I HAVE OWNED MY MAC500 FOR 12 MONTHS AND HAVE ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF OWNERSHIP. WHY DO PEOPLE MOAN ABOUT THE PRICE OF OIL CHANGES? IT`S SIMPLE TO DO AND YOU DON`T NEED TO BE A MECHANIC TO DO THE CHANGE. I USE THE CAR AS MY MAIN VEHICLE DOING ABOUT 6 MILES A DAY ROUND TRIP TO WORK AT A STEADY 30MPH ROUND TOWN. YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE AN IDIOT TO THRASH THESE CARS THEY ARE NOT BUILT FOR THAT!! I PUT ON AVERAGE £7-9 A MONTH IN DIESEL IN MY AIXAM AND THE CAR IS FAULTLESS AND GREAT FUN TO DRIVE. YOU WOULD KEEP AN EYE ON ANY CARS OIL LEVELS SO WHY SLATE THE AIXAM? PARTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE IF YOU LOOK PROPERLY. TREASURE THE CAR AND TREAT IT WITH RESPECT!!!!
VERY VERY ECONOMICAL ON FUEL
NOISY ENGINE
Reviewing a 2000 model.
MAC500 CONVERTIBLE
Owned for 1 year.
performance ok if you live in flat area and use it around town parts and reliability are poor it as cost a lot of time and money to keep on the road mostly due to the fact it rusts and corrodes easily i have renewed drive shaftes brake callipers exhaust pipe engine mounts not bad when its only three years old resell price is also low if you sell it if you have a reliant keep it as its 100% better
I've owned an Aixam for three - nearly four - years. I've driven it with respect. I haven't pushed my foot to the floor immediately, when pulling away from a standstill - I've let it pull away slowly and pick up speed gradually - but regulary drive it at 50 m.p.h on a daily basis. I have it serviced every 5000 miles and have had no trouble with it. The car has done 35,000 miles. I use it to travel to work every day in all weathers. At least 80 miles to the gallon. Cheap insurance. I think it's great.
I believe that most troubles with these cars are "owner caused" with drivers slamming their foot to the floor when pulling away and accelerating.
Treat an Aixam with respect and it'll last forever!
Re the Aixam 500, I have owned this "nightmare" of a car for three years. When I bought it I did not know it was just a runaround car, I was not told this at the time. After a year it has been in the garage at least every two months for some repair or other. Once your warranty has run out Aixam Dealers just DONT want to know.
There is no "after sales" service and I would never ever buy an Aixam again, I would go for Microcar next time.
I wouldnt give Aixam another penny of my precious money, they are "uncaring" and in my opinion they just dont want to know you once you have parted with your money. You can contact me at [Log in to view email] should you wish to know anymore.
These notes are for the 500SL not the mac 500 ! Mine has just about finished running in (which at the start was a nightmare).Now apart from one or two silly little niggles the car is brilliant.It does 90mpg(costs less than £10 to fill up)and is quite happy cruising on the motorway(if you pretend you are a lorry ie 70mph down hill 45mph uphill)Plenty of room in the front although the back is only any good for short trips. Time will tell if it's any good over the years.It should be with an aluminium chassis and plastic panels. Onewiper
I would point out that this should be review of the Aixam Mac 500, and not the Aixam saloon - they are very different cars. The saloon can be spot on for some people uses, and can be tribal free, however, some owners have had horrendous problems with their cars, and have then found it difficult to sell them.
Think carefully before buying, make sure it is the right car for you.
I have a club for all quadricycle owners, Aixam, Microcar, Fun-tec, Tasso, Ligier, etc., at:
I have had an Aixam 500 since June 2000, and I think that it is a joy to drive. Very economical and the parts availability is excellent and Aixam are very helpful and give plenty of advice. This company deserve a great deal of success in this country
This car should be a fun open top runabout - that is cheap to run, and has great longevity - thus I thought from the sales stuff, and from talking to Aixam.
On the road the car is great fun, not a speedster, but fun and surprisingly stable / comfortable. My girlfriend and I just loved it.
Alas, this car just cannot cope with English weather, and has had continual electrical problems (the car was weekly back at the dealers, plus on a couple of occasions electrical failures could have caused serious accidents); further the chassis was covered in rust after 3 months. At this stage / 4,500 mile, I rejected the car, and I intend to take legal action to recover its cost.
Without the electrical faults / rust this would be my perfect car - but I dread to think what it would cost to keep on the road out of warranty, electrical parts replace in first 4,500 miles:
1. Nearside side light holder. 2. Wiper motor. 3. Hot plugs. 4. Alternator? Probably replaced - Aixam / the dealer have not always been open as to what is happening / try to play down faults. 5. Fuel sender.
The 500SL is an under powered nightmare and I have never regretted buying something so much in my whole life. For those of you thinking of ditching a Robin Reliant and switching to an Aixam like I did dont do it. The Robin is faster, bigger, and far far far more reliable.
Owned for 1 year.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed September 2002.
Performance
Reliability
Parts Availability
Overall Value for Money
This car is purely a car for short distances but they did not tell me this at the time I bought it. It is always going into the garage for some repair or another. Once your warranty has run out then Aixam JUST DONT WANT TO KNOW. I would never ever buy an Aixam again (this is the 500) I would go for a Microcar next time.
Dolores Liverpool
Owned for 3 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed January 2002.
Performance
Reliability
Parts Availability
Overall Value for Money
Aixam 500 super lux bought new in March 2000. Now done over 8000 miles with not so much as a blink in the reliability. I'de like to see it a little less noisy even after fitting the ''sound proofing'' kit. Of coures it could use a bit more ''poke '' but then it is only about 480cc so what can I expect. It's gone through the most appauling rain and foul weather immaginable. My dealer in Southport is magic and I cant fault him at all. If you need to know more mail me. [Log in to view email] ill try to assist.
Owned for 2 years.
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