Well I finally got to rent fiat 500 in L.A this weekend and drive it like I stile it.  I loved it.  Parking it in tight places was so so so convenient.  Sport setting was sweet.  I got to look up specs on it.  Wonder what the sipped up one is like...  Will post pics.

Quote from: ab on July 17, 2011, 11:32:31 PM
Well I finally got to rent fiat 500 in L.A this weekend and drive it like I stile it.  I loved it.  Parking it in tight places was so so so convenient.  Sport setting was sweet.  I got to look up specs on it.  Wonder what the sipped up one is like...  Will post pics.

Nice    Let us know what that sipped up one is like. 

I saw one on the interstate coming home from my last ride.  Good looking little car!

JM

They look like a Nissan Micra to me. 
It would have been more interesting of they made it rear engined...

My random thoughts spilled on the pages of the DMF:

Having been a victim of Italian cars, I'll try to wait on throwing in my 2 cents. 

But the cuts from that relationship were too deep and even over 20 years later it's hard for me to forget.  We, the American people, don't forget.  Toyota's have treated us well.  Even with the risk of a stuck throttle we'll still buy them.  I don't care what news comes out about the Camry, we love them.  They're almost a family pet to some and Fido won't let the family down.

Owning an Alfa is like falling in love with a chemically imbalanced psycho red head stripper.  The car always had a laundry list of issues to attend to but when you fired up that V6 everything was forgiven.     That stripper could drain your wallet, leave you on the side of the road at 2 a.m. and all she would have to do is get in your pants and all is forgiven. 

That soul that car came with might be exactly what Chrysler needs?

Is Chrysler too far gone?  Did Fiat buy a pig in a pock hoping to get into the American market?  My father worked for a company that made electronic parts for Chrysler.  (I think is was their way of say "we buy American".)  Chrysler came to them and put to the screws to them to lower their prices.  They lowered their prices for the parts.  So the company had to lower their expenses.  What's a companies biggest expense?  Payroll!  They let go all their senior engineers and staff.  The company couldn't make parts that would pass QC but Chrysler used them anyway. 

My Italian relatives are very surprised at how much more reliable Fiat has become.

When I finally broke that relationship with that psycho read head Alfa I bought a Nisan Pathfinder.  I had it for nine low maintenance years and I would still have it if it wasn't for our family needs changing. 

I wish both Chrysler and Fiat luck.  Small, efficient, RELIABLE and desirable cars is exactly what we need.  Fingers crossed.   



The first bump in the road I'll be the first to jump up and down.  Every ex-fiat/alfa owner has earned the right.

Fiat 500:

Nissan Micra:


not so much I guess, but definitely variations on the same theme

Quote from: kopfjäger on July 17, 2011, 11:36:10 PM
Nice    Let us know what that sipped up one is like. 

Lol blame the iPhone auto corrector - sipping n driving, not cool!  :-)

Wonder what the abrath is like?  In general, I like the one I rode, wish it was manual.  Hate the manual I rode without clutch pedal.  When sport button engaged, you will every turn sways etc. Fun fun car for my 3 day rental.  Parking in pasedena, I got to squeeze her in easily.  Lots of curious looks.

Loaded her up with stuff from grocery depot and it was funny the looks I got with fully grocery for a party. Lol


Fiat - my past experience when I was a kid was great.  I don't remember it being a nightmare for maintenance for my parents, but then I didn't grow up in USA and fiat was common but alpha Romeo was rare.

Hope this lil car succeeds.  N yes the rear engine wad cooler instead of what it is now.

 

Jeez can't wait until we see the Renault Dauphine resurface next...

now that would be a whole different class of turd

floating to the surface in the cesspool of junk machinery

So anyone drive the fiat abrath yet?  I see some company in Germany got a kit to make that thing 200hp. 

I'd like to give one a ride

FIAT 500 Abarth -- Seduction

Quote from: Vindingo on December 04, 2011, 07:26:02 AM
I'd like to give one a ride

and maybe test drive the car afterwards.   

Quote from: Goat_Herder on December 04, 2011, 10:02:35 AM
and maybe test drive the car afterwards.   

Car?  What car?

Quote from: Bick on December 04, 2011, 10:21:10 AM
Car?  What car?

Touche.   

Quote from: Vindingo on December 04, 2011, 07:26:02 AM
I'd like to give one a ride

FIAT 500 Abarth -- Seduction

What did I tell you?  That car is a like a chemically imbalanced psycho red head stripper.  Fiat doesn't even try to hide it.  They advertise it as chemically imbalanced psycho red head brunette stripper model.  Don't take her home!  Before you know it she's taken over the apartment, you've lost your job, your friends hate you, you're broke and you're on the DMF asking for advice, etc...... 

Quote from: The Architect on December 04, 2011, 11:04:25 AM
you're broke and you're on the DMF asking for advice, etc...... 

But with over 9,300 members, if each one gave just $10.00...