2008 Fiat 500 in the US

[sjmst]

As I am sure many of you know, this year is the 25th annual "Fiat Freak Out" in Pocono, PA., July 11 - 13.
Its the largest gathering of Fiats in the USA.
It is organized by the Fiat Lancia Unlimited.
Fiat-Lancia Unlimited

One of our members, Jim, had his 2008 Fiat 500 shipped from the UK to the USA for the meet.
As the timing is such that the car arrives ahead of him, I was lucky enough to be asked by Jim to pick it up at Port Newark.
I picked it up yesterday and drove it to store in my home in, LI NY.

Drove 45 miles through Friday afternoon New York/ NJ traffic with right hand drive, shifting with my left hand.

This thing is cute as hell and fun to drive. All 69 horses are put to good use. Zips along.
Power steering and working A/C in a Fiat. How can we in the USA even imagine that? The entire car is put together wih Honda like quality, but with style it's own. I know i sound like a rep for Fiat, but understand I have had 7 Italian cars including a Mondial, Alfas and my Fiat Spider. This car would sell here. Hope they bring it over.
Sam






















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[ventura ace]

Great pics, Sam! We're all eager to see a good bit more of Jim and his 500 as he makes rounds these next couple of months! Keep the stories coming.

Here are some more of the tentative plans following FFO (July 11 - 13) for the whereabouts of Jim and his 500 (and keep in mind that there will be flexibility):
Cross country drive, along a middle northern route to Howard Prairie Lake, Oregon for the western big Italian car event of the year, Oregon 2008, July 18 - 20. Then, Southward drive to the SF bay area, then touring in Nevada and AZ in route to arrive in LA area about July 26. Jim will fly back to Ireland on July 27, leaving the car with Rudy Mortero(X-I/9 guy) in Dana Point, CA. The car will be featured at Car Night on Thurs, July 31 at Merkel Weis's home. Soon after that Rudy will drive the car eastward to Knoxville, TN. Then Brett Melancon will drive the car on up to NY to put the car on a boat back to Ireland.

I'm sure there will be lots of opportunities to see the 500 and meet Jim as he makes his vacation tour, so stay plugged in. Maureen and I will be fortunate enough to caravan with Jim most of the way from PA to OR (in our 124 spider), and here's the route and schedule that I have in mind at this point:
Sunday, July 13, Pocano Manor to Dayton Ohio (staying with my uncle)
Monday, July 14, morning stop in Indianapolis, then up to Chicago for sight seeing, and other activities (no lodging plans yet -- any offers???)
Tuesday, July 15, westward to Omaha, NE with stop in Des Moines Iowa (staying with Maureen's brother in Omaha)
Wed, July 16, long drive to Salt Lake City, UT (no lodging plans yet, any offers???)
Thurs, July 17, long drive on in to Howard Prairie Lake, OR
Friday, Sat, Sun, July 17-20, Track Day and campout at Oregon 2008.

I'm not sure of Jim's travel plans from Oregon 2008 down thru SF and on to LA, except for his plans to arrive in LA about July 26. I will be making a bee-line straight back to LA area to get back to my job.

I believe that Rudy is planning a drive / outing with Jim and his 500 somewhere around the Dana Point, CA area on July 26 or 27. More details will come as plans are made.

I'll pick up the 500 from Rudy on the 27th or 28th, and have plans for a photo shoot with a writer from Classic Motorsports magazine on the 29th. I'll take the 500 to Car Night on July 31 at Merkel's, and after that, Rudy and Brett will be sharing the plans from there on eastward and northward.

Feel free to chime in if you have ideas or suggestions for Jim in his upcoming tour, or can offer lodging somewhere along the route. Let's make sure that he leave's here feeling like he's had a great vacation!! We're mighty pleased he's bringing his 500 to share with us. Keep in mind that a big part of the tour is for fundraising for the Northern Ireland Hospice Care, see http://www.justgiving.com/fiat500, and donate if you'd like to help.

Alvon Elrod
ventura_ace@juno.com

[sjmst]

My son, Michael, and I took the Long Island Railroad to Penn Station, then New Jersey Transit to Newark, then a cab to Port Newark. Picking up the car went 100% fine (except for finding the VIN; more on that in second).
There was NO wait. Two years ago, when i went to pick up Jim's Panda, it was steaming hot and took all day. This was a dream pick up.
Only little delay was finding the Vehicle ID Number. The guard at the gate as we were leaving had to check that to be sure we were taking the right car. We could not find it in ANY of the places a US car would have it. Finally, Michael checked the manual. It said it was under a mat in the "boot.: What? Oh, the trunk. And there it was, stamped in the sheet metal. The guard told us to drive it in health and we were on our way.
Except for occasionally reaching for the door handle to shift, I got used to it very fast.

The car is an absolute blast to drive. My son loves it and he is a BMW/ Porsche guy.
What I cannot get over is the Honda like quality of the whole thing. We in the USA last saw a new Fiat of any type 20 years ago. As much as I love all Fiats, the ones we know are primitive. Most didn't have power steering, and if they did have A/C it worked as well as a hamster blowing on an ice cube. Also most parts were somewhat flimsy.

With the 500, it has so much style for a little car. So many quality touches. The steering wheel alone is something to stare at. I would absolutely make this my daily commuter if Fiat brought it to the USA.

Well, of course the car got stares galore. A bunch of teeny bopper girls on Main Street squealed "Look at that!"

[mdrburchette]

You lucky dawg! I'm jealous.

[sjmst]

I plan on bringing it to the Americana in Manhasset between 9 and 9:30AM, 6/28, if anyone wants to check it out.
2060 Northern Blvd
Manhasset, NY 11030

[SpiderHead]

As big a car nut as Jay Leno is. Have you tried to contact him? Aside from the Tonight Show, he does "Leno's Garage". Be fantastic publicity for your cause and for the car if you could get him to review it while you are in LA!

just google Leno's Garage, and there is contact info on his website.

-Ryan

[Tony]

I LOVE the new 500. A real economy car with more style and personality than a Mini.