Fiat 500 Hatchback 1.2 Sport 3d (2008/57) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Probably that I want a classic car, but don't have the guts to put up with one every day.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Most of my friends have made comments about it being a girls car, which I was half expecting. My family have been very impressed by it and probably like it more than me.

Would you buy this car again and why?

No. It isn't a bad car but there a lot of small things I don't like that start to add up over time. I also don't think it would be very reliable long term, since it has already started to develop faults.

What are you likely to buy next?

A classic Mini. Less practical, but infinitely more fun and better mpg.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£6,000

When did you buy the car?

October 2012

Did you get a good deal and why?

Yes it was quite a good price, in comparison with similar models for sale at the time.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

What was the dealer like?

What's it like to drive?

It can be fun when in sport mode on country roads, but out of sport mode it is very sluggish and boring. It feels a lot larger than it actually is, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your point of view.

What's it like to park?

Not great. Rear visibility is pretty poor for a car of this size, making parking much more difficult than it should be. The turning circle is simply abismal and is even worse if left in sport mode all the time, which I tend to do.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Small, annoying electrical faults appear from time-to-time. For example, the outside temperature gauge started reading way above the actual temperature and slowly returned to normal, the wipers sometimes decide not to work or stop half way across the windscreen, the light in the speedo flickered for about a week then went back to normal.

What's most practical about your car?

The space. Compared to most other cars of a similar size, the is quite a lot of space inside and the boot isn't too small either.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

It may be a minor detail but the best thing on the car is the rev counter being placed inside the speedometer. I can easily look at both at the same time, which is a big bonus.