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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To really want a Fiat 500L?

83 replies

RingRingHello · 09/05/2017 20:13

I'm looking at changing my car. Basic requirements are 5 doors, enough boot space for a pushchair and to be as economic/reliable as possible. I've just seen the Fiat 500L and think it would be a nice change from a boring looking car. AIBU to want to buy one just because they're so cute? I realise they're a bit like marmite, so they're probably not everyone's idea of cute.

Does anyone drive one? I'd appreciate any good/bad things anyone has to help with the decision. Thanks Smile

OP posts:
missymayhemsmum · 09/05/2017 20:15

They are very very cute. But not as cute as my Leaf!

topcat2014 · 09/05/2017 20:16

Now, I really want the original 500L - but that would be as old as me..

The new range is quite funky, makes a change from the routine types.

Badbadtromance · 09/05/2017 20:17

My dsis has one. Super cute but no boot room to speak of

topcat2014 · 09/05/2017 20:17

@missy - how do you get on with the charging?

StripyHorse · 09/05/2017 20:25

I drove one with work once. On first sight of hated it. Once I got behind the wheel I changed my mind. After 8 hours of driving (not all in one go) I loved it.

DH vetoed getting one (rule is... we both have to like the car, and he doesn't)

babygoatsmummy · 09/05/2017 20:49

Got one last year, with a glass roof, love love love it! Loads of boot space, easily fits kids bikes in.

2cats2many · 09/05/2017 20:50

Fiat stands for "Fix it again tomorrow" for a good reason. Steer well clear.

allegretto · 09/05/2017 20:53

I love them! I think they are more reliable nowadays. My neighbour has the old version - still going strong and she can park it anywhere!

WildBelle · 09/05/2017 20:53

I borrowed my mums for a week recently while mine was in the garage. Worst week of my life. Don't do it. No way you'd get a pushchair in the boot!

babygoatsmummy · 09/05/2017 20:55

Wildbelle, you would in a 500L, it's the bigger version.

PeaFaceMcgee · 09/05/2017 21:01

Family member was in a crash with theirs and it crumpled up like paper. They'll never get another one... Though it was a few years ago now. Maybe the newer ones are better? Read up on the crash test reports.

Brittbugs80 · 09/05/2017 21:01

I've had two Fiat's, not 500's and both of them cost more in repairs over the years than their value. Both have been scrapped and the reason I wouldn't touch them again with a barge pole. But I love the mustard 500 to look at! My friend had a blue one and the exhaust pipe fell off after three months and the steering column broke after 12 months!

PeaFaceMcgee · 09/05/2017 21:04

Oh sorry - it obvs wasn't the L version she had!

Original poster
RingRingHello · 09/05/2017 21:05

Thanks everyone. Glad to hear that some people do like them. I haven't seen one in real life yet but there's one for sale about 50 miles away so was debating whether to go for a test drive.

I'd heard about Fiat having reliability issues, but does anyone know of any specific reasons to avoid the 500L? It is the 5 door version, not the tiny 500.

babygoatsmummy do you find it a good family car then? I want something big enough for 2 adults and 2 young children to fit in but not a massive car that I'll have trouble parking.

OP posts:
SleepFreeZone · 09/05/2017 21:06

I have one!

toolonglurking · 09/05/2017 21:08

My heart sinks every time I see one ahead of me, they are always driven badly and never pull in to let people pass.
I assume it's because they have quite small engines or it's because they are usually driven by people who don't really have much interest in driving.

I learnt to drive in one, horribly plastic and cheap inside.

Topsyloulou · 09/05/2017 21:10

We have one as a pool car at work & I love driving it. Very comfortable drive, drove it 4 hours to Wales & back in the same day with no discomfort. The one we've got is very nippy too!

We also had one as a hire car in Italy & it fitted two large suitcases, hand luggage & a supermarket shop in no problem.

halfbuffy · 09/05/2017 21:12

I've got a 500 at the moment but will need to change as we're having a baby in 3 weeks and the 3 door is going to be a nightmare, we looked at the L as well but decided the X might be better...

Following this with interest!

babygoatsmummy · 09/05/2017 21:12

I did a lot of obsessive research before buying ours, it's bigger than the Nissan Note I had before. Plenty of room for me, DH, 2 children and the dog. I've not had any reliability issues personally and the safety rating is very good, which was one of the reasons for choosing it (and it just looks pretty cool!).

SleepFreeZone · 09/05/2017 21:12

Sorry I was feeding or I would have elaborated 🙊

I have a 2014 plate, red with panoramic roof. It cost me about £8000 from memory with about 20k on the clock. It does fit a large pram in the boot plus a weeks shopping. Also easily fits two large car seats with no cramping to the front seats.

I had a Fiat Grande Punto for about seven years before this and it never put a foot wrong. I also was told that Fiats were crap but if that was the case in the past I don't think it's true now.

My annoyance with it is that it doesn't live up to its fuel economy promise but that could be my particular model and you might fare better with a different size engine. Otherwise I have no issue with it whatsoever and the inside always gets people pretty animated. The glass roof is also really great.

SleepFreeZone · 09/05/2017 21:13

Also it is fast! Not sure why people think they have no torque.

hollyisalovelyname · 09/05/2017 21:15

I thought they didn't do more than 90 km an hour ?

wasonthelist · 09/05/2017 21:15

Not sure why people think they have no torque.
How much torque do they have?

AlternativeTentacle · 09/05/2017 21:16

I've had two. Never spent time in the garage apart from usual maintenance issues. Would definitely have another.

Chloe84 · 09/05/2017 21:17

We hired one in Italy. I loved it, so easy to drive (manual gear)

I'm used to Nissan and Mazda small cars, and I preferred the Fiat.