Mini or Fiat 500?

[armalites]

Just looked at another Fiat 500...
More that a couple of dents, not mentioned.
Front nearside tyre totally bald on the inside edge.
Engine hunting really badly at idle.
Radio display not working
A/C not working.
Filthy inside.
Exhaust manifold bolts snapped.
Tatty junk again
I think I'm giving up on the Fiat's, every one I've looked at has been really rough, made of tin foil!
This one had exactly the same exhaust manifold bolts snapped as the last one, I think they're so low to the ground and the FickFit fitters are leaving the U bolts hanging down they keep getting smacked by speed humps

Sadly all pretty common stuff for this level of car, never been looked after and maintained on the cheap. You almost just as well to buy cheap with known issues and go through it.

 

[eddie49]

I was planning to put this in the "Adventures in an EV" thread, but it is closed, so I will post it here.
This is a picture of the water-cooled Bosch AC electric motor, transmission and differential used in the EV version of the Fiat 500 - the 500e. It is so tiny!

 

[dobbslc]

I can't see where the spark plugs go

 

[addjunkie]

I was planning to put this in the "Adventures in an EV" thread, but it is closed, so I will post it here.
This is a picture of the water-cooled Bosch AC electric motor, transmission and differential used in the EV version of the Fiat 500 - the 500e. It is so tiny!
View attachment 416213

Looks like it will run on a Milwaukee 9ah battery!

 

[owas]

I've gone for a yaris, could only get an auto, small autos are quite expensive

 

[dobbslc]

An update.
We've looked at 3 more Fiats, one was a total dog with dents, mashed wing mirror, boot wouldn't open etc etc, the next was not too bad with a few scratches and dinks but had a good clonk on and off the throttle so possibly a shagged clutch plate or engine mounts and it was a low spec model for £3000.
The next was in Slough so a bit of a drive but we went and had a look, on turning the corner into the street we saw it and it looked very good!
Nice bodywork with very few signs of damage and the interior was clean and tidy, a good start
It started well and sounded quiet with maybe a bit of an exhaust blow somewhere but hopefully not the manifold. The radiator has a leak but we knocked him down a few quid although he was a hard man to barter down and I had to drive off before he called us back to do the deal
Did my haggling skills a world of good that did!
So it seems tidy with a bit of mechanical work to do but the expensive bit to fix is the bodywork so that's good!
I've ordered a new Gates timing belt and water pump kit, radiator, spark plugs, air filter & auxiliary belt so hopefully good to go.
It also needs the tracking sorting out as it's had a recent front wishbone for the MOT and I think they didnt bother to do it to save money.
The boy is well happy and has Vaxed it out already.
Best bit is it's the "Lounge" model with glass roof and A/C alloys etc and it cost less than the sxxt boxes we'd already seen.

 

[tigdlo]

What engine and gearbox is in it?

 

[dobbslc]

1.2 petrol with a manual gearbox.

 

[Bobupndown]

Do you mind saying how much it cost? Will be in the same position next year looking for learner wheels again.

 

[dobbslc]

£2750

 

[GRW]

The youngest boy is nearly 17 and we are getting him a car for his birthday, he likes the Mini and Fiat 500 so what to get?
We're at the low end price wise at about £2.5k
Are there any horror stories to look out for?
We looked at one each today and both were basically rolling scrap with some MOT.
Large oil leaks, dents and scratches all over, poorly fitting panels etc. The Mini stank of dogs and the back seats covered in paw prints and mud, who the hell thinks a car like this will sell?
Anyway all advice welcome.

Both the Mini & the 500 suffer IMO from being seen as trendy cars. So they command prices well above their worth, paid by those so afflicted by brand & fashion sense over common sense.
I'm also not that sure I'd trust an older German mini in the reliability stakes tbh.

The 500 is just a Panda in an expensive frock, so I'd be more inclined towards one over the mini (in truth I'd buy a Panda & get a better car for less money)

 

[dobbslc]

Nice.

 

[Kayos]

Mrs had a fiat 500 for 5 years and absolutely loved it. Was 3 years old when she bought it

Only reason it went was because the kids were too big to fit in the back

A bearing failed in the gearbox, known fault, think it was £400 to have the box dropped and repaired

Driver's door handle became loose, £20 off eBay and an hour to swap

£100 per year for an MOT and service, still see the young lassie that bought it driving around (has a distinctive plate)

 

[dobbslc]

Work in progress...

 

[nickk]

Glad you got what you both wanted.
Wouldnt want a minor shunt in that with everything tight behind the radiator.

 

[dobbslc]

There's a crash bar I've removed that goes across the middle of the rad. So not as bad as it seems.

 

[PhillipM]

1.2 petrol with a manual gearbox.

When the gearbox starts to make odd noises, it's the input shaft bearing.

 

[dobbslc]

It's not a quiet box on this! I thought it would be the clutch release bearing.

 

[PhillipM]

Oh dear. Is it noisier in first and reverse?
Same as Kayos says, it's so common it's unreal, cheaping out by pence on bearings.
I mean you've been underneath it, so you can see it - I don't think I've looked at another car in the modern era that screams 'built to the accountants budget' quite so much as 500s.

 

[dobbslc]

I can see a new bearing and seal kit is only about £25 if I need it...