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The 2017 Fiat 500 1957 Edition Review: The Fiat 500 is just like my youngest daughter. It’s so cute, it gets away with stuff other cars couldn’t. Its off-the-charts cuteness factor is undeniable. It’s an adorable, cuddly, giggly toddler of a car, one that wants nothing more than to start the day with playtime and a smile. In fact, it’s been a long time since I’ve driven a vehicle that got more attention or made more people grin than this one, which is odd for a car that’s seen few noticeable changes since it was introduced to the U.S. market back in 2011 and now starts at under $15 grand. Most of the head-turners I drive are fresh, flashy and much more expensive.
This one drew more looks, thumbs up, comments and compliments all week long. I couldn’t stop for gas without people asking about it. A guy in the Home Depot parking lot chased me down to talk about it and ask if I knew any dealers that had a high-performance Abarth version in stock (I didn’t.)
I suspect part of the attention came from the fact that I was driving a 1957 Edition that cranks this car’s cuteness up to 11. It was painted a pastel green called “Verde Chiaro,” with matching color wheels, historic Fiat badges and a white roof and mirror covers that left it dripping with retro appeal.
Its over-the-top, huggable styling masks some serious drawbacks, though. With slow and loud acceleration, distracting highway noise, a cabin that feels cheapish in places, only so-so gas mileage for its size and very limited cargo space, this is a car whose top selling point by far is its Italian good looks. Fiat is now addressing these downsides in several ways.
One is growing the 500 lineup to include a family of vehicles that expand its utility and appeal. If you want more space inside, there’s the 500L. If you want four doors, a more practical, family-friendly vehicle and a more refined feel over the road, there’s the 500X.
Another change makes it more appealing to your pocketbook. In an unusual and dramatic move, Fiat is dropping the price of the 2017 500 by a whopping $2,000, bringing the cost of the basic Pop trim level under $15,000. Even better, the 2017 500 Pop adds more content at that price, including a digital gauge cluster, 15-inch wheels and chrome trim.
With that kind of abrupt change, buyers should expect big incentives for any 2016 models left on dealer lots.
Aside from the 2017 price plunge, perhaps the most surprising thing about this car is the appeal of its styling over time. To my eyes, it’s becoming even more attractive as the years go by, which is unusual for retro-look cars.
With the reborn Ford Thunderbird, for example, or the Chrysler PT Cruiser, it only took a year or two before the gimmick had run its course and they started to look a bit silly to me. Those cars aged like chain smokers. The 500, though, seems to fall into a category of retro-styled cars that endure the test of time.
By Derek Price © AutoWire.Net - San Francisco
What was tested? The 2017 Fiat 500 1957 Edition with a base MSRP price of $20,395. Options on the test car: Customer Preferred Package for $900, GPS navigation for $700, six-speed automatic transmission for $1,350. The total price as tested including the $995 destination charge came to: $24,340
Wheelbase: 90.6 in.
Length: 139.6 in.
Width: 64.1 in.
Height: 59.8 in.
Engine: 1.4-liter MultiAir four cylinder (101 hp, 97 ft. lbs.)
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel economy: 27 city, 34 highway
The 2017 Fiat 500 1957 Edition Bottom Line Review provided by: Tony Leopardo © AutoWire.Net
The Bottom Line: The Fiat 500 1957 Edition draws styling cues from its iconic Italian ancestors and woos buyers with adorable styling, a dramatic price drop and an attractive retro design. The 500 line also has a classically styled interior and is available with an open-air version with a top that slides to the rear, almost like a convertible, called the 500C.
Like the Ford Mustang and the Volkswagen Beetle, the Fiat 500 has a timeless, iconic look that just needs to be updated occasionally, never completely going out of style. There’s really one reason to buy this car: it’s adorable. The retro Italian styling makes it one of the cutest cars for sale today. And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today ©”.
This Bottom Line Review is provided by: Tony Leopardo © AutoWire.Net
“Tony the Car Guy” is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question or comment for Tony send it to TonyLeo@pacbell.net or visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net - And remember: “You Are What You Drive ©”
Column Name: Overflowing With Cuteness
Topic: The 2017 Fiat 500 1957 Edition
Word Count: 856
Photo Caption: The 2017 Fiat 500 1957 Edition
Photo Credits: Fiat Internet Media
Series #: 2017 - 05
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