Straight-up for a 125K+ mile Jeep Liberty? I will even deliver and fill the tank (up to $50) on arrival.
http://fiat500usa.blogspot.com/ The US Fiat 500 has already started receiving accolades even before the car goes on sale to the public. This time it is for achieving best in class fuel economy. Fiat North America has released EPA fuel economy specs for the 2012 Fiat 500, and it shows for the manual transmission car, 30mpg city and 38mpg highway with a combined rating of 33mpg. This is best in class performance. The Fiat 500 with an automatic transmission earned a rating of 27mpg city and 34mpg highway with a combined 30mpg. Again, a best in class performance. Earlier this week I had the opportunity to talk with Chrysler engineers who, working together with their Fiat SpA counterparts, achieved this performance. A fascinating point made was the US car achieves better gas mileage than if they used the complete European drivetrain. These official fuel economy figures are better than the preliminary figures published earlier in documents provided by anonymous sources. The best in class achievements will erase any doubts to the efficiency of the 1.4L MultiAir engine. But the Fiat 500 is more than just great fuel economy. While visiting these talented engineers, I was given the opportunity to drive the new 500 over a long, windy, hilly course laid out by Fiat North America in beautiful San Diego. Let me tell you, this car puts the power down; MultiAir spins out plenty of torque when and where you need it. I was able to charge this course mostly in one gear; the low-end torque pulling me out of the slow turns and then just letting the engine sing through the higher speed sweepers. Very Italian, the engine has a lot of personality. I'll have more on my road test in a later post. Don't miss it!
Q: What's one of the most exlcusive groups? A: People who do NOT like the new 500. First Test: 2012 Fiat 500 January 27, 2011 / By Jonny Lieberman / Photography by Julia LaPalme | "Delightful." Thus spoke Kim Reynolds, our handling and ride quality guru, when I asked him how Fiat's ballsy little 500 was to drive around our patented figure eight. Mr. Reynolds' seal of approval is high praise indeed for the diminutive newcomer, as I've seen Kim yawning while climbing out of ultracars worth several hundred thousand dollars. No, really. So why the big love for such a tiny car? Well, in a teensy-weensy Italian nutshell, the 500 deserves it. Technically speaking, the 500 fits into the A-segment, along with cars like the Smart ForTwo and the upcoming Toyota iQ. But the Fiat's much bigger than the Smart and close to within half a foot of a Mini Cooper in most dimensions, even though the latter rates as a B-segment player. Here's the thing: From the driver's seat, you'd never know just how small the new Cinquecento is. I'm 5'11" and in the sunroof-less Sport edition 500 we tossed around for the weekend, I had space galore. However, Fiat 500s with glass panels up top have much less headroom. Back to the steel roofer: We had a 6 foot, 6-inch valet at our hotel in San Diego sit in the 500, and he proclaimed, "I have more room in here than a CTS." Ooh, Cadillac, burn! I found the rear seat tight on headroom, but somehow (let's say by magic) pretty good on legroom. Here's hoping that if you get stuffed in the rear you have someone to snuggle with, i.e., you don't have to sit up straight. With only 1.4 liters underfoot, I was expecting the worst. I figured the Fiat 500 would be able to quickly dart around town, but suck wind at speed while buzzing like a TMZ editorial meeting. Guess what? At freeway speeds of 80, 85, and 90 mph, not only wasn't the 500 struggling, but it was calmly cruising. The tach was just above 3,000 rpm; tire and wind noise were low; and the engine felt -- dare I say this? -- refined. Again, I was expecting a hive of angry bees to loudly fizz through the firewall, and instead I was treated to relaxed smoothness. Up a 5-percent grade in top gear (fifth in our manual equipped car; the Lounge models sport six-speed automatics), I was able to just tap a little further down on the throttle and Fiat's novel MultiAir four-banger easily maintained 80 miles per hour. Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/hatchbacks/1101_2012_fiat_500/index.html#ixzz1CLq4SKPc
Nice photo gallery. I'm not a fan of the white accents (wheel, etc) but love the brown leather. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Green over brown is my preference: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=140069898&postcount=132
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/28/fiat-500-to-have-no-haggle-sticker-pricing/ Anyone think this will stick? I don't.
no, in america part of car shopping is the negotiating for a better deal & telling friends about it on sunday bbq! LOL
Is it tacky to gloat? Nahhhh. "The Fiat 500 set to invade American shores after a several-decade hiatus isn't the same car that's caught on in Europe. It's better, with more engine, revised suspension and upgraded safety. The Mini Cooper just got pwned." http://jalopnik.com/5745867/2012-fiat-500-first-drive
though i like the car (i'd enjoy an abarth edition to run around town in), i don't know how far it will go in the US realistically.......though the 500 will be familiar to real automotive buffs, the US public doesn't know the original car, and thus this cars retro styling....unlike the mini & beetle which both are familiar face to the public here
Good point. However, in my experience with the car driving it here in the US its styling stands on its own. That is, people just find it cute, without reference to any past car. That's anecdotal, of course, so we shall see.
I dunno, But I wouldn't say the original Mini was ubiquitous here in the US. The original Beetle yes, but the mini was "cultish" here in the US when it was sold here (in small numbers). How many original Beetles do you see verses original (us imported by the British Leyland Group) Mini? If the new Mini can make it here, the new 500 has as good a chance and once the dealer network is firmly established, it should have better distribution, and depending on the direction of marketing, potentially better sales (once the foothold has been established and marketing in the main stream media). JD QUOTE=garnet;140249640]though i like the car (i'd enjoy an abarth edition to run around town in), i don't know how far it will go in the US realistically.......though the 500 will be familiar to real automotive buffs, the US public doesn't know the original car, and thus this cars retro styling....unlike the mini & beetle which both are familiar face to the public here[/QUOTE]
Well, she has a good eye, because it is designed by the same guy who designed the Mini, so I am told. Compare the tailights, for example. So yes, it is shorter...though taller.
i like them both actually LOL ;-) don't get me wrong, like i said a 500 abarth for me around town would be great....i simply mean that brand recognition plays a huge role in the success of any product, as example: if were to place before my mother (not a car person, and typical north american) a new beetle, a new mini, and a new 500.....she would likely say "that's a beetle, a mini, and some new japanese mini car"
My wife likes and I think will be swiping my Prima Edizione. Guess I need to order the Abarth now... She says it is as Italian as having an espresso and a cigarette in Rome in the middle of the afternoon.
