Thinking about buying a new 500

[MrJD]

meh, my wife's car is a prius. I know all about blind spots. We have the little convex mirrors stuck to the main mirror. Problem solved.I might wait till the end of august and see if the car is still there. If so, make a deal then.

[bradartigue]

I figured the reliability would be pretty good being that it is based on the fiat panda (which they have been making for a LONG time.)

Well they've made a bunch of cars and called them Panda, and I seriously doubt any of you would buy or drive a Panda for long. Very bottom of the line kind of driving experience. Just like FIAT in the old days these are small, basic, and expensive relative to the competition. The 500 isn't anything special "over there" in Europe and expecting it to be anything but a basic car is pushing it. For the money I'd buy a good German sports car on lease return. I'll refrain from the plethora of other negative comments I've made about the 500; I'm sure you can Google them.

[MrJD]

Here is the thing Brad... right now they are cheaper than their competition for the most part. Again, I'd be in the car MAX 15k out the door with tax etc. Also, I am after very basic A to B transportation with great mpg... I just want it to be relatively reliable. I've always wanted a little city car after all. I'm going to test drive one and comment further. I could get a kia for the similar money... but there is nothing interesting about a kia. A honda fit costs more, but again... i less interesting and likely WAY more reliable.


James May love the fiat panda.

[bradartigue]

Here is the thing Brad... right now they are cheaper than their competition for the most part. Again, I'd be in the car MAX 15k out the door with tax etc. Also, I am after very basic A to B transportation with great mpg... I just want it to be relatively reliable. I've always wanted a little city car after all. I'm going to test drive one and comment further. I could get a kia for the similar money... but there is nothing interesting about a kia. A honda fit costs more, but again... i less interesting and likely WAY more reliable.


James May love the fiat panda.

James May drives a Bentley. When you can afford to drive anything you want then all other cars are a novelty.

I'm just not someone who thinks the 500 is worth even $15k. I'm not sure what the competition is, a Versa maybe? Anyway, I don't like the car so I probably should not have chimed in. I think you'd do just as well spending $7,000 on a used Audi A4 and pocketing the rest.

[lanciahf]

Brad? An A4? Really?? Maybe 7K for a used one then another 7K for a rebuilt tranny, suspension & engine.

When I brought my 500 for its 4 month suspension fix the dealer gave me a Kia Soul. I could not wait to get out of it and get back in the 500. True the Kia is faster and could drive circles around the 500 but I did not want to be seen in it or actually drive it.


500s are not that bad just do not pay a lot of money for one.

[bradartigue]

Brad? An A4? Really?? Maybe 7K for a used one then another 7K for a rebuilt tranny, suspension & engine.

When I brought my 500 for its 4 month suspension fix the dealer gave me a Kia Soul. I could not wait to get out of it and get back in the 500. True the Kia is faster and could drive circles around the 500 but I did not want to be seen in it or actually drive it.


500s are not that bad just do not pay a lot of money for one.

An A4 with a bad transmission might be a better car. I've fought this battle before and lost, I'm not really going to fight it again. I don't like the 500. I don't like the new FIATs. Frankly I think FIAT built exactly two desirable cars, the 124 Spider and the X1/9, and both were marvelously engineered and terribly manufactured. That they survive today is a testament to those of us here and elsewhere who keep them going.

[aj81spider]

I almost always agree with Brad (notably on bumpers!). Sadly, like Panasport wheels, we are going to have a difference of opinion here. Not with the 500, which I agree is an unappealing car (sorry to all those who love them). I disagree that the X1/9 and the Spider were Fiat's only desireable cars. I would characterize them as Fiats last desireable cars (and I would debate the X1/9 - again sorry to those who wax poetic over them).

I personally would love to have either a 1100/1200 or a Dino (coupe or Spider). I've never seen a 2300 coupe live, but from the pictures would love to have one of those too. The 8V is unobtanium, but certainly desireable.

Unfortunately that's about 5-6 car models out of the 100+ that Fiat has built. Not a great hit rate (, but not unexpected from a company that specializes in small inexpensive cars aimed at European city driving.

[bradartigue]

I almost always agree with Brad (notably on bumpers!). Sadly, like Panasport wheels, we are going to have a difference of opinion here. Not with the 500, which I agree is an unappealing car (sorry to all those who love them). I disagree that the X1/9 and the Spider were Fiat's only desireable cars. I would characterize them as Fiats last desireable cars (and I would debate the X1/9 - again sorry to those who wax poetic over them).

I personally would love to have either a 1100/1200 or a Dino (coupe or Spider). I've never seen a 2300 coupe live, but from the pictures would love to have one of those too. The 8V is unobtanium, but certainly desireable.

Unfortunately that's about 5-6 car models out of the 100+ that Fiat has built. Not a great hit rate (, but not unexpected from a company that specializes in small inexpensive cars aimed at European city driving.

Yes I'll never agree on Panasports. They ruin the lines of the car. Especially cars without bumpers.

[SoFlaFiat]

Brad,
You have moved back to Atlanta, correct? Next time I'm in town can I take you to dinner? No joke! I love your sarcasm and outright honesty! It is rare these days! Except maybe on this forum...
That said, I'm getting some old panasport rims for my bumperless beast!! If for no other reason than to get a reaction from you!
I want to discuss the aesthetics of a Saab, the effect of Ralph Nader on car design for North America, and the (relatively unavailable) choice for 13" tires in today's market... what do you think?

[MrJD]

lol, i have pansport style weels for my bumperless spider,,, saw them on a frogeye sprite racecar and had to have them,

[bradartigue]

Brad,
You have moved back to Atlanta, correct? Next time I'm in town can I take you to dinner? No joke! I love your sarcasm and outright honesty! It is rare these days! Except maybe on this forum...
That said, I'm getting some old panasport rims for my bumperless beast!! If for no other reason than to get a reaction from you!
I want to discuss the aesthetics of a Saab, the effect of Ralph Nader on car design for North America, and the (relatively unavailable) choice for 13" tires in today's market... what do you think?

It's mostly sarcasm. Yes I moved back to Atlanta.

I don't own any more Saabs, fun to drive (actually a riot to drive) and comfortable, pretty modern, dead cheap, good top, lots of room, etc. Might need another one. Ralph Nader?

I wouldn't spend money just to get a reaction from me, that's futile. Spend money on 14" rims, you can find tires for those.

[SoFlaFiat]

Yea, I'm all sarcasm too!
No joke, Saabs, when they were Saabs and not rebadged Chevys, were great cars! Fun, fast, great handling, still ugly, but that was part of the charm.

[bradartigue]

Yea, I'm all sarcasm too!
No joke, Saabs, when they were Saabs and not rebadged Chevys, were great cars! Fun, fast, great handling, still ugly, but that was part of the charm.

They were just so weirdly styled its hard to say if they were ugly or not. I had a 91 and loved it. Should have kept it. The good news is you can get them for about $3000 in great condition. After the 94 there is no point, they were some kind of Chevy like you say.

[RRoller123]

There is a 74 Sonnet that comes to our local cruise now and then. Wonderful little car.

[spiderrey]

Dont agree with Brad on much. But panasports really dont look good on a Spider.