Fiat 500

I'm just hoping the Abarth doesn't come out to be a 30k dollar car!

The plain Fiat looks, well, plain. It's not ugly, but it's definitely not pretty or cute.

But it appears to be one of those cars that should respond well to styling changes such as tires, etc.

I like it from the front seat but would never buy one without the extra zip of the Abarth. That's also a car my wife says she could like.

I had seen a total of four around my area in the past months, which is very surprising, Lancaster, Pa, but I still want one, I wanted one even before seeing them in person haha

The Abarth should be a 20,000 dollar car, at least that's what Clarkson said when he tested the EsseEsse

Joshua wrote: I'm just hoping the Abarth doesn't come out to be a 30k dollar car!

Everything I have seen is saying around $20k.

There is a guy who shows up at Porsche Club events around here with a Prima Edizione. It is very cool looking, with the color / stripe / wheel / canvas top combo.

This is the only photo I can find and it doesn't do the car justice.

20k seems pretty low for the Abarth though doesn't it? Weren't Cobalt SS's more than that?

Joshua wrote: 20k seems pretty low for the Abarth though doesn't it? Weren't Cobalt SS's more than that?

Now you've jinksed it!

20K actually seems a price point that they would be able to sell them at instead of just making them and watch them sit on the showroom floors.

Joshua wrote: 20k seems pretty low for the Abarth though doesn't it? Weren't Cobalt SS's more than that?

When the Cobalt was in it's final year, I could get an SS with 0% financing in Canada for $23k out the door... so I bet it is doable.

I think I remember seeing a MOPAR 500 at some point. Was that a SEMA show special or a model type in the line up?

NickF40 wrote: The Abarth should be a 20,000 dollar car, at least that's what Clarkson said when he tested the EsseEsse

The convertible that Hammond drove on TGUK was the NUTS. (If I had the money--which I don't) I'd buy a hardtop and leave it bone stock. It looks fantastic right out of the box--even the ride height is great.

An Abarth SS would be one of the few cars that would get me to deviate from my Honda habit. I might tolerate the ensuing issues with it.

I am just going to be bias about the Fiat 500.

I was one of the first few to have the 500 Prima Edizione. Was interviewed by Fiat as well. Had the car for 2 months. Sold it. About 1000 miles. Worst experience ever had.

Why?

Things started to crap out. The day I sold it, the AC compressor failed. Added to that the Toluca QC is piss poor. Paint work is just horrible. Also, they thickened the seat cushions (for fat arsed Americans) but they neglected to lower the overall seat height. The result? Very uncomfortable driving position. Oh and the seat adjuster lever broke and the digital clock in the dash drifts every other day. You have to adjust your time every other day.

You get what you pay for. And pple complained the Smart car is expensive. Til this day, nothing in my Smart fails. And why? Cos it says Daimler AG on the door jamb.

See, Fiat is trying to do is mimic the success of what BMW did with MINI, ie selling small cars backed by a good brand. But the marriage with Chrsyler doesn't really scream "quality and harmony". Walk into a Chrysler dealership selling Fiat, and it will be quite a turn-off. Demographics buying RAM and demographics buying Fiat do not intersect. A n B = null.

I am not moved by the Abarth at all. Still a crappy product imo.

vs57 wrote: I am just going to be bias about the Fiat 500. I was one of the first few to have the 500 Prima Edizione. Was interviewed by Fiat as well. Had the car for 2 months. Sold it. About 1000 miles. Worst experience ever had. Why? Things started to crap out. The day I sold it, the AC compressor failed. Added to that the Toluca QC is piss poor. Paint work is just horrible. Also, they thickened the seat cushions (for fat arsed Americans) but they neglected to lower the overall seat height. The result? Very uncomfortable driving position. Oh and the seat adjuster lever broke and the digital clock in the dash drifts every other day. You have to adjust your time every other day. You get what you pay for. And pple complained the Smart car is expensive. Til this day, nothing in my Smart fails. And why? Cos it says Daimler AG on the door jamb. See, Fiat is trying to do is mimic the success of what BMW did with MINI, ie selling small cars backed by a good brand. But the marriage with Chrsyler doesn't really scream "quality and harmony". Walk into a Chrysler dealership selling Fiat, and it will be quite a turn-off. Demographics buying RAM and demographics buying Fiat do not intersect. A n B = null. I am not moved by the Abarth at all. Still a crappy product imo.

Hmmm...put the thing about Daimler AG and good quality at the top, to save others from reading through the entire thing.

I drove one two days ago and I am in love. I actually found the seat to be comfortable and I love the Sport and everything that it comes with. Nice suspension, easy steering at low speeds, maneuverable, and zippy.

In addition, I can actually fit in the rear seat while someone my size drives. It might be a little claustrophobic for someone who doesn't like crapmed spaces, but I don't mind it at all. For reference, I'm 5'10" and reasonably fit.

I drove to Georgia from New York in my mother's Yaris once with my 6'3" friend. He and I were comfortable in that and it is no bigger than the Fiat (and the Fiat is just so much cooler!).

Once I get my move done and I'm settled in, I'm buying one. Even the New York "Studio" had one like I want it for $18,500. That's affordable to me.

I will drive the Ford when one comes into the dealer with a proper transmission. Unless it has something really cool to offer me (which I am sure it really does) I am going with the Fiat.

I'm thinking this, but in red.

I like the stripes.

ThePhranc wrote: I think I remember seeing a MOPAR 500 at some point. Was that a SEMA show special or a model type in the line up?

Mopar has a catalog for the 500

http://www.mopar.com/fiat/500/2012/autoshow.html

I've heard rumors of them rebadging it as a Dodge to help meet EPA reqs

-Rob

vs57 wrote: You get what you pay for. And pple complained the Smart car is expensive. Til this day, nothing in my Smart fails. And why? Cos it says Daimler AG on the door jamb.

Using that logic, all the Daimler-Chrysler era products would have been wonderful. They were not; most were turds. That is also the period in which M-B couldn't seem to make a car that didn't suffer from electrical faults. M-B has lost lots of customers because of their spotty reliability. It is nice that you enjoy your so-called Smart car though, even though it's a horribly overpriced, inefficient piece of gimmick jewelry.

Nothing on our Subaru fails and it says Fuji Heavy Industries on the doorjamb. That's simply amazing since it wasn't built by the Incredible Daimler AG.

That biased rant said, anyone who bought a 500 without first test driving one (and most of the Prima Ediziones were pre-ordered before any dealers existed), and as a first year production product from a factory in Mexico should probably have expected some issues. The desire to "be the first" often trumps common sense. If the 500 were a Neon nobody would be complaining.

In reply to ddavidv:

+1

If the Smart got over 50 mpg I could see owning one, but they are far too thirsty for the size compromises required. Also, I know a Smart owner who unloaded his car quickly due to constant reliability issues. IIRC, he replaced it with a Subaru.

The 500 is cooler than a Yaris? Really? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.....or in the eye of he who is influenced by marketing.

Take this Scion, remove the two rear doors to make it less practical, then slap a Fiat badge on it.

In reply to ddavidv:

+1

vs57 wrote: I am just going to be bias about the Fiat 500. I was one of the first few to have the 500 Prima Edizione. Was interviewed by Fiat as well. Had the car for 2 months. Sold it. About 1000 miles. Worst experience ever had. Why? Things started to crap out. The day I sold it, the AC compressor failed. Added to that the Toluca QC is piss poor. Paint work is just horrible. Also, they thickened the seat cushions (for fat arsed Americans) but they neglected to lower the overall seat height. The result? Very uncomfortable driving position. Oh and the seat adjuster lever broke and the digital clock in the dash drifts every other day. You have to adjust your time every other day. You get what you pay for. And pple complained the Smart car is expensive. Til this day, nothing in my Smart fails. And why? Cos it says Daimler AG on the door jamb. See, Fiat is trying to do is mimic the success of what BMW did with MINI, ie selling small cars backed by a good brand. But the marriage with Chrsyler doesn't really scream "quality and harmony". Walk into a Chrysler dealership selling Fiat, and it will be quite a turn-off. Demographics buying RAM and demographics buying Fiat do not intersect. A n B = null. I am not moved by the Abarth at all. Still a crappy product imo.

Hmm. Oddly enough, a wealthy friend of a mostly wealthy uncle bought a 500 to use as a daily driver when he's not using his Gallardo. He loves the 500 and was very impressed by the build quality.

Time will tell in terms of how it does in JD Powers, though. I can't assume that it'll be as rock-solid as a Fit.

I think you meant...

T.J. wrote: Take this Scion, remove the two rear doors to make it look 10,000 times better, and at least resemble something sporty, then slap a Fiat badge on it.

In reply to Zomby woof:

T.J. wrote: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.....

The looks of the 500 do nothing for me other than to make me laugh. Just not for me. I have a small car that I am happy with and like the looks of. Compared to it, the Fiat is waaaaay too tall.

T.J. wrote: The 500 is cooler than a Yaris? Really? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.....or in the eye of he who is influenced by marketing. Take this Scion, remove the two rear doors to make it less practical, then slap a Fiat badge on it.

I have a strange aversion to four-door cars vehicles. Perhaps because my rear seat is used maybe once a year, the rear doors just seem like superfluous entry points to me.

MitchellC wrote: Perhaps because my rear seat is used maybe once a year,

Not going well with the significant other eh?

Budum-tsh!

I like the Yaris, but I like the Fiat more. The Fiat has a totally different feel to it.

HiTempguy wrote:

MitchellC wrote: Perhaps because my rear seat is used maybe once a year,

Not going well with the significant other eh? Budum-tsh!

been at least 3 yrs since anyone has been in the back seat of any of my cars... 'course there isn't any SO ... nor any on the horizon oh well ... more time and $$ for the car addiction