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General Prospective new owner.. few questions!

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General Prospective new owner.. few questions!

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chicaneuk

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Hi all... I'm a prospective new owner. Currently weighing up different options in the year or two old circa £7,000 price range and can't see anything nicer than the Fiat 500 for the money. I've had a soft spot for these for years but only now think I'm in a position to take my current, thirsty car off the road for longer term restoration and care and get something much more economical and practical for daily duties.

I'd be looking at a bog standard 1.2 Pop.. just wondered how people find these from a reliability, economy point of view - and just whether they've lived up to expectations? Also are they fun to drive? Are they hard work on the motorway? I fully accept that a 1.2 engine isn't going to pull like the engine in my Corrado (2.9 VR6) - however I do enjoy driving small cars (my ex-girlfriend had a Ka and a 1.5 DCi Micra and I always enjoyed driving both of them around town and on long trips) so know full well what to expect from a performance point of view.

Anyone got one out of warranty and had any terrible / scary bills? Being as I currently own a German I'm well aware there is a lot of snooty opinions about Fiats but I want to be open minded and listen to peoples experiences and not just go on heresay and opinions from the 80's! I'd hopefully be getting something a year or two old so hopefully would still have some recourse with Fiat if something broke.

Thanks in advance!
 
chicaneuk said:
Hi all... I'm a prospective new owner. Currently weighing up different options in the year or two old circa £7,000 price range and can't see anything nicer than the Fiat 500 for the money. I've had a soft spot for these for years but only now think I'm in a position to take my current, thirsty car off the road for longer term restoration and care and get something much more economical and practical for daily duties.

I'd be looking at a bog standard 1.2 Pop.. just wondered how people find these from a reliability, economy point of view - and just whether they've lived up to expectations? Also are they fun to drive? Are they hard work on the motorway? I fully accept that a 1.2 engine isn't going to pull like the engine in my Corrado (2.9 VR6) - however I do enjoy driving small cars (my ex-girlfriend had a Ka and a 1.5 DCi Micra and I always enjoyed driving both of them around town and on long trips) so know full well what to expect from a performance point of view.

Anyone got one out of warranty and had any terrible / scary bills? Being as I currently own a German I'm well aware there is a lot of snooty opinions about Fiats but I want to be open minded and listen to peoples experiences and not just go on heresay and opinions from the 80's! I'd hopefully be getting something a year or two old so hopefully would still have some recourse with Fiat if something broke.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

I myself had a german 323i and got sick of the scary prices particularily when I got some M bits taken off it and then I had a wee weep on the head gasket. I was OK about the fuel bills but the road tax and extra insurance costs finally allowed me to get rid of it.
On the '08 Sport and the '09 Lounge both 1.4 the running costs in comparison are at least than half even with the slightly thristy but nicely performing engine.
Also I like the 500 size and it performs admirably on the open road and buts quite a few GTI wannabes to shame at the lights. :)
There are others on here who have a much better insight on the 1.2 but I would recommend that you up spec to either a Lounge or a Sport from the Pop. You get a lot of extras for little secondhand money. Also it's worth noting that a 2010 (Dec 2009) model will have the ARB which gives a better ride. My current '09 1.4 Lounge has a better ride than the old '08 Sport but that might be down to less wear & tear and the Continental tyres. I might be inclined to slightly increase the budget and get a '09 + model.
 
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Hello chicaneuk,

Welcome to the forum as well.

I own a 1.2 Pop and it has been a pleasure to own so far (it is a 59 plate). The Pop version is not loaded with extras by any means, but it does have a reasonable amount of kit - you might find it has more than enough for what you need anyway.

I would nevertheless recommend trying to get one with aircon added as an extra, you will certainly benefit from it when it is hot and humid, or indeed damp in the winter.

The performance of the 1.2 is really quite good, and you will be able to achieve upper 40's/low 50's mpg without any great effort. I think it's a fun engine as well, more so that people might often assume. It compliments the 500 well and the only time really that you are found wanting is on particularly steep hills. Motorways, A roads etc are fine. That said, you just need to concentrate more on gear selection in order to maintain your momentum - it's a case of educating yourself!:D

The main downside for (pre-59 reg cars mainly) is the ride quality and bodyroll around corners over 30mph. I would recommend having a good test drive if possible to make sure that you are happy with it as it won't be to the liking of everyone. Post 59 plate ones do have improved suspension, if you are able to compare the two then that would be handy.

Reliability - it's a good solid car. There are of course some issues (mainly suspension related with out-of-warranty cars) but those ITK have regularly stated that the costs are not overly extortionate to fix. I can't comment on this but maybe others can.

Overall I would recommend the Pop if you're happy to have the overall "shape" of the 500 but aren't too bothered about the other bits.
 
Thanks for the warm welcome and useful responses! I take onboard the suggestions around getting some optional extras but.. having basically never owned a car with air conditioning, and given that my current car only really has the basics (electric windows! wow!) then I'm really not too worried about too many optional extras.. besides, it's just more stuff to go wrong :)

The majority of my driving is tooling to work and back, and I rarely have passengers in the car. I do occasionally do longer drives to visit my folks 130 miles away but provided the car will cruise at 70MPH ok, then I'm happy.

Responses look positive so far! Anyway, I've seen a basic silver 1.2 Pop at an independent dealership not far away from me. Only 8,000 miles and one owner, think it's two years old and it's up at just under £7,000 which seems pretty decent. Seem to be a few around in that sort of condition and price so I think I should be able to find plenty of examples to view.

Still never driven or been in a 500 so I hope when I finally get a test drive I like it!
 
chicaneuk said:
Thanks for the warm welcome and useful responses! I take onboard the suggestions around getting some optional extras but.. having basically never owned a car with air conditioning, and given that my current car only really has the basics (electric windows! wow!) then I'm really not too worried about too many optional extras.. besides, it's just more stuff to go wrong :)
Click to expand...

In which case it might be worth considering a Panda - now that it has the Euro5 engine it's essentially the same car underneath as the pre-2010 modded 500. Big bonus is you can buy a brand new one with a 3yr warranty & still have £1000 change out of your £7k. You'll get electric windows as standard, so you'll keep the 'wow' factor.

I've got one of each so have no axe to grind. They're both great cars; the price differential is down to fashion, not functionality:).
 
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I'm afraid the Panda has just never done anything for me. I appreciate that the 500 is really just style over any substance compared to the Panda as they're essentially the same underneath..

But as I say, if I'm sacrificing performance I have to like the car. I always thought the 500 was a pretty little thing the first time I saw it and I've still not got bored of seeing them so think it'll be a safe bet.

I do quite like the Panda 100HP though..
 
chicaneuk said:
Responses look positive so far! Anyway, I've seen a basic silver 1.2 Pop at an independent dealership not far away from me. Only 8,000 miles and one owner, think it's two years old and it's up at just under £7,000 which seems pretty decent. Seem to be a few around in that sort of condition and price so I think I should be able to find plenty of examples to view.

Still never driven or been in a 500 so I hope when I finally get a test drive I like it!
Click to expand...

A lot of the BSM cars here in Bournemouth were silver and although that doesn't mean squat I would be inclined to ask about the previous owner, just out of interest. However, irrespective of that, as long as it is in good nick with good service history and drives well that's all that matters.
 
To be honest I wish I'd bought the 1.4 now. Cheap tax is good on the 1.2 but a few long journeys now have made me realise I could do with more power. When someone pulls out in front of you just as a hill starts you really feel the lack of power.

I'm probably going towards another brand next time I love my 500 but e constant engine noise is getting to me.....am going to look for a quieter drive! Mind you I'm talking of another 6 odd years so probably by then I'll have changed my mind and lean towards a 500 or whatever it is called then!
 
Heidi said:
To be honest I wish I'd bought the 1.4 now. Cheap tax is good on the 1.2 but a few long journeys now have made me realise I could do with more power. When someone pulls out in front of you just as a hill starts you really feel the lack of power.

I'm probably going towards another brand next time I love my 500 but e constant engine noise is getting to me.....am going to look for a quieter drive! Mind you I'm talking of another 6 odd years so probably by then I'll have changed my mind and lean towards a 500 or whatever it is called then!
Click to expand...

This is the first time that I have seen a 1.2 driver be honest enough to say that that would have preferred the power of the 1.4. I remember a woman that I dealt with at the Garage when I was getting my first car serviced and she had 'downsized' to a 1.2 from a 1.4. Her words were that the '1.4 really went up the hills and there are a lot of them around here' - the Garage was in Arklow down in Wicklow.

I'm unsure about English prices but in Ireland you can buy a secondhand 1.4 Lounge/Sport for the same money as a 1.2 Pop because the Road tax is £302 verus £104.

Here are 2 threads on my real world economy on a 1.4 on the open road. It wouldn't match a 1.2 but it might have if I drove like durukan.:)

Sensible but quicker on the return
Round trip from Dublin to Belfast

A bit fast going down and then nearly ran out of fuel on the way back...
Round trip from Dublin to Charleville, Cork
 
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Hmm.. well it is food for thought on engine capacity so thanks. I'll have to try and get a test drive and see what I think.

Performance should be fairly similar to the Ford Ka that my girlfriend used to own and whilst it was rather gutless on the hills, you just kind of took it for what it was... if it's to the point of being dangerous or something though then that may force me to look at a 1.4 as an option.

Cheers!
 
I'm okay in hills if I get enough run up. The dual carriageway on route to work has a fairly steep hill and if anyone pulls out which forces me to let up on accelerator then I lose power up the hill and have to drop a gear sometimes two.

My old KA had more power up the hill. From memory I think it was 1.3. My seicento sporting definitely had more power.

Probably getting fiesta next time depending on whether they change the shape. I quite like the current shape. I like the mito but to get the spec I want I have to get a 1.7 which I don't want
 
Heidi said:
I'm okay in hills if I get enough run up. The dual carriageway on route to work has a fairly steep hill and if anyone pulls out which forces me to let up on accelerator then I lose power up the hill and have to drop a gear sometimes two.

My old KA had more power up the hill. From memory I think it was 1.3. My seicento sporting definitely had more power.

Probably getting fiesta next time depending on whether they change the shape. I quite like the current shape. I like the mito but to get the spec I want I have to get a 1.7 which I don't want
Click to expand...

They don't do a 1.7 Mito :)
 
Just not sure i'll find a low miler twin air or 1.4 in my price range to be honest... :(
 
Hi.I'm a prospective new owner too. I'm getting a bit tired of the recurring problems I've got with my 2004 Mini One, so want to part-ex. My sister's got a red 1.2 Lounge, which I've driven, but it's not as peppy as my Mini. I've arranged to test-drive a twinair and 1.4 this saturday, both Lounge versions.
I spoke to a guy in a carpark in Holmfirth last week, who got out of a 1.4 Sport in that stunning blue (volare) with a white side-stripe. His car looked the business, and had gorgeous alloys with red brake callipers, but he said Fiat are stopping the Sport, which is the model I'd have preferred, but without the chrome bumpers and glass roof etc. He said these are optional extras for the sport.I recall the Fiat dealer said much the same about the Sport being discontinued. It's a pity. The guy in the blue 500 was really informative and suggested test-driving both engines. He might have even mentioned looking on this forum too, but I was too busy admiring his car. Can't think of a snazzier alternative/replacement for my mini, and don't really fancy one of the new Minis, as I think you don't get much in terms of goodies for your money.
Looking forward to my test-drives. PS If the guy who was visiting Holmfirth for the afternoon, is on this forum and reading this, then HI and thanks for the advice. Your 500 is a stunner mate.(y).
 
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