How it almost charmed a curmudgeon
In the road-testing world there’s a little bit of Stephen Stills “If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with”. You have to forget about the car you drove last week and like the one you’re driving now.
When it first arrived here, I was at first very skeptical of the new Fiat and didn’t ask for one to test drive. I remember when Fiats were big back in the Sixties and how there was precious little parts and service and the dealerships seemed like back alley operations. So I wondered, “When Fiat comes back, will they do a better job in parts and service this time around?”
I have owned many convertibles in the past and always hated the way the top ages or changes shape (with the bows becoming bent) so I consider this a step up, and it might give you more protection in a rollover.
The surprising thing was the ride, very velvet-like on smooth roads, but a little jarring if the road surface changed.
The fit and finish was top notch, the exterior paint perfect though the interior materials looked a tad medium cost. If I owned one I’d think about having a custom-made burlwood dash. I like the fact that the tops are available in three colors– red, black and beige, and I think if they want this car to really be a “fashion item” they ought to throw in more—what about white?
The model I tested was called the “Lounge”, which I couldn’t figure out; you couldn’t fully recline in the front bucket like a lounge chair, but it did recline enough to take a nice catcap.
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Now the engine. It comes with a 1.4-liter 101-horsepower four-cylinder attached to either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic. It weighs 2,350 pounds, 218 pounds less than the 121-hp base model Mini Cooper. I will be applying forthwith to drive the hotted up 500 Abarth version with its 160-hp turbocharged engine, a sport-tuned suspension, upgraded brakes and sport seats. That car is Fiat’s answer to the Cooper S. The Abarth, by the way, comes only with the 5-speed manual.
The performance was adequate in the one I drove, equipped with a 6-speed automatic. I tried to ascend the 4,000 ft. mountains near my home but turned around halfway because it couldn’t breeze uphill with sufficient brio. I think if I had the Abarth version it would be a different story. But on the way downhill, with Sinatra playing on the satellite radio it was wonderful. But still not a good candidate for my Sunday morning mountain runner until I can drive one with sufficient power to blast uphill with no sweat.
The steering is bland, not inspiring for sporting driving, but our test car had a Sport button on the dash. Press that and the 500’s steering firms up. If you have the 500 Sport, you get even more responsive handling.
It gets good mileage—at 27 to 34 mpg with the manual. Not as good as a true economy car but I have to say, in terms of riding comfort, this is almost “a luxury car in an economy car” if that makes sense. Before that I had been driving the Volt which was a true revelation—quiet, powerful, smooth, but with a cost of $46,000—this is almost as serene an experience at far less price, though with far less room.
Pricing on the Fiat though is a bugaboo. Sometimes I drive a car without checking the price first so the price doesn’t influence my perception. I thought it would be around $16,000 but was floored when I saw that it’s $20,000 for the Pop and the $24,000 for the Lounge. But a quick price check:Price: Base Fiat 500 Hatchback Pop $15,500 / As-Tested Fiat 500C Convertible Lounge $25,250 loaded. The Minis run from Base retail price (MSRP): $19,500 – $35,100 with the convertible starting at $24,950.
The Abarth version, which is one I probably would warm up to more, cost $22,700 before you add the options. Add 17-inch forged aluminum wheels, leather seats, a power sunroof, the Safety and Convenience package, TomTom navigation and a few other goodies and you’re looking at $ $26,900.
Compare that to the Mini Cooper S which starts at $23,800 and can be had for $25,550 with 17-inch performance tires and the sport suspension. The Cooper S packs 21 more horsepower, and 7 pound-feet more torque than the Abarth. It’s also 87 pounds heavier and 6.5 inches longer.
I wish I had a crystal ball that would tell me the resale value of the 500 vs. the Mini three years hence. At one time I was thinking the new Mini convertibles would be instant collectibles but, as Mini keeps introducing larger and uglier sedans, it seems to me they are diluting the charm and I wonder if the fatter, heavier versions are gradually killing off any collector appeal of the new generation of the marque.
I also drove the 500C during a blistering 104-107-deg. heatwave, with the air con on full blast and it never over-heated. That was a real plus showing they tested it under harsh conditions and were ready for the temperature variations in America (and where I live isn’t even the hottest place, try Palm Springs in summer!).
In sum, I can say that it only took a few days in a Fiat 500C to convince me they are right on target with the product such as it is but I think they shouldn’t stop innovating now. They need to turn that corner to make it a popular car with the youth market, one that’s being modified and becomes popular with different niche groups. I think they should introduce even more special versions every few months , maybe call into action the same team that worked on the PT Cruisers with their proliferation of special editions (such as the Pacific Coast Highway edition, among the dozen special editions).
I would also like to see a factory racing team. After all wasn’t it the Fiat-Abarths that helped promote the Fiat brand back in the Fifties and Sixties? If they are going to use a racer’s name on the car, where’s the racers? Chrysler just announced they are fielding a Viper race car when I think the money would be better spent on making a race program for Fiat 500s with parts available over the counter for owners, like in the early days of Shelby-American.
As far as the SCCA goes, Apparently they consider the Fiat 500 so new (!!) they haven’t classed it yet dfor solo racing. Eventually, if they don’t already, the SCCA will decide what class it’s in so let’s hope it’s a class where its weight advantage over the Mini will give it a fighting chance.
Then too, what stops me from going whole-hog full-tilt-boogie on the new Fiat is that I haven’t seen any tuning shops jump on the car by offering hotted up engines, wider fender flares, special wheels, and other accessories. Maybe they are too involved with rice rockets but I would have more confidence in the new Fiat if I knew there were shops here and there that could take it beyond what the factory offered.
So in sum, I like what I sampled but don’t have 100% full confidence yet. It is almost there. Maybe after I drive the Abarth, I’ll be locked in and reaching for my wallet….
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The Author: Wallace Wyss reports on new cars on Autotalk, a radio show broadcast weekly on KUCR-FM, Riverside.
I’d like to add that ALL 500s sold in the USA have the Sport button. The button also increases throttle response, a bit much for driving on snow and ice, so good to be able to switch modes.
We’ve owned ours for 9 months. No faults at delivery, still no warranty problems.
The SCCA hasn’t set a class for it, but many local clubs run it in H/Stock for autocross. Our base model Pop 5-speed w/o sunroof (the lightest one) dominated the class of base econoboxes from our first event…very competitive!
Guys are racing them in World Challenge Series events, and Europe is full of “tuner” goodies, one engine kit achieves nearly 300 bhp!
I’m a British car nut (9 at last count) who has surprisingly but happily chosen a 500 Sport over the Mini. Highly recommend someone considering these to try the Sport model with a 5-speed; much improved handling with no perceptible decrease in ride comfort. We’ve seen a *low* of 38 mpg and a high of 46 (!) so far in mixed use driving; when we borrowed a 500c with automatic we saw similar mpg to the reviewer. My father had an 850 coupe in 1968 and couldn’t get rid of it fast enough…I think we’ll be holding on to this one for a long time!
With the fiat 500, I think it will be a tough sell in the Amerian market, although a very big seller in europe. Cant put my finger on why. Peter Leech
I have owned a 1.4 litre petrol Fiat 500 Sport 6 speed manual in Australia for the last 18 months and love it! With the Sport button, no hill has been a problem. Around town I get 7 litres per 100 kms and on a run I’ve seen 5.8 l/100kms but it would have been better had I reset the trip meter (the constant read-out averages the consumption to the distance indicated on the trip meter).
I has bigger front brakes and the optional 16″ wheels, handles like its on rails and can comfortably fit 4 people. The boot is not huge (far from it!) but it will hold the weekly shopping – no problem.
Australia has a similar red necked attitude as the US has towards Fiats, but I’ve lost count of the number of people I have impressed over the years when they have eventually driven or ridden in one of my cars – quite a few of whom converted to the brand!
Alan Steele
I see you have another Australian reader (Hi Alan) who owns a Fiat. I have an Abarth Fiat 500 Essesse, which is my daily driver to the office in Sydney. It’s far from faultless in some respects – firm ride (curable with Koni FSD shocks I hear), you sit too high and it’s hard to heel and toe, but otherwise it’s huge fun. The engine note is addictive, there’s loads of grip, with very little roll, and it makes my commute very entertaining -whenever I stop, the driver behind me is usually trying to figure out what it is. The huge Abarth badge on the back seems to leave them none the wiser – they read it with a look of puzzlement. Clearly, not many people know what an Abarth is in Oz.
I purchased a 500c for my wife two years back . She loves it and all the attention it brings ! Now done 12000 kilometers without any troubles . Just Fun !
Looks nice parked with our Abarth 750 Zagato and Lombardi Grand Prix too !
Great for our Queensland ( Australia ) sunshine . Buy one !
To anyone with an interest in performance, the automatic will be a letdown. The manual is the only way to go. The Abarth is a huge leap. I’ve got about three months and 2200 miles on my Abarth, and I love it. A total hooligan of a car, and with the sweetest exhaust note in ages. It definitely feels tall, and certainly feels like it would be a bit less forgiving at the limit than my wife’s recently sold Cooper S Clubman.
@ Ian (and also @ Chrysler, who are apparently clueless about marketing this car) it is so incredibly dumb that the Abarth, FIAT’s “halo” car, doesn’t say “FIAT” anywhere on the exterior, though it says “Abarth” 8 times, not including the four scorpions on the center caps. How this incredibly attention-grabbing vehicle is supposed to drive traffic to the FIAT dealers when nobody can figure out what it is is beyond me. I usually appreciate this kind of incognito, but this is a case where it would be nice to be able to figure out where the car came from. I get tired of explaining it to people several times a day.
I think you have the figures wrong. The EPA rating is 34 highway with the automatic but the manual takes this figure to 38 mpg. Also, I believe the Pop cabrio starts at $19,500 (before shipping), so it doesn’t have to be as expensive as the one you drove. Personally, the Pop with a manual trans on the C is the way to go (no Sport model C is available) since everything you really need is standard anyway.
I have been reading about the European 500s and Abarth since 2008. I drove a Sport and Pop, But waited for the Abarth. It was picked up Memorial Day, I love this car! My first exposure to the Abarth brand was in Parma, Ohio in the 50s. My neighbor had a Allemano Spider he raced. I met Al Cosentino at Sebring in 1968 and established a relationship with him and Craig Fisher. During my Navy service I crewed for them when possible and purchased Craigs old Abarth-Simca 1300. After my service I joined FAZA at Daytona for a year- A great experience for an Italian car junkie! The Abarth will probubly be my last “sports car” purchase and I hope to hold on to it forever.
Apparantly you haven’t searched for Fiat performance shops. 500madness in L.A. sells and installs many performance and other dressup items such as body kits, rims, tires, etc. Other companies such as HotFiat.com and RoadRaceMotorSports also have a Fiat line of performance parts. Fiat itself has a large listing of parts available from Chrysler fiat dealerships. I have been an owner of a 2012 Fiat 500 Sport which has been upgraded my myself with a cat-back exhaust system, cold air intake, performance module, Katskins leather interior and other items. The factory bra has been an excellent choice as the front of the Fiat is susceptible to rock and bug damage. 16 x 8 inch rims from Roadrace are my next purchase. I do not want 17 or 18 inch as i dont want the look of an Escalade. I do have problem although about service and parts availablity from the dealership here in Las Vegas. Promises made by the dealer reps are not always able to be kept. Plus the fact that there is only one dealership in Vegas is a drawback. Otherwise, i have been extremely happy with the purchase i made last March and enjoy the driving experience. Mileage would be good if i keep my foot off of the floor and the sport button in the off position. This car has been lowered two inches with aggressive springs which made the handling much more responsive but much more harsh. Thanks for your article and keep up the good work. Keep your sunny side up and the greasy side down.
Up at Concorso Italiano I met at least one shop owner who is making cosmetic and go-fast parts so I think this is the beginning of a trend. I have to admit that just aftermarket mags and a little plastic makes the car more exciting–some cars “never get off the ground” in this respect–no enthusiastic owner’s group (Chrysler Crossfire owners, anyone?) . If there were a couple modern Fiat performance shops in each large city, that would help (maybe Fiat should help them by making it possible go get start-up business loans!). I enter a mea culpa, I thought the Sport button only changed the suspension, didn’t know it affected the valves so I will apply to drive the car all over again (such is work…) The PR man told me there will be many special models coming along so I’ll write something on the marketing because I think the Fiat is in a critical stage, it either becomes a cult car or it doesn’t and ironically BMW is cutting off its nose to spite its face making ever bigger MINIs , making the Fiat alternative look better every day.