(G) I drove the 500 today

ME"! M Stewarts have got a red 1.4 Sport in, and I got to drive it earlier today.

First off everyone knows how biased I am towards all, well most Fiats, but I was completely blown away by it. I like a lot of people had started to think it looked like the Micra but as soon as I seen it in the flesh, it just screamed Old 500 to me.
The build quality is like nothing I've seen on any other FIat. The doors are nice and heavy and close with a proper "thunk". The funky little touches are brilliant to. The instrument binicle is a lovely touch with the centre the digi readout, middle dial the rev counter and the outer the speedo. There is chrome on the gear lever (6 speed in the Sport) the door handles and the 500 badge on the dash. The front seats hug really well and for such a small car there is plenty of room in the back unless your really tall.
Driving wise it felt like I was driving a far bigger car. Even with the 16" wheels I found it taught but smooth to drive. Even over bumps it was quiet. It has the same engine as the Panda 100HP which is excellent. It's a really nippy car which gets even better when you put it into Sport mod. The steering has really good feedback and the gear stick is positioned almost perfectly (the Pandas in perfect) I just felt like I'd be driving it for ages after about 5 mins of being in it because it's such a lovely place to be.
I can now see what all the hype is about the New 500 and it's well founded. If Fiat haven't got a reall winner with this there's no justice in the world. If you know anyone at all who's thinking of a small car, point them in the direction of the 500, they will not regret it.

It's an absolutely fanastic little car and I want one more than ever now, in white with the red Abarth side stripes, 16" wheels, white dash, white steering wheel, and, and, and!.

The red one is MS's demmo and they will have a white on in the showroom for the official launch on the 21st of this month.

Isn't that just a great feeling? Doesn't happen that often, not for me anyway.

Looking forward to getting behind the wheel, just waiting for my invite from my friendly local dealer for the 21st. Mind you, I think I might be off their mailing list after I ummed & arred over the 100HP for nine months!

Still, nice to read a totally unbiased review by a fellow FIATista...

Lucky you.

My dealer still won't let me drive one, despite having placed an order in October.

Same as you Mark! Told no driving til after the 21st! Thats under 2 weeks away now so not long, but annoying that our dealer said "Fiat wont let us take them on the roads until after the launch"

Either thats not true or some dealers are going against this!

good for you Stuart, Im looking forward to having a drive, but I really want to hold out for this 2 cylinder jobbie, that sounds interesting

Fantastic - glad you really like it. Seems Fiat really have come up trumps with this car. I am going to test one as soon as i get the chance!

Give it big revs it loves it Wheels spins great in the wet

Diesel is ok aswell obviously not as nippy but good for fuel & £35 road tax

ok all the sillyness cleaned up
lads if you want to slate each other do it by pm

have a bit of respect for the original poster who took the time to post this most excelent review

thanks

I think you will find we all knew eachother & were actually just messing, but there you go.

No offence intended

well its an open forum you wasnt in the chat room, and it looked bad and upset a lot of other people who was just looking in. try and keep threads on topic please in future