FALC - Audi RS2 and Fiat 500

[Rich H]

Mentioned that me and SWMBO might be looking at changing cars soon (Her Smart and my two) and, despite his appalling run of cars, he is very good at suggesting cars for others... (he suggested the Elise )

His suggestions:
Audi RS2 for me
Fiat 500 for her

I know f-all about either - anyone got any experience on either?

Ta
Rich

[Rich H]

No one?

SWMBO likes the look of a convertible 500 so will arrange a test drive and see if we can find one that's not white.

The one we did go and see at a Fiat dealer (!) had 3 faults on (It told you so when you turned it on!), corrosion on metal parts in the cabin and half the trim loose!
We didn't go for a test drive as I didn't fancy her driving a car with an airbag and power steering fault!!

RS2 might be a bit of a nightmare of NLA parts and expensive repairs.
Especially as one of the reviews said rev to 6000 and sidestep the clutch it'll take it... it might do a couple of times!
Still reading though..

[woody]

Make sure the 500 is a twinair; they're a hoot.

Can't see the appeal of an RS2 nowadays, sorry.

[Rich H]

Twinairs seem to hold their value better and demand quite a bit more. Free car tax though.

Fair enough on the RS2 as above I know nothing aobut them!

[rossybee]

Agreed on the RS2 - bit of a collectible curio nowadays, yes very desirable but not a daily driver.

[jj]

Found a 500 for the wife just before christmas for commuting and London driving. Disagree massively on the twinair, test drove one and it was perilously slow and by all accounts pretty rubbish on fuel, as well as sounding broken which some owners seem to think sounds good?

Opted for the 1.4sport which feels much more capable at 70mph and over, but was still knocking out 50+mpg on the motorway on the way down here last week.

They look cool but they are cheap Italian cars; trim and stuff isnt exactly solid or robust feeling. Hers has brown leather and is that off-grey-brown colour outside and she loves it. Someone actually stopped me in the street yesterday in Notting Hill to ask questions about it and how it drove

[steve_weegie]

We had a 500 as our wedding car Both loved it and though it was a hoot to drive - would easily have one!

Seeing as you like to "tweak" things Rich, how about a B5 S4 or RS4? Both can be crazy bonkers quick with a few choice modifications to the ECU

[Rich H]

Cheers will take a look. Other option was keep the Esprit and look for a BMW 635...

I have to say I was impressed with the 500, a lot more roomy than I expected, just need to drive one.

[Shug]

Dude, I'd really hang onto that Esprit if it's now fairly reliable. Keep it for a lot of years and you'll certainly not lose money... That said, not sure you're cut out for "keepers"

635 would be interesting, but a rot nightmare, I'll bet. Panels won't be cheap either, I'd imagine... I think the minty ones are now firmly in collector territory and the ropey ones tend to be ropey due to the tin-worm...

[philthy]

I am a big fan of the fiat 500, we have the abarth version which feels more of a solid car and planted. Gets around 40mpg combined.

Rs2 is an awesome car, spotted one in glasgow the other day in the Negaro Blue colour being driven by a lady with kid seats in the back

[Rich H]

Esprit is reliable - but you know what that means - time for a change!
No keepers are not really my thing
Did read about the 635 panels and tin worm too, front wings are apparently NLA.

[Dominic]

I guess the first thing to do is identify what you want from the car, what the priorities are; to be depreciation proof(ish) / to be fast / driver involvement / load lugger / DIY'able / economical.

Something like the RS2 is know past the bottom of it's depreciation curve and is known as a collectable classic now, IMHO. I guess the secret is to spot something that is not yet receiving the love and attention it will likely do soon.. something that has some style, probably from a respectable marque, and has either or both, performance and driver involvement. Something that is currently unloved due to it's heavy fuel consumption, that may soon become desirable as a future classic, where MPG is less relevant.

As Shug comments on the 635; they now tend to be cherished classics to be preserved, or buckets. Wind back ten years though, and one would have made a good buy. So, to spot something now that is where the 635 was 10 years ago... answers on a post card.

As for the 500... I have also heard the the twinair is somewhat gutless, and have read a few reviews that say they are not nearly as economical as they are supposed to be. Curve ball; what about an alfa mito?

[Rich H]

Only found a handful of RS2s all £12k+.
But that's problem is a lot of the interesting cars they are now heading the same way.
Might go back to the W123 merc barge plan instead...

Mito was on the radar if the 500 doesn't work out

[renmure]

I really like our little Fiat 500. It is a 1.2 iPop model, so sort of basic(ish) spec but still has ipod connection, bluetooth phone connection etc. Tends to indicate about 50mpg. Definitely feels less "solid" than the MINI and it is fair to say it isn't nearly as sporty feeling, but for what it is and what it does then it gets a big thumbsup from me. I drove it from Aberdeen down to Prestwick before Christmas and it was fine and comfortable sitting at 75/80. Never had 4 folk in it or even used the back seats so not sure how much real space is in the back but, like the MINI, there is lots of room in the front. I would get another one.

We had a weekend test drive of the convertible car since that was what we initially wanted, but didn't really take to it. Rear view disappears to zilch if the roof is all the way back and, because the door frames etc are still there, you are always conscious that it is just like a big sunroof. Wendy and I both thought that it was drafty and noisy with the roof down in away that a "proper" convertible seems to be designed to avoid.

[BiggestNizzy]

Esprit is reliable - but you know what that means - time for a change!

Nooooo, I always fancied that after you had fixed it And it's the wrong time!