Any love here for the new Fiat 500?

[TechnoPope]

As long as they learned what NOT to do from the X1/9... LOL

My best friend in high school had an X 1/9 and it was a blast...thank goodness he could work on it himself...

I've always like the Fiat.

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After college, my best friend got excited about sports cars and bought an X1/9 after I inherited and started driving an MG Midget. Although I had quite a bit of mechanic experience by then, he had never owned or worked on a car before. I think he could have graduated from Fiat mechanic school by the end of his first summer with that car. Good times...fun cars.

I am looking forward to the Fiat 500 introduction.

[Ldub]

Though it might look almost cool with a big ol' whale tail mounted on the back...

[WormGod]

Mini + Smartcar + Scion = a car my little sister would drive.

[newthings]

I had a 1967 Fiat Abarth 1300 (850 with engine out of the 124 - running backward)
At 130K mi. I sold to Star Trek I producer Bob Delasantina and it is still running.

I would expect anything from great service and performance to a rolling disaster.
Fiat is a wild card.
Roy

[SlowPro48]

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After college, my best friend got excited about sports cars and bought an X1/9 after I inherited and started driving an MG Midget. Although I had quite a bit of mechanic experience by then, he had never owned or worked on a car before. I think he could have graduated from Fiat mechanic school by the end of his first summer with that car. Good times...fun cars.

TechnoPope, I can definitely relate! My brother had the X1/9 and I had a Midget. We both gained a lot of mechanical knowledge. Also learned a lot about pressing objects found by the roadside into service - pieces of beer can to repair fuel pump points, wine bottle corks to plug holes in the intake when a gulp valve "disappears" while buzzing down the interstate at 75% of redline trying to keep up with traffic, etc. I sure developed a finely tuned ear for the sound of a motor getting ready to go off-song and also for the sound of a metal part hitting the pavement. (I'm sure you've seen the bumper sticker that says "All parts falling off this vehicle are of the finest British craftsmanship") But like you say "Good times...fun cars" That MG was more than just a ride - it was a rolling adventure. In fact I'd say it was more than good times - it was the best of times.

OK in order to keep this from being a total TJ: I actually like the looks of that little Fiat - especially the Hamann - check out the rear view half way down the http://500oc.net/ site - 265hp from 1.4 liters is not too shabby! And props to whoever incorporated that eight ball in the grill so that the driver is always "behind the eight ball" - funny stuff!