Test drove one!

[Jvsgabriel]

As for starting the Fiat, I know that one must first depress the clutch in to start it.  Which threw me for a second as all my manual cars didn't have this safety feature (my SAABs '93 and '95 900's, '81 Peugeot, even '93 Mitsu truck).  But then said autos were all pre 2000 cars.  So I tried to start the 500 and it didn't start, had to remember to push in the clutch.  but thankfully never stalled the car, but did waste some gas by having a very heavy foot.  I sort of pride myself by giving just enough gas for a smooth and easy start.  

I was also surprised at how sensitive the brake pedal was.  Was really looking foolish as I had everybody in the car bobbing their heads with each stop I made the first couple times.  Did any one else find this to be the case, or do I just have a very heavy braking foot?  Anthony, what was your experience? iknow the SAAB brakes need quite a lot of effort as well.  

And for the record still no call from Fiat yet.  So it is not going regionally as someone had mentioned.  I think there was a post saying the cars would be sent to the southern states closer to Mexico.  What's closer than San Diego and Los Angeles?  And LA has Motor village up and running already as well.  

Joel #366

[sketch]

Yeah, it's the same with any manual-transmission car I get into, finding the clutch's sweet spot is always the hardest part.  Especially since the clutch I'm most familiar with these days is that of a Corvette! :P

[Springer2011]

When the Mini Cooper S first came out several years ago I was able to drive one. I also went ona ride the same day with an owner of an older version that raced the car car many years ago. I was in back and the salesman was in the passenger seat. The original Mini owner was taking 90 degree residential street turns at 50 mph and the street had some moisture since there were some light showers that morning. Well suffice it to say I was really glad to get back to the dealership in one piece. The sang that they drive like they are on rails is absolutely correct.

Anyway my point is that I was reading some of the european road tests between Mini's and the Fiat 500. I was really surprised to find out that the lateral accelleration of the Fiat 500 is higher than the regular Mini model and some of the S models. The Mini S models lateral acceleration is from .84 to .89 G's depending on who you beleive and the Fiat 500 is .85 G's. I even think I saw someone say .95 G's for the Fiat 500 some place but could not find it now.

[Springer2011]

Road and Track Mini Cooper Road Test Data

www.roadandtrack/tests/data-panel-archive#Mini

2002 Mini Cooper       0.79 G's lateral acceleration
2008 Mini Cooper S    0.85 G's lateral acceleration

2012 Fiat 500           0.85 G's lateral acceleration

Pretty good.

[ciddyguy]

Jvsgabriel wrote

As for starting the Fiat, I know that one must first depress the clutch in to start it.  Which threw me for a second as all my manual cars didn't have this safety feature (my SAABs '93 and '95 900's, '81 Peugeot, even '93 Mitsu truck).  But then said autos were all pre 2000 cars.  So I tried to start the 500 and it didn't start, had to remember to push in the clutch.  but thankfully never stalled the car, but did waste some gas by having a very heavy foot.  I sort of pride myself by giving just enough gas for a smooth and easy start.  

I was also surprised at how sensitive the brake pedal was.  Was really looking foolish as I had everybody in the car bobbing their heads with each stop I made the first couple times.  Did any one else find this to be the case, or do I just have a very heavy braking foot?  Anthony, what was your experience? iknow the SAAB brakes need quite a lot of effort as well.  

And for the record still no call from Fiat yet.  So it is not going regionally as someone had mentioned.  I think there was a post saying the cars would be sent to the southern states closer to Mexico.  What's closer than San Diego and Los Angeles?  And LA has Motor village up and running already as well.  

Joel #366

As far as the clutch interlock, my 1992 Ford Ranger has it on the clutch, gotta shove it in before the truck will start, no matter what, my 88 Honda Accord didn't have it as by the early 1990's it was becoming more common to have the clutch interlock, I think around this time we began to see the brake interlock for the automatic equipped cars as well.

[Gavin]

Springer2011 wrote

Road and Track Mini Cooper Road Test Data

www.roadandtrack/tests/data-panel-archive#Mini

2002 Mini Cooper       0.79 G's lateral acceleration
2008 Mini Cooper S    0.85 G's lateral acceleration

2012 Fiat 500           0.85 G's lateral acceleration

Pretty good.

I wonder if that was the Sport or the Pop/Lounge?

I also wonder what the Abarth's will be :)

Gavin

[Springer2011]

Clutch interlock is on all cars sold today. You are comparing cars 16 to 28 years old.

[Anthony]

I had no issues with the brakes being sensitive.

The 500 has a self-adjusting hydraulic clutch. Again, I had no issue finding the friction point. The learning curve in my opinion is mastering the shift points and figuring out the power range of the engine.

In looking back, I don't know when the clutch interlock became mandatory. I can't remember whether my '91 Saab had it. My '80s Volvos certainly did not. Every other car I owned from the '90s did. Probably came about in either 1991 or 1993 with all of the other safety requirements.

[sketch]

Pedal sensitivity is simply one of those things that changes from car to car.  My Prius is somewhere in the middle of the feather touch required to slow my dad's old G35 and the relative stomp mom's old Sequoia needed.  Same variations in the accelerator.  More "sporting" cars tend to require a lighter touch because this increases responsiveness.

[FiATL]

Drove a Nero Sport in Morrow GA today.  Overall impression is "WOW!"  I'm just going to stream thoughts as they came to me.

Smaller in person than expected.  Felt extremely solid and well built overall.  The quality of most things is as good as or better than most small cars and comparable if not a bit better than the MINI. (Before anyone blasts me, I did have a MINI for 2 yrs.)  Very comfortable seats and the leatherette on the sport seats is equal to other Euro car faux leathers.  The cloth inserts reminded me of that nylon that is on some running shoes.

Then I drove the car.  Very easy to get used to the light clutch and somewhat sensitive brake feel.  When I started out, the steering felt very rubbery and I  realized that I had not pushed the sport button. It makes ALL the difference in the world.  After pressing it the steering firmed up and the fun began.  Loves to be driven over 4,000 RPM.  The car is very solid and feels nothing like the toy it looks like.  Quiet at speed and can be driven with the sunroof open at speed without wind buffeting.  Amazing turning radius and the handling is close to a base Cooper but due to the extra high seating position felt just a bit more tippy to me.  Ride much more compliant and absorbs bumps way better than the MINI ever did.  Good trunk and back seat space compared with that car too.

Ok, my only issues are mainly related to the sunroof, which I sort of wish I did not order.  1.  Headroom is limited for my 6'1" frame.  I am long waisted so from my butt to the top of my bald head, I'm more like someone who is 6'4".   2. The sunshade is a just a shade and is perforated.  I'd have preferred something that completely blocks the sun.   Also, a few pieces felt cheap.  The headliner, carpet, and some of the hard plastics are not out of place in a car of this price but with the looks, feature content, and amazing seats, I expected that to continue throughout.  All things considered, it appears they cut costs where is is least important to have nice "touch points".  Finally, why no heated seats from the factory with a manual transmission?

I reset the trip computer when I got in the car.  Took it on a nice drive in suburban traffic.  Was not gentle on the acceleration and still got an indicated 31.3 mpg on my 6 mile loop.  Not scientific but I was impressed.  

I will be getting my Prima.  The drive confirmed my decision and now I just can't wait to get it home into my garage.  

[sketch]

Did you have to recline the seat a bit further back than was completely comfortable?  Methinks we may have a similar headroom issue! :P

[Springer2011]

Fiat claims Fiat 500 can get 0.97 G's on skid pad.

www.insideline.com/fiat/500/2008/videos/2008_fiat_500_fd_1.html

This is an old Edmaunds.com video of a Fiat 500. They say Fiat claimed a skid pad rating of 0.97 g.

Wow, what a memory I had.