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  #1  
Old 12-08-2011, 11:31 PM
Ron Mummert Ron Mummert is offline
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Thumbs up More than the usual gawks, & comments.

"How fast will it go?", inquired one individual. "What kinda' gas mileage ya" gittin'?", asked another. "Can anybody fit in the back seat?" etc.,etc.
During an 8 day visit to Sacramento, San Francisco, & vicinity, it seemed I couldn't park this car without stares, puzzled looks, smiles, or questions. Day-um, I lamented. I'll bet some of the reaction to this car was similar to the SVX when it hit the streets. Uh....no. I didn't drive the batmobile cross-country.

I pushed the "special" deal button on the Dollar car rental page, meaning you get what we got when you show up. Could be a compact, could be a HumVee, for $14.95 a day. So, when I arrived the choice was between....drum roll... a Crown Vic OR a Fiat 500. As the Ford product didn't include the police package, I settled on Tony's "I'm filthy rich, thanks to you" product.

Now, I owned 2 Fiats back in the 60s. An 850 while in Germany, & a 128 coupe when I hit the shores of the USA. While the 850 met its demise with a head-on "Howdy" to a grosse Lastwagon, & the 124 became iron oxide in the 4 years I had it, I must admit, they were a hoot to drive. So, as Tony bailed out Chrysler, another "quality" company, I decided to stroll down the lane of memories, some pleasant, & hit the Kalifornia Koast in the equivalent of a stretch limo Smart Car. Besides, gas is about 12 bucks a gallon in this shadow of its former self state.

So, while getting adjusted to a car that's about 8 feet long, with every possible electronic display constantly staring at me, I ventured forth putting around 500 miles on the gnat over 7 days. I did the freeways, the hills of SF, & the rotting secondary roads of the Napa Valley (Mmmmm....WINE country!)

Gotta' say - even with its auto-tranny/manual shift slush box, it put some fun into out-dragging Priuses (Priuiii?). The thing had all the goodies including heated seats, sunroof, auto-climate control, satellite Bose 7 speaker radio & a "sport" mode tranny button on the dash. Power everything else. High wind warnings around the bay area didn't faze it, & I got around 35 mpg while goosing it here, there, & everywhere - mostly everywhere. Freeway merge acceleration was quite perky, & I hit 85 mph once without much effort.

I researched this thing. It's probably over-priced. Loaded, it's over 20K, I think. However, I NEVER buy new cars, so in 5-6 years, guessing the resale value will drop like a bag o' stones, I'd give a good 6-7K for a "previously goosed" one. Face it - gas will hit 6-7 bucks in two years. Gotta' be prepared, & I ain't goin' electric - might shock myself.

Can't wait to see the the Abarth version. Vroom!

Ron. (Ain't no car small enough)
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Last edited by Ron Mummert; 12-08-2011 at 11:37 PM.
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  #2  
Old 12-09-2011, 04:20 AM
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Re: More than the usual gawks, & comments.

when I was out west last summer I had one that was a rental car parked next to my rental car in Washington. I took a few min to look at it. Looked cool but I was glad I opted for the Outback I had. (especially since I was going to a Subaru show)
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  #3  
Old 12-09-2011, 05:08 AM
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Re: More than the usual gawks, & comments.

I just can't get past the damn mustache.

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  #4  
Old 12-09-2011, 06:23 AM
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Re: More than the usual gawks, & comments.

WOW it even looks like a "TONY"
I liked the idea of the pass seat being a few inches farther forward to allow 2" more leg room to one passenger . Billed as a 3 1/2 pass car . Tiny it is for sure . I agree all these save you money tiny cars are over priced . Why is it my Wife has a Big %!!% Acura TL and gets 28 to 30 MPG high way and this little thing can only better it by 7 or 8 MPG. The Smart car gets a whooping 38 to 40. My 1981 Subaru 2 wheel drive GLF 5 speed 1800 cc got 41 and my 1994 F/I 1800 GL 4 door 2 wheel drive 5 speed did 40 also.
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Old 12-09-2011, 06:46 AM
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Re: More than the usual gawks, & comments.

I like it, but not for me. I am interested to see what larger sized Fiats start coming over. I was just reading that they were bringing one over to make a new Dodge Dart.
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  #6  
Old 12-09-2011, 09:49 AM
Ron Mummert Ron Mummert is offline
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Re: More than the usual gawks, & comments.

I like it, but not for me. I am interested to see what larger sized Fiats start coming over. I was just reading that they were bringing one over to make a new Dodge Dart.


The new Dart will be an Alpha Romeo, owed by Fiat. Definitely more Sophia Loren, less Mario Brothers. Wonder if it'll have a slant 6 turbo.

Ron.
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'92 stock semi-pristine ebony - 160K
'96 Grand Caravan - 240K
'01 Miata SE - 79K
'07 Chrysler Pacifica - 60k - future money pit.
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  #7  
Old 12-09-2011, 10:01 AM
Ron Mummert Ron Mummert is offline
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Re: More than the usual gawks, & comments.

WOW it even looks like a "TONY"
Why is it my Wife has a Big %!!% Acura TL and gets 28 to 30 MPG high way and this little thing can only better it by 7 or 8 MPG. The Smart car gets a whooping 38 to 40. My 1981 Subaru 2 wheel drive GLF 5 speed 1800 cc got 41 and my 1994 F/I 1800 GL 4 door 2 wheel drive 5 speed did 40 also.[/QUOTE]



I figger it's all about gearing ratio at the top end, & the weight imposed by all the gadgetry of crash protection, electronic gizmos, & sound deadening pushed by a 1.4 liter engine. The old late 80s Buick LeSabre pushrod 3800 got over 30 mpg at highway speeds, & probably loafed along doing 70 at 2200 RPM. Not much fun at the autocross, however.

Ron.
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Good s**t happened. 69 was worth the wait.

'92 stock semi-pristine ebony - 160K
'96 Grand Caravan - 240K
'01 Miata SE - 79K
'07 Chrysler Pacifica - 60k - future money pit.
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  #8  
Old 12-09-2011, 10:38 AM
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Re: More than the usual gawks, & comments.

be careful with the fiat 500 threads they might get "killed"

i would know it happened!!
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Old 12-09-2011, 09:59 PM
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Re: More than the usual gawks, & comments.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Conn SVX View Post
I liked the idea of the pass seat being a few inches farther forward to allow 2" more leg room to one passenger . Billed as a 3 1/2 pass car .
I've been looking into these cars extensively, and hadn't heard of this, nor did I notice it on any of the ones I have checked out in person. Where did you find out about this?
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  #10  
Old 12-10-2011, 05:56 AM
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Re: More than the usual gawks, & comments.

An article in our local paper. The guy does an auto review every week.
I looked at the car also and it was not obvious to me either .
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