New Fiat....

[dennis in se pa]

I have a 2012 Fiat 500 Lounge. So far so good. About 3 months now. I was impressed when I first drove it. I am still happy with it. Goes down the road at 80 mph with no problems. Rides decently. Handles OK. The Sport or Abarth handles better I am sure, but this is my daily driver and I wanted some comfort.

[recycled sixtie]

How many miles can u get out of a tank of gas?
Good for the city but no long road trips I would think?

[dennis in se pa]

"How many miles can u get out of a tank of gas?
Good for the city but no long road trips I would think?"

I get over 30 around town. I have taken no long trips yet, but it will go to Florida a few times this winter. You won't believe how nice it is on the highway though. Tracks straight. No wiggles. Does 80 before you know it. The 6 speed automatic transmission is very smooth.

I recommend a test drive. But it may be hazardous to your bank account.

[scottmandue]

Dunno... don't think I have room for that AND my blender... why wait for happy hour when I can whip up a marg on my way home from work?

[john70t]

The 500 is quite attractive and made me look twice when I first saw it.
Quite a few sold in Florida.

The 500L looks like an ugly Scion xD, IMO.

[nostatic]

my s/o wants one of these. The Italians do have style. I'm curious about reliability though. Saw one of the Abarth variants the other day and it is not a bad looking car.

[Z-man]

Umm - I don't think the espeesso machine version of the 500 is real. When I did an interweb search on "Fiat 500L" all I came up with was a concept car 4-door version of the 500.

I really can't seem them marketing such an option, especially in Europe, where they were reluctant to add even cupholders to their cars...

-Z-man.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Umm - I don't think the espeesso machine version of the 500 is real. When I did an interweb search on "Fiat 500L" all I came up with was a concept car 4-door version of the 500...

-Z-man.

Fiat adds built-in espresso coffee machines to new cars | Mail Online

And a few more:

Google

[dennis in se pa]

a pic...


While still at the dealership. I did this deal via the 'net.

More pics at http://www.dennisarner.com/pics/2012fiat500

[intakexhaust]

^^^ Italian style? No disrespect to the happy owners but to me looks like some 1950's washing machine or appliance concept from an old Popular Mechanics magazine.

[dennis in se pa]

Would you like it better if I told you J Lo peed on my driver's seat AND signed the dash?

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by kevintodd

just picked up a 500 sport last week for my wife, who drives on average less than 3k per year as our business is just a couple of miles from our house. We got a 6 year bumper-to-bumper warranty and all scheduled maintenance included as well so we're not worried about service-related issues.

The fit and finish are fantastic, the interior is well laid out and the materials are much better than expected. It has every conceivable option except nav and heated seats, handles like it's on rails, and weighs only 2300 pounds, so the little 1.4 with stick pushes it along just fine.

Plus--i haven't paid this little for a new car since 1985.

taxi!

[speeder]

Hahaha.

[intakexhaust]

Ha. Maybe she should do a commercial with her spread over the hood while the car is reved... All kidding aside, I've only read good reports but haven't driven one. I'm guessing it will bloat in size in a few years.

Other: Since the 500 name and label has returned, have others noticed the popularity and demand for the originals in the collectors market? Next to my bro's shop, the owner is redoing his mothers car from the 1960's. Cute p.o.s thing with the folding top. My other bro' is in a race fab shop and lil' Rahal is going nutz on a restoration of an early one. What's next... BMW coming out with a retro Isetta M edition?

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

Fiat adds built-in espresso coffee machines to new cars | Mail Online

And a few more:

Google

OK - but I haven't seen anything from Fiat's official site.

That said, I think the styling is very retro-sheek. Simple, European look and feel.

Did take one for a test drive (non-Abarth version) with a 5 speed manual transmission. With two of us in the car (we're both over 6'2") it was very sluggish off the line. Not very powerful at all. Yeah, it will get up to speed, but it will take until tomorrow for it to get there. The seats sit up rather high -- so my hair did brush up against the headliner a little. I am sure the Abarth version addresses that.

Would I get one? Been seriously considering it -- and now that some are hitting the used market, the price point is making it very tempting for me... I think it would make a great little commuter car, and not look like all the 1,000,000,000,000 4-door econo-boxes out there. (Corolla, Civic, Focus, Cruze...etc.)

As for the Espresso machine? No thanks. If I can't wait until I get to my destination for my mocha-latte-double-espresso with a spenda and a splash of cream, then I need to see a therapist!

-Z-man.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by intakexhaust

Other: Since the 500 name and label has returned, have others noticed the popularity and demand for the originals in the collectors market? Next to my bro's shop, the owner is redoing his mothers car from the 1960's. Cute p.o.s thing with the folding top.

I have no idea on the demand, but a very good friend of mine owns both, a new 500 and an old one. He was stationed in Italy for four years and brought one home.

I picked it up for him in Norfolk brought it up to Maryland in late 2006 on a trailer. The movie "Cars" was still popular and the amount of waves per mile driving back was amazing.

"Mommy, look! Luigi"!!!

They love them both. A pic from earlier this year at a local car show. My 356 is on the left.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Z-man

OK - but I haven't seen anything from Fiat's official site.

That said, I think the styling is very retro-sheek. Simple, European look and feel.

Did take one for a test drive (non-Abarth version) with a 5 speed manual transmission. With two of us in the car (we're both over 6'2") it was very sluggish off the line. Not very powerful at all. Yeah, it will get up to speed, but it will take until tomorrow for it to get there. The seats sit up rather high -- so my hair did brush up against the headliner a little. I am sure the Abarth version addresses that.

Would I get one? Been seriously considering it -- and now that some are hitting the used market, the price point is making it very tempting for me... I think it would make a great little commuter car, and not look like all the 1,000,000,000,000 4-door econo-boxes out there. (Corolla, Civic, Focus, Cruze...etc.)

As for the Espresso machine? No thanks. If I can't wait until I get to my destination for my mocha-latte-double-espresso with a spenda and a splash of cream, then I need to see a therapist!

-Z-man.

What's "retro-sheek"? Is that Jersey for chic?

They are good-looking little cars in person. I like your white one with the glass roof, Dennis. Or is it silver? Can't tell with my monitor. Lot's of stylish people are driving them. My buddy's mom has one in Italy and a beautiful stylist I know here in L.A. bought one in that coffee w/ cream color and named it, "Mocha Latte".

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by speeder

What's "retro-sheek"? Is that Jersey for chic?

retro-chic is too close to retro-chick, and it is already difficult to not call the 500 a chick's car without the "retro-chic" label.

-Z

[KevinTodd]

Originally Posted by Z-man

OK - but I haven't seen anything from Fiat's official site.

That said, I think the styling is very retro-sheek. Simple, European look and feel.

Did take one for a test drive (non-Abarth version) with a 5 speed manual transmission. With two of us in the car (we're both over 6'2") it was very sluggish off the line. Not very powerful at all. Yeah, it will get up to speed, but it will take until tomorrow for it to get there. The seats sit up rather high -- so my hair did brush up against the headliner a little. I am sure the Abarth version addresses that.

Would I get one? Been seriously considering it -- and now that some are hitting the used market, the price point is making it very tempting for me... I think it would make a great little commuter car, and not look like all the 1,000,000,000,000 4-door econo-boxes out there. (Corolla, Civic, Focus, Cruze...etc.)

As for the Espresso machine? No thanks. If I can't wait until I get to my destination for my mocha-latte-double-espresso with a spenda and a splash of cream, then I need to see a therapist!

-Z-man.

The "Sport" button on the dash adjusts the steering and throttle response and there is a noticeable difference. My wife barely weighs a buck so its plenty enough for her. She is more than elated to be back in a manual tranny vehicle, too.

.......and yes it does look like a little taxi

[afterburn 549]

Now I am in a quandary...the Subaru BRZ, or Fiat Abarth LOL