great cars, just a hard justification in NZ compared to the ZC33S Swift Sport. Seems like they are almost double the cost but you don't really get double the experience from the same style of car
Bit of a surprise to see you reviewing one of these! They are fun little cars, I got to drive the more powerful Esseesse model on the Kaimais! Only reason I never bought one is because I wasn't ready to cut people in half to stuff them in the back haha.
I had a punto with that engine. Tuned it with bigger turbo, FMI, 200 cell cat, exhaust and ECU flash. That thing ripped! It was on coilovers and that 5 speed manual is pretty bulletproof. Underated indeed.
My old boss had a 595 Abarth. Was a absolute weapon. I do remember the fuel economy wasn't that great for it's size. Since you had a smg, using reverse in that gearbox takes a little getting use too. I'm bang on 6ft and I felt big in that thing thou 😂
the fiat 500 is criminally underrated as a drivers car. i managed to pick up a 500 sport off a mate for $500 when he moved overseas has the 1.4 MultiAir & 6spd manual only 100hp but easily the funniest and most engaging car i’ve driven super (mechanically) reliable too, been clutch dumping, racing people at the lights and revving it right out to 7k for over 2 years now and it hasn’t had a single fault it’s also managed to survive 4 of my mates learning manual on it & i intend to use it for autocross this year
Yours isn’t a Multiair. It’s the non-turbo FIRE engine. Actually almost prefer these to the Abarth versions. You get a revvy NA engine with 6 short ratios. They’re an absolute blast. The 1.2 which is what’s in many 500s with 5 speed is pretty pedestrian.
I am 2003 CL9 owner and would be very happy with a Fiat 500 for my around town car... My k24a3 only makes 140 kW and is twice the size... You have some good cars you are reviewing...
All the 3 fiat 500's I've driven are fun, I've driven the 1.2 5 speed manual, 1.4 sport 6 speed manual and the 0.9 litre twin air 5 speed manual. For me the 0.9 litre one sounded the best and the 1.4 with the 6 speed the most comfortable cruiser and daily.
These are known for being very fun, but also very unreliable. They rarely make it to 100,000 miles or 160,000 km. The Swift Sport is just as much fun, and more practical, only without any of the drawbacks.
Yes, silly new prices but a 3-5 yr old example can be a bargain. Do your homework though, there have been many variants over the years - Esseesse, 595, 695, various specials like the Tributo models and the mighty 695 Biposto.
Im surprised they managed to make such a underpowered shit engine lol, modern 1.4 turbo making less than 140hp and its single cam??? Wtf are manufacturers doing these days, my 35 year old na 4age makes better hp then that and it has dohc 😂
I was going to say the same, a naturally aspirated 1.6L D16Y8 from a 90s Civic Si makes 127hp on regular 87 octane and is DOHC, what is Fiat doing in the 2010s making a 1.4L turbo high compression engine making a measly 13hp more..
great cars, just a hard justification in NZ compared to the ZC33S Swift Sport. Seems like they are almost double the cost but you don't really get double the experience from the same style of car
I was just wondering how it compared to the new swift 1.4 turbo
Bit of a surprise to see you reviewing one of these! They are fun little cars, I got to drive the more powerful Esseesse model on the Kaimais! Only reason I never bought one is because I wasn't ready to cut people in half to stuff them in the back haha.
I really want your channel to be bigger man
Actually it is not single cam for intake and exhaust, it has an exhaust cam, but the intake valves are electronically actuated individually.
I imported an 2014 Abarth Punto Supersport a few years ago , really really fun car . Shame they never bought them into NZ .
I had a punto with that engine. Tuned it with bigger turbo, FMI, 200 cell cat, exhaust and ECU flash. That thing ripped! It was on coilovers and that 5 speed manual is pretty bulletproof. Underated indeed.
My old boss had a 595 Abarth. Was a absolute weapon.
I do remember the fuel economy wasn't that great for it's size.
Since you had a smg, using reverse in that gearbox takes a little getting use too.
I'm bang on 6ft and I felt big in that thing thou 😂
the fiat 500 is criminally underrated as a drivers car. i managed to pick up a 500 sport off a mate for $500 when he moved overseas
has the 1.4 MultiAir & 6spd manual
only 100hp but easily the funniest and most engaging car i’ve driven
super (mechanically) reliable too, been clutch dumping, racing people at the lights and revving it right out to 7k for over 2 years now and it hasn’t had a single fault
it’s also managed to survive 4 of my mates learning manual on it & i intend to use it for autocross this year
Yours isn’t a Multiair. It’s the non-turbo FIRE engine. Actually almost prefer these to the Abarth versions. You get a revvy NA engine with 6 short ratios. They’re an absolute blast. The 1.2 which is what’s in many 500s with 5 speed is pretty pedestrian.
Hey mate, since you've driven plenty of these hot hatches, what was the best one in your opinion?
I am 2003 CL9 owner and would be very happy with a Fiat 500 for my around town car...
My k24a3 only makes 140 kW and is twice the size...
You have some good cars you are reviewing...
What an excellent vehicle, believe it or not, it can fit 3 average sized and a slightly more than average gentleman in it 👀
hey bro,is this road the paekakariki hill road?
Think it's the back road from karori to jville that goes through makara, forgot what its called
3:09 the back seats are still more spacious than those in the Toyota GT86/GR86/Subaru BRZ!
All the 3 fiat 500's I've driven are fun, I've driven the 1.2 5 speed manual, 1.4 sport 6 speed manual and the 0.9 litre twin air 5 speed manual. For me the 0.9 litre one sounded the best and the 1.4 with the 6 speed the most comfortable cruiser and daily.
Hey Kiwicarlife, abarth or mitsubishi colt ralliart?? You've driven one way back
The Abarth is DOHC, the non Abarth is SOHC
Next stop: Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV/Veloce
Wow the gauge cluster really looks like something from a motorcycle
Multiair has left the chat
16's are tiny now? 😅
More fun than the Mini Cooper S? Asking for a friend 😅
Yes, 100%
Even more fun than a JCW. You really feel the playfulness of the Abarth's lower weight and shorter wheelbase, even if it's less powerful.
Great car i have the 595 esseesse really good fun.
Some rather large dude who shall remain nameless on you tube is not a fan doent mean he is right 😂
Mate has one tho, they are good cars fo drive and make a nice burble
I dont think these are actually named Fiat... its Abarth 500
These are known for being very fun, but also very unreliable. They rarely make it to 100,000 miles or 160,000 km. The Swift Sport is just as much fun, and more practical, only without any of the drawbacks.
The tjet versions from Europe and Australia are mechanically reliable. The multi jet version from North America is the dodgy one
New these cars were way overpriced.
Yes, silly new prices but a 3-5 yr old example can be a bargain. Do your homework though, there have been many variants over the years - Esseesse, 595, 695, various specials like the Tributo models and the mighty 695 Biposto.
Who buys an auto abarth 😂😢
Fix it again Tony...
Im surprised they managed to make such a underpowered shit engine lol, modern 1.4 turbo making less than 140hp and its single cam??? Wtf are manufacturers doing these days, my 35 year old na 4age makes better hp then that and it has dohc 😂
I was going to say the same, a naturally aspirated 1.6L D16Y8 from a 90s Civic Si makes 127hp on regular 87 octane and is DOHC, what is Fiat doing in the 2010s making a 1.4L turbo high compression engine making a measly 13hp more..
Unfortunately emission control limits performance on most modern engines, but hp is only part of the equation….torque is often overlooked
@user-qv5us5nz4v with a redline of only 6000rpm i assume it's a undersquare design with a longer stroke than bore
The competitione models have 180hp and are the ones to go for
With a few mods you're up to 220hp which in this car is lots of fun.