FYI, That deal looks like a lease, so steer clear if you want to buy the car and own it long term.
Driving a manual isn't hard. Just takes a bit of practice.
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Anybody own or has test-driven a fiat 500?
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FYI, That deal looks like a lease, so steer clear if you want to buy the car and own it long term.
Driving a manual isn't hard. Just takes a bit of practice.
Yeah, I know it's a lease.
Normally, I'd be all for purchasing and not having payments afterward, but this is such a different car, I'm not sure I wouldn't want to get something bigger after a few years. I can sell my saturn and apply that money to some credit card debt I have and get a low-payment lease.
Normally, I'd be all for purchasing and not having payments afterward, but this is such a different car, I'm not sure I wouldn't want to get something bigger after a few years. I can sell my saturn and apply that money to some credit card debt I have and get a low-payment lease.
I saw a video on youtube where someone test drove the 500 manual and 500 automatic. He seemed to be very insistent that the manual was 100% better. He was not very impressed with the automatic transmission.
I've only driven the TwinAir, very briefly, to see what all the fuss was about, great little engine, but with a thirst of a car twice its size. Though to be honest, all of the petrol engines in the 500 seem to have a particular thirst problem in the real world.
I think you've probably already made up your mind, but I thought, like almost all modern cars are now, that it was . perfectly vanilla. A couple of issues, the steering is far too light, as is the clutch and regardless of the spiel, you know there's a torsion-beam out back.
Other than that, it's getting on a bit now, and like the New Beetle & MINI, doesn't have even an ounce as much charm as the original (which is still such a cool car). Not so sure that the New 500 is. Was. Or ever will be.
Personally I prefer the restrained minimalism of the VW Up! over the more gaudy 500.
I think you've probably already made up your mind, but I thought, like almost all modern cars are now, that it was . perfectly vanilla. A couple of issues, the steering is far too light, as is the clutch and regardless of the spiel, you know there's a torsion-beam out back.
Other than that, it's getting on a bit now, and like the New Beetle & MINI, doesn't have even an ounce as much charm as the original (which is still such a cool car). Not so sure that the New 500 is. Was. Or ever will be.
Personally I prefer the restrained minimalism of the VW Up! over the more gaudy 500.
They're nice cars if you have the money for it. My friend has one and I really liked it. I probably wouldn't get a 500 because I'd want something more functional (4 door, etc), but if I was getting a coupé, I'd get a c30. 
Still like the Fiats a lot though.
![2010-Volvo-C30-BEV-Front-Angle-Action-View-588x378.jpg]()
BTW, I like how the Orange one looks. I'd probably get that. You dont see that colour often
Still like the Fiats a lot though.
BTW, I like how the Orange one looks. I'd probably get that. You dont see that colour often
If you really are taken with the cinquecento, there is the five door long wheel base version available.
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Sure go with the Honda Fit if you want to be driving around a mini minivan. Or if you want a uglier and cheaper interior.
Yeah, like they blew-out the wheels for looks, and gave you the same tiny interior.
I'll admit, I want the fiat to be all that I want it to be - but I'm also prepared to test drive it and not like it as much as I thought I would. I certainly won't buy a car I don't like! =)
I don't see the 500 as gaudy as it seems pretty minimalistic to me. Although personally, I had a bad experience test driving at a VW dealership for the last car I bought. I had been to 6 or 7 dealerships test driving cars and it was definitely the worst one beyond I wasn't impressed with the car I was trying at the time (passat).
Anyway, I like the fiat 500 from a theoretical view but never test drove one
Although the VW sportswagen is on my short list for possible next cars (with a roof rack, I think it'll do well in fitting with our needs) and I now live in a different area so the VW dealership is different than the one I went to previously. The UP! certainly looks like a decent competitor to the fiat but also doesn't look like it is available in the US yet.
A friend's got a 500. Seem very fun, but it has been back to the dealer a few times for software updates -- emissions sensor malfunctioned and a few other things.
I love my (well, girlfriend's) Kia Picanto. 5-doors, good manual gearbox and more features for less money than a Fiat. I'm 6'4", gf's 6" and we both fit in fine. Turns on a sixpence ('dime' to you!). Only the small boot means we have to put the shopping on the back seats
I love my (well, girlfriend's) Kia Picanto. 5-doors, good manual gearbox and more features for less money than a Fiat. I'm 6'4", gf's 6" and we both fit in fine. Turns on a sixpence ('dime' to you!). Only the small boot means we have to put the shopping on the back seats
I have a friend with the fiat 500 twinair. It's a lovely little car with decent pull when its needed! He took a car full to a theme park including myself and never once did the car struggle... even cruising down the motorway at 70mph. The start stop feature is cool, along with under seat storage! Nice and roomy in the back for a little car also!
I wanted one but I have to drive on snow in the winter. It is scary to crash this thing against a big suv.
There's a couple good videos that show a 500 in the snow on YouTube. We get snow here too and I looked that up right away.
Relative of mine had one for a few months as a rental. Lot's of fun to drive, very economical, and seemed to take our abuse very well. As far as long term reliability I don't know but from the short period of time we had access to it it was a good car. Get it if it fits your lifestyle.
Yeah the us ones are just in its first year and we have no idea how long lasting they will be. I think they are made in Mexico.
And I'm sure it will be. Is there really a car sold today by an established manufacturer that can truly be considered crap?
That could well happen... if you try to test drive the manual version when you've never driven one before.
Oh, it's positively gaudy in comparison to the Germanic austerity of the Up!.
An Italian designed car, built in Mexico, marketed by an American car company. What could possibly go wrong?
An Italian designed car, built in Mexico, marketed by an American car company. What could possibly go wrong?
Check the rocker-panels for coke.