Fiat 500 in U.S.
Discussion
The Fiat 500s are being rolled out and pressed hard here lately. They are offering the base Pop at $15,000 and the fully laden Lounge version for around 23K. Edmunds likes the handling and style but calls it slow and too early for reliability reviews. I believe the twin turbo version is coming. What are PHers impressions of these cars, any experiences?
No twin-turbo version: there's a 1.4 4-cyl (single) turbo (Abarth) , and s <900cc (875cc?) 2-cyl (single) turbo (TwinAir).
My sister has a 1.2 Lounge and has since launch. Perfectly happy with it. Costs nothing to run, gets about town and her 1hr motorway commute just fine. I love 'em, personally. Not the fastest thing by any stretch of the imagination, but damn god fun all the same. Economy motoring needn't be boring
My sister has a 1.2 Lounge and has since launch. Perfectly happy with it. Costs nothing to run, gets about town and her 1hr motorway commute just fine. I love 'em, personally. Not the fastest thing by any stretch of the imagination, but damn god fun all the same. Economy motoring needn't be boring
Jimbo. said:
No twin-turbo version: there's a 1.4 4-cyl (single) turbo (Abarth) , and s <900cc (875cc?) 2-cyl (single) turbo (TwinAir).
Love 'em, personally. Not the fastest thing by any stretch of the imagination, but damn god fun all the same. Economy motoring needn't be boring
They do look fun. Thanks for the info. However, as to economy, they stated 31 MPG from a 1.4l. Hell, a mid sized Ford here can get 31to 40 MPG. Am I missing something. Love 'em, personally. Not the fastest thing by any stretch of the imagination, but damn god fun all the same. Economy motoring needn't be boring
Jimbeaux said:
They do look fun. Thanks for the info. However, as to economy, they stated 31 MPG from a 1.4l. Hell, a mid sized Ford here can get 31to 40 MPG. Am I missing something.
Try one, I'm not sure how the suspension will cope with US potholes.I have a Panda 100HP, same 1.4L engine, same chassis/floorplan, drivetrain etc. I get well over that economy just mincing around town (allowing for UK/US mpg conversion). For short journeys the 1.4 engine will outscore a bigger motor. On a long highway run the larger engined car might catch up.
Adam205 said:
Brilliant little cars. Build quality and longevity isn't 100% but very good fun! Electric power steering is dubious at first but you get used to it very quickly.
I'm a bit enthusiastic about mine It's a super little car. Decided I wanted something nearly new with a warranty and didn't want to spend a lot and after a bit of time looking despondently at Fiestas and Polo's remembered the Fiat 500. I got a great deal on a 6 month old example with less than a thousand miles on it. I've owned it for about 4 months now and have done about 3,000 miles. It's excellent really. Comfortable, quick enough for just getting around, will do 70-80MPH quite happily, is quite spacious even though I'm nearly 6ft, very frugal and got some great toys fitted - the Blue&Me system is excellent really not only for the stereo system but the hands free system too - all works perfectly.
I genuinely expected to be bored of it now but am not. The only disappointing thing has been the tirelessly predictable response from friends and co-workers.. it's a girls car, you look gay, etc etc.. it's quite sad really.
Jimbo. said:
Jimbeaux said:
They do look fun. Thanks for the info. However, as to economy, they stated 31 MPG from a 1.4l. Hell, a mid sized Ford here can get 31to 40 MPG. Am I missing something.
Different ways of measuring it I suspect. And which 1.4 is it: the turbo, or the non-turbo?Chicane-UK said:
Adam205 said:
Brilliant little cars. Build quality and longevity isn't 100% but very good fun! Electric power steering is dubious at first but you get used to it very quickly.
I'm a bit enthusiast about mine It's a super little car. Decided I wanted something nearly new with a warranty and didn't want to spend a lot and after a bit of time looking despondently at Fiestas and Polo's remembered the Fiat 500. I got a great deal on a 6 month old example with less than a thousand miles on it. I've owned it for about 4 months now and have done about 3,000 miles. It's excellent really. Comfortable, quick enough for just getting around, will do 70-80MPH quite happily, is quite spacious even though I'm nearly 6ft, very frugal and got some great toys fitted - the Blue&Me system is excellent really not only for the stereo system but the hands free system too - all works perfectly.
I genuinely expected to be bored of it now but am not.
Is it an automatic? I can see why the economy would be poor if so.
The other thing is that the US Economy measure is a much better yardstick than the European one, as it much more closely replicates driving conditions. In the EU all of the cars are very carefully set up in terms of fuelling and gear ratios to get good numbers, as so much tax depends on it.
The other thing is that the US Economy measure is a much better yardstick than the European one, as it much more closely replicates driving conditions. In the EU all of the cars are very carefully set up in terms of fuelling and gear ratios to get good numbers, as so much tax depends on it.
Chicharito said:
I find it laughable that a US review is criticising a car for being 'slow' - when they used to churn out big V8s with little more than 100bhp.
How fast do they actually need a car to be out there - given they have some of the lowest speed limits in the Western world.
Actually, at 0-60, it is slow. We need torque and low end speed. We race between red lights here. How fast do they actually need a car to be out there - given they have some of the lowest speed limits in the Western world.
Anyway, why would you bring up V8s from 30 years ago as a comparison?davepoth said:
Is it an automatic? I can see why the economy would be poor if so.
The other thing is that the US Economy measure is a much better yardstick than the European one, as it much more closely replicates driving conditions. In the EU all of the cars are very carefully set up in terms of fuelling and gear ratios to get good numbers, as so much tax depends on it.
The review drive was with the manual not the auto. I am sure that an auto would drag it down a bit.The other thing is that the US Economy measure is a much better yardstick than the European one, as it much more closely replicates driving conditions. In the EU all of the cars are very carefully set up in terms of fuelling and gear ratios to get good numbers, as so much tax depends on it.
Chicharito said:
Average (imperial) mpg is around 44mpg according to UK sources.
And I think you're missing 0-60mph several seconds quicker than a mid-sized Ford!
You are right about the mileage. 38 per US gallon Highway. The Ford Fuzion (US version) with the mid level offered engine gets around 33-36 Highway. However, the Ford mid version does 0-60 around 7.8 as oppossed to the tested 500 doing 0-60 in 10.8. And I think you're missing 0-60mph several seconds quicker than a mid-sized Ford!
The Twin air version is not here yet but expected to be a great drive!
Jimbeaux said:
You are right about the mileage. 38 per US gallon Highway. The Ford Fuzion (US version) with the mid level offered engine gets around 33-36 Highway. However, the Ford mid version does 0-60 around 7.8 as oppossed to the tested 500 doing 0-60 in 10.8.
The Twin air version is not here yet but expected to be a great drive!
Don't know where you're getting the figures from. This is what's quoted for the various Fusions:The Twin air version is not here yet but expected to be a great drive!
2.5 L 0-60, 8.0 secondsDuratec 25 I4 175 hp (130 kW), 172 lb·ft (233 N·m). torque;[34] 23 mpg city/33 mpg highway/26 mpg combined (automatic); 22/30/25 (selectshift, SE/SEL trims); 22/32/25 (manual, S trim); 22/29/24 (manual, SE trim)[35]
3.0 L 0-60, 7.4 secondsDuratec 30 V6 240 hp (179 kW), 223 lb·ft (302 N·m). torque; 20/28/23 FWD; 18/26/20 AWD, gasoline/E85 flex fuel
3.5 L 0-60, 6.5 secondsDuratec 35 V6 263 hp (196 kW), 249 lb·ft (338 N·m). torque (Fusion Sport); 18/27/21 FWD; 17/24/19 AWD
Nothing there that'll average mid 30s mpg. All the combined figures are under 30mpg.
The 3.0 is around the same kind of performance as the 500 Abarth, which is where I quoted my figures.
It looks like the 1.4 non-turbo 'dualogic' will do 39 US mpg on a combined cycle.
Chicharito said:
I find it laughable that a US review is criticising a car for being 'slow' - when they used to churn out big V8s with little more than 100bhp.
How fast do they actually need a car to be out there - given they have some of the lowest speed limits in the Western world.
Have you driven in the US? How fast do they actually need a car to be out there - given they have some of the lowest speed limits in the Western world.
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