Post by racingteatray on Aug 5, 2020 10:45:30 GMT
Yesterday I needed to drive up to Suffolk to visit my mother, so given that the BMW is currently in Italy with my wife, I had no option but to take the Fiat. This is the first time in all the years we’ve had it that I’ve driven it anywhere further than Heathrow, and certainly the furthest it has ever been driven by either of us.
And it was an interesting experience.
Positives
With just me, some computer gear and a small overnight bag on board, it punts along much better than you might expect and the turbocharged 85bhp kicked out by the Twinair engine is certainly enough to endow it with the ability to accelerate even at motorway cruising speed and to tussle it out with the fast lane traffic. You make much more livelier progress than in the 1.2 versions I’ve experienced as holiday hires. The only downside is that I can see why the 105bhp version is fitted with a six-speed box – at the sort of speeds the car will gallop along at, with the 5-speeder, the engine is spinning something like 3,500 revs. Which is a bit buzzy, albeit that it does keep the engine in the torque band. Plus I’m not sure what it does to the fuel economy – it seemed to use a quarter of a tank during the trip (went from ¾ full to ½ full on the readout).
Inside, what with our 500 being white and with the cream interior and panoramic roof, it’s a light and pleasant place to be ambience-wise, and visibility is great. It has mod cons like sat nav, Bluetooth and a reasonable sound system, so you don’t feel short-changed in that department. Keep it at 70 and you’d go up the motorway no problem (assuming you find the driving position comfortable).
Negatives
I’d aver that it’s almost faster than is good for it. The engine is so willing that you can tank along at really quite remarkable speed. However, while at lower speeds, it’s fine and it’ll smudge along fine on A-roads, it starts to lose the plot after a certain point. Now, doubtless the Sport and Abarth versions are more tightly damped than ours, which is a Lounge. Plus it must be said that ours is nearly seven years old and has met many speed humps in its life, but it sure does roll. In particular, it could occasionally be disconcertingly bouncy at speed on uneven sections of the A12. Verging on the alarming once or twice and enough to make you ease off gingerly. On smooth tarmac it tracks fine and feels steady enough, but it’s not close to a MINI in this respect.
Also, I have just never have found it very comfortable to drive at the best of times, and this is exacerbated on a long journey. Being long of leg and short of body, I cannot find a position where I am correctly positioned for everything and have enough space for my left leg. Plus something about the hinging of the accelerator meant I was starting to get twinges of cramp in my foot after a two hour schlepp from the City to the Suffolk coast.
So yes, fine for the occasional trip like this, but if I had to do it any more frequently, I’d want a different small car. The engine’s a little trooper that makes happy noises and gives every indication of thoroughly enjoying the work-out, but the combination of uncomfortable driving position and slightly wayward body control means that driving it at motorway speeds for any length of time is unnecessarily exhausting.
And it was an interesting experience.
Positives
With just me, some computer gear and a small overnight bag on board, it punts along much better than you might expect and the turbocharged 85bhp kicked out by the Twinair engine is certainly enough to endow it with the ability to accelerate even at motorway cruising speed and to tussle it out with the fast lane traffic. You make much more livelier progress than in the 1.2 versions I’ve experienced as holiday hires. The only downside is that I can see why the 105bhp version is fitted with a six-speed box – at the sort of speeds the car will gallop along at, with the 5-speeder, the engine is spinning something like 3,500 revs. Which is a bit buzzy, albeit that it does keep the engine in the torque band. Plus I’m not sure what it does to the fuel economy – it seemed to use a quarter of a tank during the trip (went from ¾ full to ½ full on the readout).
Inside, what with our 500 being white and with the cream interior and panoramic roof, it’s a light and pleasant place to be ambience-wise, and visibility is great. It has mod cons like sat nav, Bluetooth and a reasonable sound system, so you don’t feel short-changed in that department. Keep it at 70 and you’d go up the motorway no problem (assuming you find the driving position comfortable).
Negatives
I’d aver that it’s almost faster than is good for it. The engine is so willing that you can tank along at really quite remarkable speed. However, while at lower speeds, it’s fine and it’ll smudge along fine on A-roads, it starts to lose the plot after a certain point. Now, doubtless the Sport and Abarth versions are more tightly damped than ours, which is a Lounge. Plus it must be said that ours is nearly seven years old and has met many speed humps in its life, but it sure does roll. In particular, it could occasionally be disconcertingly bouncy at speed on uneven sections of the A12. Verging on the alarming once or twice and enough to make you ease off gingerly. On smooth tarmac it tracks fine and feels steady enough, but it’s not close to a MINI in this respect.
Also, I have just never have found it very comfortable to drive at the best of times, and this is exacerbated on a long journey. Being long of leg and short of body, I cannot find a position where I am correctly positioned for everything and have enough space for my left leg. Plus something about the hinging of the accelerator meant I was starting to get twinges of cramp in my foot after a two hour schlepp from the City to the Suffolk coast.
So yes, fine for the occasional trip like this, but if I had to do it any more frequently, I’d want a different small car. The engine’s a little trooper that makes happy noises and gives every indication of thoroughly enjoying the work-out, but the combination of uncomfortable driving position and slightly wayward body control means that driving it at motorway speeds for any length of time is unnecessarily exhausting.
