Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I really want a Fiat 500

130 replies

Afternooninthepark · 24/12/2019 16:30

I really, really want one. I love small cars (easy to drive/park etc) and love their quirky, retro look. My friend has one and says they are really economical and great to drive etc. However, dh says they are crap (he likes big vehicles and drives a discovery). He keeps putting me off saying they are shit looking and a crap car in general and if I get one I’ll regret it.
I only drive about locally so not likely to be regularly driving miles or on motorways etc so I think it would be perfect.
Any Fiat 500 owners out there, are they any good?

OP posts:
cardibach · 24/12/2019 17:00

DD loves hers. I have a Renault Twingo sport which is also quite fun. I’m not sure where Fiat’s poor rep comes from - I drove them for years (not 500, other models) and they were great.

Grandmi · 24/12/2019 17:00

I also had mine for 5 years and it has never broken down!

WorldsOnFire · 24/12/2019 17:01

I have one and love it ⭐️ Such a nippy little run around for city living/rural tootling around. It’s done the occasional long journey too and managed just fine.

DH had to use it for a few weeks after an accident with his own car and found it very uncomfortable though. Not a car for those over 6 foot.

Very economical and you can flip the back seats down easy to make a giant boot space. I’ve moved a couple of furniture items in it.

1Morewineplease · 24/12/2019 17:02

If it’s going to be your car then you choose.

Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 24/12/2019 17:02

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime that’s a bit worrying.

OP posts:
Bluewavescrashing · 24/12/2019 17:03

Go for a mini.

Cute factor, very reliable, powerful BMW engine for brrrrrms

Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 24/12/2019 17:04

1Morewineplease he does love to voice his opinion, does my lovely dh!

OP posts:
SusannahD · 24/12/2019 17:04

FIAT stands for fix it again tomorrow, but out of small cars it has poor ncap safety rating.

Everythingmagnolia · 24/12/2019 17:06

I just got a brand new Fiat 500 Star. It is a 2nd car for us and I have only driven it a few times.

It does feel tiny compared to our 7 seater but I love it! Not tried it on the motorway yet though.

SprinklesMcDoodles · 24/12/2019 17:07

I have a DS3 diesel. Small car very economical and it looks good too.

Original poster
Afternooninthepark · 24/12/2019 17:09

Bluewavescrashing I do love a mini but have had 5 already and fancied a change.

OP posts:
TheWernethWife · 24/12/2019 17:10

My granddaughter has one, she loves it.

notsohippychick · 24/12/2019 17:11

I have one! I got it when I had to take my son to school and back. I live in a city so it’s perfect. I pay no road tax and it’s light on petrol.

I adore it. It’s also surprisingly comfortable for the kids (both in car seats). It’s actually quite nippy for a small engine.

I love mine x

bluesteakandcheese · 24/12/2019 17:11

@Afternooninthepark I've had Fiat 500s for the past 5 or 6 years, I love them - really retro looking and quirky, and so nippy too! Never had any problems with them either, very reliable little things. I love my Fiat and like you I got so much negativity thrown at me. If you want a Fiat, get one! Good luck and Merry Christmas x

keepingbees · 24/12/2019 17:14

I love them and nearly bought one but decided it would be too tight in the back with 2 DC with me.
There have been a few fatal crashes involving them near me too over the last few years so safety does put me off.
They're v popular though so YANBU to want one.

IHaveBrilloHair · 24/12/2019 17:17

If you love them, get one.
There was a thread last week saying that Minis were crap, ugly etc, I have one, love it and am getting another, and before the Mini I had a Toyota IQ, I love small, cute cars.

SinisterBumFacedCat · 24/12/2019 17:17

Got a 10 year old Fiat 500, it’s lovely. Always wanted one. They feel quite high up compared to my last car (Corsa) so if you have a Mini you’d notice that. Love where the gear stick is. Petrol cap always confuses me though. People notice the car, first few times I drove it it was like being younger and attractive again!

Iwantmychairback · 24/12/2019 17:18

Have a look at the Fiat Panda Cross. If you can actually find one, they are very rare. (Not the City Cross). More practical than the 500. Very quirky and different. Drives like a big car. I loved mine, only changed it because we got a second dog and needed a bigger boot.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 24/12/2019 17:19

The new yaris that comes out next year looks good. Toyota has a good safety and reliable record. All of the safety elements that are o ly available for extra on other cars are included as standard too. I would like the hybrid version as I make lots of short journeys.

Foxglove40 · 24/12/2019 17:24

LOVE my 500 but went for a twin air - has stacks of oomph uphill and overtaking. So cheap to run, turns on a sixpence and practically parks itself. Def not ideal if you need to use the backseat regularly. It’s useable but uncomfortable for a long journey. I went for a safe cream one - but the next one will be a colour. Two years old when I got it. No problems so far - so much fun to drive. I smile every time I get in it!

crankyhousewife · 24/12/2019 17:26

I've had mine from new just over 12 months and love it.

Bubblysqueak · 24/12/2019 17:29

I test drove the fiat 500 XL (looks like the 500 on steroids) I really liked it but needed something slightly bigger.

ElsieMc · 24/12/2019 17:30

Fiat 500 may look great, but it is the only car I have had in 33 years of driving that I returned to the garage I bought it from and believe me they fought tooth and nail to avoid it's return. Fortunately for me the law had recently changed eg Consumer Rights Act and I returned under the 30 day rule.

At first I thought it was me as I would turn on the ignition and nothing happened. Went to town and it took six goes to get the ignition to start. Took it back within ten days and they asked to fix it telling me it did not affect the running of the car! Err, of course it did, it wouldnt start.

Needless to say, Fix It Again Tomorrow is apt, because the next day it continually let me down. They then said it would have to go away to a dealership leaving me stranded in a rural location. I refused and they went mad. I told them I did not have to accept another potential fix. The owner actually screamed at me and his wife had to hold him back. I remained calm and told them I was not leaving without my money. He then asked me to take £500 less. Again I refused.

I did get my money back. I later saw it in another dealership 12 months later so I hazard a guess that the problem remained.

Never again. I went back to my hideous old Clio which I was going to scrap. My DH fixed the head gasket for around £50 (its the labour that costs) and three years on I am still in the old banger.

Listen to the advice on here op and don't get in the position I did.

FurryTurnipHead · 24/12/2019 17:31

We've got one and I avoid driving it at all costs. It's really uncomfortable, I always get back ache, it has no 'oomph' whatsoever, so it's hard for hilly areas, overtaking etc, and I feel very vulnerable in it when passing lorries etc.

JellyfishandShells · 24/12/2019 17:31

My DD has had a Fiat 500 for three years - does look very cute, seems to be the car of choice for 20 something women in this part of SW London. Surprisingly spacious inside and even my 6’1” DH doesn't find it cramped to drive. Boot quite good as well.

OTOH - has had more than a reasonable amount of mechanical trouble it for its age and mileage - even the Fiat dealership were baffled by one particular problem. She is planning on buying a Golf atm .........