001 Drives The Fiat 500c -- Is It The Next "Must Have" Fashion Accessory?

With gasoline at $5 a gal, the 500c is starting to look more like a financial tool than a fashion accessory. Smaller cars are the wave of the future.

Where in make believe land? Because California isnt even that high.

The new Fiat 500 is a beautiful reincarnation of the original. You can't help but appreciate and like this car. Without driving it, it looks sympathetic and friendly and fun and I am sure it drives like that as well. I'd like to have one in my garage. It would be the little car I'd take into the city to do shopping or have fun in. I'm sure it's even more fun to drive than my W203 C230 6-speed.

What annoys me are the various testers from publications who drive a Ferrari and then get into this Fiat and complain about a lack of performance. I've driven similar-powered yet bigger rental cars in Europe and I've never found them to be underpowered. They're not as quick as the car we're used to in the US, but they're not slow and I could overtake, merge and accelerate fluidly with them. 101-horsepower in a light and small car like the 500 are definitely adequate, especially since 101-horsepower today are nothing like the 101-horsepower from a few decades ago.

Very well said. You nailed it.

This little beauty is like a 4 wheel Vespa.

It's true to the heritage and when you see the construction of the top and the interior bits, you will be impressed by its affordable price tag.

001

And it's probably the most unique affordable car offering in a long time.

001

1. It's cute, more or less.
2. Nicely styled interior
3. It's small, fuel efficient.

It will sell.

Um, the 500 was around in Europe long before the POS Chevette appeared on the market. Don't remind me of the crap that GM was putting out in the '70s and '80s. The Citation, Cavalier and Chevette are easily on the top of that crap list.

The original Fiat Panda was far from crappy. It was one of the most rugged, reliable and well-made Fiats ever. It was affordable, had decent performance (for its time and class) and could transport four people in relative comfort (provided they aren't as fat as todays generation).

Extraordinary selection of eye-catching photos, especially amazing given the dreary weather and grey background of New York City. Congrats to the photographer.

I like the Fiat 500 in red, yellow or white with the upgrade wheels, a perfect city car.

As long as 001 isn't in the pics, they might be the "best damn photographs in the automotive kingdom".

Fiat 500 is a perfect example of an answer to a question that nobody asked.

It's a decent car that does not compare anything but a Mini or Smart. No small Jap or Korean car has this much design flair let alone a convertable top. If you based everything on price Mini would never sell a car. Obviously price is not the issue in purchasing this type of car.It's fun to drive, it gets very good gas mileage(even if it's not the best)and you can get it with a convertable top. The Fiat 500 is the answer to a few questions. Whats fun to drive but gets good mileage? Why can't a small economy car be good looking inside and out?The Fiat 500 answers these questions very well.

nice article