Fiat 500 1.3 m/Jet Diesel

lfc958 · 23-01-2008, 17:51

I drove one of these today had a good 40 minute run on both dual carriage way and back road.

WOW

- what a winner they have, bearing in mind that I drive a remapped Furby and this is well smaller in both physical size and engine.

The engine:- Despite its size, like the Furby once beyond 2k rpm this picks up very smooth and is quite rapid looking at the speedo.

Chassis / Suspension :- The setup is quite firm but you dont get teeth jarred over potholes, reminds me very much of the std Furby setup, but being lower doesn't appear to roll as much.

Interior:- Clock setup is unique, with the speedo chasing the rev counter, and the other information being right in the center. Information is all together and easy to pick up, no hunting around from centre to find what you want.
In reality the whole interior package blends design and functionality absolutely spot on for such a small car.
Seats are supportive and comfortable, the model I drove seat adjustment was the base only and tilted back down towards the floor.
Steering wheel only has up / down adjustment.
Front passenger seat has storage underneath which can be accessed by lifting the base.(same way as moving rear seats in Furby).

Build quality and feel for a fiat are a revalation

, but time will tell if the rattles appear and annoy.
Whist the boot is small ( what do you expect from such a small car) 50/50 split seats are an optional extra.

The biggest surprise came when I closed the door from the outside, I had to open and do again, it was a heavy solid thud, like you would get from a top end Merc or BMW, well impressive

makes the Furby sound quite hollow.

I have found my Furby replacement in September unless Skoda announce a date for a new vRS. SORRY SKODA you've lost another customer with dawdling.

lozgti · 23-01-2008, 17:54

Great little car from Fiat from what I have seen.

Not that cheap though but,fair enough if it is a good product

ScoobyChris · 23-01-2008, 19:01

Sounds like a fun little car. Is it marketed as a sporty car or is it just a happy coincidence it has firmish suspension and a decent engine?

Chris

sharkrider · 23-01-2008, 19:02

nice review... I'm awaiting a drive in the 100hp 1.4 petrol "sport" they have at my dealers....

if you want to replace the furby vRS you could wait for the arbarth... 155bhp 1.4 turbo

sharkrider · 23-01-2008, 19:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScoobyChris

Sounds like a fun little car. Is it marketed as a sporty car or is it just a happy coincidence it has firmish suspension and a decent engine?

Chris

the have "pop" = basic, "lounge" = luxury, and "sport" = well, sport! this is the one with the lowered and harder suspension....

daiking · 23-01-2008, 19:04

Am I the only man in this country who doesn't understand the appeal of this "shoe" on wheels?

lfc958 · 23-01-2008, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by daiking

Am I the only man in this country who doesn't understand the appeal of this "shoe" on wheels?

Yes probably

.

Johnwg · 23-01-2008, 21:16

Saw one in the flesh for the first time today on display outside my local Fiat dealers..... Looked spot on, a definate challenge to the new Mini I'd imagine

mattbeef · 23-01-2008, 21:22

i might go and try and blag a test drive in one as i think they are awesome

Reece_1 · 23-01-2008, 23:02

As a recreation of the original 500 it looks far better than the BWM Mini effort - may pop down to the Fiat dealer sometime

Aspman · 24-01-2008, 09:07

Saw one yesterday in red. I don't think that is the colour for it. Made it look a bit ordinary.

Saw a Mitsubishi i yesterday too. Bonkers looking thing.

john_grant358 · 24-01-2008, 09:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnwg

Saw one in the flesh for the first time today on display outside my local Fiat dealers..... Looked spot on, a definate challenge to the new Mini I'd imagine

Funny you should say that, the guy who designed it also designed the new mini! I thought them rear lights looked familiar!

john_grant358 · 24-01-2008, 09:50

Ifc958, i hope yourl buy a black one, dont think i could put up with the girly white!
Whats the MPG on them things?
I bet its mentally low! I wouldnt be surprised if the tax was non-existent as well!
Is it possible to re-map them?
You got me thinking now!

john_grant358 · 24-01-2008, 10:15

Iv just been on the website and built my own fiat 500 and it was over 12k!

skudmissile · 24-01-2008, 12:28

Saw one of these the other day in sheffield.

Quite a tidy motor, i think weve found claires new car for when she passes her test

john_grant358 · 24-01-2008, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by skudmissile

Saw one of these the other day in sheffield.

Quite a tidy motor, i think weve found claires new car for when she passes her test

What a bloody lucky girl!

lozgti · 24-01-2008, 12:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by john_grant358

, dont think i could put up with the girly white!
:

The police do

I thought white was the new silver.

john_grant358 · 24-01-2008, 12:34

The 1.3D is 75BHP which sounds slow to me, but it only weight 980kg, how does this compare to the power to weight ratio of a Fabia VRS?

john_grant358 · 24-01-2008, 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by lozgti

The police do

I thought white was the new silver.

The white with the red cheques down the side actually looks spot on

lozgti · 24-01-2008, 12:42

I'm thinking white with the italian colours in stripes looks smart.

23-01-2008, 17:51	#1
lfc958 Hello New Car Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Kent Posts: 3,981	Fiat 500 1.3 m/Jet Diesel I drove one of these today had a good 40 minute run on both dual carriage way and back road. WOW - what a winner they have, bearing in mind that I drive a remapped Furby and this is well smaller in both physical size and engine. The engine:- Despite its size, like the Furby once beyond 2k rpm this picks up very smooth and is quite rapid looking at the speedo. Chassis / Suspension :- The setup is quite firm but you dont get teeth jarred over potholes, reminds me very much of the std Furby setup, but being lower doesn't appear to roll as much. Interior:- Clock setup is unique, with the speedo chasing the rev counter, and the other information being right in the center. Information is all together and easy to pick up, no hunting around from centre to find what you want. In reality the whole interior package blends design and functionality absolutely spot on for such a small car. Seats are supportive and comfortable, the model I drove seat adjustment was the base only and tilted back down towards the floor. Steering wheel only has up / down adjustment. Front passenger seat has storage underneath which can be accessed by lifting the base.(same way as moving rear seats in Furby). Build quality and feel for a fiat are a revalation , but time will tell if the rattles appear and annoy. Whist the boot is small ( what do you expect from such a small car) 50/50 split seats are an optional extra. The biggest surprise came when I closed the door from the outside, I had to open and do again, it was a heavy solid thud, like you would get from a top end Merc or BMW, well impressive makes the Furby sound quite hollow. I have found my Furby replacement in September unless Skoda announce a date for a new vRS. SORRY SKODA you've lost another customer with dawdling. __________________ Steve Bye Bye Fabia - Its Gone to a new home Hello 500 ( Sept 08 )

23-01-2008, 17:54	#2
lozgti Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: midlands Posts: 5,524	Re: Fiat 500 1.3 m/Jet Diesel Great little car from Fiat from what I have seen. Not that cheap though but,fair enough if it is a good product

23-01-2008, 19:01	#3
ScoobyChris Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Andover Posts: 18,036	Re: Fiat 500 1.3 m/Jet Diesel Sounds like a fun little car. Is it marketed as a sporty car or is it just a happy coincidence it has firmish suspension and a decent engine? Chris __________________ Holding up the traffic in a little Italian..........

23-01-2008, 19:02	#4
sharkrider rider of sharks Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cumbria Posts: 3,601	Re: Fiat 500 1.3 m/Jet Diesel nice review... I'm awaiting a drive in the 100hp 1.4 petrol "sport" they have at my dealers.... if you want to replace the furby vRS you could wait for the arbarth... 155bhp 1.4 turbo __________________ Fiat Grande Punto Sporting (157.56bhp, and 279.52lbs/ft ) in Red.... Furby vRS , black magic,passenger airbag de-activation switch, Origin B2 GPS and laser (now gone, but not forgotten!)

23-01-2008, 19:04	#6
daiking DILLIGAF? Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: manchester Posts: 1,827	Re: Fiat 500 1.3 m/Jet Diesel Am I the only man in this country who doesn't understand the appeal of this "shoe" on wheels?

23-01-2008, 21:16	#8
Johnwg Turkish Delight Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 1,871	Re: Fiat 500 1.3 m/Jet Diesel Saw one in the flesh for the first time today on display outside my local Fiat dealers..... Looked spot on, a definate challenge to the new Mini I'd imagine __________________ 2006: Silver: Octavia II VRS TFSI ESTATE

23-01-2008, 21:22	#9
mattbeef Needs Money Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sheffield Posts: 3,224	Re: Fiat 500 1.3 m/Jet Diesel i might go and try and blag a test drive in one as i think they are awesome __________________ I few bits here and there but im happy to Performance Torque Go on click me you know you want to

23-01-2008, 23:02	#10
Reece_1 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 552	Re: Fiat 500 1.3 m/Jet Diesel As a recreation of the original 500 it looks far better than the BWM Mini effort - may pop down to the Fiat dealer sometime

24-01-2008, 09:07	#11
Aspman Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 779	Re: Fiat 500 1.3 m/Jet Diesel Saw one yesterday in red. I don't think that is the colour for it. Made it look a bit ordinary. Saw a Mitsubishi i yesterday too. Bonkers looking thing. __________________ The TazZone Forums

24-01-2008, 09:50	#13
john_grant358 Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,261	Re: Fiat 500 1.3 m/Jet Diesel Ifc958, i hope yourl buy a black one, dont think i could put up with the girly white! Whats the MPG on them things? I bet its mentally low! I wouldnt be surprised if the tax was non-existent as well! Is it possible to re-map them? You got me thinking now! __________________ 05 silver furby vrs, Remap, PD160, silver dash kit, eibachs, Jabba ARB, sachs clutch and very unique colour alloys!

24-01-2008, 10:15	#14
john_grant358 Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,261	Re: Fiat 500 1.3 m/Jet Diesel Iv just been on the website and built my own fiat 500 and it was over 12k! __________________ 05 silver furby vrs, Remap, PD160, silver dash kit, eibachs, Jabba ARB, sachs clutch and very unique colour alloys!

24-01-2008, 12:28	#15
skudmissile Yes it is! Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 2,905	Re: Fiat 500 1.3 m/Jet Diesel Saw one of these the other day in sheffield. Quite a tidy motor, i think weve found claires new car for when she passes her test __________________ Now turned down a little, not sure on power till RR Day Fabia vRS + Stage 2 hybrid now on lowered suspension goes like a missile

24-01-2008, 12:34	#18
john_grant358 Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,261	Re: Fiat 500 1.3 m/Jet Diesel The 1.3D is 75BHP which sounds slow to me, but it only weight 980kg, how does this compare to the power to weight ratio of a Fabia VRS? __________________ 05 silver furby vrs, Remap, PD160, silver dash kit, eibachs, Jabba ARB, sachs clutch and very unique colour alloys! Last edited by john_grant358; 25-01-2008 at 11:31.

24-01-2008, 12:42	#20
lozgti Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: midlands Posts: 5,524	Re: Fiat 500 1.3 m/Jet Diesel I'm thinking white with the italian colours in stripes looks smart.

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