Fiat 500 advice and info?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ioan

Yeah, they sure aren't bankrupt anymore! :p

---

True enough :) :up:

Last time we had one at the tracks I almost sneaked a ride...
but I couldn't find reverse to back it out of the garage ! :arrows: :dozey:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Daniel

........bought an articulated lorry to carry them and their 2kg bag of flour sized child :p

---

It's not the size of the kid, it's all the accesories that come along with the kid. Stroller, daiper bag, etc.
We got a minivan (had a Honda Prelude before that) when our second arrived. Wifey was having too much trouble putting in and taking the baby seat out of the back seat of a 2 door car. Also, once the stroller went into the trunk, there wasn't really much room for anyting else.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by odykas

I'm curious if any other small cars are available in N. America, such as: Smart, 107/C1/Aygo, Others.

---

We've had Smart cars here for a few years now.

Saw my first 500 about two weeks ago in a car lot, and yesterday on a billboard (advertised - as low as $15,995 & 55mpg). Haven't seen any on the street yet though. They must've changed the car rental or used car lot (whatever it was before - I don't remember) into a Fiat dealership. There's a lot full of 500's in front of a building that's had it's name and all it's signs covered with chipboard. Guess I'll find out when the reno's are done.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Firstgear

It's not the size of the kid, it's all the accesories that come along with the kid. Stroller, daiper bag, etc.
We got a minivan (had a Honda Prelude before that) when our second arrived. Wifey was having too much trouble putting in and taking the baby seat out of the back seat of a 2 door car. Also, once the stroller went into the trunk, there wasn't really much room for anyting else.

---

But I think people choose to take loads of crap with :) You can fit a pushchair in the back of the 500, the rear seats on most of them are 50:50 splits so you can put larger stuff in that way. I'll admit you won't be doing any cross continent journeys with a child in the back, but for shopping journeys and days out it's fine. I admit if it was an only car then you'd definitely need something bigger. That said when I was little, my parents carried myself and my 2 older brothers around in a little Honda Civic.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Daniel

I think Smart's might be sold in the USA.

I agree that the current situation with Lancia is unacceptable. They seem to think that Lancia is a luxury brand. So what do they do? Sell freaking Chryslers as Lancia's and a few slightly nicer Fiat's than what Fiat sell. If anything, Lancia is just as much of a sporty brand as Alfa Romeo is, so what do they do with Alfa? Make some lukewarm cars with a few fat, overweight and underpowered GM engines and sell people the Cuore Sportivo bullcrap to people. Alfa should have a few class leading products and at least some freaking hot cars and all they've got is the Mito QV and the Giulietta QV. Where are the freakin' GTA's? Why is this horribly ugly and unItalian looking 4c piece of crap being pedalled? Makes me freakin' angry to see people piss away such good brands. I only hope that VAG can do better with Alfa than the Italians have......

---

I agree Daniel.. but the problem is that VAG is the Devil reincarnated.
Live free or die :evil:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Firstgear

We've had Smart cars here for a few years now.

Saw my first 500 about two weeks ago in a car lot, and yesterday on a billboard (advertised - as low as $15,995 & 55mpg). Haven't seen any on the street yet though. They must've changed the car rental or used car lot (whatever it was before - I don't remember) into a Fiat dealership. There's a lot full of 500's in front of a building that's had it's name and all it's signs covered with chipboard. Guess I'll find out when the reno's are done.

---

Good to see the Fiat dealership experience is consistent over the pond! :D

Well, my curiosity got to me - and I had to check what that lot was before (google streetview to the rescue) - and it was a private used auto lot. But as I clicked along streetview, I noticed something that I hadn't noticed before. All the car dealerships seem to have been put in a specific order.
You start at a VW/Porsche dealership.
.....then Mazda
.....then Chrysler
.....then used Chrysler
.....then used private (now the fiat/500 lot)
.....and beside that is a place called ArchAngel Fireworks

It's like a stroll from auto bliss to auto hell. :eek: :D :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by odykas

I agree Daniel.. but the problem is that VAG is the Devil reincarnated.
Live free or die :evil:

---

I agree. It would be just another brand for Piech and they would just get Seat's and paint them red, put the scudetto on and sell them as Alfa's.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Firstgear

Well, my curiosity got to me - and I had to check what that lot was before (google streetview to the rescue) - and it was a private used auto lot. But as I clicked along streetview, I noticed something that I hadn't noticed before. All the car dealerships seem to have been put in a specific order.
You start at a VW/Porsche dealership.
.....then Mazda
.....then Chrysler
.....then used Chrysler
.....then used private (now the fiat/500 lot)
.....and beside that is a place called ArchAngel Fireworks

It's like a stroll from auto bliss to auto hell. :eek: :D :D

---

Fits in with them being sold alongside Chryslers :) They'll be a lot better than the Chrysler's I reckon though :D