The wife is thinking a new car, and since it's just her commuting we're looking at something small. She seems to be taken by the Fiat, but she puts about 25,000 a year on a car so it needs to be pretty much trouble free.
The wife is thinking a new car, and since it's just her commuting we're looking at something small. She seems to be taken by the Fiat, but she puts about 25,000 a year on a car so it needs to be pretty much trouble free.
Yaris hatchback is pretty much the exact same thing, but it is a Toyota and you can buy one at a car dealer and not a boutique. The 500 has a better ad campaign though.
T.J. wrote: Yaris hatchback is pretty much the exact same thing,
How do you figure that?
By that reasoning a 1970's Hemi Cuda is pretty much the same thing as one of the new front engined Ferraris.
If you've driven both you'll see the Yaris isn't much like the 500 at all!
I'd go Ford Fiesta. It's just like Hemi Cuda but handles more like the front-engine Ferrari ('65 model). They aren't sold in boutiques either.
This post makes just as much sense as the others btw
If the wife is taken with the Fiat, there's no real point of other people saying "well she should just get an xxxxx instead." The wife will get what she wants, assuming she doesn't think there is a risk of explosion or disintegration or death. If she likes a fiat, she likes it for the style. The same reason she won't like the Yaris (ugly) or the Fiesta (not ugly, but not cute).
OP: Get it, and it has a warranty for a reason. If it's alot of trouble in warranty, then ditch it before the warranty is up.
Yup. When SWMBO decides she wants an old Volvo. She wants an old Volvo. Sometimes you just have to live with the consequences...
I've not talked to anyone who has owned them either, but I've driven them and I've talked to the Service techs and they say that so far there are no terrible, reoccuring issues that have developed.
This is talking to service techs in an autocross setting and not at the dealership so they were just shootin' the breeze, not trying to sell me a car.
Maybe she'd like this one. http://www.sgi.sk.ca/lcgi/salvage_bid_site/more_comp_details.cgi?stock_num=S121330
Lotsa airbags in a Fiat.
Friend of mine is a certified Honda nut. He had high hopes for the 500 but was let down, didn't like the shifter, among other things. Test drove a new Kia Rio and liked it a lot better. Apparently on the short list if his dd civic is no longer dd worthy.
Can't go wrong with the Hyundai/KIA 10yr 100k powertrain warranty. I have a 2009 accent, had it 2.5 years at about 60k miles and its been a great car. Just normal maintenance. If anything, I always felt the car would be REALLY great with 30 more HP or so, go figure the new accent/Rio has about 30 more. :)
Kia has really begun to peek my interest and yet, I've still never driven one. Well at least not one of the ones that really interest me.
surprised no one said Honda Fit...
surprised no one said Miata. Or XJ. 
Since the Fiat 500 is new to the US, there is no history to tell if it is reliable. You may want to check some European sources to see how they have been so far. The Fit and Yaris are both proven reliable, but they lack the "cute" factor. When buying for your wife, remember the car buying pyramid, with 1 being most important:
I was just on Auto trader and the 2012 "pop" is well in my price range. It looks kinda weird inside though.
I've driven the previous generation of both the Accent and Elantra and they're no worse inside than the 2012 Jetta I just drove from a materials and finishes point of view. The jetta was quieter inside than the accent though.
I believe Lesley had a 500 auto as a test mule not too long ago.
Wally,
As others have said, if she likes the Fiat better get the Fiat. It will come with a warranty, but it seems that any new car these days should be trouble free for at least a few years.
My comment about the Yaris, is just because I do not get the appeal of the 500. I've driven a Yaris and was less than impressed. I bought a Fit instead. I haven't driven a 500, but I also cannot stand the look of them and think if I wanted an overly tall 2 door small hatch, I might as well get a Yaris. Ignore my unhelpful first comment - your wife is free to like the 500 if she wants.
My wife has put 12k + miles on hers since May. Only issue so far was minor trim around the top (hers is a convertible) that I fixed in an afternoon by just removing and reinstalling.
Average about 29 mpg around town and some highway. It's is an automatic. The seat felt really tall at first, but we got use to it.
Overall, we've been happy with it and she still talks about keeping it a long time. She's the epitome of automotive ADD (9 cars in the 11 years we've been married)
-Rob
T.J. wrote: Wally, As others have said, if she likes the Fiat better get the Fiat. It will come with a warranty, but it seems that any new car these days should be trouble free for at least a few years. My comment about the Yaris, is just because I do not get the appeal of the 500. I've driven a Yaris and was less than impressed. I bought a Fit instead. I haven't driven a 500, but I also cannot stand the look of them and think if I wanted an overly tall 2 door small hatch, I might as well get a Yaris. Ignore my unhelpful first comment - your wife is free to like the 500 if she wants.
The Yaris is a crapheap built by a company with no soul. Not true of the 500, a delightful little city car that was built by people that understand design.
I drove a 500 and thought it was a nice car. Build quality felt solid and the level of interior detail was much better than a Yaris. Yes, you sit up high but you get used to it quickly. Not much cargo capacity but then again it is a tiny vehicle.
With no track record of reliability, you have to have some faith that the 500 will hold up for the long haul. I think it will be fine. If your wife puts 25k on it per year, will you get the extended warranty? I put 20k a year on my Fit and skipped the extended warranty and the only thing that has gone wrong is that I wore out the shift knob and the tranny mount separated. I replaced both myself and am still ahead of the game.
Streetwiseguy wrote: Maybe she'd like this one. http://www.sgi.sk.ca/lcgi/salvage_bid_site/more_comp_details.cgi?stock_num=S121330 Lotsa airbags in a Fiat.
I see dollar signs.
Wally wrote: The wife is thinking a new car, and since it's just her commuting we're looking at something small. She seems to be taken by the Fiat, but she puts about 25,000 a year on a car so it needs to be pretty much trouble free.
Spend the rental money and rent one.
the one I had really opened my eyes.
Now I would not even entertain an Abarth for any reason- it was easily one of the worst rental cars I've ever had.
forzav12 wrote:T.J. wrote: Wally, As others have said, if she likes the Fiat better get the Fiat. It will come with a warranty, but it seems that any new car these days should be trouble free for at least a few years. My comment about the Yaris, is just because I do not get the appeal of the 500. I've driven a Yaris and was less than impressed. I bought a Fit instead. I haven't driven a 500, but I also cannot stand the look of them and think if I wanted an overly tall 2 door small hatch, I might as well get a Yaris. Ignore my unhelpful first comment - your wife is free to like the 500 if she wants.The Yaris is a crapheap built by a company with no soul. Not true of the 500, a delightful little city car that was built by people that understand design.
Indeed, the Yaris is a POS. But the Fiat isn't much better. The one I had would be equal in terms with the Yars in terms of being a POS.
Didnt' even make it out of the rental lot before I regretted the upgrade- just starting with the completely overboosted and numb steering and brakes. It got worse from there. I hated every moment of renting that utter piece of crap.
Have to agree with afladriver. Rented a Yaris and a 500. The Yaris was an appliance, the 500 had some flair, but I couldn't imagine 25,000 miles in either. Noisy, harsh quirky.
fastEddie wrote:Streetwiseguy wrote: Maybe she'd like this one. http://www.sgi.sk.ca/lcgi/salvage_bid_site/more_comp_details.cgi?stock_num=S121330 Lotsa airbags in a Fiat.I see dollar signs.
Good lord - it wasn't even that hard of a hit:
It's going to cost more to replace the interior than it will to fix the nose.
I got the chance to pick at one a few days ago at our local auto show. I was looking at it as a potential replacement for our rapidly aging cooper S. I was not impressed. Granted I did not get a chance to drive it, but it was VERY clear that the car was built to a price point, and that price point shoulda been like 2 grand higher. Was checking out the shifter ergonomics and while jarring, they weren't TERRIBLE.... but the whole frickin dash moved if I jammed on it a little bit? I'm no featherweight when it comes to shifting a car, so that told me that in like 4-5 years the damn shifter pod is going to come off in my hand. Do not want.
fastEddie wrote:Streetwiseguy wrote: Maybe she'd like this one. http://www.sgi.sk.ca/lcgi/salvage_bid_site/more_comp_details.cgi?stock_num=S121330 Lotsa airbags in a Fiat.I see dollar signs.
Gotta agree with you there, but also add that would be the case with any new car. If the airbags go off, there's no way you're getting any new car back on the road for less than many thousands of dollars.
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