A rear view of our long-term 2012 Fiat 500 C.. |
Sure, we didn't take delivery of our little red and white Fiat 500 C
until winter was fast closing in, but that didn't stop us from seeking
out as much sunshine as we could. After all, we had a nifty retractable
roof to take advantage of and time on the calendar to burn, so we
promptly pointed the nose of the car southward.
The Great
Smoky Moun-tains National Park and its drivers' mecca U.S. Route 129
(unofficially known as the Tail of the Dragon at Deal's Gap, Tenn.)
beckoned—all 300 turns of it, dappled in autumnal colors and bathed in
cool mountain air. The Fiat 500 C was a delight to pilot along the
route, despite not being the most stellar-handling of vehicles. It
possesses that wonderful quality of being fun without actually being all
that fun-to-drive, in a gioia di vivere sort of way. The logbook is
brimming with the evidence: “The car looks fun just sitting in the
airport parking lot.” “Even the photographer said this car is made to be
shot.” “It's quirky and funky and cool.” Etc.
The
1.4-liter four-banger manages just 101 hp, but along such an intensely
winding road, you have little use for much more. Only when asked to
accelerate up hills at freeway speeds does the engine fall obviously
short, which makes any extended long-distance run a matter of
maintaining inertia as much as anything.
The interior of the 2012 Fiat 500 C.. |
Route 129 betrayed
another of the Fiat's major shortfalls: its numb, overassisted
steering. Winding the wheel just isn't as engaging as in, say, a Mazda
Miata.
The trek to Tennessee notwithstanding, the Fiat 500 C
found itself otherwise relegated to more mundane duties, shuttling
folks to and from work or running light errands. With its two doors,
small back seat and 5.4 cubic feet of cargo space, the car's not up for
very much more. But we did manage more than 32 mpg average during the
three months, all the while keeping our right feet firmly planted. The
Fiat also didn't require any unexpected service; its only visit to the
dealer was for the installation of winter rubber.
Here's to a second quarter with even more gioia di vivere than the first.
2012 Fiat 500 C Pop Cabrio
AS-TESTED PRICE: $21,750
MILES DRIVEN: 6,385.8
FUEL ECONOMY: 32.3 mpg
FUEL COST: $496.13
DAYS OUT OF SERVICE: None
MAINTENANCE: Purchase and install winter tires ($483.38)
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