This Sunday I'll be going on a "business trip" to Vegas, where I'll be driving a couple cars we haven't tested before. I could have requested our Audi A8 or BMW X3 for my journey, but why go with a safe, boring choice? And so I'll be taking our long-term Fiat 500.
This car doesn't have the best highway ride -- it's not harsh per se, but it is bouncy over the expansion joints -- and the wind noise is pretty significant at 70 mph. So we'll see how long it takes for this stuff to annoy me, or maybe it never will. The seats in this car are pretty cushy for a microcompact and seem like they might be road-trip-worthy.
I'm also going to hook up the car's special USB stick so we can track mpg in Fiat's EcoDrive program. Carroll started us down that path back in December, but we haven't been very diligent about tracking our driving habits, and Fiat doesn't make that super straightforward, as you have to download an application to your computer and then set up your own login credentials -- seems like it would be easier if Fiat just let you log into a website with one account that's unique to the car. But whatever, I'll use the Vegas trip to log some data in EcoDrive and report back.
Anything else you'd like to know about how our Cinquecento fares on this road trip?
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 11,916 miles
isend2c says:
01:26 PM, 02/ 8/12
I'd like to know about it's headlights, It has those sharp looking little projector beams and I'd like to know how potent they are. The looks like a prime opportunity for Xenons in the Abarth, but I haven't a clue if that's part of the package or not.
jacton says:
01:36 PM, 02/ 8/12
I want to know how the armrests and doors feel when used over such a long journey. Also, how and where will you rest your knee? On long journeys with my 2006 Mazda3 I rest my leg on the hard plastic center console and it really hurts my leg, forcing me to reposition often.
stromson says:
02:32 PM, 02/ 8/12
Noise and ride reports would be outstanding, but more than just "it's noisy". Are we talking "Jeep Wrangler noisy" or just "Honda Fit noisy". I'm also curious as to the powerband at highway speeds. Are you already revving the engine into oblivion at 70mph, or do you have room to downshift for passing?
epbrown says:
04:45 PM, 02/ 8/12
I won't post spoilers for the questions asked, having done several road trips already in my own Fiat 500 Sport. Instead, I'll be interested to see what fuel economy you manage. Lots of 500 owners report mid-40s mpg, but I haven't managed it yet - I hover around the 40mpg on the window sticker. Unlike Edmunds though, I've still got less than 5000 miles, so I'm hoping your car will show better numbers as it's been run-in longer.
emajor says:
06:59 PM, 02/ 8/12
I second the call for detailed description of noise levels. And the stereo's effectiveness at overcoming them. Road noise is one of the most fatiguing aspects of a car, and something that very few subcompacts are very good at.
felnus says:
08:05 PM, 02/ 8/12
I understand your mileage now that I've seen your Eco:Drive scores, ya hoons! Mine stays in the 56-64 range and average mileage from 36 to 38 mpg up to 40mpg or better if the tank includes a road trip. I can cruise happily at 70mph all day as the seats are very comfortable and the Bose sound system covers any wind or road noise nicely.
rotaryboff says:
08:26 PM, 02/ 8/12
I'd like to know how well the A/C works, but I don't know if it is hot enough down there right now to evaluate this.
33stradale says:
08:28 AM, 02/ 9/12
I would be curious to know if driving such a small car elicits more-than-usual bullying from the cretins in their trucks and SUVs.
throwback says:
10:57 AM, 02/ 9/12
How are the seats? Is your back on fire after the trip?
freefall1 says:
01:51 PM, 02/ 9/12
I'd like to know how many times you changed lanes, only to find someone already there. That blind spot has tripped me up several times.
smartascii says:
06:42 PM, 02/10/12
@rotaryboff: As far as the A/C goes, I test drove a POP this summer in Austin, TX. The outside temperature themometer was reporting 108 degrees. At idle, with the recirculate function off, it was cool inside the car. Not freezing - though if you turn the recirc on, it gets that way quick. If you're moving at all, it's a non-issue. I was pretty impressed, as not many cars post R12 refrigirant can get the car cold when it's super-hot outside on fresh air. The blower also seemed pretty powerful, which is nice, and the car is small, which means it cools down quickly.