rainee7Southern Highlands
Pleasure and so much Pain
I bought a red Fiat 500 in 2009 when it was 9 months old from a Maserati dealer who had used it as a loan car. It was $32,000 new. I loved it, real head turner as not many around. It has now done 53,000Kms and is so much fun to drive BUT when the car was four years old the clear coat started coming off the roof. After a 12 month battle with Fiat they resprayed it promising to review the failing bonnet and perished rubber mouldings on another claim. The bonnet now looks like I have had an engine fire and the rest of the car is heading that way...Read more
. I also have a 10cm split in my dashboard at the front edge of the passenger airbag. After a further two year battle with Fiat they have said "it is out of warranty" and "it is red". I'm in my mid 50's and have always treated the car like a Cup favourite. How can this be fair. It is worth nothing unless I spend $5,000 to have it resprayed and not worth much after that. So disillusioned with Fiat Australia. December 6th 2018 Update: The pain continued 8,760 have read my review on the clear coat peeling off my 2008 Fiat 500 after 4-5 years. After no luck with Fiat I spent $5,200 getting the car resprayed. The car at this point was 9 years old and had done 55,000 kms. Murphy's Law, straight after I had spent this money the gearbox bearings went. The car was off the road for 7 weeks waiting for parts from Fiat in Italy. After that it was the timing belt which I guess was fair as the car was of an age. Then it was the starter motor, then it was the clutch plate. All this before the car was 60,000 kms. I don't know about you but a $34,000 car should last more than 60,000 Kms before needing what amounted to $8,500 worth of repairs plus the $5,200 for the paint job. The car is currently valued at $8,000 so I guess I will just run it into the ground. I'm a nearly retired lady who has always looked after the car with regular servicing, as we do at our age. When it's running it is still a fun car to drive. Unfortunately I now have to have my mechanic and tow truck driver on speed dial.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Grumpy Old ManSydney Surrounds, NSW
- 6 reviews
Fantastic little car, that's actually not so little!
This is one of the most FUN driving experiences that you can have!
It handles like a roller skate or go-kart! Sure, it's not a V8, but the power to weight ratio is so good that it's just a blast to drive.
So far ours has done over 50,000kms and it's always reliable. Servicing costs are no more than any other car, don't take it to a dealer though!
The only "negative" is that FIAT recommend timing belt change after 80,000km or 4 years (1.4 litre)- again NO dealer, they just rip you off.
Our local mechanic had never worked on one before, but ...Read more
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Selling my fiat ASAP reasons to not buy
I initially worried about the fact there is no spare tire. Got over that and installed one underneath. No tow hitch for when tire does go flat (got over that) battery issue I can't get over.. I bought my car from car max and it is still under warranty. However it did not come with the mopar brand battery that comes with fiat. Yesterday my car died in my driveway. Roadside assistance came and could not jump it. Took out battery and brought to autozome to test. Dead battery. Paid $170 for a new battery. Installed, lights and accessories work but ...Read more
car still won't start. Had car towed to my closest fiat dealer to check it out. Since battery isn't the original I have to pay an additional $150 for them to diagnose the problem since they assume it is because of my battery. Come to find out: if your battery dies while you're trying to start it, car goes into auto theft mode. It won't start or release key from ignition (you can remove dash to release key) however only a fiat dealer can remove auto theft in order to start the car. Meaning: every time your battery dies you will pay almost $200 for battery and another $150 to install the new one and remove your anti theft. If you don't have roadside assistance you will also pay for a tow truck.. Hopefully you are near a fiat dealership. You might as well never drive a fiat anywhere outside of a city. And a battery issue that cost anyone without a fiat somewhere around $70 to fix will cost a fiat owner a minimum of $300.. SELLING THIS CRAP CAR ASAP. So disappointingSimilar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
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Fuming Mad
- 8 reviews
- 10 likes
Cute and capable
Opted for the manual model in a 500 S. New from dealer with HID's and leather as standard. Dealer gave me the TomTom Sat Nav too.
Took the car down the coast to Eden and back. So comfy and relaxed. It's no sprinter, but the 1.4l mated to the 6 speed manual is all this little car needs.
Perfect in the city for grabbing parking spots others have to drive past :)
Solid European car.
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NicoleLaunceston
Cannot get out of neutral
Liked the car until it started going into neutral with no warning. Have had this back to the dealer 3 times over the past month. They have fixed the gearbox censors, a valve unit, yet the problem is still not fixed. This has happened to me twice in the morning with the car not being able to get out the driveway and twice whilst driving. Despite the very real possibility of this resulting in a major car accident, the dealer seems to be making light of the issue. All Fiat Australia can say is that the mechanics have to be actually driving the car...Read more
or present when the fault occurs as that is the only way to diagnose it. I now have video footage of the fault to take to the dealer. I would not recommend buying one of these cars as it is to great a risk to take, especially when it appears no one is capable of fixing it.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
HchezSydney
- 7 reviews
- 9 likes
fun little city car
this little car surprised me from the start & i love driving it, as it has a little zip, particularly in 'sport mode' & if you live in the city, this is the perfect little run about.
i opted for the 1.4L Lounge model in auto with all leather interior & 16" alloy wheels, which really gives it a sporty feel & it does come with a couple of little bells & whistles. overall the car is quite luxurious for its tiny size & even has room for passengers in the back, although they may feel a little cramped.
the handling is great & it has a small t...Read more
urning circle, perfect for narrow street U-turns, it is super easy to drive & to park in small spaces, the boot also has enough room for all the groceries. where it really loses points for me is on a hill, as it tends to roll back quite easily, so a hill start is definitely required every time!!! it also doesn't have much in the way of guts on the ascent & must be in 'sport mode' if you want to get up that hill. the other main negative is that the voice recognition does NOT work at all, so don't bother using it, but if you can live without that, it is a fun little ride :)Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
MickLaunceston
- 2 reviews
- 4 likes
Plenty of pop for your smiles
Performance is good for a little car handles very good engine is quiet, road niose is evident on course chip bitumen, the interior is cool, funky and retro heaps of legroom in the front very comfortable seats a bit squashy in the back never had a problem 6.5litres per 100klm per litre in the city best car ever had put a smile on your dial buy one great car.
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TonyPSydney, NSW
- 5 reviews
- 5 likes
Fiat 500 Lounge Convertible TwinAir auto
We have had this car for 3 years now, no problems whatsoever. None !
Ours is a convertible the fabric system is brilliant. We have driven through storms, snow and heavy rain I clean the car using hi-pressure machine. No leaks to be seen.
This is what I don't understand, people buy this car expecting a race car, a rally car, spacious six seater ??
Its none of the above. If you want a sports car then buy a sports car. Buy appropriately!
This car is not designed for the kind of driving some people are expecting and frankly I am stunned a...Read more
t their ignorance. We own the Lounge model, its top of the range. Its very comfortable and the Auto turbo twinair engine is fantastic. There is a technique to driving this car, you always have to remember that its a Manual using a Robotic change, Its intended to supply a smooth ride and it does this perfectly. If you want quicker shift then get the standard shift model not the Auto. And stop whinging - you purchased incorrectly.- your fault. Someone also complained about the wind screen wipers, this problem is common within many cars - there is nothing wrong with the wipers, rather its the way the windscreen is cleaned.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
deus_zeusSydney, NSW
- 11 reviews
- 1 like
Horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible auto transmission
OK, let's be fair, I did not own this car, I test drove a pop auto.
I'm sure the manual is a good thing, but that single clutch auto...it is absolutely horrible. I drove 100 metres and wanted to go back to the dealership immediately. It's so bad, Fiat should not even offer this auto as an option in it's range. It gives them a bad name. Unresponsive, bordering on dangerous to drive - rubbish.
I also found the interior to be a little rough (as in, cheap) - roof lining material very cheap, the glove box lid and its lever to open it very flimsy.
I get that this is a cute car, but come on, I was dying to get back in my wife's 11 year old Toyota Echo - what is so compelling about these cars again?
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TonyPSydney, NSW
- 6 reviews
Unique fun car
We have had it for approx 2 years. It still looks new and still turns heads. It's not a race car but it's fun, comfortable and easy to drive.
I have the twin air semi auto. Can recommend it entirely. The engine is just 900cc but its turbo and its weight, the car is very zippy.
1 comment
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Barnyardgambler
- 5 reviews
- 14 likes
Fun Without Speeding Fines but Poor Service
My car is a 2012 "Twinair" model, which is basically a "Sport" with the 0.875L Two Cylinder Turbo Engine.
Oil operates the valve train in the TA engine, so getting the exact grade is absolutely critical, buying the correct Selenia oil from the dealer is not a bad idea, otherwise carefully research other brands for compatibility. Don't rely on the oil companies website! Wrong oil choice can cause poor running and premature wear of the UniAir unit ($2000+ to replace at the dealer, $800ish DIY). Like any turbo, changing oil at 7500km is a wise ...Read more
move, even if the service book says 18,000km or annually. I can't really think of any genuine complaints about the car, yes it's small, but that's why I bought it - I liked the cozy cabin compared to the cavern in the VW up!. Power and handling are fine, the brakes aren't really up to motorkhana use (they worked fine, but did start to stink), but that's not really a surprise. The seating position is a bit Italian, but I don't notice it anymore. At the time, Barbagallo were the only Fiat dealer in Perth, so that's where I bought mine from, if I were to buy another I'd look at the John Hughes franchise. My car had a few fairly minor issues from new, that Barbagallo just isn't interested in sorting out. It's now nearly the end of the warranty, and I still have the cracked door handles and problematic ACC (looses it's temp setting sometimes). My car was part of the batch that had faulty ignition coils, but these should have been replaced during PDI (the 'service campaign' had been issued some time before my delivery), rather than wait for my car to go down to running on one cylinder. Five stars for the car, zero for Barbagallo.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
rob92Perth
- 2 reviews
- 1 like
long term fun
Have owned a 2010 Fiat 500 C since new and have had no trouble. The folding roof is great to operate, even on the move. It is a 100hp 1.4 model and this has worked well. Ours has the auto transmission, which is really a robotised manual. It takes a little getting used to but is fine after that. I often use it in manual mode to change gears (without a clutch). Servicing and running costs are inexpensive. It's always fun to drive.
1 comment
Note that cars sold on the US market are manufactured in Mexico and have some different specifications to those sold in Europe and Australia, which are manufactured in Poland
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Nicksydney
The worst car ever or just a bad luck!!
Got car Fiat Pop on august 2013 after wait for two month delivery, end up got difference color.
July 2014, find out, I got red light on the dashboard. Checking on on the manual book, saying EOBD/ injection system failure, the engines working but the car can't move at all. Waiting half and hour the car can move again but the red sign still there. Drive over straight away to Fiat services representative. They fix the next day, and said will change the part, waiting the part.
I just got the part yesterday (4 March 2015) after waiting 7 month. It...Read more
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Worst car i have ever owned
I had the Sport convertible for 4 years, really fun to drive... When it was drivable. This car is a joke, the heater stopped working last winter, $2500 just for the part to fix, shortly after the air-conditioning packed it in. The car battery kept going flat and it went through three batteries in 4 years... The local NRMA man new my name, dealer couldn't find a problem. The car overheated and mechanic found a plastic part in the radiator had cracked... He couldn't believe the part was actually plastic.
It was not only frustrating that parts were expensive but getting them was near impossible and caused major delays... So glad to be rid of this piece of junk!!!
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iviauMelbourne
- 4 reviews
- 4 likes
Longe term owner - Great fun car to own
I have had my Fiat 500 sport manual 1.4, for 4 years. Car has 16 inch alloy wheels and glass sunroof with blind. It has been trouble free, performs well and is always a hoot to drive. It has lots of standard features and all modern safety gear. Performance and handling are great for such a small vehicle, and provide a pleasurable driving experience.
I'm sure that if I had bought a standard run of the mill small car like I had in the past, I would already be bored of it and be looking for something else. The 500 is a pleasure to use and is a ...Read more
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MilordDuffy 2611, ACT
- 190 reviews
Manual is the better option
We went to the dealership at Doncaster and at the time we were looking at an ex demo Fiat 500; but eventually the salesman tried to persuade us in looking at a brand new Fiat Punto which was cheaper. Unfortunately for us it just looked a bit bland and also being a manual. We saw a few Abarth editions though the price range was much more than we'd expected in addition to a few Alfa Mito's. I had an opportunity to try a Pop Dualogic 1.2 in the manual as well as the 500C convertible with the automatic. The manual is really so much better to drive ...Read more
though I don't like the indicators on the left hand side of the steering wheel. Whereas the automatic version you would need to rev quite hard in first gear. Once you hit 2nd gear; you can drive it normally. Unfortunately we had to go with an automatic version plus a completely brand new one off the showroom floor and will endeavour to pick one up some time later next week. We've chosen a classic metallic gloss red for a 1.2 Pop edition along with a set of mats; slim line and customised license plates plus rear parking sensors plus the usual 3 yr warranty and 3 yr servicing. The car is mainly for my significant other who is scared of driving our other car which is significantly larger than the Fiat 500. While also the fact that it uses much less fuel. In terms of power...from perspective; the manual gives better driving dynamics but with only 50 kilowatts of power and just over 100 Newton metres of torque though weighing less than a tonne. It's about 5 seconds slower to 100kph than our Lexus RX350 that weighs more than double the 500.2 comments
Picking the car up for the first time yesterday at the dealership, on a Saturday; I'd imagined that the car would utterly be brand new with Zero kays on it. At the very least put it on the back of a ... Read more
delivery truck and push it onto the showroom floor or something. But to my surprise, it had 8km on it. So for something we paid for brand new wouldn't that categorise it as ex-demo?? and therefore pay at a reduced rate?? I just feel a bit... well whats the word I'm thinking of??I noticed also with regards to the car that the air conditioning is a bit weak. It was better to have all windows down as an alternative. Whats more, a forward facing baby seat is very capable at the ... Read more
back particular that both of us are arpund 6 feet tall or more. Whats more, there is no room in the boot to fit our usual baby stroller (Baby Jogger City Elite) or even a 30 dollar stroller from Big-W. Therefore you'd definitely need to put it in the back seats or passenger front side. The Baby Jogger stroller is touching the child seat as it is significantly larger. This car is not designed for long journeys nor is it very practical especially when you have a toddler in tow. Some of the upper models I think can have split rear seats so that you can fold one or the other and still have a child seat on one and the other for extra storage.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
NicSydney
Non stop disappointments
Never again will I buy a Fiat. I have sent it in for repairs 3 times now and they still can't find the issue. My car goes into neutral and over revs on uphill roads and motorways. It cannot handle pressure when applied. My fiat 500 pop is only 6 months old, 2013 model. Absolutely ridiculous, when buying a brand new vehicle and having to deal with warranty back and forth... What can I do now? Can I take this to consumer acts for a replacement of the car?? Someone help!!! This isn't right! I've been driving a courtesy car for almost a month now.
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재익 정Perth, Western Australia
Love the car but not happy with the car yard
I love my 500 and it was one of my practical dream cars that I always wanted. Its retro design and engine sound always make me enjoy driving the car. However, the service that car yard provided me disappointed me over several occasions. I bought a brand new car but the dashboard display light failed and it developed a rattling/ flat tyre-like noise from the passenger side wheel after it has done 5000k. I can accept the fact that new car can come with problems, but the way the car yard dealt with me and the problems, clearly, made me feel like I...Read more
am a second class customer. I would still buy another 500 in the future but I definitely wouldn't buy it from the car yard where I bought my first 500. If you want to find more about 500, visit [url removed]. You will learn so much about the car from other 500 owners. Retro design and awesome engine sound (990cc turbo) Awful service from the dealer1 comment
Have you had any problems with the auto transmission ?
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Hopeless service centre
Do Not Buy One.
I bought a brand new 500 back in 2009 and I have taken it back 14 times and they still can't fix my windscreen wiper from not shuddering across the screen, I basically can't drive when it rains and in Brisbane we have had a lot of rain.
Can you believe they tell me that they are all like that because of the curved screen. Lame!
Everything up until the windscreen didn't work. Would not buy one ever again.
I bought a brand new 500 back in 2009 and I have taken it back 14 times and they still can't fix my windscreen wiper from not shuddering across the screen.
5 comments
I would suggest you bend it yourself a little, to own this car is a privllige, i wish in all my dreams to able to aford one brand new, Fiat and Alfa romeo have style not reliabilty. It has character!!
Hi Stephen, have you tried Rain-X windshield treatment?
Yes evn tried rainx and I end up using a whole container per day trip as you have to keep using it continously on windsreen. They are just HOPELESS! They have no clue and have misled a buyer and not f... Read more
ixed a fauly car and now waranty expired. STEAR CLEAR!Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Ian LoweSydney
Shocking customer service takes the shine off a great car
Although we love our Fiat 500 the overall customer experience includes more than the simple joy of drving this pocket rocket witht he top down. Sadly the shine has well and truly dulled after only 15 months and 20K's, which is when the auto gearbox 'exploded' and in the process destroyed other essential parts. If you do decide to buy a 500 then don't expect 500 or your dealer to care when things go wrong.
My funky little runabout has been off the road and in pieces for over two weeks now and all Fiat can say is that my warranty does not in...Read more
clude a loan car and with no clear idea of when the work will be done given the necessary parts are overseas, I'm expecting to be paying a lease for a car I can't drive for sometime to come. It feels like they have you over a barrel, they know it and they just don't care. A real shame that marks the begining and the end of my experience with Fiat cars. Love the car Hate the complete lack of customer care, service, responsivness and general interest in doing anything to support their customers.5 comments
May I ask which dealer did you go to ?
Did you service it at Fiat?
Think about it, of all the review sites around, and this FIAT has 25% Terrible reviews about service, thast is very high so you should be careful.
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Questions & Answers
David4242asked
2012 Fiat 500 Twinair, cylinder misfiring. Mechanics have replaced coil packs, new spark plugs, oil change and engine flush, cleaned throttle body. All to no avail.. Any ideas?
knobbyasked
What would you say about a dealer (a big one) recommending the Fiat 500 turbo should run on 91 fuel?
Says the actuator failed due to my use of 95 fuel. (the Fiat recommended fuel). Will share the cost of repair.
$1590 my share. Beware Zagame Motors Melbourne. This could happen to you too. Beware!!!!
What should I do?
3 answers
Knobby, did the dealer tell you the gearbox actuator failed because you were using 95 ron fuel?
That's correct. Not me but my sister the owner. Vehicle was serviced by these people the day before.
The vehicle was low on fuel when she collected it after service. The next morning it was problematic on startup.
Dealer asked her if she had fueled it last night which she had. Told her the 98 fuel was the cause of the problem. Suggested she flog the thing flatout and the problem may solve itself. He knew she had to fuel it up after pick up. A classic bullshit set up. She's a business woman not interested in mechanicals.
Kristin P.asked
Hi all im considering buying a 2015 Fiat 500c Lounge twin turbo .9 2 cylinder . What can you tell me about this adorable looking car ? Any problems with it ? Trying to think more with the head than the heart ...love the style but what about reliability ??
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TonyP
When you buy an Italian car you expect to get a car made int Italy...but often they are made in Brazil or other countries...you have to check with the seller before buying.