Fiat 500 - Help with car for lifestyle change... | Motoring discussion | Back Room Forum

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Sat 2 Oct 2010 18:10

Fiat 500 - Help with car for lifestyle change... - perleman

Hi all long time no post!

I drive a 06 Boxster. Planning taking a year out to travel and need to save for 18 months. Need to get a car that will cause minimal expense over that period. Finance will be money borrowed from relative at 4% so cheap to borrow - a cheap car might not be the ideal solution if borrowing is that cheap.

Milage is 60 a day on urban streets and fast dual carriageway.

I need enough poke to not go mad so a 1.0 petrol is out but I don't need anything that fast. I was thinking the torque and economy of a small diesel, in a car that has depreciated enough to not lose too much more, but which is new enough to be reliable for my 15k a year. Not into bangernomics as need to drive something presentable for job - needs to be no older than 7-8.

I was thinking a 1.4 Yaris Diesel, at abou £4k on 2005, or Polo / Fiesta equivalent for about 1k more? Or clio? Air con is an absolute must

Don't like bigger or bland cars like Mondeo / vectra / Astra and would rather avoid these but not to the detriment of economy although saving on my insurance will be a big factor (currently best quote is £1.1k in my group 18 Porsche). Current fave is fiat 500 but depreciation prob too much.

Views welcome... Thanks in advance...

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Sat 2 Oct 2010 19:56

Fiat 500 - Help with car for lifestyle change... - retgwte

500 is way overpriced as a fashion accessory, not value for money

I would prefer a Panda 100 HP if you want a smart small car with some poke, also much more space inside and therefore a more liveable with compromise

Or a Panda multijet diesel is great fun well able to keep up on the motorway and very cheap to run, and cheap to insure

Check out prices on fiat super saver or at Perrys you would be surprised how cheap they are new

Or check out the adverts on fiat forum if looking 2nd hand

Good luck

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Sat 2 Oct 2010 19:58

Fiat 500 - Help with car for lifestyle change... - madf

I have a 2003 Yaris diesel.. Very economicall 58mpg average and £30 tax. Most have high mileages - and can take it well. Noisy above 70mph.. Great around town: refined/quiet and torquey.

Go for a T Spirit and get aircon and better seats is my recommendation..

Watch front disks for corrosion and drop links.. Both easy to change..(I DIY'd)

On rough surfaces quite noisy.

Otherwise .. read HJ's write up -(some input from me.!)

The engine should have zero issues: reject any that have any problems as that suggest lack of TLC.

And look underneath for corrosion of suspension items and exhaust...5 years old now... (spray with wax)

If maintanied, tough as old boots.. Great Toyota forum.

Edit : Bought mine in 2005 for £6.5k. Now worth £4k. SO depreciation slow..

Lots of spares: but seldom needed.

Check ABS warning light works: some sellers have sensor failure and take out bulb. New sensors: Toyota £110, German £40...

.Aircon will probably need regassing- Kwikfit £50.. or £25 winter..

Tyres ? 25k miles/set. I switched to Michelin Energy (25% off offer)... Very nice, recommended.

Edited by madf on 02/10/2010 at 20:03

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Sat 2 Oct 2010 20:41

Fiat 500 - Help with car for lifestyle change... - lucklesspedestrian

Slightly left-field suggestion, but since you're used to a two seater, how's about a Mazda MX 5?

If you buy a good 'un then depreciation could be minimal given the length of the production run and the near classic status.

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Sat 2 Oct 2010 20:55

Fiat 500 - Help with car for lifestyle change... - perleman

Nice idea but if saving money is the game, group 13 and 30 mpg aren't going to help - I'm happy to give up the sports car thing for a while, also cars like that always have the potential for bills and I can't entertain that if I'm giving up my Porsche to save money

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Sat 2 Oct 2010 23:56

Fiat 500 - Help with car for lifestyle change... - Avant

Welcome back Perleman!

I'd go for a Yaris too - it might be worth looking at the 1.3 petrol and seeing which you prefer. My elder daughter is on her fourth 1.3 Yaris: all have been competely reliable and lively to drive.

I haven't tried a Fiat 500, but I've read that until they changed the suspension (recently) they aren't as fun to drive as they look - but you need to judge for yourself.

Mini Cooper - great fun - SWMBO is on her third - but they hold their value well so only an old one may be within your budget.

If you really want something cheap and fun to drive, don't ignore the original Ford Ka. You could get a last-of-the lne original for the £4-5k you mention.

Edited by Avant on 02/10/2010 at 23:57

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Sun 3 Oct 2010 09:49

Fiat 500 - Help with car for lifestyle change... - Buster Cambelt

Mrs BC had a new model 1.3 Yaris for a few months and found it to be noisy, tinny and unreliable. She now has a 500 and it's brilliant and totally reliable.

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Sun 3 Oct 2010 11:06

Fiat 500 - Help with car for lifestyle change... - ForumNeedsModerating

This is saying 'Ford Focus 1.6 tdci' to me. Can't imagine why FIAT 500s get such attention - just a cutesy fashion accessory that compromises the FIAT/KA practicality with 40% price premium - I think you'd soon find it tiring with its bouncy short wheelbase suspension over 15K per year.

Toyota Yaris is still too much of a premium, for some reason - probably because it has the Toyota indestructible image & is small so people frightened of bigger cars flock to it (present posters excepted, of course) - but small cars seem to retain far too much value because of this, in my view.

Not my business, but why borrow money... aren't you selling the Porsche? I would have thought that would cover the cost & then some - lots of low miles Focus 1.6 diesel Zetec climates around for well under £7K.

Also fun to drive!