Used 2012 FIAT 500 Consumer Reviews

Extra warranty takes me to 1M miles!

This car has been driven nearly 7 days a week almost every week, for 5.5 years. Once a year, an oil change is called for, the car will show the warning for that when it is time. We put a little over 8K miles on it per year, and as this writing, we are at 44K. This is a base model, no special wheels, just a basic pop. Aside from once a year oil changes, and scheduled maintenance, the following things have required repair - 1) the wiring harness that connects all things powered to the hatchback had to be replaced. 2) the fan switch for the heating/cooling needed to be replaced 3) and the rear oil seal on the engine began a tiny drip, which was deemed necessary to be replaced. All of this would have fallen outside of the warranty, but I purchased the 1M mile bumper to bumper warranty. Per visit, with the extra warranty, there is a $100 plus tax fee. The above repairs, if I had not had the warranty, would have almost equaled the cost of the warranty!!! So, since we drive the wheels off of cars, we will be in great shape going forward. Really, get an additional warranty with your purchase if it is possible. On another topic, some observations. I am a big guy, I fill up the front seat, but this is not uncomfortable and I have driven it as far as 10 hours in one day with no suffering or ill effects. The handling of the vehicle in snow, ice or rain is phenomenal for a small car. Phenomenal. I use the auto shift and move from one gear to the other myself right at 2400 rpm. This gets you the best gas mileage. Summer, air on, 32+/42+, fall and spring is 33+/45, dead of winter, as in under 15 degrees day after day, 31.6/42. My drive is boring so I keep myself occupied with mpg games and metal music. If you look at the maintenance schedule you will notice that very little needs be done, and the maintenance is very far apart too. Love that. To fill it up is around $20-22+. So low. Forget fuel cells. Forget battery powered vehicles too. Sit down and calculate it all, as I did, and the cost per month is almost the lowest of any car on the market. Change the air filter once a year, don’t bother with high octane fuel, as I tested that and the economy and performance were unchanged, and buy the car. Surprisingly, when the seats are folded forward in the rear, the car can hold a week’s worth of groceries back there! It is really large back there I am serious. However, if you have to people in the backseats, think again! Short trips, sure. But that is it. It looks great, is fun to drive, and has tons of airbags, of course ABS and the electronic wheel control system, so there. Not perfect, certainly not for everyone, but the fuel economy, the safety, stopping power, and the HUGE warranty make this a pick that works for me and my wife. *Update 1.12.19 We drive this car 7 days a week nearly. The other day, the driver's side door handle fell off. Not covered under warranty. That is a new one. Not long after I saw a Fiat on the road with the passenger's side door handle hanging half off. Weird. Passed 50K miles a few weeks ago. Put on first set of new tires aside from the originals. Still no problems other than above. *Update 7.14.19 Seems that synthetic oil makes some difference for gas mileage. Worth it for that and longevity of the engine as well. The steel wheels have been found to be weak and easily bent when potholes are hit. Never experienced that on a car before, as usually the wheels can take the hits. Still has not had any other repairs other than what was mentioned above. Keep up with the maintenance and not only will this car be reliable, but according to my calculations, this is probably the least expensive car, all things considered that you can own, either in 2012 or 2019! Update - 1.23.2021 Now at 65,000 miles, still a near daily driver. It sits outside, all day, every day, never garaged. Paint still looks great. Takes minor dents well, as in the paint stays on and does not begin to rust or chip away. Just do the maintenance as suggested, and this car is great.

I wish I didn't purchase this car.

Sigh..I fell in LOVE with my little 2012 Fiat 500 Sport until problem after problem. I just hit 30k miles and so far here are the issues; Clutch plate needed fixed, sometimes it wouldn't start since day 1; boot shifter replaced 2x; back windshield wiper fluid doesn't spray anymore, tire has a hole in it upon purchase, noticed next day, clock replaced as it wouldn't keep time, radio (CD Player) wouldn't eject CD's. I bought the car with 4 miles on it. I do not trust the Fiat dealerships and I do not trust this car anymore. I am trading it in soon. It's ashame, as I loved it.

2012 500 sport (manual)

I am a new Fiat fan for life! The 500 sport is a winner for me. Very reliable, very peppy & fun to drive, very economical, and very beautiful. I get 44 mpg on highway drives with the A/C on...this car easily exceeds the EPA rating for highway milage. Driving in the city is closer to the EPA rating (30-32 mpg in true bumper to bumper city driving). Even though I did not have a big budget, I am very happy I bought the Sport with a few options (18,600) and not the Pop. The sport has exceptionally comfortable seats and adds so much extra equipment for a small premium that it was worth getting over the Pop...I strongly recommend this car to everyone who admires it.

Fiat sport

I just got my car last weekend and I'm happy. the car is great, fun to drive and great gas saver, I got 4 stars for the reliability because the car is new to America but I don't have any complains. You need to drive this car before you buy the mini cooper, this is better buy for the money and looks great.

8000 First oil filter change

Red POP,red white interior and stick. 6 months in use. Very happy. Reliable, no issues, none! Confy ride. Gas,gas,gas hapiness. Only drawback, chicks keep stopping and asking me about it, hehehe.

Dangerous

This car has left me standed in the middle of intersections and is super dangerous. Fiat finally agreed to pay me but for the past 4 months has not returned my calls. I also noticed that all negative posts have vanished.

And she'll have fun, fun, fun.....

I absolutely love this car. I was looking for something small, easy on gas, budget friendly, and fun- Fiat fits the bill! I had read that the manual gets better MPG, so took the time to learn manual (automatic drive is like spellcheck, no one 27 and under has ever had to live without it). The clutch on this car is incredibly light, but once you get used to it, is a total blast. The base model comes with a lot of standard features, and the blue&me system is fantastic. The car turns on a dime, and for having such a small engine is actually really zippy. Even though its tiny, it feels spacious- my 'big man' friends have no problem getting in and out of the car. I couldn't be happier with this!

Fun to look and drive, but too many problems

Too many issues for a new car, even if they fix all the problems for free. I like the car, it performs as expected. It is a city car, easy to park, drives very well from 0-40, and able to handle the highway. The convertible top makes for a fun summer drive. I get great mileage, 31 in rush hour bumper to bumper traffic, if I take it easy I have no problems surpassing the est highway and getting 41. So far I have had two ignition coils go bad, one resulting in being stranded. The radio failed to work when very cold, and now 1/2 the climate controls have gone dark. They have fixed all the problems free of charge, but the longer I own it the more I fear "What next will go wrong?

Zippity Doo Dah!

OK, I had a Honda S2000: twitchy, fun, a tad evil. BUT the SO did not fit, the ride was rougher than roller skates on cobblestones, and a boring commute didn't warrant keeping it. (sigh.) - The 500-Sport (manual, natch) is zippy, fun, and a real kick to drive. It's comfortable, and Mr. 6'2" CAN fit into the pax seat. (0-60 in lots of seconds is OK in FUN seconds) There's a lot of down-shifting (even at highway speeds), it tends to jack-rabbit from stop, and I've not pushed the traction in rain. But it gets me to work with a smile. - Free for 36K miles, the free road-service is better than AAA premium. Nice sunroof, and the Bose rocks.

A Pop of fun

I highly recommend the manual version, it's just more fun to drive, better mpg and less wear and tear on the transmission...the Engine is zippy and responsive, the steering light, and the size is tiny! The car weighs 2400 lbs...forget the back seats, it's for kids and small pets lol...first thing I did was an oil change, rear wiper blade and interior cabin filter... May 2019 update: car is holding up well, a word of advice, check & change the oil frequently, I put 6000 miles on the car, should’ve changed it around 4,000...

Luxury mini convertible gets positive comments!

I bought the 2012 500C Lounge FIAT new with all the bells and whistles. The exterior color is a gorgeous Verde green with two tone brown and cream leather upholstery. The steering wheel and housing for the temperature controls is a cream color also and very high tech looking. When my wife and I purchased this vehicle, we were strongly urged to get the extended warranty since we were warned that being a new model to North American, anything could happen and if it did it would be expensive to report. That proved to be a colossal waste of money! I can proudly report that at nearly 65,000 miles and running strong, we have had zero mechanical problems with this great little car. It turns heads everywhere we go and in the warm summer months with the top down we get a lot of looks. I find that dropping the convertible top all the way down does improve rear visibility. I bought the optional windscreen which helped with any interior noise when the top is lowered. Mileage is not outstanding but fair at 22-34 city highway. Our Fiat is a great city, around town car that parks on a dime, and turns on a dime and is mostly just fun to drive. The tiny rear trunk actually accepts two bags of groceries or a small suitcase and while the backseat is really fit for small kids, we rarely use it other than to throw an extra coat in the back or the occasional shopping bag. I wanted a unique vehicle instead of the usual where every car essentially looks the same. Our FIAT came with snazzy wheels that the dealer put on in exchange for just a few dollars more compared to the wheels that came already mounted on the car. I know we will keep this car for many many more miles and with the autostick transmission with quick downshifting it is a joy to drive. I use the SPORT mode occasionally especially on a jaunt up a steep grade. I have Sirius Satellite set up and after a few tries, I was able to program Blue Tooth. The customer service toll free number for FIAT has been very helpful for any assistance in programming the radio. My only real complaint is that the small glovebox barely holds much let alone the manual that came with the car. I do not use the USB FIAT key that stores the driving data as I have no use for it. All in all, this is a great little car which unfortunately has taken a bad rap from the likes of Consumer Reports and others who rate it as the lowest of any vehicle they have tested.

Still a Wonderful little car.

Look if you want a big roomy car buy somethin else! If you want a fun, decent handling & very quick car get the Abarth. Took mine from Idaho to California & back. Lots of freeway travel. It was great. If your between 5' 9" & 6' and of normal weight then its quite comfortable. Had minor issue with fuel vacuum line. Check engine light comes on. Took to dealership enroute. Was diagnosed, reset. Was warned might come on again. It did. Took to home dealership. Was taken care of. You cannot compare this car to other outside its segment. So, for all the people that complain about how small it is and that its not safe on the freeway, then why did you buy one. Means that you didn't check it out to see if it met your needs. DUH. As for me I love this little Abarth. By the way I suggest buying into MOpar's extended warrenty IS A GOOD INVESTMENT. If your concern is everything falls apart after factory warrenty expires. Most car's do have issues here or there. Why do u think the manufactured brands only go so far with their warranties. side skirts detachment had become an issue. Fiat took care of problem. Still think it is more fun & better than Cooper S Clubman I had. Seats way more comfortable. Handles better. Sounds great. Everything remains the same as it maintains the fun factor. Performance has actually increased ! No additional issues with side skirts. Looking at the 500X to replace my old ML55 AMG

Love It

We bought our Fiat 500c last Jan. We have had no problems with our fiat at all. We have gone to Az, Tenn 3x's, and back to Pa three times. Love it great gas mileage. Only one thing has popped up in the back seat there is a radling going on not sure what it is. But its not a big thing. We want to trade it in for the 500L now. Not that we don't like our 500c but we want more room for traveling.

What a Gem!

I bought my 2012 Fiat with a standard transmission to make a 120 mile round trip daily. The ONLY complaint I have, is the comfort of the seat after extended driving. Of course this could be due to my age, but I'm going to blame it on the length of the seat. The only work I have had to do on the car is the standard oil changes (get ramps, you'll need them to get under this car), new tires and the license plate light went out. That was fairly costly, as you can't just replace the bulb. The entire handle had to be replaced. I am on the 3rd set of tires as the rear tires seem to bubble. I'm getting about 50K out of a set. I don't rotate them the way I should though, so I'm going to try that with this set. The car is holding up great. I had to replace the battery at 140K. The only issue with this, was there was no warning that the battery was failing. When it went I was at the store, came out and the car wouldn't start, wouldn't jump, couldn't even pop the clutch to start so it had to be towed. :( I still love this car and if you can find one that is a manual and still boasts this type of MPG...snag it. Resell value is super low, but who cares? run it till it's dead and start over. :) UPDATE: 2109. I hit a deer in April and totaled my Fiat. I had 175K miles. SO Sad! But I bought a 2015 Fiat and so far, so good!

Better than a Honda

Very reliable. No mechanical issues. A great, fun little car. Tony hasn't even had to fix it once! If FIAT keeps making them like this, poor Tony's going to go broke. UPDATE! 10/3/2020 Still better than a Honda. No problems yet, and we drive it every day.

Whirrrrrrr whistle growl pop burble

Overall this thing is good for basic transportation for someone who likes to drive. Set your expectations low, the interior is not primo, but if that's what you want then save up for something more upscale. The interior has some character but is definitely basic. The seats are sporty and the fabric feels robust. Racing Stripes, Racing stripes! How did they get inside my car again? The seats have a single red stripe going longways, I'll keep em. I use this car to commute through city streets and park it on the curb. Those big rims will get scratched, hail will damage the steel roof and eventually someone will drive their car into my car followed by driving their car away. Such is life. This is a more fragile car than anything I've had, the intercoolers are in the edges of the front bumper, meaning a fender bender will cost f$ht dollars. The brake calipers are within fingers reach of any passerby. Putting new tires on will scratch the rims very badly if you don't go out of your way to find a specialty shop. All that aside, this car rocks. It makes a unique exhaust sound, seems like it has never made the same sound twice. whirrrrr, whistle, growl, pop burble. Rippin through the corners and being a tiny car, 5 speed rowing and being such an unconventional car. Plenty of room for the average person and whatever junk the tote around with them, maybe even room for a friend.

Superior to what I exepcted

For sheer joy of driving, the 500 can't be beat. Pleasantly surprised by how quick it is. Lot of the reviewers must not know downshifting a manual, which a car like this demands. Ride is quite comfortable. Roomier than would have thought. Lots of the big truck/small package guys dumping on the Fiat but I'll take fun & 38 mpg anyday. 16 inch wheels look sharp and lots of ladies like to come to me to talk about my car. Reliability of the 500 tested in England for last 5-6 years (What Car, some other sites). It gets very good reviews and one site had it mid-pack in terms of long term reliabilty--ahead of BMW and Mercedes. Enjoying this car, and when is last time you said that?

great car

its very small , so if you are not crazy about small cars and if you are 6ft 3 in and 240 lbs with a lard bucket rear end you should look elsewhere . its the most fun on 4 wheels that I have ever had !

Exceeds expectations and is fun.

Fuel mileage is much better than the 38mpg highway posted on the sticker. An average of 41mpg was observed during a nice 40 mile long curvy and hilly back road drive mostly at 45mph in 4th gear with the top open. The car is a joy to travel in. It has plenty of room and comfort for 4. At 65mph with the top full open and windows closed, it is quiet enough to have normal conversations between all 4 occupants. Very quiet ride with top open or closed. Top can be operated with push button control while driving under 50mph. Car is fun enough to make our mid teen age kids still want to go with us. Back seats are roomy and comfortable for picky an long legged kids 5'8" tall.

Prima Edizione

I had wanted this car for years, so finally Fiat arrives back in the US. I was too late in the signing up process to get the first 500 models but managed to purchase one from a local dealer at MSRP which was good seeing as sellers are generally asking 2-3 thousand over MSRP. Now have it in my possession and it reminds me of all the other Fiats and Alfa's I have owned over the years, in that it definitely has character. The styling is fantastic and very eye catching. Its a fun car to drive and a car that involves the driver more than other cars in the same class that I had test driven. Has a few niggles (Hey its Italian!) but they are niggles I can live with, because it has my soul!

Looks and fuel economy...without the gimmicks

I never pictured myself as a Fiat guy. We got it as a rental when we were on vacation, and after that my mind was made up. It's sporty looking on the outside and the inside (Sport model), it has a great sound system, and it has been extremely reliable. Of course it also gets excellent fuel economy without gimmicky buttons or hybrid technology, which I'm not sold on. I average around 40 mpg hwy on my daily commute to work, which is well above the 34 EPA on my automatic. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a car that's fun to drive, turns heads, rides smooth and gets great fuel economy, look no further.

Fiat 500C

No buyer's remorse!

I traded in my 2008 Infiniti G35 for a 2012 Fiat 500 Sport in Rame with brown leather interior, and I could not be happier with my purchase. It's comfortable, fun to drive, and beautiful. I rarely go anywhere without someone asking me to look in my car in parking lots. I'm averaging over 31 mpg's with the automatic transmission on mostly city driving. I've had the car nearly two months now, and I don't have a single gripe. It's an absolutely amazing little car!

Don't be fooled ... check these out first

I bought my 2012 Fiat 500 Lounge in May 2011 and traded it in in July 2011. I continued to have problems with the vehicle since my purchase. Lemon? The service manager says it would take up to a year before it would even qualify as a lemon. I had 8 problems to be resolved at my first visit with the Fiat mechanic. Only one was resolved - the clicking noise on the driver door whenever opening. Apparently a loose screw. The other seven? The Fiat mechanic says for all seven, "Normal Condition. No Fix." The worst of the seven was being thrown around in a freeway lane, and not because of trucks or wind.

Fabulous Dynamic Car!

After research and test driving many different vehicles, I bough a Fiat 500 Sport with all of the options, including power sunroof. I was close to getting the Prius C or Mini Cooper, however, the Fiat just was superior to them in many ways. I absolutely love the style and feel of this small car. It is peppy and responsive in my city/suburban driving. Although the interior is small, I like it that way so I'm not driving a lot of car bulk on the road. The Fiat sits high up with other cars, making you level with other drivers, so it is safer. I wanted a small, quality, fuel-efficient car that stood apart from the rest of the pack on the road. The Fiat 500...classy, unique, perfect.

Made me smile - UNTIL…

The Fiat made me smile too, until it began having issues. Basically cold start problems, but finally a stall in traffic. In so many ways, the Fiat is a super little car, but if it isn't reliable, it isn't in the running. I've sold mine and have no seller's remorse except for the monitory loss.

So far so good.

I bought My fiat 500 sport used with 30.000 miles on it. It now has 65,000 mile. After readying some negative reviews. All I can say that'’s truly unfortunate . So far my car has been running strong I drive my fiat daily commuting to work 60 miles every day. I take my car to my mechanic for its regular oil changes he also lubes and looks over everything and every time I go to pick up my car he lets me know that everything looks good. Nothing to be concerned about. For those who take their car to the dealership and have had bad experience you'’re better off going to your own mechanic you trust. I have the best mechanic . There are some things that disappoint me about my fiat, as you all kno

A nice little car

We bought the Fiat strictly for towing behind the motorhome and it has been great for that . This is the fifth Fiat I have owned and the first one that lasted more than two years.

Real gem

I bought my Fiat 9 years ago. 180,000 miles later she is still my baby. Aside from tires and batteries, I've only just begun to money into it for repairs.The first repair was ALL front end work like tie rods, axles, bearings, shocks, brakes, etc about $2,000. The second a wiring harness and back door mechanism about $500 and that's about it besides maintenance. I've gotten rear ended twice, slow speed impacts with no bumper or body damage Dang she's tough. Now I am passing it down to my granddaughter for what I am hoping another few years. The plastic used for handles are not meant to be man handled. It had a warranty to cover the seat cable, the mini glove box handle under the seat, and another plastic seat part. After replacement, the parts replaced are holding up years later. The seats have no tears or wear and are stain resistant. A big plus considering I haul kids every weekend. I hope I see it on the road another 9 years. It turned out to be a real gem. I wouldn't purchase another FIAT because MY MONSTER is irreplaceable.

The Favorite Car I’ve Owned

“Never buy a first year car.” “Fiat stands for fix it again Tony” I’m glad I didn’t listen. We had our 2012 Fiat 500 Lounge for over 10 years and never had an issue. 101,000 miles now. Can’t say enough good things about this car.

Love it!

So cute and fun to drive.

CPop popped!!!!!

It was a fun car that was a joy to drive. It doesn't pretend to be a Corvette. It's a Fiat and proud of it. Sold it in a minute to a guy who drove one years ago while courting his wife of many years.

Fun little commuter car

I bought my 2012 Sport as a replacement for a string of Volkswagens, most recently a GTI, mostly because I wanted something a little different and I was impressed with the design. The 500 has not disappointed so far. I get more compliments/questions about it than any car other than my Ferrari. I have had no problems with it so far, although I have only had it for about a month. It is fun to drive, recognizing that it underpowered and one really has to rev it to make it go. I am getting great mileage -- a real 33 mpg driving to work in city traffic if I drive like an old lady; 31 or so otherwise.

Great and fun car

I own a 2012 Sport Manual so far knock on wood close to 100,000 and still rock solid. I find that like any other car maintenance is the key on any car life and having all done wen and how is suppose to and any car can last a wile. For now I will enjoy this little car

Great fun and economical car!

UPDATE: Sold my Fiat 500 for a bigger car. The blue 2012 had no issues even at 91,000 miles. I loved it and it was perfect for my city driving... I got a good price for it too....I do miss the really great gas mileage! Bought a used 2012 Fiat 500 for a good deal and have simply loved it! I went for a 5 speed manual and love that too. It's a great looking car with Sunroof and alloys, but the best part is that I'm averaging 38 mpg in the city! Everyone's jealous of my mileage and fun little used car. Get one!

Cute little car for pasta lovers

Fun little car and it still is after six years

try it ,you'll like it

just got through driving the sport version and it was pretty good. the driving position was more comfortable for my 6'2" frame that either the corolla or fit and had a softer feel to the interior. the sport is , sporty ,with painted brakes,ground effect panals and bigger wheels. it handled so cal freeways, and it's big trucks ,with no problem and with 4 adults aboard it got around just fine. really, go drive one.

Worst Car on the Road.

IMHO, this is the worst and most dangerous car on US highways. We were given one as an Enterprise rental, so beware. On the Interstates, it feels like the Fiat 500 could be run over by any compact American car. The ride was rough and noisy. I've been told that some people love them......but I think it's a standard answer for those who already have them. I was teased by acquaintances who suggested I put the Fiat in the back of their car. My wife, me and two suitcases were hard to squeeze into it! Terrible car....and without a doubt the worst car I've ever rented. Complaints to Enterprise went nowhere....only questions. My objective would be to keep the Fiat off American roads.

2012 Fiat 500 Sport is doing great

The car is good. Don't trust the nay sayers. Test drive it yourself. That being said, You should know that the center arm rest is ridiculously weak and should be removed before you break it. You should know how to drive it. The 5sp manual transmission in regular mode or sport mode is smooth. To make this car go you have to up the revs to 5700 rpm or 6000 rpm in lower gears to get running up to speed on the highway. However, the MPG is a little disappointing. I haven't seen 40mpg, but I ride it hard. Tall people can drive this car but tall people in the back is tough.

Amazing little car

Being priced about 8K less than their Mini competition, this car proves an excellent value and backs it up with MPG and driving pleasure. It is quite literally impossible to be sad in this car. With a manual around the city it's the perfect car! Fun to drive, and as long as you're not afraid to rev the engine, it's peppy too. Great interior style is combined with very surprising space. My head hits in the back (6'0"), but the leg room is amazing for what it is. Although a bit bouncy on some streets, the composed ride is just right for a fun, "sporty" ride.

Italy has returned!!

First off, I haven't driven this car, but I've seen it at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show. I absolutely love the styling of this car! When spending time in it at the auto show I first realized how comfortable this car was. I am looking for a car that is affordable, stylish, and good on gas mileage. I can't wait to be able to drive the car and see how it performs. When checking the car over I could just tell that it was built with fine craftmenship and the materials used are like a luxury car's materials. People should defently consider this before buying any competetive car.

Poor service, good car

While the electric car is great, we broke a windshield badly. The car hasn't been drivable for 6 months and we are expected to pay our lease. Not very customer friendly. Things still aren't resolved so we still don't have a car and Fiat doesn't give a darn.

Fun, Cute but No Power

I've been waiting for this car to come to the US ever sense the positive review on TopGear. The US Spec Sport version version looks nice and is comfortable but lacks real oomph from the engine. This car is still on my short list BUT I'm going to wait for the Abarth variant.

Not Happy

I bought the Fiat 500 less than 6 months ago and have never been so unhappy with a vehicle. The gas mileage is not what is advertised, the interior design is horrible, no center console, the visors do not even come close to protecting your face, the heat/ac when set on your feet blows directly, about 1/2" from your driving ankle so it either burns your ankle or freezes it. And do not let the wind blow at all because you cannot hold the car on the roadway. I do not enjoy driving anymore and can't wait to trade the car in.

Great car

I just drove this car today, and I have never driven a manual. It felt very easy to drive and very comfortable. Although it doesn't have much power, I didn't feel like I was going to be run over by a big texas truck or not be able to keep up with traffic. I did not sit in the back, but It looked like it could do a good job of hauling people under six feet.

NO BUENO!!

Car had to have engine replaced at 10K miles and had transmission problems at 16K miles.

Prima Edizione

[non-permissible content removed] My Prima was reserved on line and I took delivery March of 2011. I'm a huge fan of the older 500's, particularly, the Abarths. After driving it for a year, I found NO problems. I missed buying a spyder back in the day and waited patiently for Fiat to return to the US after nearly 30 years. I traded in my Chrysler 300C and am now free from cringing at the gas pumps. People need to do their own research about the cars and be satisfied with their own personal results. I get a lot of inquiries from people and mostly "cute" as remarks.

This thing shifts terribly!

Brand new fully loaded lounge cabrio.. This thing is the worst around town. I have an automatic - because that's your only option. When it shifts from 1st to 2nd you get a whiplash-like jerk. The gas pedal is awful too. Its always too little gas or too much. Something is wrong with the design of this car. Seriously. Oh yeah.. you cannot pull out across traffic.. there is a two second delay between slamming the gas down and the car actually moving. Its not a lemon.. it just stinks!!!

Most reliable car I've ever had.

I've read some of the bad reviews for this little car and wonder if mine could be one of the exceptions. It's been my daily driver for 4 years and it has not let me down EVER. I bought it used with 54K miles on it. Yes, there's been some little minor issues like the arm rest cushion coming off and having to replace the hatch handle, but nothing major. No electrical problems, never had a check engine light. Brakes are awesome and it's so easy on tires. (more than 50%tread on the tires it came with) I did just replace the battery at 86K, but she starts on a dime and runs like shes still new. Of course, I maintenance regularly, use Amsoil, and run non-ethanol gasoline when I can. She averages just over 40mpg. It's been the most reliable, problem-free, lowest cost car to maintain I've ever owned and I've been driving for 44 years.

Fiat sport turbo

Only had it a short time but love turbo and handling.