Well after nearly 4 years of ownership and about 55 thousand miles the

Wife and I said farewell to our tired old Fabia SDI. In very recent times it had been

involved in 3 minor accidents and had deep scrapes and gouges all along one side

and an odd coloured mirror. The air con was not working, the brakes needed replacing

all round, and the doors had finally started to leak. It had covered 116k+ in all but other

than those problems was still a sound car. It was never going to look nice again without a

good few quid spending on it so we decided upon a replacement for my wife.

(The accident damage on the Fabia wasn't anything to do with her btw... She's very cautious)

TBH after 4 years looking at a sea of grey in the SDI she fancied something

more 'funky', brighter and modern. After a looking at a few different examples for sale locally

we ended up buying an approved used Fiat 500 1.2 Sport from the main agent near us.

We got £900 quid PX for the Fabia which I thought was fair considering the condition.

I'd have only asked about a £1000 for it if selling privately bearing in mind the

damage and repairs needed, PXing it saved me the hassle of dealing with the sale.

The balance was £6300 with a years MOT service and some cosmetic items fixed

including a new rear badge and long chrome trim, also the rear bumper was damaged but

has been repaired beautifully. I can honestly say that inside and out it is like a brand new

car and wears its 24000 miles very well indeed. I noticed a fault with the aircon during the

test drive and it turned out to be a split pipe so that was replaced and the system regassed.

The paint is now in top notch condition. FFSH, one owner, definitely garaged.

I got the latest version of the system software for the in car features flashed on

so it's compatible with the latest batch of mobile phones.

(The Wife has just upgraded her handset) and they've supplied an adaptor (on order)

so that the windows based in car entertainment system can 'talk' to our apple ipods

and then utilise all the steering wheel controls.

Today we've been out and the wife has been getting the feel of it so I'm sure there's a bunch

of stuff it does that we haven't even discovered yet but the USB based Windows and ME

system is bloody fantastic so far. Easy to use and all features can be controlled from the

steering wheel. The bluetooth hands free connects up very quickly and works well.

Today we've been playing music from a 2gb memory stick but the track access is instant

and the track name displays in the centre of the speedo

I'll update the thread with more discoveries and comparisons when we've spent some

more time with the car, but with just 5bhp more than the SDI but weighing in about

300kg lighter it feels much quicker. Handling is tauter, ride isn't as soft but it's more

fun to drive.

Whilst waiting for the car to be prepped etc, I decided to spoil the Mrs Grr and get her

some 'new car' gifts.

I ordered a set of genuine Fiat embroidered interior mats, a 2gb memory stick,

a genuine Fiat italian themed key cover and keyring and an aftermarket set of

colour matched reverse sensors (Which I'll fit whenever the bloody rain stops).

Today she took a fancy to some 'go faster' vinyls which are now on order

and again, I'll fit em when the weather cheers up a bit.

Well put your shades on folks Here's a few pics.

It's a shame to see the SDI go but after recent events in our lives we think something a bit

brighter and more fun is in order. More pics to follow.

Thanks for looking and reading

Very cheerfull!

And so the mods begin

Yeah I like that, I'm sure you'll both love dashing around in that.

Very nice, although I prefer mine

Edited 13 July, 201213 yr by Paul007

The yellow is not bright enough.

Ambrosia's little Sister

Cool. :sun:

And so the mods begin

Yerp, K&N induction kit on order, needs to sound a bit more rorty IMO.

Coming from the SDI which as we know isn't renowned for being particularly

quiet, this car seems practically silent and the wife likes to be able to hear the

engine when she drives. If it becomes tiresome I'll swap it for a K&N panel filter

in the original airbox instead. It's more for sound than performance but if it

improves throttle response a bit as well then that's a bonus.

Unless I fit jets to it it'll never be a quick car but that suits my wife as she's

a plodder anyway.

New bosch OE aero wiper blades also on order.

(current ones wipe okay but judder like a beeatch, I suspect they've been on the

car since new and the unions are worn...)

What's the mpg like compared to the SDI? (not that I'm mpg obsessed or anything)

You certainly won't lose it the car park or the fog for that matter!

Edited 13 July, 201213 yr by io1901

The only "proper colour" for a modded 500 is pale grey with red stripes (Abarth colours).

Manafacturers figures suggest about 50-65 mpg.

Not quite as frugal as the SDI was but I'd rather have a little more refinement at the cost

of no more than 10mpg. The SDI was bought originally for my Wifes 100mile round trip to

work each day on the M25. She only does city driving again now and low mileage in general.

This car seemed just the job for her based on the driving she does now. And £30 a year to tax a

petrol car seems a bargain when you consider the SDI was over three times the cost to tax

Here's the stats...

Fiat 500 1.2 Sport Performance

Maximum Speed

99 mph

0 - 62 mph (acceleration)

12.9 seconds :rofl:

Fiat 500 Fuel Consumption :: 1.2 Sport

Fuel Consumption and Capacities

Fuel Type

- Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Capacity

35 litres / 7.7 gallons

Cost To Fill Tank

£45.92

Fiat 500 Fuel Consumption :: 1.2 Lounge

Urban Fuel

49.6 mpg

Extra Urban

65.7 mpg

Combined

58.9 mpg

Theoretical Range to Empty

453 miles

Fuel cost per 12,000 miles

£1,215 or £0.10 per mile

Cost of Fuel (per litre)

£1.312 - Unleaded Petrol

Cost per Gallon of Unleaded Petrol

£5.96 - Unleaded Petrol

Fiat 500 1.2 Sport CO₂ Emissions

VED Band [ C ] - 113 g/km

Emissions Class

EU5

CO₂ Exhaust Emissions

113 g/km

Fiat 500 NCAP Rating

NCAP - Adult Occupant Rating

NCAP - Child Protection Rating

NCAP - Pedestrian Test Rating

VED - Vehicle Excise Duty Band (Car Tax - 12 months)

VED - Vehicle Excise Duty

[ C ] £0.00 - 1st year

[ C ] £30.00 - thereafter

That will be a perfect little motor for Mrs G I reckon, good choice dude!

Tidy. Looks perfect for her. The brown leather is interesting but looks good.

Funky little things, although very cramped inside! I felt like a clown driving SWMBO's parent's one!

Lovely choice Gary, I think these cars are great, so much better than a mingi colour is spot on, happy motoring

nice, I like 'em, had a couple when I was with BSM... quite indestructable, good engine, funky.. bit bouncy, but I like that!

best think about the 1.2 is in winter... warm air from the heater in 30 seconds! lol.. that will be a change from your SDI

Funky little things, although very cramped inside! I felt like a clown driving SWMBO's parent's one!

you are a clown? :p

Are they full leather seats ?

Are they full leather seats ?

No, half leather (ette?) Not sure on that tbh.

There is a full leather interior available, £700 odd quid option when

ordered new. And although we both liked the panoramic sunroof which

was on a few others we looked at I've got to be honest and say I've never had

a sunroof before that didn't leak sooner or later so we weren't that bothered

that it didn't have one.

For us, the main must have was the Blue and ME system, talking of which,

Mrs Grr has just got her new Nokia Lumia today. It is one of the best phones available

to talk to this car. (Windows OS) So now the car can read you a text if one comes in

while you're driving along. Then, you can verbally dictate a text to be sent from your phone

to reply to it. All without your hands leaving the steering wheel. I think that's pretty cool.

It also can have music streamed to it wirelessly via the bluetooth or using any type.

of memory stick or flash card reader via the USB port (Which also charges all usb tech)

I doubt it will have as easy a time with my ****ney accent as it does with Mrs Grrs

posh home counties accent though She sounds like a newsreader when she speaks

1st Mod - remove the garage's sticker in the rear window,

Did they put it right in your line of sight to remind you who you bought it from each time to look in the rear view mirror!?

1st Mod - remove the garage's sticker in the rear window,

Did they put it right in your line of sight to remind you who you bought it from each time to look in the rear view mirror!?

Did that on Friday along with the car of the year sticker.

Should get the go faster stripes next week

I LOVED the Blue & me in my fiat... by far the best media system I've come accross yet ..

although it did one play the macc lads on a driving test without provocation! lol...

Replacement wiper blades fitted today, Our first car with aeros

as standard. Other mods include, 'Unleaded Only' sticker inside

the filler flap. (I know a derv nozzle shouldn't fit but if anyone

can manage to get one in there it's my wife :p ) She's been filling with

diesel for years and needs a reminder until she's used to the new car.

Still waiting for go faster stripes and othe graphics to arrive.

5 digit private plate just bought tonight.

Replacement wiper blades fitted today, Our first car with aeros

as standard. Other mods include, 'Unleaded Only' sticker inside

the filler flap. (I know a derv nozzle shouldn't fit but if anyone

can manage to get one in there it's my wife :p ) She's been filling with

diesel for years and needs a reminder until she's used to the new car.

Still waiting for go faster stripes and othe graphics to arrive.

5 digit private plate just bought tonight.

So she's an expert in fitting big nozzles in small holes?

So she's an expert in fitting big nozzles in small holes?