General The joy of the slowest 500

[306maxi]

I know that the twinair and Abarth seem to be getting more popular on here by the day, but there's something fun about the 1.2 with 16" wheels and its wide grippy tyres.

I've started a new job recently, well almost 2 months ago now and after a drive down the expressway, there's a roundabout where I get off and go towards work and in the last couple of weeks I've enjoyed taking a completely different line through the exit of the roundabout and overtaking loads of other cars because I carry about 10-15 mph more at the exit of the corner and because I've already got all my turning done 5-10 metres back, I'm already accelerating when others are just thinking about straightening their steering wheel up

Just something inherently fun about driving the slowest 500 and having to drive intelligently to get the most out of it One of my favourite drives was over the moors with a Focus ST in front of me who planted his foot on the straights, but wasn't obviously trying in the corners. Kept up with him and almost overtook him

 

[Murano16v]

mmm - not totally convinced. You could get an TA and disconnect the turbo then you would be even slower.

 

[306maxi]

mmm - not totally convinced. You could get an TA and disconnect the turbo then you would be even slower.

Well yes, I could do that But there's just something funny about jumping turbo diesels coming off the roundabout

 

[Murano16v]

Well yes, I could do that But there's just something funny about jumping turbo diesels coming off the roundabout

I sort of no what you mean. I used to drive my 1.2 Panda in a similar way. With a bit of forward thinking you can often get the jump on bigger cars. More fun though if you have a fast car that looks ordinary. I had a MK1 Renault 5 turbo Le Car. Basically a Gordini but with steel wheels and no frills. Great fun going a little slow if some big rep mobile was up my arse and then just booting it.

 

[The Twins]

Maxi, we have 1.2 and TA. I love 'em both. I have to say that 1.2 is a lot more refined and revs really well. Sort of reminds me of the Fiats and Alfas of my youth (especially with MM exhaust fitted) remember Ansa exhausts?
It's such a lot of fun when much quicker cars are 'shown up' by a 'slow' car.
I always remember going on the RAC rally (spectating) in an old Alfasud with slipping clutch and keeping up with XR3i's etc.. lol
A well driven 'slow' car can really hold its own.
Roundabouts are a great place to to take advantage ; )

 

[arorat]

Maxi, we have 1.2 and TA. I love 'em both. I have to say that 1.2 is a lot more refined and revs really well. Sort of reminds me of the Fiats and Alfas of my youth (especially with MM exhaust fitted) remember Ansa exhausts?
It's such a lot of fun when much quicker cars are 'shown up' by a 'slow' car.
I always remember going on the RAC rally (spectating) in an old Alfasud with slipping clutch and keeping up with XR3i's etc.. lol
A well driven 'slow' car can really hold its own.
Roundabouts are a great place to to take advantage ; )

For the best roundabouts experiance Maxi needs to try drifting and buy a Suburu BRZ, what a car.

 

[123barney]

The Americans always say a bigger engine is always better than a smaller one, and it will always be true. When I first bought my Pop with 16" multispoke, low profile tyres, I found the cornering and acceleration to be more than adequate for my type of driving, I would have to have a good test drive in the tiny engine twinair to convince me otherwise.

 

[deeyup]

I used to love riding my Husky supermoto in the same way.
I'd dust up Fireblades, overtake them in the twisties, and laugh my socks off as they blasted past at 140mph thinking they'd won.

David V Goliath!! There is no better feeling! (Well actually there is, but let's not get into that )

 

[bgunn]

The Americans always say a bigger engine is always better than a smaller one, and it will always be true.

Because fuel (used to) cost so little there. It's not always true, like making any generalisation, there are many exceptions to this 'rule'.

As they say 'driving is believing' - everyone should pick the car/engine that suits them best, rather than following what others preach as 'best'.

 

[UFI]

mmm - not totally convinced. You could get an TA and disconnect the turbo then you would be even slower.

Or press the ECO button...100Nm vs 101 for the 1.2 Factor in the extra ~60kg and the TA in ECO is the slowest.

 

[jrkitching]

I found the cornering and acceleration to be more than adequate for my type of driving, I would have to have a good test drive in the tiny engine twinair to convince me otherwise.

The TA will accelerate faster than the 1.2, but if you don't need or want the additional performance, a 1.2 will save you some money and probably some fuel too.

However, most prospective new 500 purchasers who test drive both seem to end up leaving the showroom with a TA order in their hands...

Bgunn makes a good point. Buying what's right for you beats following the pack. That doesn't make other folks wrong for making a different choice, though - there isn't a 'best' engine for the 500, only the engine that's best for you.

 

[KaZetec]

However, most prospective new 500 purchasers who test drive both seem to end up leaving the showroom with a TA order in their hands...

Guilty as charged.

 

[jrkitching]

Factor in the extra ~60kg and the TA in ECO is the slowest.

Just something inherently fun about driving the slowest 500

Oi! Maybelline is the slowest 500 on the forum. End of.

Never been over 60mph / 2500 rpm in 20,000 miles..

 

[UFI]

Is this thread about the slowest car or slowest driver?

 

[306maxi]

slowest car

 

[Super Uwe]

I know that the twinair and Abarth seem to be getting more popular on here by the day, but there's something fun about the 1.2 with 16" wheels and its wide grippy tyres.

I've started a new job recently, well almost 2 months ago now and after a drive down the expressway, there's a roundabout where I get off and go towards work and in the last couple of weeks I've enjoyed taking a completely different line through the exit of the roundabout and overtaking loads of other cars because I carry about 10-15 mph more at the exit of the corner and because I've already got all my turning done 5-10 metres back, I'm already accelerating when others are just thinking about straightening their steering wheel up

Just something inherently fun about driving the slowest 500 and having to drive intelligently to get the most out of it One of my favourite drives was over the moors with a Focus ST in front of me who planted his foot on the straights, but wasn't obviously trying in the corners. Kept up with him and almost overtook him

Great post Maxi.

I quite agree with you as to the fun nature of the 1.2. Of course we all love different things about our cars, but I have to say that the performance of the 1.2 is something that can often be overlooked.

Just yesterday we were driving back on the A30 near Exeter and we had to pull in to a parking area for a quick nappy change (not mine, the boy's one...). However we had to get back on the dual carriageway from a stationary start; not ideal really in a 1.2 Panda with a full load. Still - a quick change from first to second and then third and we were (relatively) quickly back up to 50mph

Of course I was giving it plenty of beans, but the engine was able to cope absolutely fine and deliver enough power in a quick enough time. IMO if you just trust your instincts with the 1.2 rather than follow the shift indicators for example, you will get the most out of it, whether that be in terms of performance or economy.

When we chose to swap our 500 for a Panda, I was really keen on getting a TA. But when I really had time to reflect, it was pretty obvious that the 1.2 was more than enough for what we needed, and buying a TA would just be an extra expense.

 

[ItalianWines]

Re: Re: The joy of the slowest 500

The TA will accelerate faster than the 1.2..............

However, most prospective new 500 purchasers who test drive both seem to end up leaving the showroom with a TA order in their hands...

.

Guilty Here Too....
We ordered our 500 S TA on Feb 20...
Just had an update from Dealer.. It's at stage 10 - he thought it would be 12/14 by now... He said when stage 12 , at least another 4/6 week's easily.... This means we might not get delivery until second week May.... :-/ 10/12 week's later..
Who knows what the different stages are please, and what's the likelihood this est delivery will be sooner?
Cheers

 

[scout]

I must admit I wanted a 500 and after driving the TA I could not dream of driving any other (except maybe an Abarth ) It suits my driving style and with the ECO button pushed delivers the economy I wanted. I do have a thing about people entering motorways too slowly and the TA gives me the acceleration that allows me to enter from sliproads at the speed of the traffic already on the road. That alone was good enough reason to buy the TA.

Saying that, I do enjoy driving down country roads in ECO mode using the driveability of the car to let me make good progress.

As said above its horses for courses and the 500 seems to deliver an engine/performance for everybody.

Best thing to do is make your choice and just enjoy it, that's what I did and haven't regretted it one bit .

 

[306maxi]

For the best roundabouts experiance Maxi needs to try drifting and buy a Suburu BRZ, what a car.

Nah, I wouldn't get a BRZ, it would feel too expensive and I bet it would cost like a million pounds to fix if it got a puncture

 

[wigit]

if i had my time again i'd take the 1.2 especially given the CCL changes

thing about the 500 is you can have fun on roads which aren't going to get your licence into trouble

i have a 10 mile route each way to the motorway and love getting the 500 cranked up along there and seeing the look on peoples faces when they can't shake you, that said its all down to confidence and knowing the car

favourite scalp in the 500 was my wife not being able to keep up on the same road in her GTI as she didn't want to push it in the twisties as much