by "Amoore100" (amoore100)
Published 01/27/2017 at 20:20
by "Amoore100" (amoore100)
Published 01/27/2017 at 20:20
Tags: Used Car Face-Off
; Fiat
; Chrysler
; Chevrolet
; MPV
; Retro
STARS: 1
So in the past three editions of Used Car Face-Off, we’ve seen questionable retro cars from all around the world...but how about some truly international retro-mobiles? The mini-MPV category was invented by the decidedly un-retro Renault Scenic back in 1996 but since then the European body style has been embraced by both America and Japan alike. Although the Land of the Rising Sun doesn’t appear here today, which of these retro five doors from the Western world is the least appalling and most useful to you?
Here are the options:
The first contestant: 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser - $8,000
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Laugh all you want, but there’s a reason the humble PT Cruiser has sold in seven digit amounts. Built in Mexico and Austria, the little curvaceous MPV has been a hit worldwide and can likely be regarded as one of the best small cars that Chrysler has ever made, up there right next to the original Neon. This one is the last model year that was ever made, with a nice spec and only 46K miles. Is that enough to make it win you over as it did the world?
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The second contestant: 2010 Chevrolet HHR - $7,995
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Seeing the success of Chrysler’s retro five door, GM enlisted the help of Brian Nesbitt, the PT Cruiser’s designer, to come help them turn a Cobalt into a miniature Advance Design Suburban. The experiment perhaps wasn’t quite as successful as Chrysler’s had been, but the HHR is perhaps a more usable car with its more standard interior and appearance. Is this one comparable to the PT Cruiser at 82K miles?
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The third contestant: 2014 Fiat 500L -$7,995
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The original 500 turned out to be such a success in North America that instead of giving us the Panda like any sane company would do, FCA decided that what we wanted was a huge and hideous version of the 500 itself that would have better suited the “Multipla” name. Here we have a base Pop with the 1.4 Multiair four linked to a six-speed shift-your-own. Does that make it nicer than the slushbox Americans, or does the Multiair lack the puff to get you going around town?
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"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada)
01/27/2017 at 20:22, STARS: 1
As much as I hate the 500L, it’s probably the best deal of the bunch. If the HHR was an SS however, it would be the HHR.
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
01/27/2017 at 20:25, STARS: 3
What about a GT?
"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada)
01/27/2017 at 20:29, STARS: 1
I keep forgetting those exist. That’s okay too.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
01/27/2017 at 20:45, STARS: 1
I wanna pick the 500L, but I know a regular 500 with a larger body won’t be much fun or practical. I have a semi-rational hatred of Chrysler. So I’ll go with the HHR from process of elimination. Plus if it’s based of the cobalt it should have a decent aftermarket or swap Cobalt SS parts.
"Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap" (ddadragon)
01/27/2017 at 20:54, STARS: 3
There is no option for a bus pass.
"mazda616" (mazda616)
01/27/2017 at 21:17, STARS: 1
Yikes. They’re all crappy in their own way. I picked the PT Loser, though.
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
01/27/2017 at 23:17, STARS: 2
The 500L is the ugliest, which in this group is saying something. It’s like saying your the most reasonable person in a riot. That said it has the nicest interior, with the HHR having the worst “a sea of hard plastic” doesn’t begin to discribe the horror that is an HHR interior.
I guess I’d go with the Fiat. Hoping that with 50,000 miles its new car new model teething problems are over.
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
01/28/2017 at 00:56, STARS: 0
True, the newness helps the interior considerably although I see it becoming just as gimmicky and outdated as the PT’s soon whereas the HHR still looks decent, if not modern. Still, in terms of tactile feel the HHR falls flat because old GM. New GM seems to have improved quality, but I still can’t get over how it looks like everything just melted once they put in the leather.
The mileage on the Fiat is both a good and bad thing. The Multiair isn’t massively powerful for American roads and connected to the six-speed it’s probably been worked hard whereas the lazy slushies in the ‘Murican boxes have probably never seen anything above 4K revs.
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
01/28/2017 at 00:57, STARS: 0
Regarding the 500L, at least it’s not the seven-seater “Living” variant.
Although it’s so wacky that the proportions almost work well, perhaps better than the standard 5-seater.
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
01/28/2017 at 00:58, STARS: 1
When that’s the safe bet, you know you’re in trouble ;)
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
01/28/2017 at 00:58, STARS: 1
I found something nice and sporty for you to drive.
"Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap" (ddadragon)
01/28/2017 at 17:08, STARS: 1
Deal.
"RT" (rt-p)
02/03/2017 at 06:26, STARS: 1
You’ve been so evil that the car with the best build quality here is a Fiat.
And I’ll take it, even if it’s a bit big for a 500.
Compared to the rebodied Neon and rebodied Cobalt, a rebodied Fiat Tipo sounds leagues better.
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
02/03/2017 at 10:55, STARS: 0
Haha, my plan is working! Indeed, in terms of European tastes the Tipo based MPV is obviously the winner, but the other two aren’t that bad as far as mid-2000s American cars go...