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Original poster

Talk to me abour Fiat 500 cars

26 replies

Redandpinkstripes · 01/07/2023 13:14

We already have a car that my husband and I share. I want my own car and have always loved the Fiat 500. I want it for local driving.
Any pros and cons before I buy?

OP posts:
Badatmostthings · 05/07/2023 13:00

How tall are you? I'm only 5'8" but when I had a test drive I just couldn't imagine ever getting used to it, I felt very cramped. And I've had a panda which felt fine. I really wanted to like the 500 too.

SurelyNot22 · 05/07/2023 13:20

I have a Fiat 500 x which is a bit larger. Downsized from a Tiguan and it's not a bad switch.

I wouldn't want a Fiat 500 though as they're very cramped. We had one as a hire car last year and it was a squeeze.

Original poster
Redandpinkstripes · 18/07/2023 21:42

Thank you for your feedback, it is really helpful x

OP posts:
Rufusroo · 18/07/2023 22:14

I had a Fiat 500. A baby blue convertible with cream interior. I absolutely adored it, it was my dream car. I had to change it for a Panda when the grandchildren arrived so that I could get their car seats in the back and I needed a five door to be able to get them in and out easier

TheChosenTwo · 18/07/2023 22:17

We bought one for dd a couple of years ago for her to learn to drive in and she now zips about happily in it. I sometimes drive it and it’s tiny but absolutely fine for me to go to the shops etc. Very economical on fuel.
dd2 then passed and shortly after, reversed it into a brick wall 😂 it was pretty cheap to get replacement parts for as they’re a very common car (they now have separate cars!).
Overall, if you’re not particularly tall it should be okay if you don’t have anyone in the back - they only seat 4 though so something to possibly consider.

LadyGreySpillsTheTea · 18/07/2023 22:21

From a distant memory of a Sicilian holiday in the 90s, they’re an absolute nightmare on hilly terrain - you have to work the gears much more than in a larger engined car. Maybe the tech has improved in the last 30 years though. And the Fiat was great for getting round the tiny streets in Italian villages, so that was a big pro. But only in an Italian village.

MoonlightMedicine · 18/07/2023 22:22

I adore ours. Nippy, easy to park and I don't find it cramped at all.

maximist · 18/07/2023 22:28

The pale blue ones remind me of invalid carriages, but that's probably just me showing my age....

CakeIsMyFavouriteAndBest · 18/07/2023 22:30

I have one, downsized from a Verso when the kids were out of the large car seats. Love it, cheap for fuel and tax, very nippy and easy to park. All 4 of us go out in it even though hubby has a larger car, hoping to get a newer version for me so I can pass mine onto the teens as one is coming up to 17.

Worth a test drive, I went and checked the car seats fitted in and had a drive before I bought mine. Was surprised at how much space there was in the back. I am only 5'5" though and hubby isn't too tall so it suits us fine.

TheDogsMother · 18/07/2023 22:43

We have the Abarth version, it's a lot of fun we absolutely love it. Neither of us are tall and it served us well for a driving holiday through France for three weeks (including space on the back seat for wine when we came back).

RedSoloCup · 18/07/2023 22:45

I have one and love it

easilydistracted1 · 18/07/2023 22:48

I had one. It was cheap and great fun at the time. Completely impractical for children though. Sadly it had a short warranty and I had a major problem that made it fail just after warranty due to one too many runs up the motorway. Think it was the head gasket triggered by the radiator going in the first instance. So if you get one fix it as soon as there's the slightest issue or sell when the warranty goes. I got a sensible kia after!

Madmother63 · 18/07/2023 22:51

I'm on my 2nd Fiat 500. I had a grey one and now a burgundy. I've downsized to a little car as the kids have grown up. I have a Tesco deliver my shopping, so I don't need the boot for that. The boot is little but you can use the inside of the car if shopping. I take my DH out in it for trips and drive to work. It's so nippy and brilliant for parking. When we retire in a few years, I will have to sell it and share the "big" car 😥. Make sure you test drive it and ensure it's got enough power for your needs.

Dreamsarereal · 18/07/2023 22:55

My 6’3” DS and his full drum kit fits into mine. I’m on my second and I love it

Guineapiggiesmalls · 18/07/2023 22:58

I have one as our second (little) car alongside a big family car. I love it. So handy, easy to park and the fuel economy is brilliant. I too only use it locally, which it is perfect for. Not sure I’d be so keen if I was running up and down the motorway…

Unicorn34 · 18/07/2023 22:58

I've had many different cars and LOVE my Fiat 500 Pop. I am 5ft 3ins and its perfect, my husband is comfortable enough at 5ft 11ins. My son in law at 6ft 3ins loves zipping about in it. Enough boot room for shopping and I have 2 car seats for grandchildren in the back. Will definitely get another after this one.

Jongleterre · 18/07/2023 23:03

Try to imagine being in a crash with a larger vehicle. You will be crushed.

shelbabab · 18/07/2023 23:11

Aw I loved mine. Got it back in 2009 when they just came back out again.

Pros: It is beautiful inside and is lovely to drive. Fab to park! Economical

Cons: tiny boot but it did manage a full shop in it occasionally needing to put some bags in back or front. Only has 4 seats.

Not great if ur tall. I'm 5ft1 so perfect for me but my dh is 6ft4 and he cld get in fine if he out the seat all the way back. He tried to drive it once and kept getting his knees caught and had to give up just round the corner from our house 😂

I wld def think about getting one when I'm not ferrying the kids about anymore and needing a bigger car.

Mossstitch · 18/07/2023 23:17

Jongleterre · 18/07/2023 23:03

Try to imagine being in a crash with a larger vehicle. You will be crushed.

It has 7 airbags, I checked as just gone from a minibus that I had for over 20 years (children too many for normal car) and felt a little vulnerable. I love it, very nippy, it's the pop with 1.2 engine. I'm quite a large person and 5'8" but actually find the driving position more comfortable than my van surprisinglyand the boot still fits a big supermarket shop, rear seats been down for a tip run and very economical.

Original poster
Redandpinkstripes · 22/07/2023 21:44

Thank you for all of your comments. Lots to think about x

OP posts:
Chewbecca · 22/07/2023 21:47

I'm on my second, which speaks for itself. Love it and have no plans to change. I mostly use it to potter around town on my own but occasionally do motorway runs and have 2 GC in the back. Perfect car for me.

PinkFootstool · 22/07/2023 21:55

Depends on lots of factors. I absolutely loathe them - to the point I have asked Enterprise not to bring me them as a hire car for work purposes after several in a row.

Can't adjust the steering wheel rake properly, can't adjust the height of the seat belt meaning it cuts into my neck, gutless on hills, feels too small on the motorway and is thrown around in cross winds (and I used to have an Audi A1!), no leg room in the back seats - might as well be a 2 seater.... And actually quite thirsty on fuel for it's size although could be in part a small fuel tank meaning it's not great for distance.

Iheartmysmart · 22/07/2023 22:17

I love my Fiat 500 sport. Economical, nippy and fun to drive. Went camping the other week and fitted all my gear in it - and I’m not a back to basics camper. It managed fine on the north Devon roads.

I am only 5ft tall though.

Henowner · 22/07/2023 22:38

Love mine, had it 13 years from new. Only one child, car seat fitted in easily and no partner. We've been camping, shopping, holidays, work etc no problem. Parts are easy and cheap to replace, fuel consumption good, but I need the expensive petrol now as she does not run well on the watered down new petrol.

Not great on big hills but just have to use gears and lean forward 🤣. Also get treated like shite by the big cars on the road but easy to fit through the gaps they can't so it's swings and roundabouts. Son is now over 6ft though and has to dip down a bit sitting in the front. Not a lot of leg room. Bit of a squeeze in the back and only 4 seats.

Tinytigertail · 22/07/2023 22:55

DD has had one for about 3 years, it's great. It's been super low maintenance, but great on fuel and quite nippy too.