US 500 Review Super Thread

[5OO]

For the sake of keeping things organized lets post all the US 500 review in this thread. I'll start off with a "super" list. lol

Motor Trend (http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/hatchbacks/1101_2012_fiat_500/index.html)
Edmund's InsideLine (http://www.insideline.com/fiat/500/2012/2012-fiat-500-sport-first-drive.html)
Car and Driver (http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/11q1/2012_fiat_500_u.s.-spec-first_drive_review)
Road and Track (http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/impressions/2012-fiat-500)
Jalopnik (http://jalopnik.com/5745867/2012-fiat-500-first-drive)
Car Connection (http://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/fiat_500_2012)
Automobile (http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1101_2012_fiat_500_first_drive/index.html)


Feel free to add more and discuss! :icon_thumleft:

[.Lefteris.]

:good_post:

[abarth500racer]

Good post. Can't wait for a full road test. While overall the reviews are positive, there are different takes on the 500.

[Anthem500]

Generally positive reviews. Almost uniformly the reviews are citing good comfort for front seat occupants and "fun-to-drive" albeit not blistering high speed performance, but that direct connected feel of a well-balanced small and light car. With a significant price advantage over the Mini and far more sophistication than a Yaris, I expect the 500 to do well, especially as gas prices rise. The presence of modern entertainment features and phone connectivity also beats the Yaris and the Mini. The segment has been languishing, even with the new Ford Fiesta, so the difficultly of selling small cars to Americans shouldn't be underestimated, but the FIAT has the advantage of distinctive Italian style. I could see it being a real hit in urban areas.

[wreckmaster]

Great post:icon_thumleft:

[VilleV]

Exellent post! Earned you some reputation points for sure!:icon_thumleft:

[navy48]

hey "500", what's a "Super Tread"? something like THIS? :p

[navy48]

seriously, great post! :icon_thumleft:

after some serious thinking, 'right now' my plan is to keep my Charger for another couple years. by that time, more than likely it will have 80K+ miles on it, my extended warranty will be done and I'll start looking at a replacement: a Fiat 500 Abarth.

its what I've said all along that I wanted an Abarth, but with me waiting a couple years really makes more sense. besides, the Abarths probably won't see the States until later this year or Spring of 2012, so waiting for a 2014 Abarth really isn't too bad.

but then again, if Alfa comes to the U.S. with the MiTo........:icon_rolleyes:biggrin2

[.Lefteris.]

hey "500", what's a "Super Tread"? something like THIS? :p
I just fix the title! :p :)

[5OO]

I just fix the title! :p :)

lollol Oppsie

[navy48]

hey "500", what's a "Super Tread"? something like THIS? :p

I just fix the title! :p :)

lollol Oppsie

you guys are NO FUN AT ALL!!!! :p

[Anthem500]

Timing can be a large part of success. ChryslerFIAT is still vulnerable to gas price volatility in the US until the new FIAT sourced cars start to arrive. But the FIAT 500 may have hit the market right. With rising gasoline prices, the little FIAT offers some style, some fuel economy and still the comfort and convenience features we've come to expect regardless of size. As a commuter to complement the family sedan or minivan or SUV, the 500 makes perfect sense. The reviews say all the right things. Chrysler needs to build them tight and reliable to defeat the market's memories from the 1970s. But I'm feeling good things are about to happen for FIAT in the US.

[navy48]

our first 500 is to arrive TODAY! sushhhhhhh....don't tell anyone, it's suppose to be a secret!:rolleyes:

The 500's are coming, the 500's are coming!!! biggrin2

[VilleV]

our first 500 is to arrive TODAY! sushhhhhhh....don't tell anyone, it's suppose to be a secret!:rolleyes:

The 500's are coming, the 500's are coming!!! biggrin2


Oh man...

:roflmfao:

[navy48]

Oh man...

:roflmfao:

lol yea, I thought it was funny too. he's going around telling everyone and THEN says "don't tell anyone, it's suppose to be a secret". :confused:

unfortunately for HIM I had already posted on here, on another thread, the 'secret'. OOPS!!! :p

[VilleV]

After reading your post I almost literally dropped out of my chair...:D

I dont think it causes any harm to know that the first US cars are arriving at the dealers, just adds to the 500 hype!:cool:

[abarth500racer]

our first 500 is to arrive TODAY! sushhhhhhh....don't tell anyone, it's suppose to be a secret!:rolleyes:

The 500's are coming, the 500's are coming!!! biggrin2

Did you guys in Europe go this crazy when the Fiat 500 first arrived?

[wreckmaster]

Did you guys in Europe go this crazy when the Fiat 500 first arrived?

There was quite a big hype when they first arrived in Europe alsolol

Have a look at this, if you think you are crazy over a new car over therelol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj8t1IkHiHM


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeglPJMKk6o

[VilleV]

Did you guys in Europe go this crazy when the Fiat 500 first arrived?

Sure! Especially the south of Europe went nuts! In 2007 the number of cars produced was around 130000 and they were immediately sold out to Italy and France alone! And when the sales began in the rest of Europe in -08 I ordered mine in january and was told I´d had to wait for 5 months to get the car. A little later in some countries the que was even longer, 8-9 months or so!

[navy48]

when I orded my smart car, it was similar. placed the order online and in a couple weeks was told it was 18 MONTHS out. but as production increased somewhat and some people cancelled their orders, it ended up being only a 6-7 month wait.

of course when I ordered mine, our gas prices were at their peak. by the time I got it, they had come down and were more reasonable......a reason why I think a lot of people cancelled their orders too. Americans: complain about high gas prices (high for us....;) ) but yet go out and buy the biggest, gas guzzling SUV or 4x4 truck they can find. :icon_rolleyes:

I really hope the 500 goes over well here in the U.S. right now I see no reason why they wouldn't. taking my camera to work with me on Monday to take pics, if ours arrived! biggrin2

[abarth500racer]

There was quite a big hype when they first arrived in Europe alsolol

Have a look at this, if you think you are crazy over a new car over therelol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj8t1IkHiHM


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeglPJMKk6o

OK, that was a big deal.
Gas prices in my city just went up to $3.05 per gallon, which is a lot for the U.S. I still have my old Chevy truck with a V-8 for towing and hauling stuff, but it is not a daily driver. My wife drives a Mazda Protege 5 and gas mileage is pretty good. I also have a Highlander with a V-6 that only gets 19 miles per gallon around town. I don't think I'll ever part with my '94 Mazda Miata R Version.

[wreckmaster]

Gas prices here is around 13kr pr liter, that is $2 !!!! In one gallon there is 3,78 liters, that makes our gasprices $ 7,56 pr gallonlollol Not many V8`s around here.......

[abarth500racer]

Gas prices here is around 13kr pr liter, that is $2 !!!! In one gallon there is 3,78 liters, that makes our gasprices $ 7,56 pr gallonlollol Not many V8`s around here.......

Where I live there are lots of V-8 powered pick-up trucks and SUVs. I have one neighbor who drives by herself to work in a Ford Expedition and other who takes a Honda Ridgeline to work. I don't know at what price gas will have to get to for people to park their gas-guzzlers.

[navy48]

Honda Ridgeline....can you say "Butt Ugly"? geez....what were they thinking?lol

anyway, gas prices here have gotten to $3.64 for unleaded this weekend. not sure why the big jump from $3.45 about 10 days ago. guess someone in the middle east must have farted and the oil companies go into a panic.

but we still have it relatively good here in Indiana compared to some of the other States. for instance, when we flew into LA last week, their gas prices were $3.99 for unleaded and in Hawaii when we left there, unleaded was $4.05.

so NOW I'm seriously reconsidering my waiting for a 500. if I could get enough for my 22mpg Charger, I think I would pick out a 5sp Sport. with gas prices at $3.50+ and the 500 getting 16mpg's better than my current ride and me driving 300+ miles/wk, I could save $20+/wk. over the next 4 years (how long I was planning on keeping my Charger) I would be saving over $4,000!

THAT is worth considering......:icon_thumleft:

[navy48]

btw......we received some inventory last week while I was on vacation. I drove by today and saw two 500's outside (white Sport and blue Pop) and inside there were 4 now in the Studio and 4 more placed throughout the mall.

many of them were pretty well loaded, as some of the Pop's were automatics with sticker prices of over $19,000. not all colors in yet. red, bright red, white, black, orange, blue, silver and gray were the only ones I remember seeing. no greens, browns or yellow.

I'm sure they're all in the pipeline.......:D

[abarth500racer]

Navy, I just got gas Sunday night and paid $3.47 for regular.

Nice to see that your dealer is getting in some regular 500s to sell. Bet they go quick.

[SFV500]

Funny you should mention about the Automatic Pops Navy48, I was at the LA dealer on Saturday and not only did they have automatic Pop's for $18500 the Browns and both greens had Brown interiors and white dashes and steering wheels. This is contrary to the US build your own website.

The last I checked in Pop trim on build you own, only the light green and white were available with the brown interior.

I wasn't there for happy times though, I had to let Prima Ediizion #181 go as my wife may not be well enough to drive a stick shift. She was recently at the hospital for 4 days in two separate trips in one week. Maybe we'll order a 500C automatic in a few weeks. I did get pictures of it and there were 5 other awaiting delivery, one of them was #003! BTW the VIN # are all 500XXX with XXX the Prima Edizione number. They even had my name printed on the window sticker:(

P.S. I saw a picture of the new Chevy Colorado truck, the back looked like Ridgeline with a Equinox front end.

[navy48]

sorry to hear about your wife there, 'SFV'. hopefully they'll find a good home for your PE. while we all fancy ourselves as car nuts, family always takes precedence. best wishes to both of you.

haven't seen the pics of the new Colorado, but I didn't like the old one anyway, so maybe to me it might be an improvement? :rolleyes: