Topic: Test Drive: 2016 Fiat 500 1957 Edition

[Autos_Editor]

The new math, Italian style.
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[ChaosphereIX]

you all know I am a sucker for Italian cars, but for me it is Abarth or nothing with the 500. Looks, goes, and feels much much better in every way.

[JohnnyMac]

I have to say this is by far the best looking Fiat to date.  This edition has been sold for 2 years?!  I have yet to see one on the road.  Overall the 500 is just not up to par in my books.  It's more style over function. 

VW has a similar trim level on their Beetle Classic.  I love these dog dish rims.  I could see some baby boomers choosing this as they're fun city car but probably has very little traction with the younger generation.

[Rupert]

   I think that the only size comparisons that I can think of are the Micra and Mitsubishi...the other cross shops are...bigger; that you could get for similar outlay. That being said I think that this is a very nice little car. Ten seconds to 100km/ might be considered to be 'furious' driving in every day life. We or you hardly ever do this dash, in any car, in every day traffic or otherwise...and it might be considered boorish by most. At least it is not compared to a push bike here...an improvement. This is to try to implant in readers who might be buying for the first time, the fact that this, and others like, are indeed well powered vehicles in every ordinary way. Small though, which might be the main reason for choice. Easy parking...easy handling...low fuel consumption.
   I don't actually think that this one looks any better than the previous ones seen here though. The Micra is a more useful format with it's 5 doors in my opinion. If you are mostly driving yourself and maybe one other around, this could be as ecological as most; if you consider the fuel use and smaller amount of resources to make.
   Very nice looking seats and skylight. Does it have up-grade drum rear brakes?

[Jaeger]

Wow - totally not feeling the look of this one at all.

[safristi]

$29K....that is almost 15,000 packs of smokes in Napoli

[Fobroader]

I cannot see any good reason to pay almost double for this over a Micra. The 1957 version should be a stripped out, base model true to its roots.

[Weels]

Oh dio.. please do not show this to my wife.

[vasyapirh]

I cannot see any good reason to pay almost double for this over a Micra. The 1957 version should be a stripped out, base model true to its roots.

Because Micra is a "penalty box" - it is slow, loud and uncomfortable. This thing is actually nice to be in (myself I'd go for Abarth though), and to some worth extra $10K.
Also, some people don't care about "practicality" (that's why I got a cooper), so no trunk and tiny rear seats are perfectly acceptable.

[Fobroader]

I cannot see any good reason to pay almost double for this over a Micra. The 1957 version should be a stripped out, base model true to its roots.

Because Micra is a "penalty box" - it is slow, loud and uncomfortable. This thing is actually nice to be in (myself I'd go for Abarth though), and to some worth extra $10K.
Also, some people don't care about "practicality" (that's why I got a cooper), so no trunk and tiny rear seats are perfectly acceptable.

This thing is also just as slow, just as loud and as for comfort, I sat in a Fiat, sat in a Micra...whats the difference again?? Oh, and there is also that reliability thing which the Micra absolutely leaves the Fix It Again Tony in the dust.

[wing]

Micra is not that bad.   I'd pick it over the fiat everyday.

[ChaosphereIX]

reliability doesn't count these days, as all cars are reliable generally speaking - even the Fiat - it isn't 1980 anymore

buying a car for it's reliability alone is kinda boring...live a little!

but I agree, the Fiat and Nissan both are about the same in the comfort factor - the Abarth seats, for some reason, felt better than the normal 500 seats.

still, no way I would pay Abarth money for this fashion accessory...if I am going to buy a loud, slow, ugly little city car, and had no other choice, I would get the Nissan, swallow my pride, and pocket the rest of the cash. The Fiat is just not worth it...until you get the Abarth that is 

[Fobroader]

reliability doesn't count these days, as all cars are reliable generally speaking - even the Fiat - it isn't 1980 anymore

buying a car for it's reliability alone is kinda boring...live a little!

but I agree, the Fiat and Nissan both are about the same in the comfort factor - the Abarth seats, for some reason, felt better than the normal 500 seats.

still, no way I would pay Abarth money for this fashion accessory...if I am going to buy a loud, slow, ugly little city car, and had no other choice, I would get the Nissan, swallow my pride, and pocket the rest of the cash. The Fiat is just not worth it...until you get the Abarth that is 

The Abarth is a complete other animal...or arachnid in this case, yeah, I can't see this floormat and pinstripe "special edition" being worth twice the Micra.

[wing]

The Abarth isn't really that fast... 15 sec quarter mile.

[mixmanmash]

I think I should be the first to make a Nismo Micra using the engine and transmission out of the Juke Nismo RS FWD...

[Fobroader]

I think I should be the first to make a Nismo Micra using the engine and transmission out of the Juke Nismo RS FWD...

Like an Abarth, but a reliable one 

[mlin32]

I'm sorry, but based on my experience with the Fiat 500 in Germany, I can't think of any reason to buy one of these.

[tooscoops]

guys... who are we kidding? you don't buy this for its practicality, its fuel economy, its reliability, or its price point... this is the car for a wife with no kids at home any more, who just wants a runabout and thinks the fiat is cute... she can still pick up her grandson in a pinch, and show off her ride when she stops to get her hair did with the girls...

i think it's interesting at least... i'll give it that. but yeah, from an actual car standpoint, hack no would i take it.

[Fobroader]

guys... who are we kidding? you don't buy this for its practicality, its fuel economy, its reliability, or its price point... this is the car for a wife with no kids at home any more, who just wants a runabout and thinks the fiat is cute... she can still pick up her grandson in a pinch, and show off her ride when she stops to get her hair did with the girls...

i think it's interesting at least... i'll give it that. but yeah, from an actual car standpoint, hack no would i take it.

But wouldn't a nice Sebring convertible be a better car?? 

[tooscoops]

oh i agree, but not everyone will... some people (usually it is women) see something and attach themselves to it... minis, and fiats tend to be the one two punch... they took over for the beetle a while back.. the new beetle is just a bit too normal now... they can't seem fresh and trendy in a car that has been around that long...