Rental car review *EDIT*

"Der Käfer" (Rhy) 11/13/2013 at 08:59 • Filed to: None

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SOOOO yesterday I got a call from my dealership saying my beetle was ready. I was so excited that I used Vacation time and took off early because I miss it that much . I took my 2013 most boring car of the year corolla back to enterprise, was driven to my dealer down the way and I walked swiftly into the service bay expecting to see my car in all its glory awaiting me...... lol...

no

My "service advisor" greeted me and asked me what I was doing there.... I responded "Well the service receptionist called me and told me the bug was ready to go!" he laughed and said "LOL NO!"......................... mind you I just drove alittle over and hour to get my car... I asked "where is my car?" and he said that it was not back from the auto body department and that he has no idea why the teenage girl at the service booth called me. SO I was taken back to enterprise and they put me in THIS

A fiat 500 POP. It's suprisngly fun! VERY nimble, scoots about just fine and doesnt sound like a lawn mower on wet grass. Turn the traction control off and depress the "SPORT" button and you have a lively little car. The "shift it yourself" automatic is rough at times, nothing compared to a DSG or SMG gear box speed wise but still get the job done. The only negatives I really have are the placement of the window switches, the radio controls and monotone interior, I wish it were red and ivory two tone.

I pick my car up tomorrow, also keep in my mind I'm reviewing this car for what it is, a compact, not a super car.

I wanna know what's the most spunky/unique car you've ever driven or owned?

Nibbles > Der Käfer 11/13/2013 at 09:08

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Spunky? My SPG. I cannot tell you how many times I surprised the fuck out of people in that thing. It scoots, like a motherfucker, if you press the right button (pedal). It may as well say "Handling by Lotus" on there somewhere, because I could outmaneuver most other vehicles heading up and down mountain passes. I once hauled a full-size fridge in it. If I had have taken the handles off I would have been able to close the hatch fully. Nothing beats that turbo sound and I could average almost 35 MPG on the highway. If that isn't spunky, I don't know what is. Unique, though, it is not. They made nearly a million of the things.

oldirtybootz > Nibbles 11/13/2013 at 09:11

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A) your avatar is the shit. Great episode, big thumbs up!

B) what is it that you drive?

oldirtybootz > Der Käfer 11/13/2013 at 09:12

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Since I own a 1.4T Dart, I really want to drive a non-turbo 1.4L 500 and an Abarth.

BarryDanger > Der Käfer 11/13/2013 at 09:13

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Sorry to hear about your dealer run-around, at least you got out of the 'rolla. I rented a black 500 last year, not bad for cruising around big sur/monterey but a little unstable at 80mph. Do you feel a difference with the sport button? The steer just felt heavier from what I experienced.

BarryDanger > BarryDanger 11/13/2013 at 09:15

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I should also add that the most spunky/unique car I've ever owned was my '68 Datsun 510 with a L18 and 280zx 5sp swap.

PelicanHazard > oldirtybootz 11/13/2013 at 09:39

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I drive a 1.4T Dart as well and got to drive a 500 Pop.

Quick rundown: the 500 is not at all stable at highway speeds compared to the Dart. I've blasted by semis in the Dart and been barely perturbed, whereas the shockwave coming from the big rigs is very noticeable in the 500. In the city the 500 outshines the Dart in every possible metric, being nimbler, flickable, amazing all-around visibility, more linear in acceleration, and better at starts from a stop (though that may just be me; I learned manual by buying the Dart, so my technique is a little off). The ride in the 500 is a bit harsher on bumpy roads, and it doesn't have as much sound insulation, but you won't really care when you turn off the traction control, hit Sport mode, and throw it around twisty B roads until the seats run out of lateral support. Very fun car.

Big negative in non-driving use though is the Blue&ME system to interface with your phone. Uconnect just does it so much better.

PelicanHazard > BarryDanger 11/13/2013 at 09:41

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The steering gets heavier and shift points change on AT cars.

Nibbles > oldirtybootz 11/13/2013 at 09:49

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Saab 900 SPG. Called Aero in the UK, couldn't be called that in the US because of some licensing shit between Saab and GM in the '80s.

It's down for a complete restore right now. So now I drive a Focus that scored -20 on the Jalopometer, and a 5 speed 4x4 Dakota 5.2.

Der Käfer > BarryDanger 11/13/2013 at 09:49

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D'awh good pic!

Yea it seems to hold the gear longer, and steering does change as pelican stated.

LOL A DATSUN!!!!! I love those, spunky for sure!

Der Käfer > PelicanHazard 11/13/2013 at 09:52

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The 500 is of course way mjore unrefined, choppy rise on the highway and its hard to keep it at speed wihtout cruis control. The blue&me is tricky but I'm using it, once figured out it get the job done. The Uconnect is by far a very very good UI.

Der Käfer > Nibbles 11/13/2013 at 09:54

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LOVE saabs, all models are great even the GM infused ones. Gimme a 9-3 aero X wagon and I'd be the happiest guy in the world.

Nibbles > Der Käfer 11/13/2013 at 09:59

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oldirtybootz > PelicanHazard 11/13/2013 at 10:08

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I have the 6-speed as well and it's my first stick shift DD so I'm still learning a bit. I find that the 1-2 shift is hard to time correctly and first gear is way too short. Getting it moving in first seems to need a lot of cluth slippage, but maybe that's me getting used to it. Overall I love the car so far. It could use a diet though.

oldirtybootz > Nibbles 11/13/2013 at 10:11

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Ah I see. I also own an Aero, though mibe hails from Auburn Hills(well, Belvidere technically). My old Focus would have probably been raped by the Jalopmeter so don't feel bad.

Leadfoot866 > Der Käfer 11/13/2013 at 11:43

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I also got a 500 Pop last week when my Focus had to go into the shop for a broken horn (warranty item).

I don't know how I feel about the car. However, I didn't really get a chance to drive it on fun roads.

I will say it's terrible on the highway. Not very stable and there's a lot of tire and gearbox noise (especially the gearbox). Suspension doesn't absorb big bumps very well, either. Long highway journeys would be miserable in this. My Focus is much quiter and comfortable on the highway than the Fiat and it too is more of a city car than a highway cruiser.

Personally I thought the automatic was garbage. Couldn't pick the right gear and tended to rev the engine excessively even if I was gentle on the throttle. The manu-matic feature was at least rather obedient. Spent a lot of time changing the gears manually as, again, it was hopeless on its own.

The plastics felt really cheap for a car that has roughly the same starting price as a Focus S sedan.

It does get up and go nicely on the lower gears, but struggles beyond third.

I don't know. I might have liked the car better if the rental had a manual gearbox (fat chance in 'Murica) and if I'd driven it on tight, winding roads. For now, however, I have to say that the 500 with the automatic in a city like Pittsburgh is a stupid idea...

Der Käfer > Leadfoot866 11/13/2013 at 12:00

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I would much rather drive this car in manual form, before I bought my beetle, I was looking at the 1.4 turbos in maunal form and it was drastically better than the non turbo automatic. It had plenty of pick up, A more upscale interior and it had a killer sound system. The clutch was never comfortable when I finally got my seat where I wanted it though and for the same money I got a better equiped more powerful beetle.

Leadfoot866 > Der Käfer 11/13/2013 at 13:00

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and for the same money I got a better equiped more powerful beetle

That I think is the main problem with the FIAT.

I got a little curious after having the rental and spec'd out the car the way I wanted it (pretty much the way I ordered my Focus).

500 Sport in red (Rosso), manual gearbox, power sunroof, black sport cloth seats, AM/FM radio w/ CD, USB, Aux, and BlueTooth (Blue&Me), 4-wheel disc brakes and 16" alloy wheels. Quoted price came to $21,150.

Not too bad, I though, but then I realized that my Focus in a nearly identical configuration was just $1K more ($22,205). Yes the Focus still cost me more and is not as funky or fun to drive. However, when you really think about it, for not a lot more money I got a much larger car that's still fun to drive on its own, has more power, is much more practical, gets about the same mileage, it's quieter, more comfortable, handles better on the highway and in general I think it's better suited for a city like Pittsburgh than the Fiat. Pretty good autocross car, too!

...and this is a Focus we're talking about here. It's not even remotely in the same catagory as the FIAT. Spec'd out a Fiesta SE hatch with similar options and it was about $4K less than the FIAT ($18,530).

Der Käfer > Leadfoot866 11/13/2013 at 13:19

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My beetle had the window sticker in the glove box and I recently looked over (I paid 16k for my 2012 beetle) THE NEW PRICE?! WAS 26k and after dealer mark up it was 28! I saved A LOT buying it with only 12k miles versus a brand new one.

I want to autocross my bug so so bad....... lol not going to lie, a focus hatch seems so out of place but that's what makes it even cooler. kudos to you!

Fiats would be a winner if they were 4k less than what they are now.