Fiat 500 in Ann Arbor July 07 2008 6:30 PM

[kach22i]

Fiat 500 in Ann Arbor July 07 2008 6:30 PM

I just took these photos.







What is he thinking? :lol:

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by kach22i

Fiat 500 in Ann Arbor July 07 2008 6:30 PM



What is he thinking? :lol:

"Who is this wierdo and why is he taking my picture?"

[Dottore]

Lovely little car. European Car of The Year last year. Beautiful inside. We rented one for two days and my wife didn't want to give it back. Great fun to drive.

[Oh Haha]

Is he picking his nose or flipping you the bird?


And for the record: George is not a weirdo. He just drives a zebra striped car and REALLY likes Hovercrafts.

[Oh Haha]

Is he picking his nose or flipping you the bird?


And for the record: George is not a weirdo. He just drives a zebra striped car and REALLY likes Hovercrafts.

[john70t]

Mabye he was testing for EPA, Car and Driver, or Automobile magazines. Good to see microcars on the roads.
What's the deal with the Fiat 500 anyway?

[kach22i]

I think he is scratching his beard; where is that EPA testing center?

Hint; It's not downtown Ann Arbor................but he is only a mile away.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by john70t

Mabye he was testing for EPA, Car and Driver, or Automobile magazines. Good to see microcars on the roads.
What's the deal with the Fiat 500 anyway?

Automobile Magazine is Downtown A2, just a block to go.

The other two car magazines are on Carpenter/Hogback road (in the same office complex) near US 23 and Wastenaw Ave.

[tcar]

[edit] 2007 model
Main article: Fiat Nuova 500

2004 Fiat Trepiuno concept
New Fiat 500Fiat previewed the all new 500 in March 2007 exactly 50 years after the first Fiat 500 was presented.

The design of the new 2007 Fiat 500 is based on the 2004 Fiat Trepiuno concept. This car will feature a distinctive retro-look just like the Volkswagen New Beetle and BMW MINI but may well be substantially cheaper than those cars, with a starting price of €10,500. The car is 3.55 meters long and 1.65 meters wide. Top speed is 180 km/h (112 mph). The basic price is 10,500 euro in Italy; with options 15,000 euro.

Fiat will share the underpinnings of the new 500 with Ford for the next Ford Ka. Production takes place in Fiat facilities in Poland, and is currently scheduled for mid 2007 with commercial debut in September of 2007.

Three engines are available. A 1.2 8v unit, the 75 bhp 1.3 Multijet common-rail turbo diesel, and a 85 bhp 1.4 16v engine coupled to a 6 speed manual gearbox as found in the Panda 100HP. Currently, three trims are available the Pop, Sport and Lounge. A fourth more basic model called 'Naked' may be put on sale, although it is doubted whether it will be available in all markets.

A Fiat 500 Abarth will be unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, and it will be powered by a 1.4 liter Fire engine with an IHI variable geometry turbocharger. The Abarth will have 135 horsepower and 180Nm of torque, with the option for 206Nm in sports mode.[1]

The all-new 500 received critical acclaim from many magazines. British-magazine Car called the new Fiat "irresistible". The car also received a full five star EURO NCAP crash test rating.



From Wikipedia...

[john70t]

85hp with a 6-speed? The opposite of the 930.

[HardDrive]

Ah....Main Street.....

I grew up in Ann Arbor. Dad still lives off W. Liberty. Nice town.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Dottore

Lovely little car. European Car of The Year last year. Beautiful inside. We rented one for two days and my wife didn't want to give it back. Great fun to drive.

True! Saw a few 500s in Rome. Great dimensions, and larger in person than in photos. I'd guess just a bit smaller than a new Mini. I wasn't sold on the drum rear brakes, but otherwise, the car is very sweet. I hope an Abarth version comes out.

[dd74]

tcar beat me to it...

There is an Abarth version. Hope it comes stateside.

[fxeditor]

I rented a 500 a month or so ago in France. Wonderful car! I would get one without question if it comes here (especially the Abarth edition that DD74 pointed out!).

[cashflyer]

I want!!

Would much sooner consider this than the Smart.

[dd74]

Alright - since I am a 500 Abarth fan (I have a little model of an Abarth somewhere at home), I found some interesting articles on the car:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.autounleashed.com/images/fiat_500_abarth_ss.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.autounleashed.com/fiat-500-abarth-ss-spy-shots&h=300&w=450&sz=21&tbnid=VzuDO0VLjhIJ::&tbnh=85&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3DFiat%2B500%2BAbarth%2B&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=3&ct=image&cd=1

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://image.motortrend.com/f/car-news/fiat-abarth-500-may-be-us-bound-report-says/6427594%2Bw600%2Bcr1%2Bre0%2Bar1/fiat-500-abarth-edition.jpg&imgrefurl=http://blogs.motortrend.com/6210023/car-news/fiat-abarth-500-may-be-us-bound-report-says/index.html&h=349&w=600&sz=226&tbnid=31WJX7FMHe4J::&tbnh=79&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3DFiat%2B500%2BAbarth%2B&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=2&ct=image&cd=1

[sketchers356]

I think that it is a great car. Might not be all that powerful; but it is small, light, well styled, and sips gas.

[Z-man]

I know in NJ, a DTM prefix on a license place means "Manufacturer's car." Maybe in Michican, an "M" in the middle of the plate means the same thing...

With the likes of the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, and event the MB- smart car, I think the Fiat 500 would have a good chance of surviving here in the USA...

Now if they can come out with a droptop ala the 2000, that would be terrific!

-Z

[dd74]

Originally Posted by sketchers356

I think that it is a great car. Might not be all that powerful; but it is small, light, well styled, and sips gas.

There's footage of it at Nurbugring on You Tube. It moves pretty well around the track.

[9dreizig]

It's in A2, obviously the guy was cracking his window 'cause he was getting high!!!
Funny was watching the top 100 cars you need to drive on Speed the other night and the original 500 was on ( haven't added alot of HP to the basic model)