated discs is of course a different proposition entirely .

 

[loveshandbags]

On a 1.2 with 69bhp, solid discs & drums I'd be surprised if you'd see much of an improvement over the OEM fit. An A500SS with uprated ventilated discs is of course a different proposition entirely .

Since the OP has his query answered I thought I would reply to this.

A few moons back I started a thread on better brakes and come to the conclusion that the best return for your £ was better tyres (Click here). The autoexpress article demonstrated the difference in braking distances with the better tyre. Looking around for some better 'material' these 2 popped up...
http://forum.miata.net/vb/archive/index.php/t-260280.html
http://www.edmunds.com/how-to/how-to-choose-tires-and-wheels.html
Since I have / had a little soft spot for the MX5 I remembered that another benefit of the 15 inch is handling and it's not surprising to see that the Miata's standard wheel is now 15 inch.

There appears to be less in the way of availability of performance tyres in 14s (even 15s are not great compared with 16s).

When I looked at the actual brakes on the 500 the ABS worked differently on ones fitted with ESC. I would have to dig out the actual technical differences but I got the impression that on the 1.4 the brakes worked quicker / better since the ESC is a standard fit plus it has discs all round with the fronts being ventilated (the A500SS are also cross drilled but that's more for show). So if you have a really good set of tyres on this setup you would probably get reduced stopping distances.

I've only driven a 1.2 - never owned one so I haven't got to experience the limits of its brakes - so I would have to take your word that the bigger foot print would make no difference.

EDIT: Found that 'technical' document on the differences that ESP makes on the Braking on the 500 - it is only in the area of Emergency brake assist. The opening article states that Vehicles fitted with ESP also benefit from hydraulic brake assistance but then goes on to state that if ESP is not fitted it will still operate with equal efficiency...

http://www.carpages.co.uk/fiat/fiat-500-safety-19-01-08.asp
On Fiat 500 versions without ESP, emergency brake assistance takes the form of Emergency Valve Assistance (EVA); a mechanical system located inside the brake servo. On vehicles fitted with ESP, the function is carried out electronically by the ABS control unit and is known as Hydraulic Brake Assistance (HBA). Both systems carry out an identical function with equal efficiency.

 

[ahmett]

Since the OP has his query answered I thought I would reply to this.

A few moons back I started a thread on better brakes and come to the conclusion that the best return for your £ was better tyres (Click here). The autoexpress article demonstrated the difference in braking distances with the better tyre. Looking around for some better 'material' these 2 popped up...
http://forum.miata.net/vb/archive/index.php/t-260280.html
http://www.edmunds.com/how-to/how-to-choose-tires-and-wheels.html
Since I have / had a little soft spot for the MX5 I remembered that another benefit of the 15 inch is handling and it's not surprising to see that the Miata's standard wheel is now 15 inch.

There appears to be less in the way of availability of performance tyres in 14s (even 15s are not great compared with 16s).

When I looked at the actual brakes on the 500 the ABS worked differently on ones fitted with ESC. I would have to dig out the actual technical differences but I got the impression that on the 1.4 the brakes worked quicker / better since the ESC is a standard fit plus it has discs all round with the fronts being ventilated (the A500SS are also cross drilled but that's more for show). So if you have a really good set of tyres on this setup you would probably get reduced stopping distances.

I've only driven a 1.2 - never owned one so I haven't got to experience the limits of its brakes - so I would have to take your word that the bigger foot print would make no difference.

EDIT: Found that 'technical' document on the differences that ESP makes on the Braking on the 500 - it is only in the area of Emergency brake assist. The opening article states that Vehicles fitted with ESP also benefit from hydraulic brake assistance but then goes on to state that if ESP is not fitted it will still operate with equal efficiency...

http://www.carpages.co.uk/fiat/fiat-500-safety-19-01-08.asp
On Fiat 500 versions without ESP, emergency brake assistance takes the form of Emergency Valve Assistance (EVA); a mechanical system located inside the brake servo. On vehicles fitted with ESP, the function is carried out electronically by the ABS control unit and is known as Hydraulic Brake Assistance (HBA). Both systems carry out an identical function with equal efficiency.

Bigger tyres mean more contact points so tecnically braking will be better. I agree with you the 1.4 has better brakes than the 1.2 and the twinair, and was amongst the first things i noticed when i drove the twinair, how it took longer to slowdown! = ) The 1.4 has very decent brakes the only times i felt the car could have stopped faster were probably due to tires losing grip, but i feel the 15 inches are adequate for a car of the Fiat 500 and I decided not to get the 16 inches because i felt they were too big for such a small car and turn it into a rock over the bumps = )

I would go for the 15 inches if i were you, more than enough for a car of this power and weight. If you really wanted wide tires you could always go for wider tires on the 15 inch, i have seen 195/50(or was it 60 i cant remember) 15's on the fiat 500 but on a car of this power i see no reason of doing so and i would stick with the 185/55.