How terrible is non-Abarth Fiat 500?

How terrible is a non-Abarth Fiat 500 with a manual trans? Need something g cheap and fun to toss around, I'd love an Abarth, but it doesn't squeak in under budget.

I'm willing to bet the Turbo would squeak under if you're looking at used. More power than a standard, not quite the Abarth. I love mine if I'm not driving on a Texas tollway (it get's really buzzy at 85).

-Rob

Wait a minute... I sent you Craigslist links to a Saab Sonnet, The Saab-aru 92x, a Lancia Beta, and a carbed Bi-Turbo and you go and start a thread about a modern Fiat 500?

Who are you and what have you done with M4ff3w?

Lol!

Coworker has a non abarth turbo, he really likes it but I have not had the opportunity for a ride along yet.

Drove one for a couple of weeks while the FRS was in the body shop. Would rather drive the wife units Versa to be honest.

The quirky looks wear out after a few days, and what is left is not very entertaining. Just another toaster.

I've driven a Naturally Aspirated one before. It has the typical small car freeway roar and is definitely leisurely when not driven in anger, but it was quite good fun, even with the automatic gearbox. Fuel economy is also impressive.

Having spent quite a bit of time in all versions with my previous job, I don't care for anything but the Abarth... and that's really only because of the engine. Even in the Abarth, anything over a 15 minute drive was a chore.

I don't like:

1. The seating position is too upright for my tastes
2. The shifter feel isn't there
3. The ride is lacking - mainly a function of the short wheelbase.

The couple I've been in feel weird. They have that whole flat floor thing nailed, but the car is rather upright so the seats are way up high and it kind of feels like you're sitting in a miniature full size van. I just can't get used to it.

Although I may be one of the few people who like the upright, close to the dash seating position because it feels a bit like an original mini.

I'd rather rock one of these

if a used FiST was out of the budget too.

ITT, people are surprised a tiny car drives like a tiny car. Like tiny cars have driven like throughout automotive history.

As someone who also likes the tiny Nissan Figaro, I've liked the 500 since it was introduced. Tiny, retro while being modern, and just fun in it's very nature. Is it perfect? No, but for the money, it's worth a look.

Don't know how the US spec car compares to the overseas models but I had a base model 500 rental in Italy a few years ago and it could not get out of its own way. Hill stops on even a moderate hill were an exercise in abuse for the clutch. Compared to that, SWMBO's Mazda3 is a joy to drive.

We drove one for a week in France two years ago; it was underwhelming. My wife is loving her little Sonic LTZ turbo. I've driven it a few times and well not as nice as my MINI S was, it's a fun little ride. Once the powertrain warranty is up it's getting this: Tune

My budget is about 5k tops.

I'd only be looking at Turbo.

Hungary Bill wrote: Wait a minute... I sent you Craigslist links to a Saab Sonnet, The Saab-aru 92x, a Lancia Beta, and a carbed Bi-Turbo and you go and start a thread about a modern Fiat 500? Who are you and what have you done with M4ff3w?

The beta was somewhat interesting. The Sonnet, while pretty, doesn't hit the buttons.

My next Bitrouble will be EFI from the factory.

If it fits your needs, I'd say do it, it's a commuter car, nothing more, nothing less.

It's just a subpar commuter car really - for American roads the Sonic, Fit, or Mazda2 are much more practical. The base Fiat 500 just has very little interior space for very little in the way of fuel economy or fun in return.

I owned a turbo for a hot second. The seats are the best things ever, remind me of vintage jeep seats. And I loved the seating position. I thought the manual and turbo was annoying tbh, really short first gear, hell of a lot of torque steer. The cars interior is miserable (except the seats). Cheap cheap cheap cheap build quality all over.

Terrible.

I wanted to like them.

Absolutely gutless, extremely light steering with zero feedback, shifter feels like crap - both in gear change, and in general. Cheap plastic is a common theme thoughout. Things like the handles to fold the seats forward feel like they're going to break off in your hands.

Reasonably comfortable and economical. Reliability/quality seem to be hit or miss from what I've seen, but more misses than hits.

Driven a number of them, but no turbos. Drive like any other really cheap crappy economy car, except crappier and not as practical.

I have seen some 50K mile Abarths trading hands at around 8-8.5K allegedly. 3.5K for a much much better version of the car seems a small price to pay and you will get most of it back when you sell it.

I've seen turbos at around $6000 here so $5k might be findable. We have the base non turbo with an auto and while being a happy little commuter for the wife and cute as a button it's not the fastest thing in the world. I would definitely hold out for a turbo myself. Also test drive one. I love the seating position and had no problem driving it from NY down to the keys and back but others haven't been so happy comparing it to an old dump truck or the kids table at thanksgiving. I will say in the 96,000 miles we've put on it all its needed so far were rear wheel bearings, gas cap and spark plugs.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/ctd/5900398071.html

Plus tune

I drove every model Fiat 500 they made. I really wanted a turbo. Then I drove a Mazda 2. Less expensive, better built, nicer steering and shifter feel. Love my 2.

Yeah, for 5k I am voting Mazda2 stick (in touring if you can find it for cruise). Great fun. Nice enough interior, surprisingly it weighs a little less too (57lbs per Internet). I miss mine.