The Fiat 500

[MadMax]

I just got back from an overnight work trip to Vegas (it's a dirty job but someone's gotta do it!) and had the opportunity to rent a Fiat 500. Here's my impressions...

First, interior space is woefully tight. I was shoehorned into the car and the center console makes a tight fight even tighter.

Secondly, the short wheelbase makes the car squirrely at speed. Maybe my Yaris is stable because of the wider tires, but this thing moved around on the highway quite a bit more although it didn't feel dangerous, just squirrely.

Thirdly, I didn't feel the quality to be any better than our entry-level Toyota. I didn't like the ergonomics (dash, buttons, etc) and even the girl at the rental place couldn't figure some of it out.

Since it was a rental, the car was an automatic. It was adequate for getting around but the Yaris 1.5L 1NZ-FE VVT-i I4 feels stronger (mine is also an auto). The a/c put more of a strain on the engine in the Fiat, and on full blast the dash buzzed quite noticeably. That might have been an issue unique to my rental, but it was annoying and unpleasant. Also, since we're talking about the a/c, it wasn't adequate to deal with the 109° heat of Vegas. If I had my Yaris, I expect it would have been better (but still not that great).

Still, it wasn't a bad little car and I can see why they are so popular in places like London. And, the gas mileage was very impressive. I don't have actual figures but I did a good amount of driving and the gauge was still on 'Full' when I turned the car in. Trunk space was comparable to our Yarii, I didn't find the seats to be any better or worse, and it was easy to dive in the city, parking lots, etc. I didn't like the split driver's side mirror, either.

Would I buy one? No. Would I avoid renting one again? Probably not. It isn't a bad little car and the fact it is made in Mexico has no bearing to me as the car seemed have been built to the same standards as would be expected. And this is not the Fiat of the 1970s, the company has still held on strong in the European market and has come a long way since the issues its cars had back then...

Cheers! Mike

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Betrivent

It's got a nice interior

I agree. It doesn't grab me the way the Mini interior does, but it stirs some of the same feelings.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by UTVitz

The engine is insanely hard to give basic service to-it's packed in there.

^^^^^ This. I looked under the hood and sat in one at a car show and was struck by this. Probably wouldn't buy one just on that alone.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Hamster

I don't understand buying the European car made in Mexico....how does that make it European?

.....and it renders the 'driving in the ocean from Italy to the U.S.' TV commercial disingenuous (IMO).

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by TLyttle

just like the BMW Mini, I find the 500 to be an overinflated bogus shadow of what the original was. Anyone who has driven a REAL 500 will know what I mean.

I understand what you mean/are driving at (when I was a too young to drive kid, I thought people ordering ordering power windows on a mid 70s 911 was a 'piggy, non serious driver' choice), but I still think the BMW Mini is better looking.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by UTVitz

I look at vehicles as long term ownership costs and experiences. And the Fiat uses a timing belt that will need expensive replacement-this is with hope the belt makes it to recommended change miles-Aveo owners know this is not always true. This multi-air valve train seems like marketing hype as it does nothing for fuel economy and just adds to something new to break and no one that knows how to fix it when it does. Biggest mechanical gripe is the iron block aluminum head-this has proven over and over again to be a long term ownership mismatch. The two metals heat and cool differently and almost guarantees headgasket leaks usually after 100K miles. I know this from owning a 92 Miata that has this problem. The sport button is electronic gee wizardry at work on the power steering boost and automatic transmission shift points. That button has to be pushed everytime you start the car to keep it active. Otherwise the power steering reverts to super overboost and the auto making long rubbery shifts.

If you're thinking of purchasing one for long term ownership review the Fiat 500 forum to see what problems people are reporting-most are minor gripes, but this is only after a few months of ownership. I could go on, but to me the Fiat is in the same boat as the Smart fourtwo and mini cooper-expensive to own long term. Search Mini Cooper problems and the nightmare stories fill pages after 45K miles with that car especially the auto version. And Smarts 3 cylinder Mitsubishi engine is not making it long term either.

Now if you only intend to keep the car till it's out of warranty this may not matter. I tend to keep mine to 200K and that only works out if I don't have to buy the car a seond time in repair costs. While looks and comfort/fun are important I look at the mechanicals first and go from there. Reliablity reports are great places to start and the Scion xd was numero uno which is pretty much a yaris clone

I completely agree with all of this post.....but, while I wouldn't buy a Mini as a DD, I wouldn't rule out an AWD one as a second car (especially keeping it in NV to occasionally drive in NV and CA)

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by MadMax

I just got back from an overnight work trip to Vegas (it's a dirty job but someone's gotta do it!) and had the opportunity to rent a Fiat 500. Here's my impressions...

First, interior space is woefully tight. I was shoehorned into the car and the center console makes a tight fight even tighter.

Secondly, the short wheelbase makes the car squirrely at speed. Maybe my Yaris is stable because of the wider tires, but this thing moved around on the highway quite a bit more although it didn't feel dangerous, just squirrely.

Thirdly, I didn't feel the quality to be any better than our entry-level Toyota. I didn't like the ergonomics (dash, buttons, etc) and even the girl at the rental place couldn't figure some of it out.

Since it was a rental, the car was an automatic. It was adequate for getting around but the Yaris 1.5L 1NZ-FE VVT-i I4 feels stronger (mine is also an auto). The a/c put more of a strain on the engine in the Fiat, and on full blast the dash buzzed quite noticeably. That might have been an issue unique to my rental, but it was annoying and unpleasant. Also, since we're talking about the a/c, it wasn't adequate to deal with the 109° heat of Vegas. If I had my Yaris, I expect it would have been better (but still not that great).

Still, it wasn't a bad little car and I can see why they are so popular in places like London. And, the gas mileage was very impressive. I don't have actual figures but I did a good amount of driving and the gauge was still on 'Full' when I turned the car in. Trunk space was comparable to our Yarii, I didn't find the seats to be any better or worse, and it was easy to dive in the city, parking lots, etc. I didn't like the split driver's side mirror, either.

Would I buy one? No. Would I avoid renting one again? Probably not. It isn't a bad little car and the fact it is made in Mexico has no bearing to me as the car seemed have been built to the same standards as would be expected. And this is not the Fiat of the 1970s, the company has still held on strong in the European market and has come a long way since the issues its cars had back then...

Cheers! Mike

Very interesting. Does the A/C in your Yaris do a better than 'not that great' job of handling the heat in San Antonio ?

[UberSilver]

Originally Posted by bronsin

What is the word about this car? Is the quality comparable to Toyota Ive heard its made in Mexico? How is the gas mileage it has a 1300cc engine an improvement over the Tpyota. What is it good at? What is it bad at?


Thanks!

Quality and reliability is not likely anywhere near Toyota. Even the other Japanese makers have a hard time keeping up with Toyota.

My Sister bought the turbo one. I drove it. It had good pep but did not handle well. I would think with good springs, shocks and sways, it would be better.

My biggest issue with it is its Italian design(maintenance magnet), and it's FUGLY!! Imo.

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Very interesting. Does the A/C in your Yaris do a better than 'not that great' job of handling the heat in San Antonio ?

My Yaris does pretty good in the SA heat. This evening I went to a FBI event that required a coat and tie, and once the interior cooled down it was comfortable but not freezing like my Jeep will get (but I practically never use the a/c in my Jeep).

Just my opinion, but given the comparison I would say the Yaris' a/c was more effective. Many factors could be involved with that, the larger motor, Italian design vs. Japanese, etc. etc.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by MadMax

My Yaris does pretty good in the SA heat. This evening I went to a FBI event that required a coat and tie, and once the interior cooled down it was comfortable but not freezing like my Jeep will get (but I practically never use the a/c in my Jeep).

Just my opinion, but given the comparison I would say the Yaris' a/c was more effective. Many factors could be involved with that, the larger motor, Italian design vs. Japanese, etc. etc.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Killchain

Designed by Fiat, ordered by Chrysler, and built in Mexico............

http://www.motorweek.org/reviews/roa...2012_fiat_500/

No thanks, I'll stick with the Yaris. I wish I had the cash for the Scion IC.

The street behind me just added another tC and abother Camry. That makes 8 tCs and 8 Camrys within 2 long blocks (one Yaris sedan too that STILL has a missing wheel cover).

[Shinare]

I know this is probably sacrilege, but I saw the new 500 Turbo on Motorweek and they had nothing but good things to say. It made me want to go test drive one, but they are too rich for my blood. :)

[thebarber]

I drove a 500T a couple months ago...fun car. Abarth is funner, but I think a simple tune would get a 500T to abarth levels

[Deathegg]

Originally Posted by joe keeney

They use to sell that junk back in the 70's, After 50,000 look for the nearest bone yard.

Car and Driver had a long term 500, used for 40,000 miles. Just three things went wrong in that period: they had to tighten the handbrake, replace a bulb, and replace a fuse. Don't base a modern car on antique notions from the '70's.

As for 0-60 times, 9.9 seconds. With the turbo Abarth, it's about 6.9, and I've heard the Abarth exhaust, it sounds like no other 4 cyl I've ever heard; just an amazing sound.

[thebarber]

**the abarth DOES sound nice**