Fiat 500

So.... why do you guys like these again? Awful AWFUL cars. Ugh.

Horribly overboosted brakes, horribly overboosted steering, thrashy weak motor, terrible seating position, bizarre interior layout that doesn't make sense and seems hell-bent on cutting down visibility, a mean feat in a tiny-ass bubble that seems to be nothing BUT glass.

Stereo ergonomics are stupid, i feel like i'm going to cause an accident trying to turn up the volume.

Stereo is stupid, i've disabled the dynamic volume control bullE36 M3, and the volume STILL keeps going up and down, completely maddening.

Handling is... ok i guess? Not sure. I was too afraid to really throw it around. Chassis felt upset in any situation other than going straight for me. Quick turn in for sure, but not "settled."

Impressively quiet at 80mph on the highway, but wouldn't want to drive it for much longer than 30 minutes or so on the highway.

Maybe it magically makes sense with a manual transmission. The auto in this thing is the most hateful transmission i've ever experienced, second only to that horrible piece of E36 M3 in the Smart Car. The car doesn't have enough guts to accelerate at all in 5th or 6th gear, so it downshifts to 4th to accelerate on the highway, whereupon you're subjected to the horrible noises the motor makes again. On top of this, it shifts TERRIBLY. I don't see how something can be so laggy yet lurch so hard. Awful awful awful.

Maybe i'd like an Abarth, but i surely won't go out of my way to try one after this thing.

We'll have this around for a week or two, i'll post my thoughts if i warm up to it.

supposedly the abarth is a LOT better

And remember, you got the rental? Those cars are never very nice, even when new

So you're still on the fence then?

I think it looks swell in that pic. I wonder how much of that twitchiness and bad ergo could be solved by an aftermarket radio, decent rubber, short stiff springs and konis.

I'm not much of a fan of wrong wheel drive at all but those little cars with fat tires look cool.

I like them because I fit (I found the seating position comfortable, not great, but liveable), they are cheap, they won b spec, they Abarth version sounds rad, overhangs and tight turning radius make them great in the city.

Everything else, power, suspension, seats, steering can be dealt with in the aftermarket.

Just remember the original Fox Mustang wasn't great new and stock either.

Flight Service wrote: I like them because I fit (I found the seating position comfortable, not great, but liveable), they are cheap, they won b spec, they Abarth version sounds rad, overhangs and tight turning radius make them great in the city. Everything else, power, suspension, seats, steering can be dealt with in the aftermarket. Just remember the original Fox Mustang wasn't great new and stock either.

So it is comparable to a 34 year old pony car?

So here is the best question of the day, is this or the miata more gay to be in front of Ben's apartment......

Zomby Woof wrote: So you're still on the fence then?

^^^

I have never driven the auto but I have heard may bad things about it. The five speed is the way to go.

My dad's turning into a soft old fart (I can say that, he's not on here) - he went from commuting in a Corvette to a hybrid Civic - and even he hated the auto in the 500 when he had one as a rental on vacation a few weeks ago.

The automatic is the biggest issue in the car. Even my son's girlfriend wanted a manual in it and she's not a car person. Theirs was a rental too. Said the auto took all the fun out of it and it seemed to always be hunting for the right gear on any kind of semi-hilly stretch.

I love the seating and the ergonomics, but then again I haven't driven one for hours on end. Love the head room

The dynamic radios seem to be off on about 50% of them. In my F159 after a year I finally got a setting to a point that it doesn't drive me to distraction and the one in the Subie is too much. The Subie has limited adjustment and when it's turned off it's not really off either.

Some engineer somewhere knows what's best for you.

The Abarth is not the 500, much like a slushbox N/A MINI is not a Cooper S.

The seating position is still goofy in the Abarth IMO. It was surprisingly quiet cruising on the highway. Interior and gauge cluster is also goofy. I like small cars, but it was too small for me and I'm 6' 175lbs.

Dynamic volume control on a radio is one of my favorite requests at work. Someone will call in, tell me that the maker of their car didn't ge it right, but they are certain that I have something aftermarket that will do the job perfectly. Sorry, the aftermarket gave up on that feature years ago. I fit in a Pop edition, but not the Sport. Test drove an automatic (wife is searching for a new DD), UGH. I might have to try an Abarth if I ever decide to buy new.

aussiesmg wrote:

Flight Service wrote: I like them because I fit (I found the seating position comfortable, not great, but liveable), they are cheap, they won b spec, they Abarth version sounds rad, overhangs and tight turning radius make them great in the city. Everything else, power, suspension, seats, steering can be dealt with in the aftermarket. Just remember the original Fox Mustang wasn't great new and stock either.

So it is comparable to a 34 year old pony car?

Yes, that is exactly what I am doing...

No I am saying compared to the vehicles of the time, both are price points with good foundations, and with some aftermarket support, a very bright future.

Europeans like them. Are we American car lovers not always saying "I wish they would sell car XYZ here"?

Swank Force One wrote: Maybe i'd like an Abarth, but i surely won't go out of my way to try one after this thing.

mad_machine wrote: supposedly the abarth is a LOT better

mndsm wrote: The Abarth is not the 500, much like a slushbox N/A MINI is not a Cooper S.

All this and more. You can't even compare the 2. I test drove a 500 sport. I was unimpressed. But I decided to give it another chance with an Abarth test drive.

2 entirely different cars with a similar body shell.

I like the normal 500 a lot more then the Mazda2 and would consider one if I didn't apparently need a bigger car. Also I was worried about the interior falling apart.

I put about 700 miles on one and loathed every minute of it. It was hideously cream colored. The interior was definitely not for me- It felt like the designers wanted to scream ;THIS IS EUROPEAN STLYING!' in every freaking part they designed. About as subtle as a brick through a window.

The drive was not any better either. I understand short wheelbase cars are going to have inherent twitchiness to them. The 500 just seemed unreasonable. As swank pointed out so accurately, the overboosting brakes just made it worse, and dare I say, a little unnerving in evasive maneuvering. Almost like the rear wanted to steer the front. The autotragic was sluggish and clunky. Additionally, you'd also think you'd get excellent fuel eco from such a small car? I didn't. In 700 miles I averaged just under 31mpg.

This is not to mention that the only way to fit a bicycle in it is to remove both wheels from it, lay back the rear seats, and recline the passenger seat all the way forward. Even then, it's still a tight fit.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I think it looks swell in that pic. I wonder how much of that twitchiness and bad ergo could be solved by an aftermarket radio, decent rubber, short stiff springs and konis. I'm not much of a fan of wrong wheel drive at all but those little cars with fat tires look cool.

It looks way better in pictures than it does in person. It's awkwardly tall, yet ridiculously narrow. Looks like i could tip it over with a running start. Roof line is only about 6" lower than the Cherokee it's next to.

I'm saved, though... i was worried when i got it that SWMBO would actually like it, as she's always made cutesy eyes towards me whenever she'd see them driving around town.

I received a text from her this morning after she got to her appointment:

SWMBO said: Yeah, this car berkeleying sucks. Lol.

I rented one a couple of years ago when they were still quite new and didn't hate it that much. I've spent a lot of time in MINI's and to me, the 500 felt like a smaller, less sporty MINI. And I was only highway driving it from Boston to Philly. I didn't mind it so much, but my passenger wasn't keen and his DD is a 90's Civic coupe.

I'll admit, however, I chose the car out of pure curiosity since they were so new and I'd never had a chance to try out a new car like that. Being as entrenched in the MINI world as I am, I'd never seriously consider buying one, even an Abarth.

having had one for a week, I fully understand how sales can be light. that's all I'll say about the 500.

FWIW- I picked it up in Salt Lake City, and drove to Idaho to visit family in the winter. Should have kept the Chevy.

I love my new ABARTH

Swank Force One wrote: . It's awkwardly tall, yet ridiculously narrow. Looks like i could tip it over with a running start.

Betcha a dollar that you can't...

banzaitoyota wrote: I love my new ABARTH

Sweet, I didn't know there were 2 of us (Abarth owners) here!