I'm really struggling to make a final decision between the Adam (buzz light green, white my fire roof) and the fiat 500 (new mint green colour).
They'd both be 1.2 engines, the fiat would be dualogic and have stop start. (I've driven a semi auto for the past 3 years so know what to expect with that although I'm a little concerned about clutch wear and potential problems with actuator which I've had with the car I have now). Not sure whether it's worth getting stop start added on to the Adam or not for the 295 extra.
I think my heart is saying the Adam but it feels like a gamble and my head is saying the fiat is the sensible choice!
I'm getting the impression that the fiat will give me better mpg and also the road tax is a LOT cheaper than the non stop start Adam (approx 30 per year vs 110?) so the fiat will probably be cheaper to run. I drive predominantly in town and then do a monthly motorway journey back to Newcastle from Northamptonshire (maybe 260 miles).
What mpg are people averaging in the 1.2 Adam and does anyone think the stop start is worth it? It is going to be a bit of a learning curve getting used to driving a manual conservatively after so long with an auto!
However I'm a little more concerned about reliability on the fiat although it would be covered by warranty for the time I had it I haven't really got time for trips back and forward to the dealers with problems. That said I've been reading this forum and have seen a lot of niggles with the Adam 'straight out of the shop' such as the wipers and lots of people complaining about soft paint, stone chips and other paint issues. Is this just the flat paint or also the metallic paints that are having problems? I've heard that fiat servicing costs are pretty high though so...
I'll probably keep the car 3 years then trade in, I'm getting it on 3 year PCP, as I think by three years time I'd be looking at something more practical and thinking about starting a family etc. I'd be hoping to get as much equity from it for a trade in deposit as possible so residual values are going to matter to me - it's difficult with the Adam knowing what to expect with there being no depreciation figures. By the end of 3 years the final payment on the car would be just short of 5 grand - do people think there will be much extra in a trade in value at that level?? The car will probably have done a bit less than the 24k miles that the deal was arranged on.
My sensible head would have probably gone with the fiat by now but I saw one outside on the road in bright daylight for the first time and felt like the pastel colour (which I loved inside the dealers in the shade) looked a bit wishy washy and it made me think again :/ I'm just so confused!
Anyone owned both cars and have an opinion? Or any comments on any of the above corners?
Thanks!
They'd both be 1.2 engines, the fiat would be dualogic and have stop start. (I've driven a semi auto for the past 3 years so know what to expect with that although I'm a little concerned about clutch wear and potential problems with actuator which I've had with the car I have now). Not sure whether it's worth getting stop start added on to the Adam or not for the 295 extra.
I think my heart is saying the Adam but it feels like a gamble and my head is saying the fiat is the sensible choice!
I'm getting the impression that the fiat will give me better mpg and also the road tax is a LOT cheaper than the non stop start Adam (approx 30 per year vs 110?) so the fiat will probably be cheaper to run. I drive predominantly in town and then do a monthly motorway journey back to Newcastle from Northamptonshire (maybe 260 miles).
What mpg are people averaging in the 1.2 Adam and does anyone think the stop start is worth it? It is going to be a bit of a learning curve getting used to driving a manual conservatively after so long with an auto!
However I'm a little more concerned about reliability on the fiat although it would be covered by warranty for the time I had it I haven't really got time for trips back and forward to the dealers with problems. That said I've been reading this forum and have seen a lot of niggles with the Adam 'straight out of the shop' such as the wipers and lots of people complaining about soft paint, stone chips and other paint issues. Is this just the flat paint or also the metallic paints that are having problems? I've heard that fiat servicing costs are pretty high though so...
I'll probably keep the car 3 years then trade in, I'm getting it on 3 year PCP, as I think by three years time I'd be looking at something more practical and thinking about starting a family etc. I'd be hoping to get as much equity from it for a trade in deposit as possible so residual values are going to matter to me - it's difficult with the Adam knowing what to expect with there being no depreciation figures. By the end of 3 years the final payment on the car would be just short of 5 grand - do people think there will be much extra in a trade in value at that level?? The car will probably have done a bit less than the 24k miles that the deal was arranged on.
My sensible head would have probably gone with the fiat by now but I saw one outside on the road in bright daylight for the first time and felt like the pastel colour (which I loved inside the dealers in the shade) looked a bit wishy washy and it made me think again :/ I'm just so confused!
Anyone owned both cars and have an opinion? Or any comments on any of the above corners?
Thanks!