by "Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
Published 08/31/2017 at 11:20
by "Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
Published 08/31/2017 at 11:20
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STARS: 23
I’m now the proud owner of a 2012 Fiat 500 Sport. Not something that I expected to be saying. More pics and some type of a writeup to come after the long weekend. The plan is for this to take over some commuting duties so I don’t have to drive the Miata in the rain or snow.
(Edit: I apologize if I accidentally re-shared this twice. I don’t know what I’m doing.)
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
08/31/2017 at 00:08, STARS: 1
Noice
"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
08/31/2017 at 00:10, STARS: 1
I had one of those. I still love those wheels!
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
08/31/2017 at 00:12, STARS: 0
Thanks. They need a serious cleaning along with the rest of the exterior.
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
08/31/2017 at 00:15, STARS: 0
Thanks. I’m just glad that my better half doesn’t mind that my search for a practical car to complement my Miata ended with a car that is in some ways smaller than my Miata.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
08/31/2017 at 00:18, STARS: 2
Big things come in small packages
"Svart Smart, traded in his Smart" (svartsmart)
08/31/2017 at 00:57, STARS: 1
Looking forward to updates on reliability/maintenance. I always liked the 500 Turbo/Abarth but probably wouldn’t want to own one as my sole vehicle.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
08/31/2017 at 01:44, STARS: 1
That is an ideal solution to the problem.
"random001" (random001)
08/31/2017 at 06:43, STARS: 2
Actually, they are surprisingly practical. I mean, when compared to a Miata. Or a Smart Car.
Although, with the Cabrio, I can claim to have unlimited headroom.
Yeah, ok, so not quite practical, but fun!
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
08/31/2017 at 06:47, STARS: 0
It’s just the Sport, so no turbo here, but I think it will serve well as a commuter car that still is fun to drive..
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
08/31/2017 at 06:48, STARS: 1
It was probably the least practical of the cars I was looking at. We were checking out a lot of things like the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa, both of which have backseat that are actually usable for people.
"random001" (random001)
08/31/2017 at 06:50, STARS: 1
Hey! I’ve put (small) people in the back seat of mine!
Yeah, you’re right. It’s a terrible car for everyone but the driver, but why do they matter?
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
08/31/2017 at 07:06, STARS: 0
Passengers aside, it’s still got a lot less cargo room than the other cars I mentioned. But I realized that I was just coming up with a bunch of dumb hypotheticals about why I needed a bigger car when the reality is that this will be fine for most of my needs.
"random001" (random001)
08/31/2017 at 07:08, STARS: 1
So that. I thought I needed a big family hauler, so I got that Genesis 5.0, and I took my family out with me exactly twice in a year I had it. Decided I could do with a smaller, more raucous experience. I was driving by and saw an Abarth Cabrio at a dealership and decided to test drive it. Said screw it, and bought one.
If I need more room, I grab the crosstrek and go to home depot. No big deal! Congrats!
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
08/31/2017 at 07:26, STARS: 0
Thanks. I would have loved an Abarth, but they were out of my price range. I was also worried that having something as fun as an Abarth might cause me to drive my Miata less, and I love that car. This 500 sport is an automatic, so if we’re planning a really fun road trip I’ll still be taking my Miata with a manual. The 500 will be good for when it’s non-convertible weather here in PA, and the automatic will be appreciated on the stop-and-go parts of my commute.
As for Home Depot trips, our largest vehicle is now a 2006 Honda Civic coupe. When my better half is ready for a new car, I might be recommending something a bit larger.
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
08/31/2017 at 08:22, STARS: 1
Boo automatic, but yay 500 Sport! If I were going to buy one, this would be what I was after...seriously considering replacing the Hyundai with one when the time comes, though the Accent has MANY more kms left in her yet.
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
08/31/2017 at 08:37, STARS: 0
I’ve still got the Miata for fun driving. My commute home involves 20 minutes of heavy traffic and a solid ten minutes of inching across a bridge, just constant stop-and-go. It’s not fun in the Miata. Also, my logic was that if I bought this car with a stick, I’d just end up sad that I didn’t get an Abarth. But with an auto, this car serves a different role. Also, now that I’m one of the olds, I occasionally like it when my car shifts for me. Crazy, I know.
"bhtooefr" (bhtooefr)
08/31/2017 at 08:53, STARS: 1
I’ve actually gotten in the back seat of a Fiat 500e - and the 500e has less room in the back, because the battery takes a few inches of height out of the rear footwell.
I’m 6'1" 260.
It was... not comfortable.
"TysMagic" (twjeffery)
08/31/2017 at 09:01, STARS: 1
I appreciate your bold claim of practicality with the cabrio.
I have the Beats OEM sub in my already tiny trunk, it’s hysterically small.
"carcrazydan738" (carcrazydan738)
08/31/2017 at 09:03, STARS: 0
How are these 500s in winter snow?
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
08/31/2017 at 09:04, STARS: 0
Haha, no worries. I’m a fan of the 500...though, I’ve heard the auto saps a lot of the already limited power from the NA 1.4L in the non-ABarth models. :)
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
08/31/2017 at 09:12, STARS: 0
I’ll have to let you know in about 5 months.
"random001" (random001)
08/31/2017 at 09:16, STARS: 2
While true, if I don’t proclaim it loudly and often, my wife might get wise and make me get something practical. We can’t have that!
"TysMagic" (twjeffery)
08/31/2017 at 09:28, STARS: 1
shhhhh I agree. We’ll just keep it on the low.
"TysMagic" (twjeffery)
08/31/2017 at 09:30, STARS: 1
congrats!!! While I quite enjoy my abarth, when it was in the shop I had a 500t (my preference in loaner) and a 500 sport. I didn’t mind it. Makes a great commuter car. Doesn’t cause any issues, good enough mpg’s...checks the right boxes if you ask me! Good choice
"Milky" (jordanmielke)
08/31/2017 at 11:29, STARS: 1
I’ve ridden in the back of an Abarth for, 4 hours. It wasn’t great but was totally manageable, people just like to complain.
"wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series" (wpudvah)
08/31/2017 at 11:46, STARS: 1
I bought Blizzak’s for my Abarth. Highly recommend. Powered through a Minnesota winter with no issues!
"Stapleface" (patrickgruden)
08/31/2017 at 12:16, STARS: 1
Regardless of what people might tell you otherwise, an auto is just better in most commuter traffic if you’re stuck in a lot of stop and go. And, you did it right. You still have the manual, fun car. I unfortunately don’t have that fun car, so my CVT has to do.
"Shoop" (shoopdawoop993)
08/31/2017 at 12:23, STARS: 0
So you bought a 500 for your practical car? What the hell?
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
08/31/2017 at 12:36, STARS: 1
Yeah, I’m not sure how that happened.
"Mergio Sarchionne" (mergios)
08/31/2017 at 13:04, STARS: 1
Well done! Great car!
Italian Styling at it’s best.
"EL_ULY" (uly)
08/31/2017 at 13:36, STARS: 1
Lol. Hey For Sweden, how many accounts do you have?
"Mergio Sarchionne" (mergios)
08/31/2017 at 14:34, STARS: 1
I’m not for Sweden. If anything, I’m for Italy and America.
If FCA profits, so do our two nations.