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Anyone had any experience with the modern Fiat 500?
David Jenkins - 8/4/19 at 02:20 PM

I'm looking for a runabout that my wife can use for local trips such as shopping. The modern Fiat 500 seems to fit the bill, but I have absolutely no knowledge of them, e.g. what they're like to drive, reliability, known problem areas and so on. Looking for "good", "bad", "wouldn't touch them with barge-pole" opinions to start with, followed by details, if possible.

Can anyone here help me out?

Ta in advance...

swanny - 8/4/19 at 02:26 PM

a friend has one and while she loves it, she is losing patience after multiple electrical issues. not sure if this is a wider problem or just her car but it seems to be one thing after another for her.

rdodger - 8/4/19 at 02:55 PM

A friend has the 2cyl one. She likes it but is hasn't been very reliable and both door handles broke, new radiator, clutch and a few other bits I can't remember in 35,000. Fuel economy is rubbish too.

David Jenkins - 8/4/19 at 03:35 PM

quote:
Originally posted by swanny
a friend has one and while she loves it, she is losing patience after multiple electrical issues. not sure if this is a wider problem or just her car but it seems to be one thing after another for her.


Hmm - Italian bikes used to have a reputation for wiring made out of tinsel that would break at the slightest touch. Maybe Fiat cars are no better, even now?

David Jenkins - 8/4/19 at 03:36 PM

quote:
Originally posted by rdodger
A friend has the 2cyl one. She likes it but is hasn't been very reliable and both door handles broke, new radiator, clutch and a few other bits I can't remember in 35,000. Fuel economy is rubbish too.


It sounds like I should rethink my bright idea - the design is nice for a small car, but I can't be doing with something that always needs attention.

I might investigate the Toyota Aygo, which was our "Plan B" choice.

[Edited on 8/4/19 by David Jenkins]

rusty nuts - 8/4/19 at 04:42 PM

Door handles are a common problem and electric steering columns cause problems amongst other things

dickie b - 8/4/19 at 05:16 PM

The Mrs has a 1.4 sport with 6 speed gearbox - has been totally reliable, rapid enough and a hoot
to drive . My only gripes have been a high seating position, a steering wheel that is a bit too chunky in its design, plus a cd/radio that is just annoying to use (volume buttons rather than a dial) - but that’s just me being picky.
Parts are dirt cheap and the car is pretty simple to fix.
Lots of fun to be had lobbing it about too.

Shooter63 - 8/4/19 at 07:20 PM

My Mrs had a twin air ( I think that was what it was called) automatic, I think I can quite honestly say it was the biggest P.O.S I have ever been in and I've been in a reliant regal

Shooter

nick205 - 9/4/19 at 11:59 AM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
quote:
Originally posted by rdodger
A friend has the 2cyl one. She likes it but is hasn't been very reliable and both door handles broke, new radiator, clutch and a few other bits I can't remember in 35,000. Fuel economy is rubbish too.


It sounds like I should rethink my bright idea - the design is nice for a small car, but I can't be doing with something that always needs attention.

I might investigate the Toyota Aygo, which was our "Plan B" choice.

[Edited on 8/4/19 by David Jenkins]




Don't know anything about the new (or old) Fiat 500s.

IIRC the Toyota Aygo is closely related to ther Peugeot 108 and Citroen C1. As a family of 5 we're given a Peugeot 108 as a hire car on holiday last year. It only has 2 seat belts on the rear seats - pay attention if you need 3 on the rear seat!

se7ensport - 9/4/19 at 12:11 PM

Aygo or Yaris (or the Citroen, Pug alternatives).

We have 4 Yaris and one C1 within immediate family, all have been very reliable and loved by their owners.

ian locostzx9rc2 - 9/4/19 at 01:33 PM

As above post best supermini you can buy

David Jenkins - 24/4/19 at 11:54 AM

Well, we made our minds up - we've just put a deposit on a 3-and-a-bit-year-old Citroen C1.

Nice little car to drive around in, although it really is a "2 adults and 2 legless paraplegics" car. The only thing I wasn't so keen on was the very bright turquoise colour, but my wife likes it...

It's just about ideal for the driving my wife wants to do.

Thanks to everyone for their guidance & recommendations.

rusty nuts - 24/4/19 at 01:34 PM

Nothing wrong with a very torques paint job!

rusty nuts - 24/4/19 at 01:36 PM

Nothing wrong with a very torques paint job!

MikeRJ - 25/4/19 at 08:53 AM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
quote:
Originally posted by rdodger
A friend has the 2cyl one. She likes it but is hasn't been very reliable and both door handles broke, new radiator, clutch and a few other bits I can't remember in 35,000. Fuel economy is rubbish too.


It sounds like I should rethink my bright idea - the design is nice for a small car, but I can't be doing with something that always needs attention.

I might investigate the Toyota Aygo, which was our "Plan B" choice.

[Edited on 8/4/19 by David Jenkins]


Also have a look at the Suzuki Swift, awesome little cars (especially the 1.6 Sport).

loggyboy - 25/4/19 at 09:15 AM

Looked at them with Ex quite a few years back. Walked away laughing when we pressed the hazard button on the dash and all the other buttons moved at the same time. Laughable build quality for a modern car.

David Jenkins - 25/4/19 at 11:33 AM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Looked at them with Ex quite a few years back. Walked away laughing when we pressed the hazard button on the dash and all the other buttons moved at the same time. Laughable build quality for a modern car.


The place I'm buying it from had 2 Citroen C1's - the one we're getting is the current model, and there was also a previous model there. I would probably agree with you on the older one, but the later one is very solid inside - it was clearly better than the previous one.

jacko - 26/4/19 at 03:10 PM

The Wife has had a 500 for 5 years now and loves it the only thing that has gone wrong with it is it got a flat tyre one day
I like to drive it too because it reminds me of the old type mini
jacko

Mr Whippy - 27/4/19 at 11:17 AM

I have vw up which is fantastic and I just love it. Costs me £20 a year road tax and does a genuine 74mpg yet got 110mph on the flat its like a tardis inside too. Honest 10/10 for the design.



[Edited on 27/4/19 by Mr Whippy]

David Jenkins - 27/4/19 at 11:43 AM

Wife's new car is a similar colour - just a bit more luminous!

SJ - 27/4/19 at 03:33 PM

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
quote:
Originally posted by rdodger
A friend has the 2cyl one. She likes it but is hasn't been very reliable and both door handles broke, new radiator, clutch and a few other bits I can't remember in 35,000. Fuel economy is rubbish too.


It sounds like I should rethink my bright idea - the design is nice for a small car, but I can't be doing with something that always needs attention.

I might investigate the Toyota Aygo, which was our "Plan B" choice.

[Edited on 8/4/19 by David Jenkins]


Also have a look at the Suzuki Swift, awesome little cars (especially the 1.6 Sport).


+1 for the Swift. We bought one for my wife a couple of years ago. It's a 2016 SZ4 - only a 1.2 but with 94BHP it is plenty fast enough and road tax is zero. Not had anything go wrong so far and it has plenty of electrical goodies like stop start, keyless entry, nav etc.

My wife does very few miles so I didn't want anything turbo'd and the old model Swift like ours has a chain driven 16v naturally aspirated i4 motor.

It handles nicely as well.