The Fiat 500 is a car that I like.

"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada)
02/24/2019 at 01:27 • Filed to: None

It’s definitely not the most “macho” car around, but I’ve always had a thing for the (non-Abarth, though the Abarth is cool in it’s own way) 500. Especially the 1957 edition with it’s pastel paint and dog dish-esque wheels.

The interior is also a shockingly pleasant looking place to be. Big, readable gauges with a digital speedo, body-coloured accents, and a dash-mounted shifter like an EP3 Civic SiR.

It’s not exactly the first car that I would rush out and buy when given around 20 grand to spend on a new car, but the Fiat 500 is definitely a Good Car. Although it’s an FCA product, and we all know how they do quality wise .

DISCUSSION (21)

CTSenVy > not for canada - australian in disguise
02/24/2019 at 01:34

I like it just because it’s so different than most new car options. Stands out from the field.

not for canada - australian in disguise > CTSenVy
02/24/2019 at 01:36

Exactly! The only other car I think even comes close to the 500 is the Mini, which is very obviously the car Fiat were looking to compete with. But the 500 is a good bit cheaper and less of a “luxury” car than the Mini in my mind. The Mini seems to compete more against stuff like the A-Class or 1-Series than the 500.

not for canada - australian in disguise > CTSenVy
02/24/2019 at 01:36

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > not for canada - australian in disguise
02/24/2019 at 01:37

used to be a baby pink one in my street

baby pink/blue really suits that car

glemon > not for canada - australian in disguise
02/24/2019 at 01:59

These are getting to be super cheap used, they look like fun to me too.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > not for canada - australian in disguise
02/24/2019 at 02:01

These and the first gen of the “new” Minis stand out as very well designed cars. Not the best engineered, but very good looking little cars.

Honeybunchesofgoats > not for canada - australian in disguise
02/24/2019 at 02:11

I like them in sage green. I’d never buy them, because they’re shit, but I’d happily be seen in that color car.

cluelessk > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
02/24/2019 at 04:18

Funny thing is that they’re both built very poorly. They just don’t hold together

cluelessk > not for canada - australian in disguise
02/24/2019 at 04:30

Very similar build quality though. And that’s not a good thing.

InFierority Complex > not for canada - australian in disguise
02/24/2019 at 05:03

Aside from the standard “Fix it again Tony,” attitude towards the 500 it seems to do well enough, reliability wise. As far as fit and finish; well, it’s a $16K economy car, although mine hasn’t developed any rattles so far.

I looked into back in 2012 and was pretty set on one even before I knew the Abarth was a thing. Chickened out and bought a Fiero instead. I’ve got an Abarth now, but I can’t help but think that maybe the Pop or Sport trim would have been a better fit for me.

Farnarkler extraodinaire > not for canada - australian in disguise
02/24/2019 at 05:56

i wouldn’t say no to one.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > not for canada - australian in disguise
02/24/2019 at 07:12

I’ve always loved the 500! I’ve considered one for my next car when I have to eventually replace the Accent. :)

I know it’s not very macho, but I don’t care....I like what I like. The 1957 Edition is very cool in a retro sort of way.

Fun fact, the digital gauges have only been around in the last year or two, before that they had analog gauges, but in a cool concentric circle design where the tach is inside the speedo!

Kinja'd!!!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > cluelessk
02/24/2019 at 07:13

Not sure, there are a few customers at my one job who have them and haven’t had any trouble with them at all?

Mechanically I’ve heard they’re pretty sound, it’s little niggly stuff otherwise, like the phone-stereo bluetooth connection system being glitchy (the older ones didn’t use Uconnect like other FCA products, maybe the newer ones do?), etc.

fhrblig > cluelessk
02/24/2019 at 09:15

Mechanically mine was fine. It was all the interior bits and build quality that was bad, but even then it was kinda like all the GM cars I’ve ever owned. Like, it won’t leave you stranded, but you might have to climb in thru the hatch because both door handles are broken.

fhrblig > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
02/24/2019 at 09:16

That tach took some getting used to but it was cool.

fhrblig > Honeybunchesofgoats
02/24/2019 at 09:18

Honestly, t hey’re not as shit as you think. I considered another one when I was looking but none of them were quite cheap enough.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > not for canada - australian in disguise
02/24/2019 at 09:44

I saw a 1957 Edition at a Trader Joe’s in Rochester Mn, and complemented the owner. We had a great conversation about the joys of small cars, and stylish cars, they and mentioned that it was manual and they loved that it reminded them of being a teenager. They were probably in their 60s at least

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
02/24/2019 at 09:45

Ialdo like it the brown it comes in. At bit more subtle but I think it work really well.

Milky > not for canada - australian in disguise
02/24/2019 at 10:42

I feel obliged to post that my friends abarth’s turbo went after only 50k miles and there has been other little issues.

However he bought it CPO and got the lifetime powertrain warranty, so he’s good.

cluelessk > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
02/24/2019 at 10:55

They’re built very poorly. Cheap parts and not welded together precisely. Seating position is completely un natural.

Engines are unreliable rattle box.

I’m a body tech and 500's are tied with Dodge Journey’s as the worst built vehicles I’ve worked on.

Mini’s are pretty much the worst value out of any new car.

DSM_OR_DIE::Drives_A_Miata > not for canada - australian in disguise
02/24/2019 at 12:00

I’ve had two in the family: a 2012 Pop and a 2012 Abarth. We loved both for different reasons. The Pop was totaled by someone else after two years so we upgraded to the Abarth. It was a lot of fun, but the husband thought it was too loud so after years of unresolved software problems when both front struts failed, we opted to sell the car instead of repair. That engine is ancient and it shows.

Honestly, I think we liked the Pop better. It didn’t have the chintzy vinyl seats and the horrid electronic climate control and also wasn't black, so there was a lot more to love. And it was also brand new at just under $14k USD.