FALC - Audi RS2 and Fiat 500

[Lazydonkey]

500 is a superb choice, but you should drive all engines before making a choice.

We've had a 1.2 panda (essentially the same oily bits) for 5 years and 40k now and it's been a fantastic wee car. We average 38mpg in town on mrs donkey's 4 mile round trip commute and can easily see 50mpg on a run. I used to get 52mpg between Glasgow and Dunfermline.

Never failed to start, even in -18 temps in fact it's never let us down. Suspension on ours gets a battering as mrs donkey doesn't know how to avoid potholes but other than one set of drop links and a leaking shock it's been super super cheap to run. Twinairs are in strong demand and command strong money so deals are harder to come by...also as others hvae said real world economy seems to be high 30s.

Only downside is that the back seats and boot are a bit compromised due to the sloping roof / boot lid.

Mito is slightly larger inside but it's essentially the same car engine and gearbox wise....just a bit heavier.

[Rich H]

Cheers I think the 1.2 500 convertible is a winner, especially as the roof doesn't swallow the boot.

Just need to find something for me now...

[Lazydonkey]

Oh should say - guy on the VX forum has a 1.2 500 which his wife uses as a driving school car. They've done 65k HARD miles in 3 years with no issues at all. Another is over 100k on his 1.3 TD with no issues to mention. The polish build Fiats are brilliant these days.

[Rich H]

[GregR]

RS2s are lovely and I would have a Noggy blue one in my lottery garage. As others have identified they are on the up price wise and are more coin than an equivalent mileage C5 RS6. Thought about one of those? Plenty could go wrong, but isnt that an attraction for you?

B5 RS4s are also in that price range

[gorrie]

We've had our 500 from new for 2.5yrs now... only issue we've had was a sticking NSR brake. Just needed a strip-down & clean. Not had any trim issues surprisingly (used to have a Punto and trim was always falling off that).
Personally, we found the 1.2 a bit gutless on the test drive. 2nd gear up a hill and it was losing speed a bit alarmingly, which is why we ended up going for the Abarth.
Great fun and easily swallows our family (2 adults, 11 & 12 year old in the back) plus a couple of bags in the boot.

PS: If you fancy an Abarth back-box with twin pipes for the 500C, I could do you a good deal on one that covered only 2500 miles It's been stored in my garage ever since. lol.

[Rich H]

Picked up on Friday!

[rossybee]

Any joy with the RS2 Rich?

[Rich H]

Nah, not been looking - far too busy at the moment!