General what is a cinquecento

[fingers99]

Topolino. Means Mickey Mouse (well, little mouse, but the Italians call Mickey Mouse little mouse, if you see what I mean).

They went on producing these up till the early 50s.

There's a sense, I suppose, in which the rear engined Cinq was a cheap Topolino with better packaging, and that the front engined Cinquecento was a replacement for a car which had pretty much reached its sell by date.

 

[fingers99]

what i say?!?! lol seriosly i dont think the cinq gets half the respect of a old 500... infact unless its another cinq owner it gets NO respect.

Gets plenty of respect when it blows them into the weeds!

 

[craigb244]

Gets plenty of respect when it blows them into the weeds!

to right its funny when that happens. do you find when you overtake some car on the motorway (cough*bmw*cough*) they feel that they MUST overtake you.

Also I live around the corner from a school. And if i ever get stuck in traffic at 3pm you get so much crap off little chavs. I meen they will walk out infront of the car and just stand there looking at you. or shouting "phhooorrrrr cinqucento". Its not even like they can drive. and they think that airscoops, exhausts the size of dustbin and soilers that make a 747 blush are what makes a car "go".

ok off-topic rant is over :bang:

 

[chaos]

If you look at the lineage (ie. history) of the 500 it's quite interesting:

1957 Original 500 launched - with 499cc engine in the back - hence the name

1973?Fiat 126 launched - replaces the Fiat 500, but is basically the same car with a more square body. Fits into the fiat range below the 127 and 128 (but the 124 and 125 were bigger!)

1985 the Fiat 126 gains a water cooled engine, and a rear tailgate!

1992 Fiat 126 no longer on sale in Uk (but produced in Poland up until 2001?)

1993 - Fiat cinquecento launched with front engine/fwd. European markets have 704cc engine available (septocento?!) whereas UK initially only has 899cc model. In Europe the cinq comes into the range somewhere between the 126 and panda - although both outlive it in the end!

1998- fiat seicento introduced - slighlty curvier body for the cinquecento, but now called a SIX hundred! In the 60s there had been a slighlty larger version of the 500, called a 600, with, you guessed it, a 600cc engine.

So, in the year 2000, you could buy a 126 (basically the original 500) or a seicento (basically the 90s cinquecento)

2004 - fiat has now given up on the 126 and panda. New panda launched, no longer in biscuit tin category. Seicento no longer available in UK. New (retro)500 announced - will cost more than a (new shape) panda.

Net result: Fiat has abandoned the baby car sector!!

I apologise if any dates or facts are wrong, I'm just writing from memory!

The Cinquecento was released in 1991 but didn't get into the UK until 1993

 

[StevenRB45]

to right its funny when that happens. do you find when you overtake some car on the motorway (cough*bmw*cough*) they feel that they MUST overtake you.

Happens in all small cars...just some are equipped better to make them eat their smugness

'soilers' freudian slip or witty? but either way

:devil:

 

[Ab-Normal Beauty]

pmsl soilers lol it was a mistake but i will leave it haha


*edit* forgot the sister uses this bloody computer - Craigb244*

 

[blu73]

Gets plenty of respect when it blows them into the weeds!

to right, they all seem to have forgotten the old cinq tub here now though and the black 1242 gets loads of stick from the locals.. Still the coolest car round here as far as i'm concerned though so i don't care.

 

[turbo_jim]

The Cinquecento was released in 1991 but didn't get into the UK until 1993

Please accept my sincere apologies Also to all those topolino fans out there who I have ignored ! And anyone who has a Seat 500/600....

 

[Smiler121]

nah im not confused I just found it quite intersting/strange and kinda wondered if the cinq was bought out as an (failed) attempt upgrade to the old 500 (like the new 500 is).
I guess the itialians thought more about the sales out side of italy where the car name is not the same.
does this meen I would be OK to put a fiat 500 badge on my car hahaha

tread very carefully my friend....

The Cinquecento (90s square version) will still be fondly remembered by many as their first car, as shown by the popularity of the Cento section of this place.

The big thing being that nowadays cars aren't revolutionary in the same way like the mini in the UK & 500 were back then - cheap cars that many people could afford yet fit a decent amount of gear in were far more of a major deal.

I owned a Cinquecento, now have a Seicento & my friends New 500 is definately not the same kind of car in terms of size - most people nowadays really can't cope with driving something as flimsy as my Sei & want far more crash protection.

Having had a bit of a look at an old 500 it is interesting that there is a similar difference in weight, size & substance when comparing old 500 to Cinquecento to New 500.

 

[mrcinquecento]

to right its funny when that happens. do you find when you overtake some car on the motorway (cough*bmw*cough*) they feel that they MUST overtake you.

Also I live around the corner from a school. And if i ever get stuck in traffic at 3pm you get so much crap off little chavs. I meen they will walk out infront of the car and just stand there looking at you. or shouting "phhooorrrrr cinqucento". Its not even like they can drive. and they think that airscoops, exhausts the size of dustbin and soilers that make a 747 blush are what makes a car "go".

ok off-topic rant is over :bang:

i love my cento's for that very reason. the neds (chavs) around here constantly pull up to me at traffic lights in their saxo's and corsas with rocket launcher exhausts and spoilers big enough to live under, they then shake there fist or shout abuse that its a girls car, or a toy car etc, then floor it, while there cars making alot of noise and not really going anywhere, i also floor it and leave them eating dust

how embarrasing is it for them to all their mates after them showing off and taking the p out of my car, they cant even keep up with the cento, let alone catch it:devil:

 

[rallycinq]

i love my cento's for that very reason. the neds (chavs) around here constantly pull up to me at traffic lights in their saxo's and corsas with rocket launcher exhausts and spoilers big enough to live under, they then shake there fist or shout abuse that its a girls car, or a toy car etc, then floor it, while there cars making alot of noise and not really going anywhere, i also floor it and leave them eating dust

how embarrasing is it for them to all their mates after them showing off and taking the p out of my car, they cant even keep up with the cento, let alone catch it:devil:

Obviously you are talking about your local race circuit. Wouldn't do to be racing on the public highway.

Cheers

PD

 

[_AJ_]

wow, i never thought someone would give it so much thought

 

[mrcinquecento]

Obviously you are talking about your local race circuit. Wouldn't do to be racing on the public highway.

Cheers

PD

of course, i only race on circuits

i dont race on the road, they do though and of course, i only go up to the speed limit, near me there just so happens to be several sets of traffic lights that quickly lead on to 50mph stretches, that quickly lead onto 70mph stretches

just takes them alot longer to get there than me

 

[ycming]

I serious doubt there are many N/A cento can dominate many cars in a striaght road unless ia a rally spec .

Ming

 

[fingers99]

I serious doubt there are many N/A cento can dominate many cars in a striaght road unless ia a rally spec .

You have to pick your time and place.

Of the NA cars, the 1.4 ones will humble a lot of much bigger, newer stuff (they're pretty much on the pace of the high boost tubs). Blue 2 (NA, 1242 8v) won't quite keep up with a new Mini (might when I fit the tricker and the ported head) but will keep a 320i very honest on a damp twisty road.

It's not so much down to power as power to weight ratio................

 

[rallycinq]

It's not so much down to power as power to weight ratio................

And driver ability.

Cheers

PD