Filed under: Time Warp, Euro, Hatchbacks, FIAT, UK
First Ride: Trekking Fiat 500 makes SoCal stop
by Frank Filipponio on Aug 4th 2008 at 11:59AM 
Click image for high-res gallery of pics of the first Fiat 500 in the States
Jim Magill's little Fiat 500 made a stop in SoCal this weekend and we were among the lucky few who got some seat time in it. As we recently blogged, Jim shipped his microcar to the States all the way from Belfast, Northern Ireland to help raise some cash for the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice, and to meet with some fellow Fiat tifosi along the way. As part of the plan the Cinquecento is being driven to some high profile events to show it off and help spread the word about his cause. In the OC this past Saturday morning, the car attracted a ton of attention at a weekly car show, even sitting in the shadow of a few Zagato-bodied Lancias and Alfas. While the nearby Isettas made it seem positively huge, the tiny Fiat was still appreciated for its frugality and miniscule footprint. After the show we went for a spin and stopped to take a few pics of the car next to a handy Smart ForTwo. Follow the jump to see what we thought of it.
Gallery: First Impression: Fiat 500
Gallery: Fiat 500 across America
While people in the crowd were nearly unanimous in their love of the overall style, there were quite a few comments about some of the details that led us to believe Fiat might have to rethink a few things before the car could really catch on here in the colonies. The seat material, for instance, looks funky retro but also shows some heavy soiling even though this particular example only has 11,000 miles on the clock. Similarly, the two-tone dash plastics seem to betray the car's youth. The tan and black adds some zip, but neither section looks fresh. The best part is the body-color panel running from door to door with the cool 500 badge on it.
Despite our concerns about the covering, the seats were comfortable and supportive with plenty of room and grip. The backseat could even accommodate a pair of adults if the front seat occupants were no bigger than average. We had a 6-foot beanpole and a 300-lb, ex-intramural footballer back there and neither had reason to complain. There's not a ton of luggage room with all four seats occupied, but no worse than in a Mini Cooper for instance.
But those are practical details and this car is clearly about style and passion. Just take a look at the controls and gauge cluster. No Mini-like toggles or central pod, but rather a simple and straightforward arrangement that manages to evoke the original's controls while simultaneously bringing the most up-to-date infotainment features to the occupants. Voice-activated phone and music search integration, concentric speedo and tach with multi-function digital display, ipod and bluetooth connectivity, and redundant steering wheel controls all give a premium feel to this economy car.
Exterior details are stylish and again evoke the original Fiat 500 from the '60s. This base model has the fixed glass roof that features a handy shade. It also has the signature chrome mustache surrounding the large red fiat badge on the nose. Large roundish headlamps and a pair of fog lamps bracket the distinctive front fascia bulge as well. The tail features a rather raked hatch with details that match the theme up front. It sits over a rather large rear bumper that swells to accommodate the pushed out rear wheels. The car has a great stance that looks like it will be fun to drive.
Unfortunately the driving experience isn't quite up to the challenge. While the structure is solid and quiet, the engine feels so underpowered that you will have to floor it 90% of the time to even approximate keeping up with traffic. More power from Novitec or from Fiat's own Abarth version would easily cure that concern. The shifter has a nice feel to it, with solid, nicely weighted movements. That's a good thing because you'll be using it a lot to make the most of the meager horsepower. In all fairness, this car is more about economy in this configuration, and returns something like 50 imperial mpg in mixed use. Just be careful on uphill starts and think long and hard about overtaking. That 1.2L four only manages 68 HP. Opt for the 1.4 and that number climbs to 100.
The brakes felt more than capable in comparison and the handling always felt up to the task. Granted we were never able to generate enough speed to even come close to generating .5 g of lateral grip, but the ride/handling compromise seemed fine. The short wheelbase means that freeway jaunts can be a bit choppy, but there is enough suspension travel that it's not too bad. And like we said earlier, this car isn't about being practical, it's about style and emotion.
We had tons of people pulling alongside us on our brief ride to get a closer look, including a lady in a Mini Cooper S Cabriolet that rode next to us for five full minutes while checking us out. It makes just about everyone who sees it smile and many will have you roll down your window so they can ask questions on the fly. No, it isn't Japanese or Korean. It's Italian. No, it isn't fast, but the platform feels like it can handle a lot more power. No, it isn't a Smart car. The Smart car is taller, but this is almost two feet longer. Yes, it is as fun as it looks, but slow. No, you can't buy one here, yet. Fiat is thinking about U.S. sales. Yes, we want one, badly.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Giuseppe 12:22PM (8/04/2008)
"the engine feels so underpowered that you will have to floor it 90% of the time to even approximate keeping up with traffic."
In the UK, that same engine is described as nippy and zippy and some reviewers recommend it over the 1.4. I wonder what the average speeds are over there?
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Jerk Face 12:54PM (8/04/2008)
That's actually really interesting. I'd be curious to know, as well. I mean, a 1.2? Really? Even the (wonderful) bare bones CRX's had a 1.5. Gas mileage aside, that seems a bit too slim for my tastes.
Peppiness is important in a small fun-to-drive car like this. I'm not asking for a 2.0 turbo (though it would be awesome, to be sure) but maybe a 1.6 NA motor with around 110 or 125 HP? That would do just fine.
Swede 1:04PM (8/04/2008)
It appears they do a gazillion miles per hour since everyone needs so large engines.
t 3:53PM (8/04/2008)
Since the car was in demand at the test event I'm sure they were driving it with a full load of adults onboard. I bet it is peppy with only a driver.
Alex E. 1:30AM (8/05/2008)
You know, I remember back in 2000 when I was studying abroad in Madrid, I was talking cars with a bunch of Spanish guys. I mentioned that my '89 Acura Integra was woefully underpowered, with a 1.6 4-cylinder putting out around 115hp. Their response could be (politely) translated as, "CRIPES ALMIGHTY!! How many horsepower do you need, anyway??!!" I remember reading subsequently in a Spanish car magazine that the average horsepower rating for many European nations was less than 90. Sure, those cars are slow accelerating to 60mph, but you'd never be tempted to say that the Italians, for example drive slowly!! My take is that Europeans drive slow cars fast while Americans drive fast cars slowly. Me, I've grown to like the small euro hatches with TDI engines - they're economical, it's fun to surf the little wave of turbo boost, and you can actually use all the power all the time! You can drive everywhere flat-out and still use less gas!
why not the LS2LS7? 12:27PM (8/04/2008)
So there's only one Fiat 500 in the US, and it has a jerkoff "euro" front plate on it?
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johnmc 1:06PM (8/04/2008)
That's an actual European plate - the car is registered in Northern Ireland. It was imported specifically for a charity drive. Check out the back plate, which is also from Europe.
why not the LS2LS7? 2:10PM (8/04/2008)
Yes, I realize that, I am capable of googling the dealer name on the plate too! The plate may be a real European plate but it's also not valid in this country for registration, so there's no reason for it to be there except to reinforce the jack-assery of putting "euro" plates on your European car.
Everyone look at me! My car's European!
Scott 2:31PM (8/04/2008)
The plate is valid, otherwise every time a car enters a different country it would have to change its registration! Just because it's a European plate doesn't make it not valid.
Colin Smith 3:10PM (8/04/2008)
It's going back to Ireland after this tour, so what's the problem? Cars always keep their home plates when staying up to six months (usually) in a foreign country.
ATLien 3:52PM (8/04/2008)
What kind of idiot are you, anyway? It's registered in another country! Why in the world would they have to register it here and get new plates? You get the explanation and you STILL get it wrong. It does not NEED registering here, or do you think Canadians have to register for new plates every time they drive to Florida?
why not the LS2LS7? 4:24PM (8/04/2008)
I said 'not valid in this country for registration' and they aren't.
As to Canada and Mexico, we have some kind of exchange program with them. I am unaware of such a program with Ireland.
http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm/entering_us/7importingyourcar.htm
'MOTORISTS FROM CANADA AND MEXICO are permitted to tour in the U.S. without U.S. license plates or U.S. driver's permits, under agreements between the United States and these countries.'
It seems that nationals of the US have no ability to drive a car on foreign plates. Nationals of other countries do have some latitude.
It doesn't say anything about the legality of what happens when the driver leaves the country and leaves the car behind, as this person has done.
Torrent 12:44PM (8/04/2008)
I don't know. I still want a MiTo.
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Alex 12:59PM (8/04/2008)
agreed
benzaholic 2:08PM (8/04/2008)
@Alex
Don't you mean, "Me, too"?
Get it? MiTo, Me, too?
I really crack myself up some times. ;-)
zamafir 4:31PM (8/04/2008)
yup i actually prefer the styling of the alfa and vastly prefer the interrior. Though it was nice seeing this car shake things up a bit.
Jake 12:53PM (8/04/2008)
I guess I don't see how so many people get excited and "ooh" and "awe" over some little econo-box, but it sure seems to happen alot. Maybe it's 'cause I ain't European and don't know better, but I see it and it just seem like another little car to me.
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martin 1:40PM (8/04/2008)
maybe because your V6 camaro is the only thing to spark your salivary glands
Torrent 2:13PM (8/04/2008)
V6 Camaro. That's funny.
Anyway. It is just another little econobox, but the fact that it's European and unavailable to the U.S. makes it so appealing to us all. Yes, including me- The guy who's about to buy a V6 Camaro.
Jake 6:05PM (8/04/2008)
well, since my comment is low ranked and the dubious comment by martin is high-ranked, I guess I must be wrong.
A real car-man (or woman) should salivate over a little econobox hatchback just-a-car with a glorified lawnmower engine in it.
It is a decent car, good to get groceries in, I suppose. It serves its purpose and I am not knocking it. But salivate over it, martin??? No more than I salivate over a piece of plywood or a new lawn-sprinkler.
BTW, don't have a camaro, just a civic (just-a-car) for the commuting gas milage of it. I didn't salivate over it when I bought it. Just paid the man some cash.