The Series 3 Ypsilon is based on the Panda/500 platform so is mechanically the same car..... Not everyone likes the centrally postioned dials though. Perhaps they put her off.

We have had our 500 colour therapy since Feb, whilst I do really like it there are a couple of things that aren't great with it.

Its the 1.2 69hp version, the problem with hill starts and climbing hills has been fixed (almost) by Fiat with an ECU update. Its slow, dangerously in some circumstances. The engine surges when you pull away, adding 500-750 rpm to whatever revs you had instructed the engine to use. According to Fiat, I need to change my driving style. You can, just about, pull away without being launched into the car infront, by very gently and precisely controlling the clutch using next to no acceleration!! Best advice is to test drive a new 64 or later registered one.

The reason theres so many Cat C and D, again according to Fiat, is that if you have a bump big enough to deploy the airbags, they are being written off by the insurance companies, regardless of exterior damage.

Mpg is around 39 although our car has only just gone past 1000 miles and mpg is slowly getting better.

Its noisy. The road noise intruding into the cabin at anything over 20mph is crazy, it could be the tyres but doesnt alter the fact that the radio gets turned up when moving and then back down at traffic lights.

Apart from all that, we actually really like the car. Its fun and now that I've learnt to deal with the clutch its a good city car that will happily do motorway speeds. Although you really have to push it to get up hills on the motorway, at the expense of decent mpg.

Edit to add - We got the Fiat friends and family deal (same as what fccuk members get), so roughly £1300 off. All the wife did to get that was flutter her eyelashes at the salesman. £1500 deposit, £100 per month. Build dates for the non hill climbing ones are 1st and 2nd quarter last year, the first euro 6 engines.

In late March, did a 3000km round trip in an Abarth Essesse (1.4 TJet) to attend the Australian Fiat Nationals with the trip home straight through in 17 1/2 hours.

Great on the open road and not too harsh in the suspension.

My daughter has had a 500 Lounge (1.4 16v) for the last 6 years and is very happy with it. No major problems, other than the normal things that one would expect to replace over that time frame.

Cheers Guys Going to keep my ears to the ground just incase the Mondeo bites the bullet sooner rather than Later and as Morrison has suggested a test drive would definitely be the way to go!
Just going to see if i can gradually persuade her to get the Abarth!

Thanks Rich

Could be! Or possibly the whole interior wasn’t to her taste. There’s a fair chance it was a base model too, compared to her 1.4 500 …

You won't be disappointed!

My wife has the Abarth. She loves it.

Sorry - late to the party. Just swapped the 500 1.2 lounge in black for a 500 1.2 lounge in black (but with the semi-auto box).

I ADORE the 500. I bought one for my kids to learn to drive on (getting rid of the hateful MiTo in the process). I bought the first one in Cambridge and then realised that I was going to have to drive it to Inverness. I was really impressed when I arrived pretty fresh at the other end. I swapped that one in Sheffield so drove there and back in 500s. On the A9 I did PLENTY of safe overtaking in both directions. It doesn't have the 220bhp or 450-odd torques that the Merc has but part of the charm is to drive to that: skipping it around corners to maintain momentum is hilarious. I don't recognise any of the comments about it being "dangerous" - maybe drive it to the capability and use the entire rev range. Even in "auto" it will happily pull up the steep hill near me that I don't often attempt on the bike.

The only problem I've had is the door handle breaking (whilst the outlaws were using it!) - a £12 kit from eBay and 20mins and it was sorted.

Tax is £20, 40+mpg (even with me pedalling), very happy to cruise at 80mph- I'm a huge fan. When we had both the 500 and the 155bhp MiTo turbo on the drive, I'd take the 500 every time.

And, you know what? I'm not sure I'd go for the Abarth - part of the charm of these cars is pushing it along.

Here in Australia, the 500S is considered to be good value for money. Certainly has more features than the POP and comes with the 1.4 74kw engine and a 6 speed box.

When in Italy late last year, noticed that the 500S there was fitted with the Twin Air engine. What is the case in UK?

The abarth is fun, depending on where I want to go there are many occasions id rather take the normal lounge over the abarth