General Running Costs

[bgunn]

TA is definitely too fun to drive to want to drive it economically all of the time. The 1.2 has the fact that even when it's thrashed to death, it's pretty economical, in its favour.

I wouldn't be without my TA, and am currently enjoying pottering about attempting to be reasonably careful - getting high 40s in ECO mode whilst driving to and from work on a particularly aggressive bit of the M1 (between J1 and J8), and I'm happy with that. Other people probably wouldn't be, but I enjoy a peaceful, stress free drive whilst everyone else is cutting each other up!

 

[SteveTDCi]

I would favour the ta as I believe it to be more fun (need to drive one), even if I could get it to average 45+ it's still a lot more than I am currently getting. Besides there is a thread elsewhere where someone is getting 60mpg

 

[bgunn]

Definitely drive them all and try to get more than a 5 min test drive too.

 

[scout]

My average since buying the car new is 42mpg in the TA, however I am now getting high 40's low 50's regularly when doing normal driving. (I will admit that the appeal of the TA does get the better of me every now and then and a VERY spirited drive will land me in the high 30's )

 

[306maxi]

I would favour the ta as I believe it to be more fun (need to drive one), even if I could get it to average 45+ it's still a lot more than I am currently getting. Besides there is a thread elsewhere where someone is getting 60mpg

Don't get me wrong, I would go for the ta, but don't fool yourself that it's going to be as cheap as you think it will be

 

[JTD_Liam]

The TwinAir is the more fun engine, but the 1.2 that I've driven in Panda's is still quite a characterful engine & would give most other entry level engines a run for their money. It knocks the socks off of other small engines I've used, which are probably all newer than Fiats FIRE unit. It's simply that the TwinAir sets the bar very high.

However, having experienced a 500 TwinAir for the last 14 months and 12,500 miles, I would say if you want to honestly calculate your figures, assume fuel economy of 46-48mpg. My parents 500 has recorded 46mpg pretty much continuously since we got it brand new, but in the last couple of thousand miles that's gone to 48mpg and over. I get 52+mpg on a run so it depends on where you drive, but I'd assume 46-48 as a worse case scenario, which me & my parents are pretty happy with, given the performance of the engine is far greater than you'd expect for its size, and a lot more gutsy (particularly at high speed) than the 1.2.

Going beyond 36,000 miles, the TwinAir might claw back a few hundred pounds as it has a timing chain which shouldn't need replacing compared to the belt on the 1.2.

 

[scout]

Earlier this month I got 62+ MPG (accourding to fuelly) out of a tank, over 375 miles, when I went to the Notts show. I was taking it easy but I'm still well impressed with my little TA

 

[306maxi]

We've got 2 1.2 FIRE engines in our cars and for a 1.2 they really are fantastic engines, I'd still take a Ta, but the 1.2 isn't a crap engine just because it's the cheapest/slowest.

 

[scout]

I don't think anyone is suggesting that 306maxi, in fact I was ready to buy one until I test drove the TA, Bearing in mind that I came from a 2.7ltr coupe the TA just got the edge over the 1.2 because it delivers (nearly) the best of both worlds, it's relitively ecconomical when you want it and a spritely ride when you feel the need.

 

[SteveTDCi]

Either way it's still going to be cheaper than the Leon although not as quick

I'd probably hire one or a day but would want one for at least 1/2 a day,quick test drives mean nothing

 

[scout]

My criteria for any car is that when entering a motorway up a slip road, by the time I reach the main carrageway it must be travelling at least 70mph so I don't slow down traffic on said motorway. The TA delivers that with little fuss (It also went up the Brooklands test hill with ease, dombooth has a video (so he says ).

 

[bgunn]

We've got 2 1.2 FIRE engines in our cars and for a 1.2 they really are fantastic engines, I'd still take a Ta, but the 1.2 isn't a crap engine just because it's the cheapest/slowest.

I'd go with that..

 

[dombooth]

My criteria for any car is that when entering a motorway up a slip road, by the time I reach the main carrageway it must be travelling at least 70mph so I don't slow down traffic on said motorway. The TA delivers that with little fuss (It also went up the Brooklands test hill with ease, dombooth has a video (so he says ).

I have, honest.

Just got round to putting photos on FB lol.

Dom

 

[scout]

I have, honest.

Just got round to putting photos on FB lol.

Dom

FB? not youtube?

 

[dombooth]

FB? not youtube?

You don't put photos on youtube.

Dom

 

[dombooth]

My criteria for any car is that when entering a motorway up a slip road, by the time I reach the main carrageway it must be travelling at least 70mph so I don't slow down traffic on said motorway. The TA delivers that with little fuss (It also went up the Brooklands test hill with ease, dombooth has a video (so he says ).

Here ya go:

https://www.fiatforum.com/events/319372-auto-italia-brooklands-2013-a-20.html?p=3242501



Dom

 

[scout]

Yep that's the one

 

[GrandeGuy]

I've been advised by my fiat garage sales rep and 3 of the employes to steer clear of the TA they drink real bad apparently :shrug:

 

[jrkitching]

1.2 all the way

I really do think that a TA would struggle to meet that unless in the hands of the most determined of eco drivers

In the hands of the most determined of eco drivers, the 1.2 romps ahead of the TA .

Fuelly currently shows my lifetime fuel cost (just over 20k miles) at 9.9p/mile based on an average fuel price of 131p/ltr .

In fairness, though, if you want to run any 500 & spend less than 10p/mile on fuel, you won't be romping ahead of anything .

But to the OP, I think you're making a fundamental mistake if you're trying to differentiate between a 1.2 & a TA based on running costs. IMO the difference won't be sufficiently great to justify buying a car you don't really want.

My advice remains the same as always; have a decent test drive in both, and buy the one which best suits your driving style.

 

[306maxi]

Eco driving is fun in itself, but I just drove our Legacy turbo around a tarmac stage of the world rally championship this morning and that was quite fun even if I was slow. It is actually a private road as well.