So has this Cinquecento been like a Mini?
In many ways yes and once the rose tinted glasses were ripped off and smashed to pieces I remembered how much of a pain in the arse the Mini was as well.
You know those "Issigonis moments" that were like Yin and Yang?
Go-karting round a corner in a way that defied the Laws of Physics let alone the Road Traffic Act thinking to yourself "Issigonis was a genius". Trying to do a simple job but the bonnet never opened enough and the there were a dozen things in the way that in a normal car wouldn't be and you catch yourself thinking "Issigonis was a pillock" (or worse). :hehe:
The challenge was always half the fun really. I still have a tool I had to make to get the air filter funnel off the back of the SU carb' to fit a pancake filter. Taking the carb' off was an extra three hours work and needed a gasket you never happened to have to hand (not that you could get to the bottom nuts anyway because the funnel was in the way).
A lot of the jobs I had to do on the Cinquecento were very similar to my Mini memories. Fitting rear suspension and noticing the rear subframe was a cosmetic item rather than structural.
Discovering "advisory" items on the MOT would have been failures if the tester hadn't given his guide dog the day off.
Bodges that would be considered Attempted Murder if they were done with any kind of malicious intent.
So yeah; in many ways this Cinquecento has reminded me of my old Minis.
Here's one of my old Minis "Emily" front and center of my memory board.
It hasn't been updated since I went digital and share my thoughts and memories on the internet instead.
Let's quantify this...
Better than a Mini...
1/ Load space, proper hatch back with folding seats and all the stuff you would expect from a little Fiat. Swiss Army knives on wheels.
2/ The bonnet opens enough for me to work on/around/near the engine without needing stitches in the back of my head.
3/ I can sit in the front and fit a real life human being in the back. At six foot two that was impossible in my Minis.
4/ Consumable parts are plentiful, cheap and available in more places.
5/ Five speed gearbox as standard so 70mph doesn't give you a nose bleed.
As good as the Mini...
1/ Handling. Arguably but the Cinquecento is fun and can deal with the Minis arch nemesis Pot Holes!
2/ The little 899cc push rod engine is sprite of a thing for what it is.
3/ Tuning. Okay the 899 isn't going to give you whiplash but a good starting point to teach the basics. 1108cc or 1242cc FIRE, 1368cc SuperFIRE and 150 t-jet options are easily as good as binning the 850 for a 998, 1098, 1275, 1330, 1380, 1430 and Metro Turbo conversions within the family tree.
4/ Rust. Yep they both rust as good as each other.
5/ Economy, classic insurance more mpg than mph.
Not as good as the Mini...
1/ Body panels. Okay the simple stuff; wings, outer sills and other bits are available but you can still get every single panel for a Mini.
2/ Cult following. Nowhere near as popular as the Mini. I've never seen "Cinquecento Magazine" or "Cinque-World" in WH Smiths but still a very friendly, warm and knowledgeable bunch.
3/ While the Cinquecento uses materials more efficiently than Issigonis could when Steel was rationed the Mini will always be regarded as a timeless classic the Fiat is boxy in a very 90's way.
4/ Wheels tyres. The 145-70-13 tyres are a tragedy and a compromise too far. Easily remedied with a set of Sporting alloys or Fiorino Steel wheels with 175-60-13's.
5/ Bodges. I have seen some poor repairs on the fifteen Minis I have owned over the years but none of them have been life threatening. Minis have always attracted a more discerning customer so you have never been able to get away with what you find at the lower end of the market where the Cinquecento is right now. Soon to go up in value as neglected cars are being scrapped and decent ones are in classic/retro territory.
I have endured and enjoyed my sixth Cinquecento as much as my fifteen Minis in many ways. It saddens me that the floor isn't good enough to finish the project and the car won't be auctioned off for charity as planned but on of my rules in these situations...
Never try to sell something you are not willing to buy.
...so she's off to a mate who has bigger and better plans. Just like my Mini Clubman I sold so instead of being another Metro powered 1275GT replica she ended up being one of the first in the UK to have a Honda V-Tec conversion. The Cinquecento is off up North to get the 899 engine replaced by a 240bhp VW 1.8 20V Turbo from a rear ended Golf.
