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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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?

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 16/03/2019 11:15

I think that's where a lot of small cars fall down, space in the back, but it's probably what many people value the least as many people who regularly use the back seats for anyone other than smaller children would probably buy a bigger car.

Most people would rather have less space in the back and a more usable boot instead.

Harebel · 16/03/2019 11:38

Welcome to t'internet OP. Shock horror that people give their own response and the subject naturally veers away from the original question!

Interesting that you chose AIBU to ask a niche question about a particular brand of car rather than on a Fiat 500 owners forum.

You're right Mumsnet is crackers, especially this part of it Wink

amusedbush · 16/03/2019 13:12

You people are a bad influence. My local Fiat dealership was offering a £30 M&S voucher for a test drive so I went out in a 500. I loved it! So nice to drive and now I’m really tempted Blush

Original poster
Dramatical · 16/03/2019 14:55

Interesting that you chose AIBU to ask a niche question about a particular brand of car rather than on a Fiat 500 owners forum.

I have actually asked on more than one forum over the past few weeks, not just here. I do however value Mumsnet for opinions on cars as the opinions are over such a huge range of situations etc.

Why the need to comment because I asked here? Lots of people ask lots of things here.

AIBU was used for traffic, as is common.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dramatical · 16/03/2019 14:56

Welcome to t'internet OP. Shock horror that people give their own response and the subject naturally veers away from the original question!

Just to add; I don't mind people veering off, but the fact that people had a go at me for not taking on board their alternatives was a bit more than annoying.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dramatical · 16/03/2019 15:22

You people are a bad influence. My local Fiat dealership was offering a £30 M&S voucher for a test drive so I went out in a 500. I loved it! So nice to drive and now I’m really tempted

DD took the Nando's voucher Grin

OP posts:
NotTryingTo · 16/03/2019 15:32

Had one as a hire and hated it, it just felt flimsy to me.

She’s obviously paying for it herself and has made up her mind so there’s not much you can do.

pisspawpatrol · 16/03/2019 15:34

I can tell you that they don't come off too badly when they spin in wet weather on the motorway and then land on the roof. I witnessed a crash where this happened.

amusedbush · 16/03/2019 15:37

DD took the Nando's voucher Grin

I'm almost 30 and have started enjoying M&S clothes and underwear Blush

CloudPop · 16/03/2019 15:39

I loved mine, only just replaced it as it was getting on a bit (9 years old). It was supremely reliable, nothin ever went wrong with it. It was a fabulous car, highly recommend them.

ashvivienne · 16/03/2019 15:39

DD1 looked at getting one a few years ago but went with the Citroen C1 instead as it had a screen and the 500 didn’t at the time. DD2 has bought a corsa recently over the Fiat 500 as it was a bit more roomy and she was doing more motorway miles but we liked the Fiat 500 and VW polo and up beats as well

lovewatchingrainfall · 16/03/2019 15:42

We have a fiat 500 well my husband but we both drive it, he has only ever had fiat 500 you will be surprised what you can fit in it. Never had a problem with them, bigger boot then you expect. Can fit two adults and a toddler and child in when needed (not often though)
He drives his to work and on motorways. When we first met he drove it up and down the country to see me.
I would highly rate them plus they are great to fit in small parking spaces

yumscrumfatbum · 16/03/2019 15:43

I ve had mine for around two years. It's a great little car. I have to fold the back seats down to fit the food shop in but that doesn't bother me. I do a mixture of city and motorway driving. The only things about it that irritate me are that the petrol is obviously small so I have to fill it up regularly. This brings me onto my other issue, the petrol cap I struggled with it so much I ended up replacing it with a push on one!

swapsicles · 16/03/2019 15:54

My sister has a fiat 500, nippy but very small inside, especially in the back.
I have an aygo and although still small has 4 doors and seems so much bigger.
Another friend has a mini, looks great but visibility, space and comfort is a lot worse.
If dd is set on a fiat go on a test drive, probably like houses there's always something you have to compromise on, I once rejected a car because the seat belt felt wrong and not safe!

Harebel · 16/03/2019 17:04

Fair enough OP. Of course you're entitled to ask opinions where you like. I just hope it's been useful! Smile

Original poster
Dramatical · 16/03/2019 17:14

It has been very helpful, lots of different experiences in the post. Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dramatical · 16/03/2019 17:15

If dd is set on a fiat go on a test drive

Thanks, she did the other day. She doesn't like the interior door handles and she got a £30 Nando's voucher for test driving!

OP posts:
Alarae · 16/03/2019 17:49

I have a 59 plate (reg Dec 09) and owned it for 5.5 years. It is a 1.2 lounge in a gorgeous red, with an off-centre double white 500 stripe graphic.

Don't get me wrong, I purchased my car as it was a pretty car, with low insurance (considered the 108/Aygo/C1 trio). On aesthetics, it wins. Under the hood, it definitely doesn't but it was built to be a city car you pootle around in.

I average about 13,000 miles per year and it is cheap to run, doing motorway driving and short journeys. While I have had to repair the car over the years for a new radiator, brakes, battery and suspension this seems in line with what is practically a 10 year car which did a lot of mileage with me, along with daily speed bumps for work.

I wouldn't get another though. They are depressingly slow to accelerate at times unless you over-rev before changing gears and does lose acceleration going up hills.

My next car is ideally going to be a VW Golf, but that is because I want a 5dr with more power, with larger space for a family.

For your DD, I don't see any reasons why not to get her one. It's small (brilliant for small spots other cars can't park in), cheap to run and insure, and lets face it, the last car to go speeding in.

TurquoiseDress · 16/03/2019 18:23

I've driven one as a hire car (weekend away with some girlfriends) but we only drove about 1.5 hours outside of London

I loved it! Lots of space inside for our bags etc and drives really smoothly etc, you're slightly higher up which I liked

Think it's def a city type of car- would suit me for doing short distances, no idea re motorway driving etc

Gth1234 · 16/03/2019 18:27

I imagine the Abarth would be pretty good. We have a DS3 for a second car which is bit bigger than a 500, and is always an absolute pleasure to drive.

I wouldn't want a car that didn't do 0 to 60 in less than 10 secs, and I don't think the basic 500's do that. I might be wrong there, though.

Ewanthescreamsheep · 16/03/2019 20:48

I had one and loved it.
I did 130mile round trip to work and it was very nippy down the motorway and fuel efficient. Traded it in when we were expecting our first dc as it wasn't ideal for pram and car seat; it had >150k miles on the clock in 6 years and it had never had a single problem.

itbemay1 · 28/03/2019 12:45

Just to add to PP, just renewed insurance for DD and it has halved.

Original poster
Dramatical · 11/04/2019 08:59

Update!!

DD picked up her car yesterday. She didn't get a pre reg in the end because they didn't have the right trim/colour combo!!

Dealer managed to source the car she wanted which was due into one of the other branches so at least she didn't have to wait for a build!

It's really nice to look at, but driving is another matter! I don't really like it. Although my comparison is a VW Sharan which is built like a tank and as sturdy as anything. DD loves her car though and as a first car it's not a bad motor. Hopefully it will last her a few years now unless she starts having babies

OP posts:
LGY1 · 11/04/2019 09:18

I had one and loved it!
Only issue was when I needed a bit more boot space....lamp size box or not a cabin size suitcase. Apart from that after a big supermarket shop I just put half the bags on the backseat
Make sure it has air con. Mine didn’t & I was halfway to work before he beater warmed up!

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