I really want a Fiat 500

[Afternooninthepark]

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?

I have had one from new in 2013- its done about 50000 miles and never let me down . I gave it too dd1 and got a 2nd hand convertible- bloody love it! Such fun to whizz around town in and v v pretty . Again no problems and sailed through first Mot .

I had one for six months, then paid through the nose to upgrade in August because I fucking hated it. I was like you - I’d always wanted one because they looked so cute.

It was like driving a mobility scooter. Embarrassingly slow to move off at lights and it was so shit on hills it would pretty much lose all power. I had to stop taking a shorter route to work because there is a junction on a hill and if I stopped, the bastard thing wouldn’t go again!

In the six months I had it, it was in the garage three times for various faults. Never again.

Have you looked at a vauxhall Adam OP? They're small and cute and have loads of customisable features. A friend of mine has lights all over the roof like little stars in hers.

On the inside roof, not outside, I should specify

Also I worked closely with the police at the time and a traffic officer told me they do not fair well in crashes and he didn't think they were very safe, sold mine the next month!

Yes and that, take it from me a decent bit of metal to absorb crash impacts isnt a bad thing. Round our way the other week a young lad in a small car hit a range rover. range rover occupants mum and three children all survived WITHOUT ANY SEAT BELTS SILLY SODS but the Corsa driver was dead at rhe scene:(

If you plan on using the back seat for anyone over 5ft4 or having a car seat you’d be as well with a toy one..

Car seat would only go in the front, with the seat in the furthest back position, meaning only a smurf could exist behind it. And if I went in the back a high bun on my 5ft3 head was squashed down. Boot also only just fits an umbrella fold buggy if it goes in at the exact angle. Not an overly practical car. And it doesn’t like hills.

Listen op,you want one,you can have one. I think they look like a great stylish little car and i love the pastel colours. I think the solution for you here as there are some conflicting messages is to hire one for a few days. That way you'll either love it or get it out of your system !

all I can say is that apparently FIAT stands for Fix It Again Tomorrow

Yes yes, and Ford is Fix Or Repair Daily, AUDI is Another Ugly Deutsche Invention, Renault is Retarded Engine No Acceleration Ugly Lump of Trash.
Can give you one for all brands. It means absolutely nothing and has no bearing on the cars and their reliability.

Their engines are crap and won't get you up a steep hill.

I think they look like a hairdresser's car

@Growingboys
What exactly is so bad about hairdressers?

Their engines are crap and won't get you up a steep hill

Incorrect. Some engines were plagued with issues about 2 years ago. A software update on affected cars fixed this.
All Fiat 500's go up hills.

I think they look like a hairdresser's car

And thats an issue why?

Take yourself to a dealership for an extended test drive.

I really wanted one. Took one out for a couple of hours and changed my mind swiftly. I found it uncomfortable and noisy.

Still feel gutted every time one trundles past me. I wanted to love it so much. But I couldn't.

All Fiat 500's go up hills.

See my post upthread. I got mine this year and it did not go up hills.

I hired one when I waiting for my new car to be delivered after I'd moved jobs and lost my company car.

I must say I was surprised just how much I liked it and after 3 months I was quite sad to see it go!

I was expecting it to be a bit crap especially on the motorway but it was great.

I found it to be well built and fun to drive - no it's not fast but it's nippy iyswim.

I'll probably get one next year for DS to learn to drive in (he can't drive mine or DH's cars (Porsche/Merc) as we'd never get him insured and they aren't really learner material .

As per a pp I'd rent one for a weekend and see how you get on.

I recently bought a new (to me) car after 8 years in my Citroen C3. Like you, @Afternooninthepark, I loved the look of the Fiat 500, especially the cool minty green one, so I hired one for a week between selling my old car and deciding on my new one.

It was horrible!

The 500 felt very hard on the suspension, so every bump, speedramp and pothole juddered through me. It lacked oomph and going uphill was such a struggle. Other drivers also treated me like crap, which annoys me no end! All in all, a terrible experience which made me realise that paying through the nose for the cute look wasn't worth it.

I now have a 2 year old Peugeot 206 with a media screen, which fits in any space, goes like the clappers and is impressively economical. It's also so much more comfy, roomy, and doesn't make other drivers treat me like a 17 year old who's just passed her test.

I've got a Fiat 500, in light blue.

I really like it. It's 10 years old now and probably heading for the scrapyard.

I live in a city, where it really comes into its own for parking and zipping about quite satisfactorily.

It's dirt cheap to insure and economical on petrol.

I had a major repair (power steering) last year but that's all.

I like the fact that you operate the audio from the steering wheel.

I like the fact that the inside is quirky.

I like the fact that the engine has quite a bit of poke and it doesn't feel underpowered.

I love the fact that its looks don't date.

I HATE the fact that the seats get very filthy very quickly.

The boot is small and you can only take two short-legged passengers in the back.

It's also noisy at speed.

Best friend has one and loves it. My DF is in the auto industry and does not rate them so I've steered clear.

If you want a good small car get a Micra. They're light, speedy, lovely to park and surprisingly spacious. I loved mine, the only reason I didn't replace it with another one was that I wanted a four door car. Got a rather nice Suzuki swift.

NO NO NO NO

You need a fiat spider 124, but get the Abarth version. Your husband will thank you for it. Best little car ever!!

I've had one for almost 10 years. No problems at all. Other than the door handle is loose, which is a common issue. I love mine and will keep it until it's dead

@Countrysidelife that's my next car!! ;-) I have a abarth 500 at the mo

Terrible, overpriced and impractical. Hyundai i10 is a far superior car for much less money. Style over substance.

I've had one (recently changed to the 500X as I needed more space). Loved it! Never had a problem with hills. No issues with it. I'd definitely get another one.

I loved my Fiat 500 so much! Easy to park, cheap to run and we fitted both a baby and buggy in it for nearly a year. We had the auto version so it did feel a bit like driving a go-cart, and it was admittedly noisy when at speed on motorways, but if we had need for a 2nd car I’d gladly get another.