Is Chrysler's tiny Fiat 500 finding buyers?
- Thread starter frankxbe
- Start date
dieseljeep
Active Member
Three more prime examples of that logic. Chevy Aveo, Smart Car and the Mini.:thumbsdn:
dieseljeep,
Ever been in a Mini? I'm a 275#, 6 foot wide body myself and every time I ride in my friend's Mini I end up scratching' my head and wonder how they did it? You don't feel cramped. Very big on the inside. Weird. They have some silly and expensive to fix BMW tech I'd take issue with though. Especially the pressure-relief gizmo that lowers and raises the window a touch when closing the doors and the prematurely worn-out rotors that must be too soft for the ceramic pads. Talk about expensive. In 2006 I was in Cairo the week they introduced the Mini to Egypt at the big swanky hotel I was staying at for 3 weeks on a business trip. With all the importation taxes and fees they were going to run close to $60k there. Yikes!
Ever been in a Mini? I'm a 275#, 6 foot wide body myself and every time I ride in my friend's Mini I end up scratching' my head and wonder how they did it? You don't feel cramped. Very big on the inside. Weird. They have some silly and expensive to fix BMW tech I'd take issue with though. Especially the pressure-relief gizmo that lowers and raises the window a touch when closing the doors and the prematurely worn-out rotors that must be too soft for the ceramic pads. Talk about expensive. In 2006 I was in Cairo the week they introduced the Mini to Egypt at the big swanky hotel I was staying at for 3 weeks on a business trip. With all the importation taxes and fees they were going to run close to $60k there. Yikes!
tensleep
Addicted Member
Yep, looking into shortening the throw on mine. They do make a short shifter as well. A fellow 500 driver had one at the carlot one day when I was there. It really made the shifts better. If I can combine a shorter clutch along with a short throw shifter, this already fun car will be a blast!
Nice to hear that they're proving to be reliable. My girlfriend is planning on buying a 500 when her car wears out (soon). We both saw a red one before I'd even known about them, and wanted it right off the bat.
Same here. But I see quite a number of "Smartcars". (As if.)
I would absolutely hate that. I love a standard but it's gotta have great feedback in feel to be worth it.
They had an Abarth booth set up at the Austin F1 race, but no test drives.
They did have a couple of cute Abarth girls to have your picture taken with. It was seeing this that made me realize what an amazing photobombing experience had been laid at my feet. And I made the most of it!
Haven't seen any of the Abarths yet, but there are a few 500s kicking around this town.
rnorton
Super Member
Not to mention that the Mini is a BMW product and I'm NEVER going down THAT road again.
rnorton
Super Member
I've used my STS' 300HP quite often to save my bacon. I've used it more often to dispatch back road dawdlers though.
I felt like I was gonna be a road pizza when I drove a Toyota Echo on I-15. Couldn't make 65 by the top of the on ramp, couldn't maintain speed up a grade, and sure as hell couldn't pass or get out of a bad spot. I don't like driving beside a three trailer UPS truck for long.
My Scion xA, with the same engine and a little more weight (and way better suspension), has no trouble hitting 70 by the top of the ramp. I've had it up to 110 and there was still more left. Only thing non-stock about it is the K&N air filter. This is at 5500' altitude so my HP is probably 15% under the rated seal level 105 bhp.
mhardy6647
Lunatic Member
There is a house in nearby Acton, MA, with two Smarts in the driveway - and a Suburban.
The 500s are fairly common 'round here (as are the Minis) - coupla 500s at work, in fact.
I note with wry amusement that in the last few years the Minis just keep getting bigger and bigger. I guess that means a latter-day BLMC "Maxi" may be just around the corner...
Why? My 20 year old 318iC is a wonderful little car.
I live in a college town ... George Mason U is at the end of our neighborhood.
There are a couple 500s in the neighborhood, quite a few driven locally, and there is an Abarth I pass every so often on the way to work.
A friend of mine and his wife test drove a 500, decided it was a bit too small and wound up with a pretty red Mini. Course he has a Vette for weekend fun ... oh, and a couple down the block has his and hers Mini Coopers.
I grew up with motorcycles and sporty cars - MGB-GT, couple of Alfas
(63 Giulietta with a '67 1600, dual webers and 5 sp, and a '73 GTV 2000)
and more lately a string of Honda Civic SIs (1990 and 2000)
before my current 2004 Honda CRV (a 5sp! also good for big speaker hauling!)
I do like small cars - but that Fiat 500 is a bit under my minimum size ...
There are a couple 500s in the neighborhood, quite a few driven locally, and there is an Abarth I pass every so often on the way to work.
A friend of mine and his wife test drove a 500, decided it was a bit too small and wound up with a pretty red Mini. Course he has a Vette for weekend fun ... oh, and a couple down the block has his and hers Mini Coopers.
I grew up with motorcycles and sporty cars - MGB-GT, couple of Alfas
(63 Giulietta with a '67 1600, dual webers and 5 sp, and a '73 GTV 2000)
and more lately a string of Honda Civic SIs (1990 and 2000)
before my current 2004 Honda CRV (a 5sp! also good for big speaker hauling!)
I do like small cars - but that Fiat 500 is a bit under my minimum size ...
x_25
Big Vandies!! Mwahahah...
There are quite a few around here, I see them regularly. I see more Mini's though and even more of the car I bought, the Honda Fit. I love my little car, about the same size as a late 90's civic coupe (so small, but not too small) but it has room for 4 people and actually has cargo space (a lot of cargo space, I can put my drum set in the trunk without putting the back seats down!).
The lack of cargo space was the main reason I stayed away from the Fiat and the Yaris while shopping.
The lack of cargo space was the main reason I stayed away from the Fiat and the Yaris while shopping.