Most liked posts in thread: Fiat 500, no threat at all

Just posted on Jalopnik

2012 Fiat 500: First Drive

 

The was one Fiesta there that I really liked. Some guy named Ken put his name and a bunch of stickers on it.:smilewinkgrin:

 

Not bad at all, but what's up with the speedo being behind the steering wheel? That will never catch on.

Jim

 

Sooo....
At least to me.....
The front headlights look slightly MINI.
The tail lights look slightly MINI.
The rear bumper looks slightly MINI in a JCW sort of way.
I don't see any easy access to strut tower tops for easy camber adjustments.
Looks like they left a lot of space for a BBK. Hmmmm Abarth up grade?
And the battery looks huge next to the engine.

Interesting engine technology....

 

What's the deal with the center stack and the shifter? I am pretty sure I've seen that in a Honda Odyssey?

 

Yeah....
I just went back and covered up the top half of the front bumper.
It screams MINI to me also.

So they maybe took a whole bunch of MINI design cue's, and blended them together?

Hmmmmm......:sosp:

I also don't like how the lower door scallop detail and sill don't transition into the body. It looks like it just stops at the door frame.

 

From Autoweek...

What is it like to drive?

While the 500's main competitor, BMW's Mini, is a better driver in many ways--a bit faster, quicker steering response, better seats--the differences are subtle. The 1.4-liter engine in the 500 features Fiat's Multi-Air technology, in which a hydraulic system controls the intake valves, ensuring the right amount of air makes it to each cylinder to improve efficiency. The result is a rev-happy mill that returns an EPA combined 33 mpg. The 500 is not a sports car, but there is enough power on hand to make the trip to the grocery store an entertaining experience.

We found the seat bottoms a bit too short for our comfort--our major complaint with the car--and the steering was a bit too light. But pushing the dash-mounted Sport button firms up the steering, quickens the throttle response and--in cars fitted with the optional six-speed automatic--remaps shift points. The car is fun to drive, responsive and cute. It gets the kind of response from onlookers that usually is reserved for babies or little furry creatures.

Do I want it?

Price and style are the two main reasons to choose a 500 rather than a Mini. The 500 stickers for about $4,000 less than a comparably equipped Mini. In the subcompact market, that kind of price difference is huge. And the Fiat will be available in nearly twice as many dealerships. Right now, there are 130 dealers in 36 states, compared with about 80 Mini dealers. Fiat boss Laura Soave says more "studios" will be added to the lineup soon.

And then there's the Italian style the 500 delivers. Even though you will be cruising streets in your neighborhood, behind the wheel of the 500, you can imagine zipping around Rome, dodging Vespas at every corner.

The 500 is available in three different trim levels (Pop, Sport and top-of-the-line Lounge) and in 14 different colors--nearly twice as many as the average new car. Customization will be a major part of the 500 equation, with about 500,000 different configurations available. The cabin is filled with plenty of hard plastic, but there are other features to take your mind away from all that, including the speedometer/tachometer concentric-circle combo.

If 101 hp doesn't suit your style, you can wait a year for the 140-plus-hp Abarth version that should be a rocket. But these first versions of the 500 are plenty fun to drive, with either the five-speed manual or the six-speed automatic, and did we mention that the car is really cute?

 

Wow. A car trim called a lounge? Going from 101 hp to 140 makes the car a rocket?

 

@ Allen :deadhorse:

(this is my favorite emoticon of all time)

 

:useless
Jason

:useless
If links to pics have already been listed then just:
1.slap me awake
2.tell me to shut up
3.point me in the correct direction and shove

:cornut: Jason

 

you have NO idea what's already being developed in the aftermarket for this car..........I believe it's already got 48 state approval and the people doing it are someone every performance enthusiast will know

 

Still, a factory 140hp car shouldn't be really called a rocket.

 

Except for the ones sitting in the 101hp model.

 

The "Sport" version I specced out on the Fiat configurator came to just over $21k - for that much I'd rather have a MINI, unless I could get an Abarth - but I hear those will be around $30K...

I drove a 2011 service loaner Justa and was impresed with the new engine - it feels a whole lot stronger than 2 more hp! I was thinking I could easily live with one of those, till I drove my S home. End of story...

 

The aftermarket is most likely working on all the go fast goodies most any 500 owner could want. Think checkered mirror caps & stick on carbon fiber.

After a while real mods will come. It's going to be tough for them to out horsepower a MINI I think.

Looking forward to seeing the 500's running around. I figure for every one of those I see there'll be one less SUV taking up space on the road.

 

The 500 has been around in Europe for some time with a thriving aftermarket. I'n sure many of those products will jump the pond as well.