Sunil_FiestaRS1800

iTrader: (1)

Anything to look out when buying one of these?

My old dear has got a heart set on one.

Whats the best engine to go for etc? Looking at around 7k but can go up to 9k .

RS331

WHY lol, really nice thing to do for ya mum, my missuses sister has one, apparently they are nice, not very spacious but do the job, think they do a sports version too, but for £7,000 to £9,000 id get her an EVO lol

Sunil_FiestaRS1800

iTrader: (1)

I dont know why lol. I think there is alot of better cars out there for the money but shes got her heart set on one.

Doesnt need a sporty version, a diesel would do and she just like looks doesnt need any power.

Less.

Don't they share the same platform as the latest Fiesta?

daviddunlop83

iTrader: (7)

Def the same as the Ka tho not sure if anything to do with fiesta

schonbacher

i thought it was same platform as fiat panda and some other little foreign shit box lol i quite like the 500 lol

Less.

Damm knew it was some sort of ford

daviddunlop83

iTrader: (7)

When my mum had her KA and they ordered teh stuff for spare wheel it all came stickered up with fiat stickers

7sean7m7

I remember May on top gear said the diesel engine was shite.

RS331

I second this, didnt they all go out for a tour of france in them and clarkson had the sports version, Sports version won hands down, hammonds normal petrol engine was tidy and mays deseasil was shit.

maybe go petrol out of the range they do, all im thinking about and umming and arring about is the money for one lol.

yunii

check this out! its awesome.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3916231.htm

Ad4m RST

/\ /\ 30k! wind it in!

My sister has the 1.2 with all the options, she got it right around your budget. They're wicked little cars, a full tank lasts forever & only £20 tax...

MarkyMark

I do a few of these salvage, the diesel is a 1.3 fiat mjet unit, the petrol is a 1.2 or 1.4. The sport is just a trim level, there are quite a few limited editions out there as well. The base model is a pop and then theres the lounge then cc and twin air not sure on the prices of the cc and twin air though.

The new ford ka is a the same drivetrain engine etc there is a few k premium for the 500 over the ka though even new, same with the diesel it is a few k more new versus a petrol.

not a bad car to drive very girly though so i tend not to drive them

1.9 xr2 on 40's

when you talk about these little euro minis i like the panda 100's
they look better and are cheaper i think

st220kyle

ive driven a diesel 500, was quite impressed tbh, costs fuck all to run was quite nippy from what i remember if it wasnt for the noise you'd never even know it wasnt petrol

PileOfRust

Had a 1.2 500 as a learner car.. hated the fucking thing

D4nny8oy

There's never been a back to back test with three 500's on TopGear AFAIK- just James May's 500 vs BMX test and the Hatchback challenge with the Citroen DS3, Renault Twingo and 500CC.

James' complaint with the 1.3 diesel was, essentially, that a small Italian hatch should have a petrol that you rev the tits off, and you can't do that in an mJet. Anyway, being a Panda owner, he'll never compliment the 500 due to a weird badge snobbery between 500's and Panda's (and Ka's for that matter).

Reliability-wise, the 500 and Panda are well up there with the mainstream stuff. The 1.2 petrol and 1.3 diesel are both in the cheap tax bracket, and with a light foot you can get the petrol nearly matching the diesel, so it all comes down to annual mileage as for what to pick. The 1.2 is a 'safe' engine if the belt ever breaks and is easy to maintain, while the 1.3 is chain-driven. Service intervals are 18k/2 years, although an Annual service is recommended if doing low-mileage.

Late '09, early '10 cars are more sought after as Fiat started to use the Ka's modified rear beam for a better ride, although most people wouldn't necessarily notice the early car's slight choppiness over broken tarmac, but it's all the Press whinged about. DPF's were optional on the diesels until afew years into production, but they rarely give you grief unless doing town driving/low mileage.

900ss

I must be showing my age
I always wanted one and still do

Only I was thinking of the old Fiat 500 bubble car ...

Sunil_FiestaRS1800

iTrader: (1)

Ok after reading a few reviews it looks she is going to go for the diesel.

It was either that or the 1.2 but the diesel has more low down punch which will suit her driving style more.