Backpack without backpack
This week in this section: a car that you can purchase as a youngtimer, but also brand new. In 2007, the new 500 came onto the market with much fanfare. Now, more than fifteen years later, we can really take stock. How do owners experience their ‘backpack’, as a new and as a used car?
Although the Fiat 500 still dates from 2007, the model received a modest facelift in 2015. This is recognizable by the LED daytime running lights on the front. Another notable feature is the new rear lights, with a panel in the body color in the centre. Over the years, the 500 has been available with numerous engines. A 1.2-liter four-cylinder, various variants of the two-cylinder TwinAir, a 1.4-liter 16V, a 1.3 MultiJet diesel engine and, since 2020, the new 1.0-liter three-cylinder with mild hybrid technology.
In 2010, Fiat replaced the steel roof with a canvas one as desired. They called the result 500C and offered a modest convertible experience. Fiat developed an electric 500 for the United States that gradually found its way to the Netherlands via parallel import. The new electric Fiat 500 saw the light of day in 2020 and will be delivered in our country, but it is a completely newly developed model that will be delivered in addition to the original from 2007. We will not consider the electric ones in this article.
Comfort Fiat 500
For many owners, the charming appearance is the reason to choose the compact Fiat. Your nature must be very pragmatic not to understand that. If we are to believe owners, the friendly appearance is not one-on-one translated into pleasant handling. The tuning of suspension, damping and the balance between them is a regularly read point of criticism. “I find the suspension to be an important drawback, which handles short bumps poorly and bumps on the highway in a jerky way,” writes the owner of his 2009 Fiat 500 1.2. slow speed,” he continues. This experience is also described by the owner of an early 2007 copy: “Short bumps are strongly transmitted and the rear axle becomes restless with large bumps.”
The rigid chassis also has advantages, especially for sporty drivers. It is graphically written by the owner of a 500 1.2 Sport from 2008: “I had actually forgotten how nice it is to chase the Fiat over a winding dike road. The body is held firmly by the sporty bucket seats, the fists around the thick edge of the leather sports steering wheel and the surefire switching of the short lever through the gears. A high power is not absolutely necessary to experience a good dose of driving pleasure.”
Since the facelift in 2015, the tide seems to have turned, writes the owner of a 500C TwinAir from 2017 bluntly. “With the facelift of the 500, they also tackled the chassis and they succeeded very well. Especially the suspension and damping have been made so much more comfortable that you can just take thresholds at normal speeds. In the old version you break your back.”
Fiat 500, also for tall people?
Although the Fiat 500 was not developed as a space miracle, owners can handle it well in practice. Several tall drivers say they have enough space, such as the following: “The ‘Sport’ version naturally has sports seats. They are fine, also for my 2.04 meters. The lateral support is good, but the lumbar support is absolutely insufficient and detracts from the seating comfort.” Another is not bothered by the chairs, but finds it difficult to move his right knee. “I am 1.92 meters and on long journeys I get pain near my knee, because it is against the center tunnel.”
As far as the seating position is concerned, this owner sees room for improvement. “You are quite high on the buck. Furthermore, the steering wheel is a little too far away or the pedals are too close, it just depends on how you look at it. Ideal for a chimpanzee, but a depth-adjustable steering wheel would have been nice for me.” Positive: “Nevertheless, I have never stepped out with back pain.”
Maintenance, malfunctions and irritations
The main weak point of the 500 turns out to be wishbones, steering knuckles and undercarriage rubbers. With this Fiat 500 from 2010, the right wishbone was replaced after 40,000 km, the left followed 20,000 km later. A wishbone was also replaced on the next model from 2011. “After the MOT, an entire front left suspension arm was replaced by the universal garage (at 275 euros). For the past 16,000 km I was able to drive the 500 again, for the MOT only the right wishbone rubber was torn. A known weakness of the 500.”
In the category ‘minor suffering’, some owners report broken door handles in the interior. “That is a well-known 500 ailment. Costs are very manageable!” On a 2011 car, the owner replaced the wiring harness to the tailgate with a modified aftermarket one. The same owner reports a malfunction in the instrumentation, causing it to structurally indicate too high a speed. This problem has resolved itself for now. The interior is not free of noise, which can detract from the quality experience. “Are there no complaints at all? Yes it is! In the meantime, the first small rattles have arisen.” Is that bad? “It’s not earth-shattering and they’re not disturbing rattles, but occasionally they stand out a bit,” says the owner of this 2011 500 TwinAir.
Fiat 500: the engines
As mentioned earlier, Fiat supplied a large number of engines. The 0.9-litre TwinAir is the most talked-about of these and has both friends and foes. This owner of such a TwinAir from 2017 describes his experience as follows: “I certainly had my doubts at the beginning, but I ended up in the enthusiast’s camp. Admittedly, the engine sounds a bit silly, but once warmed up it turns out to be a speed-hungry, spicy and also economical engine.” The owner of a 2012 copy also sees the charm in it. “It fits remarkably well with the small 500, such an engine with some frayed edges. Especially if you’ve ever ridden the original. The 85 hp turbo version also wants to move forward.” As with the Fiat Panda TwinAir, there were problems with the ignition coils in the early years and the engine is sensitive to the correct oil level.
The tamer 1.2 four-cylinder has its own fan base. “Despite the limited engine power, driving is fun enough. More power would have been welcome, but we did not like the TwinAir. The 1.2 FIRE engine may no longer be the most modern and fastest, its consumption and running costs remain low and its reliability has long been proven.”
The Fiat 500 is a bit older, so users report more maintenance and repair points than we are used to in this section. Nevertheless, it seems to impress its owners and we regularly see that the model is chosen again after the first 500.
If you are in the market for a used Fiat 500, also read the Fiat 500 Buying Guide in which you can read a number of additional points of attention.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl