Any Oppos drive a Fiat 500 Sport?

"I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker" (qaaaaa) 02/06/2019 at 18:19 • Filed to: None

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I’m thinking of adding it to my “hey you’re an adult now you should probably get a reliable car” list for after I graduate in May. I like the way they look and their fuel economy, plus how well space is utilized.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for sale near me is pretty affordable, plus has about 100k miles less than my car (and is 17 years younger).

How are these in terms of handling, usability, comfort, reliability, etc?

Oh, also, here’s the list in question as it currently sits.

1. Mk5 Golf (GTI if I can find one)

2. Hyundai Elantra hatch (new or used, they list at like 20k)

3. Used Mazda3 Hatch

4. Some iteration of Corolla hatch (built this decade)

Anything else I should be shopping in the smallish hatchback that has a decent manual segment? (AKA, the Oppo segment)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 18:32

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They can have small niggles, but I think the 500 seems to at least be mechanically reliable for the most part?

I’ve no personal experience with them, but I really love them and am considering a 500 Sport for a DD to replace my current car when the time comes.

dogisbadob > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 18:36

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Why the fuck would you put a Fiat in a reliable car list? lol :p

The first thing you need to figure out is how much you want to spend on your next car, your budget, etc. Then we can go from there.

The Hyundai Elantra GT hatch with the awesome panoramic sunroof was available in 2013 (and maybe 14) with the manual. After that, the sunroof was automatic-only

Note: the Fiesta and Focus are awesome as long as you get the manual. The only horrible thing about them is the PowerShit DCT automatic available on them. But the manual versions are fine.

Depending on your budget, this list may be good for you:
Matrix/ Vibe
Fit
Mazda 2 (it even comes in blue :p)
Fiesta or Focus
Scion XD
Chevy Sonic
Elantra GT

NOTE: The XD and Mazda2 aren’t available with a sunroof, but Webasto probably makes something for them.

Nibby > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 18:37

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join the F150 oppo movement

BeaterGT > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 18:41

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Paging Chuckles. Although not sure if his is a Sport. Maybe a Fiesta, a lot of Oppos have/had them. 

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > dogisbadob 02/06/2019 at 18:43

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It would be reliable compared to my Golf. That bitch is ALWAYS broken. It ran without a CEL for 2 days. Sunroofs are dumb. My parents’ cars have them, I keep em covered. Ford hatches should be on the list, but I don’t feel any type of way about them.

Mazda2 with a stick is unobtainium. That’s a #1 pick if I can hunt one down. I’m lumping Matrix, Vibe, and XD as Corollas.

Chevy Sonic the Hedgehog can rot in hell. Those cars suck. If I ever willingly drive a freaking Aveo, kill me.

nermal > Nibby 02/06/2019 at 18:44

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For that price half of the truck will be rusted away. 

gin-san - shitpost specialist > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 18:46

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If you’re considering the Elantra GT, I would also urge you to consider the Forte5 as well; given the depreciation on these things, you could probably get the warm-hatch version at a very low price (it’s the SX trim in Canada, not sure if Kia USA uses the LX/EX/SX trim grading). The Forte5 SX is around 200hp/200lb-ft, with my biggest issue being that the throttle response isn’t great and the ride could be more compliant. However, it’s fun to push a little bit and has (what I believe to be) sufficient power for everyday use.

Fuel economy isn’t the greatest, I do 100% city driving after most fill-ups , short trips, and my economy tends to be 12 litres per 100km (which is a pretty ghastly 19mpg), but I do have a very heavy foot when accelerating. Plus it’s winter now and wheelspin is kind of fun. Highway is pretty damn good, I can get around 7 litres per 100km which is around 33 mpg. Also, it still uses regular 87 octane instead of 91 like a lot of hot hatches.

Mine was also cheaper to insure, too - it was around $200/year less to insure than my old 2009 Hyundai Accent, and that’s including  a depreciation waiver if it gets written off in the first few years.

Nibby > nermal 02/06/2019 at 18:47

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the current gen F150s have aluminum bodies

nermal > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 18:50

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If you’re looking in the <$10k space, and want reliable + manual, look for a nice Civic.

You can get the regular models with reasonable mileage in that range, or an SI w/ 100k miles.

dogisbadob > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 18:51

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How is this one?

nermal > Nibby 02/06/2019 at 18:54

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Price on car shown is $7k.

That’s at least $ 1 0k short of an aluminum F150.

Captain of the Enterprise > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 18:54

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I don’t know what your budget is but the Elantra GT Sports are an interesting option.

boredalways > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 18:58

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If you must, why get a 500 Sport when you could have an Abarth? Also, you shouldn’t have trouble finding a VW Golf or Golf SportWagen with a manual where you live. It’s just a matter of you choosing between gas or diesel (and the diesels come with 2yr bumper to bumper)

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/Hatchback/FIAT/500/Dayton+OH-45469?zip=45469&marketExtension=true&startYear=1981&endYear=2019&makeCodeList=FIAT%2CVOLKS%2CACURA&transmissionCodes=MAN&searchRadius=100&modelCodeList=FIAT500&maxPrice=10000&vehicleStyleCodes=HATCH%2CWAGON&minPrice=4000&sortBy=derivedpriceDESC&numRecords=25&firstRecord=0

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > gin-san - shitpost specialist 02/06/2019 at 19:03

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Hm. Yeah, I do like how those look, too. Thanks!

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > dogisbadob 02/06/2019 at 19:05

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Perfect. Walking distance from me, too!

Nibby > nermal 02/06/2019 at 19:05

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i’m assuming he’s winning the lottery

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > boredalways 02/06/2019 at 19:08

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Aren't Abarths hilariously unreliable?

Chuckles > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 19:20

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The one you have pictures here is a Pop (base model), not the Sport. The sport has different wheels, a slightly larger rear spoiler, fog lights, heated seats, power sunroof, automatic climate control, heated seats, and a fancy stereo. I’ve had my 2012 Fiat Sport since 2017, and it’s been a great daily driver. Now mine is automatic, but I actually prefer that. It’s a 6 speed auto, not a cvt. There is a manual mode, but I only really use that as a “keep it in a gear while going up a hill or cruising the highway” mode.

Personally, I love my Sport. It’s been on 900 mile road trips, powers through a snowy commute, and helped us get 2nd place at the Oppo Rally. It’s nimble on a backroad, has way more cargo room than my Miata, and is absurdly easy to park. The back seat is fine for short trips but don’t get this car if you regularly need to take multiple passengers.

My 5 year old Sport was $7,500 from CL and it had 55,000 miles on it. So far I’ve replaced tires, changed the oil, replaced both headlights and both taillights. That’s about it, and now it has almost 77 ,000 miles on it.

boredalways > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 19:20

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Aren't all Fiat's?  Get a warranty if you can.

smobgirl > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 19:23

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The things that make them fast aren’t really the things that break frequently. Every Fiat is (supposedly) hilariously unreliable. My Abarth has been fine for nearly 70k miles. Things squeak and rattle and they’re made of cheap plastic, and that’s going to be the same in all of them. Also I hear the infotainment sucks but mine is too old for that nonsense. The only Abarth-specific issues it has are  needing the oil topped off on occasion an d being too low to pull out of shopping centers without scraping.

Variance > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 19:26

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I’m not sure where this prevailing misconception comes from (I’m guessing just because it’s a Fiat?) , but from what I could tell when I was researching them heavily around a year and a half ago, the 500 Abarth is actually extremely reliable, despite being a Fiat. Far more reliable than the Cooper S, Fiesta ST, and Focus ST it would likely be crossed-shopped with, at least.

Variance > dogisbadob 02/06/2019 at 19:30

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Believe it or not, the 500 Sport and Abarth (not sure about the other models) are actually pretty damn reliable. M ore so than the Fiesta and Focus, at least (particularly the ST models) .

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 19:46

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I suggest getting an Abarth instead.

And never forget this commercial:

Or this picture where you see the scorpion on the back of her neck... so hot... 

fhrblig > dogisbadob 02/06/2019 at 19:49

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For the record, the worst thing my Fiat 500 ever did to me was go through taillight bulbs a  little too often.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > smobgirl 02/06/2019 at 19:50

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How's the insurance on them? I got some quotes from a few agencies on similar sport compacts and as a 22 year old dude in Ohio... Numbers weren't great. On my 96 Golf that's fully paid for (obviously) I only pay about $600 a year. 

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > nermal 02/06/2019 at 20:04

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Except for a 2012. They will seem cheap, but don’t fall for it. Honda did a refresh of the car after the first model year, if that says anything. I would aim for the generation prior in EX trim.

fhrblig > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 20:17

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I had a 2012 500 Sport with a 5-speed manual transmission, and it was a fun little car. It handled well, and was surprisingly comfortable. If another one had been in my price range when I was looking a few months back, I might have considered it.

The biggest downsides were first that the traction control is really intrusive and cannot be totally turned off. You can use the switch to turn it off, but if it decides it doesn’t like what is happening it will come back on. That doesn’t help things in snow. Second, I would have preferred about 30 more hp. If you can find the later Sport Turbo, it has that much more power. Third, there were some fit and finish issues but nothing too terrible.

fhrblig > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 20:28

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I found a picture of it . I ended up trading it for a Kia Optima that was destroyed in a crash about six months ago .

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 02/06/2019 at 20:44

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I’d never seen that commercial before. I do remember my first time seeing an Abarth- it was maybe 2014, the first time I had visited the school I go to. I saw one (with a large scorpion/abarth branded sticker package) parked in the lot of a ch ocolate shop. I still think of that moment every time I drive by there. I absolutely adore the looks of the 500, Abarth particularly. 

smobgirl > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 21:43

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I mean, it’s about twice what I paid on a 99 Civic, but rates in Colorado are pretty stupid overall right now just because of some bad hail storms the past few years so giving you the numbers won’t help much. It’s just listed as “Chrysler Fiat 500” on my policy though.

I’ve had about $11k in hail damage claims on it in 3-4 years. Fixed it the first time, now it’s just a golf ball.  

wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 22:44

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I’ve DD’d a 2013 Abarth for 2.5 years in Minnesota, highly suggest it! Just turned 26 so I’m l ooking to upgrade to a GTI soon though.

CompactLuxuryFan > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 23:19

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My brother drove one through some of my high school years. A Poland-made one with the 6-speed manual. Everything people have said is on point. In the US I would say ( like most FCA products) i t’s only a good buy if you get it for significantly cheaper than the competition.

His started having some electrical isues before being traded in but b y now the 500 is a prehistoric model and should be very reliable.

Even though they’re not that slow, they *feel* very slow. Like Clarkson says, you have to rev ‘em till the valves come out and dance on top of the bonnet. I swear there was an extra MultiAir cam change at like 6900 rpm (first one’s 5600?) . For those extra 100 rpms of oomph.

They’re still stylish and sound good IMO. Could make a decent first cheap (emphasis on that) car.

LilChant > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 23:30

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No that's a myth.

LilChant > boredalways 02/06/2019 at 23:32

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They really aren't.  Read owner reviews not press.  My used 15' Abarth has been flawless for almost a year now.  Easily best car I've ever owned, love it.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > smobgirl 02/06/2019 at 23:32

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Right. I’d expect these to insure for close to what a Yaris hatch, maybe a Fit would insure for. 

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series 02/06/2019 at 23:34

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Nice! How reliable has it been/how many miles have you put on it? I was running with the assumption that most were unreliable. Guess I've mostly heard the horror stories. 

LilChant > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 23:35

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I bought one 8 months ago, had a base PT Cruiser prior . The Abarth’s only 20 bucks more a month now.

dogisbadob > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/06/2019 at 23:46

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Great!

smobgirl > fhrblig 02/07/2019 at 00:02

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That color is pretty sharp. I kind of want to trade in my Abarth just because you can get the baby blue ones now but that’s just silly.

fhrblig > smobgirl 02/07/2019 at 01:08

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I’m sad that they killed off that blue after 2012. I did notice the turbo engine is now the standard engine, though.

Chuckles > fhrblig 02/07/2019 at 07:28

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At least it has the decency to say "check stop lights" on the dash when one goes out. But I've replaced 2 in my year and a half of ownership. 

Chuckles > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/07/2019 at 07:32

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I pay about $950 a year combined to insure both my 94 Miata and my 2012 Fiat. 

Chuckles > fhrblig 02/07/2019 at 07:35

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I'll just add that on the automatic version of your car, the traction control works incredibly well and is actually a good thing. It only kicks on when I'm driving in snow and it helps me go on roads that would be impossible without it.

fhrblig > Chuckles 02/07/2019 at 09:31

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Weirdly, I've had my ProMaster for almost a year and 62k miles and haven't gone through even one bulb. And apparently that's a problem with these.

wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/07/2019 at 11:14

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*knocks on wood* it’s been flawless, other than not starting last week when it was -28. I bought it with 4200 miles (for less than half of MSRP lol) and have put just over 10,000 on in the 2.5 years without a single issue. Didn’t mention it above - it’s also the convertible version.

The only reason I’m looking to upgrade is that I’m no longer a single 23 year old (it’s been a great car for this period of my life!), and I’m looking for a bit more practicality and quality. At the end of the day the Abarth is still a fairly shitty FCA product with cheap plastics and materials (and obviously limited space) , but dat exhaust note and overall driving experience more than makes up for it.

Selling it in the spring if you’re interested - and   if you’re anywhere near Minneapolis, MN!

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series 02/07/2019 at 12:51

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Sweet, only a 700 mile drive!

Not starting in -28 is okay with me as an only problem. Bad interiors are fine, I do daily a 23 year old Golf after all. 

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/07/2019 at 13:29

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Also, see 500 Turbo. Happy middle ground if an Abarth gives you thin skin.

Fiat does make a few lemons, but overall they’re OK on reliability . I f it’s got miles on it, it probably isn’t a lemon.

wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 02/07/2019 at 15:12

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I like your style! My other ride is a ‘ 79 Super Beetle, been in the family almost 30 years now.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series 02/07/2019 at 16:40

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Ooh. An aircooled is on my “gotta have it” list. That’s somewhere down the road.