Author Topic: 2012 Fiat 500 Lounge; Day 1 (Read 13463 times)

Autos_Editor · « **on:** August 31, 2011, 07:51:14 am »

This week, James gets his hands on the first new Fiat sold here since the 1980s, the 500! Let's see if he's charmed by its cute countenance, as so many other seems to have been.
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Thinking Out Loud · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2011, 07:54:56 am »

Looking forward to this review!

D70 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2011, 07:59:44 am »

I spotted a woman shotting video of me driving down the highway in the Fiat.

"Shooting" I hope

I drove the base manual transmission model a few months ago and was impressed, still not as responsive as the Mazda2 but an attractive small car, saw a purple coloured version 3 days ago

I will be interested in your future reports

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d70w7/5971511817/

wing · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2011, 08:01:24 am »

lol, will fix type-o, hey for once it wasn't my mistake

Railton · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2011, 08:05:30 am »

I saw one of these on the highway yesterday. Can't say I'm feel'n the love for it.
I fit can take speed bumps like an old Renault 5 and drive with that same hunkered down feeling on the highway then maybe it's a good car. For the same $ I think a H-Kia or Fiesta would be a better choice.
Railton

geoff66 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2011, 08:15:07 am »

These, like the Beetles and Minis, are fashion statements as well as automobiles. Some are willing to pay a premium for that. One thing I noticed in the specs is that the warranty on rust perforation is not as extensive as other European cars. This brings to question just how well these will stand up to Canadian winter roads.

CanuckS2K · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2011, 08:51:59 am »

I can't exactly pin point what it is, but this car really appeals to me. I am not in the market for a car of this type, but if I was, this would be high on my list. Looking forward to your review on this one wing.

JohnM · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2011, 09:17:53 am »

"In fact, today on my journey home I spotted a woman shooting video of me driving down the highway in the Fiat."

James, you had just ran over her cat.

I hope to see lots of these Fiats on the road and look forward to their success in the market. I'm sure reliability is not going to be a problem and once we get going with a European small car mainstay in our market, perhaps others will be encouraged to follow.

I'm thinking of the Citroen C2 and C3 and the Polo, all hopefully available with diesels!!

Cheers,
John M.

Patrick_D1 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 31, 2011, 09:20:34 am »

I can see the appeal, but I wouldn't buy one. This is the kind of car I'd have fun thrashing if I was tossed the keys for an afternoon, though.

safristi · « **Reply #9 on:** August 31, 2011, 09:24:03 am »

..those white buttons on white dash will be hard to find daily let alone in a snowstorm................

..........Put yer clothes on BEFORE going to work......and no video problems

Mr LOUNGE LIZARD...

hemusbull · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2011, 09:44:48 am »

As a maiden car for me, the original Cinquecento and after that 126 are special for me. But chenging times and geography gona be tough. Fiat needs good pricing, developed service network, non european parts pricing (why not Chrysler like?) and finaly long term high reliability. Only that way consumer's confidence will come back after long absence from North American market.

Patrick_D1 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2011, 09:54:08 am »

Quote from: safristi on August 31, 2011, 09:24:03 am

..those white buttons on white dash will be hard to find daily let alone in a snowstorm................ ..........Put yer clothes on BEFORE going to work......and no video problems Mr LOUNGE LIZARD...

...What?

redman · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2011, 10:09:48 am »

Fiat/Chrysler if your listening "give me a diesel version similar to Europe"

In 2007 I drove a Renault Clio in Portugal up high mountains flawlessly with gobs of torque. My dad who had a gas Corolla with a larger displacement engine complained about engine pinging at elevation and a lack of engine power

Stop wondering if a small diesel with sell here, just ask VW why about 50% of their sales are from diesel versions of their cars here.

Rob

Spec5 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 31, 2011, 10:51:20 am »

Quote from: redman on August 31, 2011, 10:09:48 am

Fiat/Chrysler if your listening "give me a diesel version similar to Europe"

In 2007 I drove a Renault Clio in Portugal up high mountains flawlessly with gobs of torque. My dad who had a gas Corolla with a larger displacement engine complained about engine pinging at elevation and a lack of engine power

Stop wondering if a small diesel with sell here, just ask VW why about 50% of their sales are from diesel versions of their cars here.

Rob

I believe the issue here isn't about being able to sell them - but more about meeting our stricter emissions.

redman · « **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2011, 11:21:06 am »

I believe that the newer 1.3 Multijet II diesel 16v DFP (Diesel Particulate Filter) has addressed this concern. I've read Sergio Marchioness state that the technology is there, but wonders if the market is sustainable in North America to allow for the added cost of production and certification.

Quote from: Spec5 on August 31, 2011, 10:51:20 am

Quote from: redman on August 31, 2011, 10:09:48 am
Fiat/Chrysler if your listening "give me a diesel version similar to Europe"

In 2007 I drove a Renault Clio in Portugal up high mountains flawlessly with gobs of torque. My dad who had a gas Corolla with a larger displacement engine complained about engine pinging at elevation and a lack of engine power

Stop wondering if a small diesel with sell here, just ask VW why about 50% of their sales are from diesel versions of their cars here.

Rob

I believe the issue here isn't about being able to sell them - but more about meeting our stricter emissions.

opg210 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 31, 2011, 12:13:25 pm »

We took one for a test drive the other day, the whole family of four, and the kids never stopped giggling. Especially when the wife started doing donuts in a parking lot. This thing has an incredibly small turning radius.

Perhaps the Fit or Mazda2 might be better overall cars (haven't driven them yet) but...life is short, the car just exudes fun (though the Mini seems to be the better handler) and we're probably going to buy the convertible. Maybe a suboptimal purchase in purely economic terms, but I've missed the feeling of getting into a simple fun car that makes you smile in the first 15 meters of driving.

We'll see 5 years down the road though...

paul246 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 31, 2011, 02:24:27 pm »

The Fiat 500 already has a bit of time on it since it has been sold in Europe since 2008, therfore it might be worth checking some euromags to see how it is holding up. I saw alot of them on the roads in the UK last summer.

theonlydt · « **Reply #17 on:** August 31, 2011, 02:55:21 pm »

Fiat 500 reliability has been pretty good. Most complaints are around the robotised manual gearbox, not sold here and I think there were some rear shock issues early on. A friend of mine is on their 2nd 500, they loved the first one so much. (lease then cheaper to buy a new car, than buy out the lease).

I like this car - it's a cracker. It'll be interesting if they bring over the twinair variants eventually, 2 cylinders and 900 cc of fun. Currently in 85bhp tune, but they'll be creating a 105bhp version.

greengs · « **Reply #18 on:** August 31, 2011, 04:03:29 pm »

Quote from: theonlydt on August 31, 2011, 02:55:21 pm

Fiat 500 reliability has been pretty good. Most complaints are around the robotised manual gearbox, not sold here and I think there were some rear shock issues early on. A friend of mine is on their 2nd 500, they loved the first one so much. (lease then cheaper to buy a new car, than buy out the lease).

I like this car - it's a cracker. It'll be interesting if they bring over the twinair variants eventually, 2 cylinders and 900 cc of fun. Currently in 85bhp tune, but they'll be creating a 105bhp version.

Im looking forward the the 170hp Abarth version that is coming to USA and I assume Canada too

JohnM · « **Reply #19 on:** August 31, 2011, 04:07:49 pm »

Nothing wrong with 85hp. Any idea of what and where the torque is?

John M.

Author Topic: 2012 Fiat 500 Lounge; Day 1 (Read 13463 times)

geoff66