Flame away. Fiat 500

[Rogue Leader]

I'd love a 500 Abarth, but cant justify owning 2 new cars, and NOT owning a house (I just have a co-op right now). I need a pickup truck more than I need a small car.

[TheCaptain]

I'd much rather stick with a Sonic.

[Stew]

I don't get how it is not fuel efficient, it gets 30/38 with the Manual transmission, that is more than any Fiesta without the SFE package, the Honda Fit, the TOyota Yaris, the Cruze (the ONLY exception being the Eco WITH the manual transmission), the mini Cooper, The Ford Focus without the SFE package, more than likely the 1.8 Sonic, , the same city MPG and only 2 less highway MPG than the new direct injected 1.6 Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio, (Same with the Elantra, but it gets 1 more MPG city). The Abartha is supposed to get around the same as the basic 500 too. Oh, the 2 seater, way less powerful and smaller Smart with that annoying transmission and way too high price is only rated at 33/42 MPG.

[IBM]

Originally Posted by Stew

I don't get how it is not fuel efficient, it gets 30/38 with the Manual transmission, that is more than any Fiesta without the SFE package, the Honda Fit, the TOyota Yaris, the Cruze (the ONLY exception being the Eco WITH the manual transmission), the mini Cooper, The Ford Focus without the SFE package, more than likely the 1.8 Sonic, , the same city MPG and only 2 less highway MPG than the new direct injected 1.6 Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio, (Same with the Elantra, but it gets 1 more MPG city). The Abartha is supposed to get around the same as the basic 500 too. Oh, the 2 seater, way less powerful and smaller Smart with that annoying transmission and way too high price is only rated at 33/42 MPG.

You're forgetting that half the cars you listed are much larger than the 500

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by Stew

I don't get how it is not fuel efficient, it gets 30/38 with the Manual transmission, that is more than any Fiesta without the SFE package, the Honda Fit, the TOyota Yaris, the Cruze (the ONLY exception being the Eco WITH the manual transmission), the mini Cooper, The Ford Focus without the SFE package, more than likely the 1.8 Sonic, , the same city MPG and only 2 less highway MPG than the new direct injected 1.6 Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio, (Same with the Elantra, but it gets 1 more MPG city). The Abartha is supposed to get around the same as the basic 500 too. Oh, the 2 seater, way less powerful and smaller Smart with that annoying transmission and way too high price is only rated at 33/42 MPG.

2012 Cruze does 38 MPG. 39 MPG with ECO auto, 42 with ECO manual. Sonic will easily do 40.

Hell, the 2013 Malibu ECO does 38 MPG.

And fueleconomy.gov says the thing runs on PREMIUM?

[Stew]

Originally Posted by IBM

You're forgetting that half the cars you listed are much larger than the 500

Some yes, but not all. the Fiesta, Cooper, Fit, etc, etc, are basically direct competitors and it is not doing that bad.

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

2012 Cruze does 38 MPG. 39 MPG with ECO auto, 42 with ECO manual. Sonic will easily do 40.

Hell, the 2013 Malibu ECO does 38 MPG.

And fueleconomy.gov says the thing runs on PREMIUM?

True, but look at the tech the Cruze is using, and if the automatic works as tragically as the current one, no thanks. I would like to see how they are getting the extra MPG from the Cruze seeing as it already basically refuses to downshift and i don't see how it could upshift to topgear any quicker. Keep in mind, the 500 is more a fashion statement type thing than an all out economy car, even though most Americans will see it this way. As for the Eco models, remember too, they are running tons of aerodynamic enhancements and even changes to the ratios to ech particular gear in the transmission. if they went that route they could probably get well over 40 on the highway from 500. Also, what is the City MPG on the Cruze and Malibu Ecos, I would easily bet the combined MPG for the 500 is still higher than those.

[toesuf94]

It will sell to the people who think toy dogs in their purse are cute.

I would buy the Cruise TDi, A VW Golf TDi if I wanted to HYPER mile a car...or a used Z4 2.5i stick and live with the 25-30 mpg it gave me.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by Stew

Some yes, but not all. the Fiesta, Cooper, Fit, etc, etc, are basically direct competitors and it is not doing that bad.



True, but look at the tech the Cruze is using, and if the automatic works as tragically as the current one, no thanks. I would like to see how they are getting the extra MPG from the Cruze seeing as it already basically refuses to downshift and i don't see how it could upshift to topgear any quicker. Keep in mind, the 500 is more a fashion statement type thing than an all out economy car, even though most Americans will see it this way. As for the Eco models, remember too, they are running tons of aerodynamic enhancements and even changes to the ratios to ech particular gear in the transmission. if they went that route they could probably get well over 40 on the highway from 500. Also, what is the City MPG on the Cruze and Malibu Ecos, I would easily bet the combined MPG for the 500 is still higher than those.

The automatic in the Cruze has already been tweaked, so your argument there is null. And you're also talking about the car that has been the best-selling compact in America two months running now and the best selling passenger car in America last month.

Plus, the only way you get 38 MPG in a 500 is with the manual. What's the manual take rate on ANY car these days?

Every 500 display I've seen at a mall has had the 34 MPG Automatic, and judging from comments, people are NOT impressed. It may be selling well towards trendy folks or girls with rich daddies, but your everyday run-of-the-mill consumers are looking elsewhere.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

The automatic in the Cruze has already been tweaked, so your argument there is null. And you're also talking about the car that has been the best-selling compact in America two months running now and the best selling passenger car in America last month.

Plus, the only way you get 38 MPG in a 500 is with the manual. What's the manual take rate on ANY car these days?

Every 500 display I've seen at a mall has had the 34 MPG Automatic, and judging from comments, people are NOT impressed. It may be selling well towards trendy folks or girls with rich daddies, but your everyday run-of-the-mill consumers are looking elsewhere.

I'll agree to disagree. The one I drove was aparently built after the fix and still felt terrible with the transmission only though so I can see how the Cruze can be such a great seller, it is a fine car. My argument is not null, it is simply my opinion on how the transmission worked, especially since the Transmissions in the Elantra and Civic did not have these issues. As for the 500, the take rate has been roughly 50/50, also with the 27/34 rating, the combined is still 30+. That said, i would not buy one, too small, and the hills around here would play havoc with it. My choice for a subcompact right now would be the Sonic, Accent and the upcoming Kia Rio Hatchback and Veloster hatchback..

[Stew]

Oh, just want to add, in that article you posted on the 13 malibu, the 38 MPG eco is apparently using the EAssist mild hybrid and is not a gasoline only motored car.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by Stew

Oh, just want to add, in that article you posted on the 13 malibu, the 38 MPG eco is apparently using the EAssist mild hybrid and is not a gasoline only motored car.

Yes...

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Stew

I like it, ut I would wait for the Abarth which was announced yesterday and should be here the first quarter of next year. Around 2500 pounds and around 175 HP, should at least be entertaining. And I find pretty funny people who drive GM cars talking about another company's cars and having to see if they are going to do better. GMs cars have far and away been the least reliable cars I have owned. Also, you guys with the misinformed parents, inform them that the 500 is selling well and I haven't heard of any quality issues as of yet (given it is pretty new to our shores, but of course, has been out in Europe for a couple years now). Of course I guess these are the same people that think a car has to do good in the US to be successful, when they couldn't be further from the truth, especially with a global car like the 500.......

I was unaware that being on pace to sell 20,000 units a year in the US is 'selling well'.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

I was unaware that being on pace to sell 20,000 units a month in the US is 'selling well'.

Wow, i thinking just a couple thousand a month, 20,000 500s a month, really?

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Stew

Wow, i thinking just a couple thousand a month, 20,000 500s a month, really?

whoops, I meant year. Around 1700 a month