Fiat 500?

[rocknrace03]

hey guys, this is not another "what should i buy thread" well it sorta is. I just started my new job and its roughly 50 miles each way plus i drive 20 miles each way to school each day til the end of this month. i have a 2001 kia rio, but i can tell its really putting a beating on the car,at 65mph it sounds like a pack of angry bees and couldn't beat a fully loaded 18 wheeler up a slight grade..., I always maintain it properly, but i also didn't own it the first 140k of its life, and it was totaled by the PO... so as a back up incase it does decide to let me down I was looking into fiat 500's. they seem a bit girly at first, but i kind of like them,and they'd probably look good on a slight drop and wheels. the sport model has good reviews, and i kind of envision it as a fun car to drive, and its only ~200 a month to lease, so has anyone ever driven one/have one? please don't argue that its a girly low powered car, has no mods ect, cuz that not what I'm looking for, thanks guys!

[JimH]

I do repair work for Enterprise Rentals and they have a few of them. I think they are awesome little cars and very fun to drive. A bit underpowered but what do you expect. Go Abarth if possible.

[jpalamar]

It's cheaper to fix your car then 'rent' a new one.

[rocknrace03]

It's cheaper to fix your car then 'rent' a new one.

i know... I'm only thinking of leasing a car if something expensive happens,engine failure, transmission detonation (its very common) plus id probably lease to buy since you usually pay less for the first 2-3 years. i would only go this option if i had too. i don't have as much time as i once did to pull a junk yard engine or trans and then instal it in my car.plus i wouldn't wanna drive my truck for a week at 8mpg....i would only go this route if it was something overly expensive or time consuming to fix, trust me, id rather save for something a little more sporty, but i could live with the fiat if i had too. Hopefully I don't need too, but id like to see what you guys had to say

[Nick 95 6sp]

I like those Fiat 500's but I've never actually driven one yet. I've read plenty of good reports with no real negatives other than "only 100 hp". I'd check out the Sport or if it's in your budget, the Abarth.

[jpalamar]

i know... I'm only thinking of leasing a car if something expensive happens,engine failure, transmission detonation (its very common) plus id probably lease to buy since you usually pay less for the first 2-3 years. i would only go this option if i had too. i don't have as much time as i once did to pull a junk yard engine or trans and then instal it in my car.plus i wouldn't wanna drive my truck for a week at 8mpg....i would only go this route if it was something overly expensive or time consuming to fix, trust me, id rather save for something a little more sporty, but i could live with the fiat if i had too. Hopefully I don't need too, but id like to see what you guys had to say

I hear ya on the time thing.

Just remember... that $200 a month lease you see on TV is for like no miles, 750+ credit score, and with probally $2000+ down. Thats alot of used motors/trans in the big scheme of things.

[rocknrace03]

I hear ya on the time thing.

Just remember... that $200 a month lease you see on TV is for like no miles, 750+ credit score, and with probally $2000+ down. Thats alot of used motors/trans in the big scheme of things.

you are very right, id probably need a co-signer too, hopefully i don't need to go this route, the miles this is also why id have to buy it, even if they let you drive 8-10 k a year id probably go over that easily

[SHOdude]

I think their fckin awesome, I feel like they'd drive a lot like a miata

[O2SpecV]

def go abarth

[akley88]

id love an abarth, or the twin air but its not available in the u.s.

[O2SpecV]

abarth is coming to us soon like within the next month or so

[Onceler]

I tried to get in one once, couldn't even fit behind the steering wheel

Sent from your girlfriend's bedroom

[mcperson2k]

I leased my civic and my credit score isn't 750. Leasing is good depending on the car you get and the specials going on. You can get awesome lease deals on left over model years. For instance, my 09 civic only cost 657 more as a final price but because it's a lease, my payments over the last three years have been dirt cheap compared to buying. I choose my civic because they hold their value pretty well and I wasn't worried about miles because I knew I would purchase at the end. My buyout is so low that it wouldn't make sense just not to purchase and then sell on my own. I only have 13k miles though but dealerships all already offering me 2k more than I owe currently. So at this point I'll get back all the payments I am making right now.

Hamilton Honda in NJ had some awesome leases a few weeks ago. Civic lx sedan, 0 down, 139 a month, 12k miles.

I personally rather lose 3k to drive a new car for 3 years with free service (depending who you lease from) than buy a POS and have to pay a few hundred dollars every couple of months to replace odds and ends.

[akley88]

abarth is coming to us soon like within the next month or so

o i ment the twin air that will probably never come to the u.s.

[jpalamar]

I leased my civic and my credit score isn't 750. Leasing is good depending on the car you get and the specials going on. You can get awesome lease deals on left over model years. For instance, my 09 civic only cost 657 more as a final price but because it's a lease, my payments over the last three years have been dirt cheap compared to buying. I choose my civic because they hold their value pretty well and I wasn't worried about miles because I knew I would purchase at the end. My buyout is so low that it wouldn't make sense just not to purchase and then sell on my own. I only have 13k miles though but dealerships all already offering me 2k more than I owe currently. So at this point I'll get back all the payments I am making right now.

Hamilton Honda in NJ had some awesome leases a few weeks ago. Civic lx sedan, 0 down, 139 a month, 12k miles.

I personally rather lose 3k to drive a new car for 3 years with free service (depending who you lease from) than buy a POS and have to pay a few hundred dollars every couple of months to replace odds and ends.

If you honestly think your ahead from leasing your a moron. It is a convenience for people to get a maintenance free car every few years. Just like shopping at WaWa, you pay a premium for it because it is convenient.

[DaBombDiggidy]

http://blogs.discovery.com/.a/6a00d8341bf67c53ef0168e71a5dd0970c-800wi

theres also hinting of a stage package thatll have suspension/engine mods coming.

[mcperson2k]

If you honestly think your ahead from leasing your a moron. It is a convenience for people to get a maintenance free car every few years. Just like shopping at WaWa, you pay a premium for it because it is convenient.

Well, considering I said I personally rather lose 3-4k to drive a new maintenance free car for 3-4 years, rather than buy POS. I wouldn't really elaborate my paragraph as "being ahead".

WaWa doesn't have premium prices either?

Were talking about new cars. Any new car devalues as soon as its driven off the lot. It doesn't matter if its a lease, or your purchasing. Assuming you don't have 22k to drop down on a car, your going to be making payments on the car.

Excluding interest. If you take a car with a final price of 22k, and somehow manage to get a 72 month loan. That would be 306 dollars a month. A more realistic scenario would be 48 months. That's 458 dollars a month. Now explain to me, if you can lease a car during a lease special, which has a total buyout of 22.7k, how paying 200 or below a month is bad? If I was in a financial situation, and had to make payments on a car, I rather pay 700 dollars above the sticker price, and save 2396 the first year (3096 - 700 = 2396), and 3096 each year for the following 2 years after that. Once the lease ends, your all the way back down between 200-250 a month for payments to purchase the car.

Once again, I was and am now referring to leasing a car you plan to purchase. If you purchase the car, than you can't get hit with any extra fees (damage, miles, etc..)

Also, again I am talking about cars that are offering leasing SPECIALS, and hold their value.

Im strictly talking about monthly payments on a NEW car for someone who doesn't make much money.

[jhstealth]

Get a smart and with the saved money turbo it. Rear engine rear wheel drive. Automated manual transmission and when you turbo it at stage 3 (around 180hp) you will have even more power than the busa swap. And you can pull directly into parking spots instead of parallel parking :) and the lease with intent to buy is 99/mo

[jpalamar]

Get a smart and with the saved money turbo it. Rear engine rear wheel drive. Automated manual transmission and when you turbo it at stage 3 (around 180hp) you will have even more power than the busa swap. And you can pull directly into parking spots instead of parallel parking :) and the lease with intent to buy is 99/mo

Smarts are turds. I put lots of time into researching them because I was gonig to get one to GSXR swap it. Plus the swap is more expensive then the car itself. Then it being chain driven you gotta get under the car in the middle of winter every time you drive in bad weather to clean and lube it. Too much work for a car if you ask me.

Smarts also require premium and aren't as good as you would think on gas to begin with.

Fiat is worlds better atleast in feel and driveability.

[HatchSurfer3]

Honestly, I do not know much about them so I can't comment on what kind of car it is. All I know is I think they are pretty hideous. I'd take the chick in the commercials though.

[jhstealth]

Smarts are turds. I put lots of time into researching them because I was gonig to get one to GSXR swap it. Plus the swap is more expensive then the car itself. Then it being chain driven you gotta get under the car in the middle of winter every time you drive in bad weather to clean and lube it. Too much work for a car if you ask me.

Smarts also require premium and aren't as good as you would think on gas to begin with.

Fiat is worlds better atleast in feel and driveability.

Yea the busa swap is a pita but I've driven the stage 3 turbo on the smart motor and the car drives like stock and has the same power. My parents car is getting around 40 in a dense suburb where they live. Good point on the premium, I forgot about that as every car I have ever owned has needed premium.

[Bates]

I love the Fiats, especially the Abarth, but you are paying a lot of money (starts at 22k) for so little car (140HP). It's all about personal preference though.

[O2SpecV]

its 160hp crank 170 tq 140 is prob wheels its still probably a fun little car considering the power to weight ratio

[Bates]

its 160hp crank 170 tq 140 is prob wheels its still probably a fun little car considering the power to weight ratio

160 crank would result in more drivetrain loss then 140 wheel I think.

[rocknrace03]

i've been doing some research on them and it seems like all that own the regular 500 love it. the Abarth is now available but its special order only, or at least as it seems for now. i havnt been able to find anyone on a forum that owns the turbo version because i don't think too many people have one yet. but the reviews from motor trend/ car & driver give the car big thumbs up. It'd be fun to drive for sure. I originally though the sport model was turbo, which is why I was thinking that'd be fun to own for cheap, but then i realized its not, if i was gonna buy one, id only buy the Abarth version. 22k is a bit much, but at the same time it gets 32mpg highway, and from what I've watched/read, is a blast to drive. I'm a car enthusiast, i like to corner and do some spirited driving, but for me to buy something like a evo/sti would be around the same price ( with no warranty) and my insurance would be as much as the car payment. I'm definitely keeping this car in mind, its new, it looks ugly, yet at the same time its cool in its own way, we'll see i guess, discuss further on...


edit: found this video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsHZniUbBco
of course the fiat/chrysler engineer will talk it up, but a lot of what he says makes sense and seems reasonable. I'm not a fan of chrysler products normally, but the abarth/500 has existed before they bailed out chrysler, so to me thats enough that id consider it


heres a picture the "venom" concept, from what i can find its around 200hp factory, i doubt it has a carbon hood though, but it does look sweet, 200hp is probably easily obtainable, although it might even be over kill for something that small, but fun!

http://teamotec.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=7442&d=1332210110

[FocusDude]

Only if its a Arbath!!!

/close thread

[FocusDude]

I love the Fiats, especially the Abarth, but you are paying a lot of money (starts at 22k) for so little car (140HP). It's all about personal preference though.

Mini did it- Fiat is creating the same mystique.

[probevette]

I put a deposit on an Abarth the other day. Should be here in a month or so. Going to be my DD

[rocknrace03]

I put a deposit on an Abarth the other day. Should be here in a month or so. Going to be my DD

thats awesome! which color did you go for? how much did it cost like out the door? if you don't mind me asking. i know the website says starting at 22k but you know thats never the truth. A friend of mine works at brown daub where they have the fiats, he said they have and abarth, I'm gonna see about maybe test driving it this week. please let me know how you like when you get it, if i was gonna pick one up it wouldn't be til the fall

[FocusDude]

I put a deposit on an Abarth the other day. Should be here in a month or so. Going to be my DD

Your my new idol. Congrats and best of luck!!

[Chris B.]

I put a deposit on an Abarth the other day. Should be here in a month or so. Going to be my DD

Is it going to have 20" wheels and 30 series tires?

[mcperson2k]

Someone in West Chester has one. At least I figure it's one. It's white and says Abarth on the side skirts in red.

[probevette]

thats awesome! which color did you go for? how much did it cost like out the door? if you don't mind me asking. i know the website says starting at 22k but you know thats never the truth. A friend of mine works at brown daub where they have the fiats, he said they have and abarth, I'm gonna see about maybe test driving it this week. please let me know how you like when you get it, if i was gonna pick one up it wouldn't be til the fall

Im getting it from Fiat of Lehigh Valley (aka brown daub) it'll be 26. With the abarath they charge for every little option like the red mirror caps/red stripe/etc it'll be nero with nero leather trim interior. (tried to get them to custom make one with the gucci interior for the GF but they wouldnt do it...f'ers) I only put a deposit on it to have it come in because they claimed they didn't have any Abarath's to drive until this one comes in but just in case I like the car I didnt want to lose it since I need a better beater.

[probevette]

Is it going to have 20" wheels and 30 series tires?

I figure i'll just swap the audi wheels over so I can keep popping tires in a fiat lol

[rocknrace03]

i was just over at brown daub, i drove a "sport" 5spd, it was a pretty nice car, it rode very nice, and had good pick up, and it was actually pretty comfortable, they dont have the abarths yet though, my sale guy told me he would call when they come in so i could test drive one, but im pretty sure that he knew that i wasn't totally set on buying one, because i told him it wouldnt be for a few months, but its definetly something id drive, even if some people wanna say theyre gay, fun little turbo car with 160 hp and 40ish mpg for the mthruf win!

[MattBear]

http://www.fiatusa.com/en/gucci/interior/

[Nick 95 6sp]

hmmm, the Gucci's not bad. I'll see if they have one for me with Prada leather interior.

I'm gonna test drive the Fiat very soon to get more hands on with it. I think I'm going to like them. I'm not sure some of you younger guys get the same feeling, but back in the late 1950's and '60's I grew up knowing that "Abarth" meant a higher level of excitement in Italian cars.

[rocknrace03]

hmmm, the Gucci's not bad. I'll see if they have one for me with Prada leather interior.

I'm gonna test drive the Fiat very soon to get more hands on with it. I think I'm going to like them. I'm not sure some of you younger guys get the same feeling, but back in the late 1950's and '60's I grew up knowing that "Abarth" meant a higher level of excitement in Italian cars.

i mentioned it to my grandfather. and well he had a "grampa moment" "a long time ago i have a fiat 500, it was a great car, people said they used to break, but not mine it was great..." and so on and on and on haha.

Nick, you'll love it, i was surprised with how comfy it was,how well it handled and how much pick up it had for 101hp, can't wait for the abarth to come in so i can test drive it!

[Chris B.]

The nice thing about care like the Fiat 500 is you can have fun with them on your daily commute and not attract too much attention. You can floor it when pulling away from every traffic light without fear of the local police pulling you over frequently. If I floor my car when pulling away from every light, all the cops within 5 miles will be pulling me over after every light.

[Tyler]

I would go with a mini cooper s or a jcw mini instead of that if you're looking for a little hatchback

Sent from my BlackBerry 9930 using Tapatalk

[rocknrace03]

gonna bump this up, saw my first abarth in person while picking up lunch at work. it was awesome and sounded great. i decided to stay at my job and go full time and since i drive so far i think i may just go ahead and pull the trigger on one of these. brown daub does not currently have one to test drive -_- but they have a few coming in the next weeks and said they will call when they arrive, the same from a dealer down near my work. I've read on the fiat forums that some people have been getting 38-40mpg highway when taking it easy in non sport mode. has anyone on here gotten the chance to see one drive one yet? the only thing I'm worried about is the insurance the lowest I've been able to find is ~350$. the way i have the car priced with my down payment, id only pay 285$ a month. blah insurance for under 25 years of age...