We drove ours from Hertfordshire to Switzerland and it was one of the best trips I've ever done in 30 years. We loved it. Incidentally we had planned to make this trip in model 3, but it wasn't ready in time (luckily for us😊)
Just replaced my 2011 1.2 that I've had for 10 years with a 21 dolce vita, cos I love the style outside and in. Yes it's old fashioned looking but that's part of the charm. The last one at 96k and 12 years old still had the original exhaust and for all its little idiosyncrasies (wing mirror falling/door handles off) I loved it, which is why I bought another
I don't think you're the target market and you don't seem to understand why the 500 sells so well. I rented one for 5 days in Italy and thought it was a great little car with character and would have one if I was in the market for a small car.
I think it's overpriced for what it is, but people seem to be willing to pay the extra because of its style status. I work for a car repair garage and we see quite a lot of these...
Agree, I think that this is the most attractive small car available and has that magical indefinable character and charm that only Italian cars seem to have and with that it's easy to overlook a few possible shortcomings which can otherwise be regarded as character. There are newer cars which look better value but life's too short to drive something with the charisma of a washing machine.
*The main question is how does this car sells so good 13 years in a row !!!* Other manufacturers have to change models every 3-5years or otherwise their sales sink like Titanic
@@CarObsession My explanation isn that you can not use sense to explain buying a lifestyle car. Also this car are often both by women who so not pay attention how the automotive industry progress and really value more style/colors/design and ease od use (small/maneuverable) more then anything else
I have one of these cars everyone loves it and I find the seating height very good for my 56 year old back I mostly drive on very narrow Scottish country roads so the size of the car is perfect agree with all you say but I find the little fiat to be perfect for me keep up the goodwork
I own a Caterham 7 and a Fiat 500c. Near me there's a 5 mile stretch of twisty forest road and the 500 is just as much fun to drive along it as the Caterham. Get the 500c, put the roof and side windows down and it all feels about 10mph faster than it actually is.
We have had two 500 over the past eight years. Used for nipping into town, busy commute to work by my wife and so forth. That’s what they do well. They are cheap to own and reasonably reliable. They hold their value second hand. My wife wouldn’t have anything else. If you want to improve the handling get some decent shocks on the back . They will be far superior to the cheap ones fitted by Fiat .
Shocks? What’s that? My native language is Spanish so I don’t understand that specific term! I’m getting this car by renting and any improvement I could do is welcome!
@@rikiminaj Hola Good Morning ! Shock absorbers . You need gas filled ones at the back. You can get some very expensive ones but we got some medium cost ones and they are superb . So improve the handling
Thanks for the review. We constantly get 60 mpg out of our Star, (16'' wheels) on trips, there no wind noise at 70 mph, handles like a go cart and the ride is comfortable. Yes the gears have to be used but its nippy enough in traffic. The seat fold mechanism is rubbish and feels like its going to break when operating and the windscreen wipers are noisy. Love this little car though.
The thing is William, I'm not sure why. It's a dated platform that isn't as good as the VW Up!/SEAT Mii Electric/Skoda Citigo. I think people just buy them as they're stylish and they want to follow trends. Ok, there ARE bound to be other reasons, but I've driven a few and I can't get my head around why they are so popular. Thanks for watching William.
@@CarObsession it looks great, ultra reliable as it is an old model and all its problems have been solved, the interior is better if compared to the other cars in that price range, EASILY gets 23-24 km/l, has the 6th gear for short highway transfers, and it parks everywhere. The VW Up! family was not as stilish, the interior felt far cheaper (and boring....everything in grey) than the 500.
Had exactly this model on hire in Lanzarote recently...said all the same things you did- especially, about sitting on it, not in it! It was pretty gutless and the steering was far too light for my liking. Fun for a couple of days on empty island roads on holiday but overall it was like a skateboard powered by a disinterested wasp!
If I were in the market for one I’d try and find a second hand twin air. I know the fuel consumption is nowhere near the claimed figure in real life but must be worth it for the torque and sound. Shame they seem to be rarer than hen’s teeth
I remember Top Gear covering the TwinAir not too long after it came out and I recall them saying it wasn't particularly fuel efficient...Thanks for watching.
Nice and honest review. Sells well because it is a bit of an icon. Shame they haven't updated it much over the years. For an outdated interior it is still pleasant to look at. For a city car it fits the purpose well.
The bodyworks garage gave me a 500 while my Skoda Octavia IV went in for some repairs. My heart sank when they delivered it. Compare to my car, this is like a shoebox. Goodness, it felt cramped. It also feels rather flimsy. OK, so this is built for the city and Rome is it's natural habitat. But what do people do for long journeys? Do 500 owners have 2 cars, one for the city and one for long trips on the motorways? I am glad we drove from London to Glasgow and back in our Skoda, I don't think I my back would have survived in the 500. I have to make a trip to Stoke on Trent in a few days, and I am not looking forward to it. You are right, the infotainment system is very slow and the graphics reminded me of early computer games. Whether you like the look of the car is personal taste. Personally, I think it looks like a toadstool and has as much charisma as a snail. I can't wait to get my Octavia back! On a separate note, what don't garages give you a manual with loan cars?! I don't even know what the tyre pressure should be and I want to check before my long journey. There are warnings on the dashboard and I don't know what they relate to. I Googled it but there are umpteen versions! I tried calling the garage and no one picks up.
Hi there, thanks for watching and thanks for the comment. Regarding the manuals, it may because the garage doesn't want customers to lose them? The tyre pressures are normally on the driver's B Pillar, on the inside of the door or within the fuel filler flap.
@@tedolphbundler724 Did quite understand your comment. Why wouldn't/shouldn't I use the info-tainment system if it is there? And what is there not to understand? Of all the cars I have driven in the last 40 years, the Fiat 500 was the least enjoyable. I wouldn't drive another one if it is the only car left in the world. I don't need a VW, I have a Skoda. It's comfrotable, practical and cruise on the motorway like silk. Unlke the lawnmower that is the 500.
@@Onbehaard As I said, you would not understand. Just accept the fact that some of us have sensitivities that others do not. You are one of the others.
“I can’t see the point in this car, don’t waste your money… thank you Fiat UK for the loan” 🤣 Also, I would hazard a guess that the sales figures tell a very different story, that’s why they’re still selling them along side the electric only 3rd gen
Hi Paul, thanks for watching and thanks for the comment. You talk about the sales figures, but how many 500 Hybrids have you seen on the road? I genuinely haven't seen any although I've seen a few of the new electric only model, but again, not many. Most likely because it's not exactly a cheap car and there are better options out there when it comes to value.
@@CarObsession good point, but it’s best not to use anecdotal evidence. You live in the south of England where there is a more robust charging infrastructure, and subsequently more electric vehicle registrations. However, taking the sales figures for the first three quarters of 2021, around 394,000 petrol 500 were registered compared to 7254 of the third generation 500e
Hi there, thank you for watching. As much as I get the car is meant to be retro, I personally think FIAT is taking a bit of a liberty with it. The switchgear hasn't changed in years, and I would say the interior has got to a point where it feels tired and dated as opposed to retro. In fact, I'm pretty sure the interior has seen little change from the 500 I reviewed about 7 years ago.
In my opinion, the problem is the interior and the new hybrid motor. It's just a city car to never take out from the city because it wouldn't cope with a highway. the interior is poor, without much going on. it doesn't reflect the price at all. I feel it's probably one of the worst cars at the moment... when I see those Clothing Irons buttons in 2023: I urge to vomit. The outside is Okay because the model is all of that quirky and old image . and I hope it doesn't change much... but the inside and motor: what a disgrace.
I had one as a hire car. Did 70 fine and I loved the interior. 14k new it seems a good little car to me. I keep eyeing them up but I do really need more boot space.
Great review mate! Personally, I agree with everything you say (especially when I joined you for the twin test) it just further reminded me that Fiat 500 is flawed and after 13 years it is certainly showing it's age For a platform that is so 'popular' you'd think Fiat would have listened to it's problems/flaws and adapted it to make it more fresh; instead the only noticeable difference is the price increase and a million different trim levels for no reason! For looks, do people really think it is a 'stylish' car? If you buying a 500 to celebrate the original that alone is an insult in itself! Plenty of other cars in it's class that offer better value for your money including actual safety, more refinement and better practicality, not sure why there is even a debate on the subject Nevertheless everyone has an opinion, it just happened mine & yours are both the same
Conclusion: how long will fossil fuels last? It is predicted that we will run out of fossil fuels in this century. Oil can last up to 50 years, natural gas up to 53 years, and coal up to 114 years.
We drove ours from Hertfordshire to Switzerland and it was one of the best trips I've ever done in 30 years. We loved it. Incidentally we had planned to make this trip in model 3, but it wasn't ready in time (luckily for us😊)
Just replaced my 2011 1.2 that I've had for 10 years with a 21 dolce vita, cos I love the style outside and in. Yes it's old fashioned looking but that's part of the charm. The last one at 96k and 12 years old still had the original exhaust and for all its little idiosyncrasies (wing mirror falling/door handles off) I loved it, which is why I bought another
I don't think you're the target market and you don't seem to understand why the 500 sells so well. I rented one for 5 days in Italy and thought it was a great little car with character and would have one if I was in the market for a small car.
I think it's overpriced for what it is, but people seem to be willing to pay the extra because of its style status. I work for a car repair garage and we see quite a lot of these...
Agree, I think that this is the most attractive small car available and has that magical indefinable character and charm that only Italian cars seem to have and with that it's easy to overlook a few possible shortcomings which can otherwise be regarded as character. There are newer cars which look better value but life's too short to drive something with the charisma of a washing machine.
*The main question is how does this car sells so good 13 years in a row !!!*
Other manufacturers have to change models every 3-5years or otherwise their sales sink like Titanic
I'm not overly sure as I'd argue it's quite flawed and it's not the best value but that clearly a dealbreaker for buyers. Thanks for watching.
@@CarObsession My explanation isn that you can not use sense to explain buying a lifestyle car. Also this car are often both by women who so not pay attention how the automotive industry progress and really value more style/colors/design and ease od use (small/maneuverable) more then anything else
@@BrateTebra123 Yes, that is very true.
@@CarObsession You're quite flawed yourself but likeable with it, just like the Fiat 500 😂
@@haitch04 Aren't we all flawed in some shape or form? 🤷♂️
I have one of these cars everyone loves it and I find the seating height very good for my 56 year old back I mostly drive on very narrow Scottish country roads so the size of the car is perfect agree with all you say but I find the little fiat to be perfect for me keep up the goodwork
Hi David, thanks for watching and thanks for the feedback 👍🏽.
I own a Caterham 7 and a Fiat 500c. Near me there's a 5 mile stretch of twisty forest road and the 500 is just as much fun to drive along it as the Caterham. Get the 500c, put the roof and side windows down and it all feels about 10mph faster than it actually is.
I'd rather drive the 7 😉. Thanks for watching
@@CarObsession they are both fun cars, is what I'm saying. They both put a smile on my face.
We have had two 500 over the past eight years. Used for nipping into town, busy commute to work by my wife and so forth. That’s what they do well. They are cheap to own and reasonably reliable. They hold their value second hand. My wife wouldn’t have anything else. If you want to improve the handling get some decent shocks on the back . They will be far superior to the cheap ones fitted by Fiat .
Hello Rob, thanks for watching and thanks for the comment.
Shocks? What’s that? My native language is Spanish so I don’t understand that specific term! I’m getting this car by renting and any improvement I could do is welcome!
Shock absorber 👍🏽.
@@rikiminaj Hola Good Morning ! Shock absorbers . You need gas filled ones at the back. You can get some very expensive ones but we got some medium cost ones and they are superb . So improve the handling
Thanks for the review. We constantly get 60 mpg out of our Star, (16'' wheels) on trips, there no wind noise at 70 mph, handles like a go cart and the ride is comfortable. Yes the gears have to be used but its nippy enough in traffic. The seat fold mechanism is rubbish and feels like its going to break when operating and the windscreen wipers are noisy. Love this little car though.
Hi Geoff, thanks for watching, and thanks for the comment.
If it ain't broke dont fix it, it sells for a reason...people like it.
The thing is William, I'm not sure why. It's a dated platform that isn't as good as the VW Up!/SEAT Mii Electric/Skoda Citigo. I think people just buy them as they're stylish and they want to follow trends. Ok, there ARE bound to be other reasons, but I've driven a few and I can't get my head around why they are so popular. Thanks for watching William.
@@CarObsession You do not understand because you do not have a soul.
@CarObsession it's because it's better looking than them
@@CarObsession it looks great, ultra reliable as it is an old model and all its problems have been solved, the interior is better if compared to the other cars in that price range, EASILY gets 23-24 km/l, has the 6th gear for short highway transfers, and it parks everywhere. The VW Up! family was not as stilish, the interior felt far cheaper (and boring....everything in grey) than the 500.
Good and honest review as always
Hello mate, as always, thanks for watching and thanks for the feedback.
Great video - I've just been diagnosed with Asperger's
Thank you for watching, sorry to hear the news.
Actually wouldn’t mind the electric one but they’re not for 6ft 4+ are they 😕
No, not really! Thanks for watching.
Had exactly this model on hire in Lanzarote recently...said all the same things you did- especially, about sitting on it, not in it! It was pretty gutless and the steering was far too light for my liking. Fun for a couple of days on empty island roads on holiday but overall it was like a skateboard powered by a disinterested wasp!
🤣
True Review. 😘
If I were in the market for one I’d try and find a second hand twin air. I know the fuel consumption is nowhere near the claimed figure in real life but must be worth it for the torque and sound. Shame they seem to be rarer than hen’s teeth
I remember Top Gear covering the TwinAir not too long after it came out and I recall them saying it wasn't particularly fuel efficient...Thanks for watching.
@@CarObsession that was the general consensus but I’d love one for the thrummy sound. Keep up the very good videos
Nice and honest review. Sells well because it is a bit of an icon. Shame they haven't updated it much over the years. For an outdated interior it is still pleasant to look at. For a city car it fits the purpose well.
Hello pal, thanks for watching, and thanks for the feedback 👍
@@CarObsession no problem buddy, keep up the good work 👍.
I love fiat 500s , there great
Had it as Service car, loud engine but low Acceleration.
City car? Yes in deed.
The bodyworks garage gave me a 500 while my Skoda Octavia IV went in for some repairs. My heart sank when they delivered it. Compare to my car, this is like a shoebox. Goodness, it felt cramped. It also feels rather flimsy. OK, so this is built for the city and Rome is it's natural habitat. But what do people do for long journeys? Do 500 owners have 2 cars, one for the city and one for long trips on the motorways? I am glad we drove from London to Glasgow and back in our Skoda, I don't think I my back would have survived in the 500. I have to make a trip to Stoke on Trent in a few days, and I am not looking forward to it. You are right, the infotainment system is very slow and the graphics reminded me of early computer games. Whether you like the look of the car is personal taste. Personally, I think it looks like a toadstool and has as much charisma as a snail. I can't wait to get my Octavia back!
On a separate note, what don't garages give you a manual with loan cars?! I don't even know what the tyre pressure should be and I want to check before my long journey. There are warnings on the dashboard and I don't know what they relate to. I Googled it but there are umpteen versions! I tried calling the garage and no one picks up.
Hi there, thanks for watching and thanks for the comment. Regarding the manuals, it may because the garage doesn't want customers to lose them? The tyre pressures are normally on the driver's B Pillar, on the inside of the door or within the fuel filler flap.
If you are using the "info-tainment" system you do not understand the car at all. Do yourself a favor an buy a VW.
@@tedolphbundler724 Did quite understand your comment. Why wouldn't/shouldn't I use the info-tainment system if it is there? And what is there not to understand? Of all the cars I have driven in the last 40 years, the Fiat 500 was the least enjoyable. I wouldn't drive another one if it is the only car left in the world.
I don't need a VW, I have a Skoda. It's comfrotable, practical and cruise on the motorway like silk. Unlke the lawnmower that is the 500.
@@Onbehaard As I said, you would not understand. Just accept the fact that some of us have sensitivities that others do not. You are one of the others.
Took those speed bumps rather quickly
Seems odd that's the main thing you've taken away from this review.
Should have 90 hp ●!
“I can’t see the point in this car, don’t waste your money… thank you Fiat UK for the loan” 🤣 Also, I would hazard a guess that the sales figures tell a very different story, that’s why they’re still selling them along side the electric only 3rd gen
Hi Paul, thanks for watching and thanks for the comment. You talk about the sales figures, but how many 500 Hybrids have you seen on the road? I genuinely haven't seen any although I've seen a few of the new electric only model, but again, not many. Most likely because it's not exactly a cheap car and there are better options out there when it comes to value.
@@CarObsession good point, but it’s best not to use anecdotal evidence. You live in the south of England where there is a more robust charging infrastructure, and subsequently more electric vehicle registrations. However, taking the sales figures for the first three quarters of 2021, around 394,000 petrol 500 were registered compared to 7254 of the third generation 500e
So there you have it, a report from someone who just doesn't get 'retro' and calls it old fashioned. 🤣
Hi there, thank you for watching. As much as I get the car is meant to be retro, I personally think FIAT is taking a bit of a liberty with it. The switchgear hasn't changed in years, and I would say the interior has got to a point where it feels tired and dated as opposed to retro. In fact, I'm pretty sure the interior has seen little change from the 500 I reviewed about 7 years ago.
In my opinion, the problem is the interior and the new hybrid motor. It's just a city car to never take out from the city because it wouldn't cope with a highway. the interior is poor, without much going on. it doesn't reflect the price at all. I feel it's probably one of the worst cars at the moment... when I see those Clothing Irons buttons in 2023: I urge to vomit. The outside is Okay because the model is all of that quirky and old image . and I hope it doesn't change much... but the inside and motor: what a disgrace.
I had one as a hire car. Did 70 fine and I loved the interior.
14k new it seems a good little car to me.
I keep eyeing them up but I do really need more boot space.
Great review mate! Personally, I agree with everything you say (especially when I joined you for the twin test) it just further reminded me that Fiat 500 is flawed and after 13 years it is certainly showing it's age
For a platform that is so 'popular' you'd think Fiat would have listened to it's problems/flaws and adapted it to make it more fresh; instead the only noticeable difference is the price increase and a million different trim levels for no reason!
For looks, do people really think it is a 'stylish' car? If you buying a 500 to celebrate the original that alone is an insult in itself! Plenty of other cars in it's class that offer better value for your money including actual safety, more refinement and better practicality, not sure why there is even a debate on the subject
Nevertheless everyone has an opinion, it just happened mine & yours are both the same
Four million people disagree with you.
Conclusion: how long will fossil fuels last? It is predicted that we will run out of fossil fuels in this century. Oil can last up to 50 years, natural gas up to 53 years, and coal up to 114 years.
Hi there, thanks for watching, and thanks for the comment.
Oil is a renewable resource. Abiotic catalytic reformation of methane. . Ask the Russians.
Terrible terrible car
Well, this guy has no idea of what a Fiat 500 is supposed to be
No idea? Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment 👍🏽