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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:
caroldecker · 10/05/2017 00:18

a 500L is not a small car. It is the same size as a Nissan Qushqai

NoFucksImAQueen · 10/05/2017 01:06

We had one as a courtesy car and Ds still talks about "the car with magic roof"
I wasn't expecting to like it but actually I did. I managed to fit 3 car seats along the back but couldn't use dds isofix base to do it.
The boot was small, that would be my main concern if you have littlies and need a buggy etc. It was nice and high to drive although it did feel a bit unsteady when we drove on a windy day down the motorway.
Overall I liked it

HildaOg · 10/05/2017 02:32

I think they're cute. Never driven one though.

SpornStar · 10/05/2017 05:43

I don't find the boot small at all. I took my parents to the airport recently and easily fitted their 2 medium sized suitcases and their hand luggage in.

SleepFreeZone · 10/05/2017 09:50

I think people are getting muddled with the little 500. There is a 500 (tiny car) a 500L (family mpv) and a 500x (more of a SUV)

Sgtmajormummy · 10/05/2017 10:23

I recently rented a 500X (petrol) for ten days. I rent cars at least twice a year and have a clean licence (25+ years). I had a couple of complaints.

The 6th gear was pathetic. It started losing power almost immediately.

The dashboard was badly designed. The Fuel gauge was in shadow, no indication of remaining km or current gear.

The Satnav was NOT up to date about a 2yo road and even using different input it didn't know where Gatwick airport was (where I'd picked it up!).

It was a very noisy car and the steering wheel transmitted all the vibrations to the driver. I used city mode, not off-road obviously.

The boot was full with 3 cabin bags. I wouldn't expect you to get a buggy AND shupping in there.

The rounded shape meant that while manoevering I guessed where the wheels were several times (not good in narrow carpark lanes).

It didn't feel like an "expensive car". I'm thinking £20,000 new? Basic plastics and cheap upholstery. IMO Fiat are good at basic cars like the Panda (my first car was a Fiat 126, then a first generation Panda for work and I also drove FIL's Tipo) but their higher models are overpriced and play on looks rather than substance.

5/10 for the 500X

NavyandWhite · 10/05/2017 10:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ThatsNotMyMummy · 10/05/2017 10:32

Fiat stands for "Fix it again tomorrow" for a good reason
Not anymore they don't. They've vastly improved, they have no more problems than anything else on the roads and actually do better than a lot of other cars (mini for instance). Maintenance costs are also reasonable.
If you like one, get one. They hold their money well, don't cost an arm and a leg to run or maintain. Theres no reason not too.

honeysucklejasmine · 10/05/2017 10:38

Wicks yeah, my steering wheel is as high as it can go, and i still needed to lower the seat.

ShotsFired · 10/05/2017 10:39

When they first came out they were funky and different. Round here, however, they are the new mummy-wagon of choice (having replaced the people wagon, and to an extent the fancy Range Rover too). I'm so glad I didn't get one now, as I was car-buying right when they were launched.

You see them lined up in identikit ranks like a North Korean army outside school gates, usually a good hour early to secure prime position of course.

They are the -mae baby name suffix of cars.

flooredbored · 10/05/2017 10:53

We have the fiat 500L mpw which has 7 seats. Although haven't ever actually used the extra seats! This version definitely has a big boot even with the middle row as far back as possible. We went camping with a huge 7 man tent and didnt even use a roofbox. My husband is 6ft 6 and is fine for legroom and headroom. Our version is stretched and a bit uglier to be honest. We went for it for space, safety and price.

SleepFreeZone · 10/05/2017 10:57

I'm secretly pleased that so many people are acting like they are common place. I never see them around here and was getting nervous about being able to resell when i wanted to update it. Hopefully if they've become the new mummy wagon I'll find someone who wants to buy it in a couple of years time.

uncoolnn · 10/05/2017 11:06

I drive a Ford Fiesta and I had a 500L as a courtesy car a few weeks ago. My fiesta is what I would call a small car but honestly the my boot is bigger than the 500L's and it feels much roomier inside too. Also I drove the 1.6 diesel and my fiesta is also a 1.6 diesel and my car has much more... oomph. Wouldn't recommend I'm afraid.

Ilikecheeriosyum · 10/05/2017 12:36

@PreFaceMcgee

The crumpling is an important design feature, all modern cars will look wrecked even in minor crashes due to the crumple zone,

It saves lives as the car absorbs all the impact making the crash a lot less forceful,

Cars used to be made to survive anything and would crash and not have a dent, but everyone inside would be dead as they took the full force of the crash.

Cars are easier to replace!

Oldraver · 10/05/2017 12:50

I think it was 500... I was so excited to drive it as we did seriously think about getting one and still hiring a bigger car for holidays. I'm not averse to a small boot, I used to drive a Puma but I just looked at this and thought.....IKEA is off.

It also just wasn't exciting enough..

ALemonyPea · 10/05/2017 12:55

I looked at a Fiat 500L and also a Kia Venga 4, and after test driving both, I went with the Kia. I love it, it's like a tardis inside, and the back seats slide forward to give additional boot space.

Might be worth looking at?

ThatsNotMyMummy · 10/05/2017 12:57

oldraver
www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/ferraris-30k-fiat-500-abarth
Thats the one that would be exciting.

ThatsNotMyMummy · 10/05/2017 12:58

alemonpea do you not find people constantly singing "the venga bus is coming" as you drive past?

wifeyhun · 10/05/2017 13:00

We had one drive into the back of us at 30mph and to be fair it came out quite well and apart from a grazed knee the lady was fine who was driving.

Sgtmajormummy · 10/05/2017 13:01

We often talk about getting a citycar (Smart/Mini/Aygo or even an electric car) when we retire and reduce our daily travelling.

After that experience the Fiat 500 is off the list!

NoFucksImAQueen · 12/05/2017 19:21

I don't find the boot small at all. I took my parents to the airport recently and easily fitted their 2 medium sized suitcases and their hand luggage in.

That's still small to me. A big boot I'd expect to fit my double buggy and the weekly shop

QuitMoaning · 12/05/2017 19:27

Hired two in Italy before and quite like it. Certainly an improvement over the Lancias we normally had. It is quite big and as a family of four with two tall teenage boys, we all fitted with our luggage.
Not the fastest ever but did everything we needed.

talulahbeige · 12/05/2017 19:42

Like driving in an egg box!

Oldraver · 13/05/2017 14:17

ThatsnotmyMummy

Yes the Abarth is the one OH wanted...we now have a Fiesta Grin

TipTop333 · 13/05/2017 14:30

We have one, it's reliable, easy to drive, plenty big enough for our piles of crap that come with a toddler stuff. The steering wheel in front of the speedo is annoying and adjusting the seat and wheel height didn't help but I just got used to it. I've been happy!