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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask you about the FIAT 500?

199 replies

Dramatical · 15/03/2019 10:07

Just wondering if anybody has one and if you would recommend it?

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Dramatical · 15/03/2019 10:41

And that's fully comp!

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SaveKevin · 15/03/2019 10:42

They are ok if you like small cars, I would question the reliability of anything FIAT (Fix It Again Tomorrow)

That was the case of the 80's and 90's but not now.
They are brilliant little cars, cheap to run and maintain .
They are built in the same factory as the Ford KA and use a lot of the same under pinnings.

badlydrawnperson · 15/03/2019 10:43

I would question the reliability of anything FIAT (Fix It Again Tomorrow)

A lot of this bollocks crops up in every car thread. It's usually from the kind of people who think German cars are better made and more reliable (they aren't). If you want to pay a lot for snob value, bling and marketing, buy German. If you want reliability buy Japanese.

Current Fiat 500 is a joint development with Ford and shares a lot with the current KA.

MadisonAvenue · 15/03/2019 10:43

My son calls them ' Daddy buys me everything' cars as they seem to be the brand new first car for so many young girls around here.

Dramatical · 15/03/2019 10:45

My son calls them ' Daddy buys me everything' cars as they seem to be the brand new first car for so many young girls around here.

How awful of your son.

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Blueuggboots · 15/03/2019 10:46

I love mine!!
I've had 2. 1.2 and 0.9 twin air. I find the twin air much more powerful and quick off the mark.
Economical and fun to drive.
Not great if you've got small kids due to the size but I can easily fit a big shop in the boot.
The only reason I'm not having another one is because I want to move to an electric car.

thedisorganisedmum · 15/03/2019 10:47

My son calls them ' Daddy buys me everything' cars

and you are not embarrassed enough that you can write it in here?

Tonightstheteriyakichicken · 15/03/2019 10:47

I would question the reliability of anything FIAT (Fix It Again Tomorrow)
Maybe that was true in the old days. Better build quality now.

Ishoos · 15/03/2019 10:53

Mine feels cheap. Previous car was a mini and that was much better quality. The Fiat seems to be made of lower quality materials and the body work marks ant the slightest touch. That said - insurance was cheap to put dc learner on and teaching them to drive in it was straightforward so served its purpose.

Katinkka · 15/03/2019 10:54

I've had two. I think they are great BUT only as a city runabout. Long distances aren't great and they are very small for passengers.

itbemay1 · 15/03/2019 10:54

DD has one 1.2 first car and is perfect. We do live in London so mainly city driving but she adores it and it's a perfect size.

Dramatical · 15/03/2019 10:55

Mine feels cheap. Previous car was a mini and that was much better quality

The price tag is a few thousand different to a MINI though, so I do expect it not to be the same standard of car.

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itbemay1 · 15/03/2019 10:57

@Dramatical DD first insurance, in her own name age 17 was £1200.

cushionfiend · 15/03/2019 10:59

I've got the 1.2 Lounge and adore it, it's been reliable, economical, can fit 2 adults, a child and a small dog quite happily, and makes me smile every time I look at it. Might be my favourite car ever! We call her Little Blue or The Blue Pearl.

Dramatical · 15/03/2019 11:01

DD first insurance, in her own name age 17 was £1200

That's more realistic. If she got a quote like the poster above for £4K she wouldn't be able to afford a car!

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SaveKevin · 15/03/2019 11:04

The mini is also a lot more expensive to run due to the bigger engine, the older ones also have reliability issues. Everything is generally more expensive on the mini, tax, parts, insurance.

My son calls them ' Daddy buys me everything' cars as they seem to be the brand new first car for so many young girls around here.
The phrase "a bit fiat 500" is used as an insult to sort of describe a vain person only bothered by material things.

SaveKevin · 15/03/2019 11:05

The mini is also a lot more expensive to run due to the bigger engine, the older ones also have reliability issues. Everything is generally more expensive on the mini, tax, parts, insurance.

My son calls them ' Daddy buys me everything' cars as they seem to be the brand new first car for so many young girls around here.
The phrase "a bit fiat 500" is used as an insult to sort of describe a vain person only bothered by material things.

SaveKevin · 15/03/2019 11:05

Ooops sorry double post Blush

ZippyBungleandGeorge · 15/03/2019 11:05

It would be a great first car. I would've loved it, I had a polo as my first car which was good too very reliable and sturdy

BarbaraofSevillle · 15/03/2019 11:06

I've never had one but for a first car for a young and inexperienced driver, insurance group is the key, and it sounds like you have a reasonable quote for one.

If she's not set on the Fiat 500 or doesn't like it when she test drives it, the Skoda Citigo (and also Seat Mio or VW Up!, they're all basically the same car) would be another good choice, as insurance is as low as can be, if you're looking at more than 2 years old (check) the tax is virtually nothing, and they're great little cars.

I had a citigo for 3 years and loved it, it was even fine on the motorway. Only downside was that it was a 3 door and getting in and out of the back was a challenge unless you're quite flexible - was no good for either DM or DSis, both of whom have slightly mobility problems common of the unfit and middle to older age groups.

Dramatical · 15/03/2019 11:10

barbara

The 500 just pipped the Mii (UP and Citigo) to the post based on its cuteness! She is buying new, so not benefiting from the low/no tax unfortunately.

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AnguaUberwaldIronfoundersson · 15/03/2019 11:21

I had one as a courtesy car when mine was in the garage and I hated it. I’ve a long body and short legs so was practically sat on top of the steering wheel so I could reach the pedals and the car just felt cheap and made of plastic. I’m 5’ 9” though so that probably didn’t help.

Miktonol · 15/03/2019 11:22

I’ve got a 2014 0.9 twinair convertible and I think it’s a great little car.

No problems with mine for the year I’ve had it, just servicing at about £100 a time and a couple of tyres.

I preferred the 0.9 twinair and from memory they come in two power levels, either 85 or 105. In 2014 they updated a few bits noticeably the speedo to a TFT screen which is much easier to read compared to our other family 500 which is an older 0.9 twinair hatch.

There were more updates from Fiat to the model in 2016/17 I think with a new dash and lights etc. Do a wiki search for more info.

I’m 6’4 and 100kgs and I share the car with our Aupair who is 5’4 and we both fit. I’ve got the higher power twinair engine and it really is powerful enough for anything I need to do, even with three adults and bags.

Free road fund licence on the 0.9 twinair model, low insurance, cheap servicing, a bit plasticy inside though. Convertible roof can be fully open on half open and it’s all electric so nice and easy.

On the pre 2016 cars there was an option to have a dash mounted portable sat nav unit - look for the little oval shaped port on the dash immediately left of the speedo housing.

I prefer to use my phone instead though (running Waze) as that works well in London, attached to a magnetic mount and with a cable to the Blue&me USB port (blue&me is worth having as I run Spotify with Waze through the car audio system.

Mine is an auto which I really like so can’t comment on the manual version. This car is so easy to drive with the auto - nippy and small enough to get anywhere.

Boot is a bit small on the convertible but I can fit most of a weekly shop in it and the back seats also fold down on mine to give more space.

The hatch version is surprisingly practical especially with the back seats folded down.

If the hatch version is what you are after then have a look out for the panoramic glass roof. This doesn’t open on our other family 500 (is fixed) but gives a nice airy feel inside.

Good luck hope you get a nice car for her.

chaoscategorised · 15/03/2019 11:22

I had one and I hated it, felt like a plastic shoebox, needed tons of repairs in first three years, and was 0-60 in ..ooh, about 45 minutes Grin. But my cousin (who has 2 small DC, so I would have predicted some issues) has one and absolutely loves hers - so horses for courses, I think!

Dramatical · 15/03/2019 11:25

needed tons of repairs in first three years

Can you specify?

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