Ciao, Yaris!

[TLyttle]

Everyone chirps and yelps about Fiats, but my buddy rebuilt a 128 to his own specs and drove it for 28 years. Not only was it fast, but it handled well and got great FE. He now has an Echo, which he abuses the same way he did his 128...

However, Fiat of today has virtually no relationship with Fiat of yesterday: new management, new manufacturing facilities, new dealership setup. Better? Jury is still out. My buddy is lusting after an Abarth as we speak, BUT... Ask a Chrysler salesman about a Fiat, and you literally feel the room temperature plunge 15 degrees!

I for one hope you keep dropping by, SailDesign, your posts were always enlightening...

[SailDesign]

Originally Posted by TLyttle

Everyone chirps and yelps about Fiats, but my buddy rebuilt a 128 to his own specs and drove it for 28 years. Not only was it fast, but it handled well and got great FE. He now has an Echo, which he abuses the same way he did his 128...

However, Fiat of today has virtually no relationship with Fiat of yesterday: new management, new manufacturing facilities, new dealership setup. Better? Jury is still out. My buddy is lusting after an Abarth as we speak, BUT... Ask a Chrysler salesman about a Fiat, and you literally feel the room temperature plunge 15 degrees!

I for one hope you keep dropping by, SailDesign, your posts were always enlightening...

Thanks - I don't intend to drop out completely yet. I have plenty of friends and relatives in England with "modern" FIATs, and they all love them. Don't forget, US-ers, this little beast has been around overseas for a few years, and even Richard Hammond from Top Gear owns one. I don't THINK he'd toss money at a lemon...

[Jabro]

SailDesign, mind posting some pics? The Fiat 500 is one of those cars where when I first saw it, I thought it was hideous, but it has grown on me to the point where I think it looks pretty sweet. I've always been biased towards small cars though, the smaller the better. If I could be driving a BMW Isetta around I would be.

Manual or Automatic? Please say you got a manual....

[SailDesign]

Originally Posted by Jabro

SailDesign, mind posting some pics? The Fiat 500 is one of those cars where when I first saw it, I thought it was hideous, but it has grown on me to the point where I think it looks pretty sweet. I've always been biased towards small cars though, the smaller the better. If I could be driving a BMW Isetta around I would be.

Manual or Automatic? Please say you got a manual....

Manual. I may be an old Phart, but my inner 15-year-old hates automatics...

Pics should be attached. The car was not clean - something about having snow the day after purchase just seems to get them covered in crud.

[Jabro]

Originally Posted by SailDesign

Manual. I may be an old Phart, but my inner 15-year-old hates automatics...

Awesome! Thanks for the pics, I know you won't be disappointed.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by SailDesign

my inner 15-year-old hates automatics

^^^^^ This