Any experience with Fiat 500

[Jean]

School me, how are these for DD?

[TDE30]

Brilliant! My mom had a 500 sport before her current 500 Abarth. Build quality is quite impressive (assembled in Mexico surprisingly enough,) average fuel economy is as expected, interior space is very impressive for a car of its size, and it receives top marks in safety tests.

Go for a sport version with a manual; H&R even offers some lowering springs to get rid of the goofy stock ride height, something like $180 for a set, lol.

Our only gripe thus far is having to deal with our local Chrysler/Dodge outfit, where attention to detail is a confusing myth not understood by the majority of their service muppets.

[nrubenstein]

The Abarth has the most ridiculously awesome exhaust note of, well, pretty much any stock car out there. Two of my friends have bought them. Both of them are racers.

The regular 500 is perfectly decent to drive, even if the interior is a little disco. I was perfectly pleased with my rental in the UK (aside from the base 1.2L engine with 69hp...). The only real complaint that I had is that it didn't have a German gas pedal. (The ergonomics are a bit awkward there.)

[CrusherCurtis]

Also for those who've driven it, is it comparable to a mini? I can't see a reason to ever consider it over a mini, unless your one of those people who like something just because its different.

[Jean]

I can't stand the Mini, the new ones are BUTT UGLY.. and they aren't even "MINI" anymore, they make the 1 series front end look awesome...porky ugly cars.

[TDE30]

Ah yes, as previously mentioned, the Abarth is sold in the US sans resonators and sans mufflers. The result is hilarious, loud pops during upshifts/downshifts with ease. It definitely turns the cute European hatch into the bastardly neighborhood mouse. See below.



Curtis, it's noticeably lighter than the R53/R56 Minis, and boasts 160bhp/170tq. It's a riot, but it seems to suffer from torque steer more than any Mini I've ever driven.

[AWDE30]

In the fun to drive department the Abarth is 10 folds over the Mini S. Even if you aren't going that fast the exhaust note makes all the right noise inside or outside the cabin. I'm too tall for a cooper but some how I fit in a 500 quite well. No matter I couldn't live with either car for an extended time. Too much of a fashion accessory and not enough of a real car.

[AWDE30]

Curtis, it's noticeably lighter than the R53/R56 Minis, and boasts 160bhp/170tq. It's a riot, but it seems to suffer from torque steer more than any Mini I've ever driven.

That torque steer makes for a much more entertaining drive than any cooper.

[obes]

ahahha minis all day lol

[BenjaminButtton]

Holy shit, that kinda sounds like a WRX... Hawt. Thanks for sharing.

[mulletman]

The only thing that came to mind the first time I saw a 500 was.... "Automotive equivalent of a handbag."

[Threehz]

But... That interior :?

The only thing that came to mind the first time I saw a 500 was.... "Automotive equivalent of a handbag."

This.

[brahbarian]

heh, if you ask me it kinda sounds like a srt4

[JasonC]

My friend has one as a daily. It's a 5spd. Gas mileage is excellent!!! But if you ever have to put 4 grown adults in it. They will be very cramped... My knees where in the dash and head against the roof so the rear passenger could have some room in the rear.

[Danny]

Buy my R53 instead Jean.