I own the Pop. the car handles like a dream. the Sport offers the stiffer/grippier tires and the better suspension. i dont think you will be carving corners on the street that will really put the body mods to use.

the beauty of the Pop, you can always go forward. want more traction, buy better tires. want a better suspension, upgrade. I would test drive both and see which you like better. throw them around a few corners and feel them yourself. the Pop is plenty for me.

as for buying a 2012 vs 2013, the 2012 will probably be marked down a bit by now (they were at my studio). ride should be the same between the two model years.

 

The day I bought mine I test drove all trim levels. I took the Pop and Sport into a 20mph turn @ 60mph ~ both cars handled the turn. The Sport took it a bit more aggressively, though. I prefer the manner in which the Pop took the turn (with a bit more finesse). That is most noticeable difference between the trims, so it all depends on your personal preference. Of course, there is more to the equation ~ what looks do you prefer. You won't only be driving it a lot. You'll be staring at it too. Best to you.

 

i used to own a pop and now own a sport. i could notice more leaning around turns in the pop, and this was made worse by the pop seats which have almost no bolstering where the sport seats do. in a straight line the pop does have a softer ride but the sport is soft enough. id say try both.

 

I got a Pop because I wanted the convertible. Currently using a rental 500 Pop which handles Ok, but don't like the auto tranny so it distracts from overall behavior; see my signature for what I did to my Pop re suspension. Like others have said, you can upgrade either one as desired; sport has better seats (in my opinion) but I like the more subdued look of the Pop myself. It's all good

 

I got a Pop because I wanted the convertible. Currently using a rental 500 Pop which handles Ok, but don't like the auto tranny so it distracts from overall behavior; see my signature for what I did to my Pop re suspension. Like others have said, you can upgrade either one as need; sport has better seats (in my opinion) but I like the more subdued look of the Pop myself. It's all good

I think msjulie went about it the better way. Upgrade those parts that you want for less cost .

 

Had I wanted to corner aggressively, I would have gotten an STI or a Cayman. The difference in cornering ability between the Pop and Sport is noticeable but minute, and would be put to shame by other brands for a few $ more. But I think you'll enjoy the Sport more if cornering is an important criteria. Remember though that suspensions and/or tires can be upgraded easily, but the overall look and design (white interior of the Pop, for example) can't be changed so easily. That's why I got the Pop -- for its white interior. And it turns out that the cornering hasn't been an issue. I take local corners as fast as any car I've owned in the past. And I do so in a trim that I actually like the look of.

[Sorry for my outburst -- I'm on massive dose of diazepam and IPA.]

 

There it is. I wanted fog lights, as opposed to the no-fog lumps, and I have them. Easy. I got them without a lot of added cost ~ or a trim level I dig (but less than the Pop).

Pop Rocks!

 

if i could have gotten a pop with the sport seats i would have. i just found the pop seats to offer no support.

 

Good questions.

First off, you simply cannot compare the old GTI's to the new cars...500 or the current GTI's...the old ones were in a different league as far as rawness and fun factor goes. I had an 87 GTI 8V and that was by far, bar none, the most fun car I've also ever owned. My Sport comes close but not really.


With that said, I've driven a Pop and I can say the Sport does feel more sporty. It feels more substantial for some reason. I've also driven an Abarth. Great little car but that exhaust note will really get on my nerves after a while. Compared to your old GTI, these cars will feel refined and smooth...your car had no power steering, had bushings that are subpar compared to today's products, and many other components that were not as refined as today's cars.

On a level of grip and handling, I'd say the Sport is as capable as my old GTI....perhaps slightly less as I had Koni shocks and springs as well as (back then they were big!) 15 inch Dotz rims with a nice set of tires.

My car had more power than my sport as well as more torque and was about the same weight if not even lighter than my Sport.

Question...aren't you going to lose a lot of money by selling your Hyundai? Think of the economic ramifications also of what you will be doing unless of course you can come out ahead or perhaps have an even exchange.

I don't think anyone here can realistic tell you the long term reliability of this car. No one seems to have had it long enough or put that many miles on their cars. From my own personal feeling however, I feel this car will be slightly higher maintenance than other vehicles, such as its Japanese counterparts. It will have small issues here and there for the most part and occasional major issues. That is why I leased this car because I do not want to be stuck with an unreliable vehicle after 3 years if it becomes that.

The FIAT is definitely fun to drive and you will be rewarded by great fuel economy and a unique experience that will hark back to the days of your 84 GTI. But you must also be prepared to deal with the same issues and temperamental behavior that your GTI had (mine certainly did).

IF you are going to buy the FIAT, stick with the Sport.

 

Short and simple, I had a Miata, loved the handling, the Sport was closer to that due to the slightly firmer springs and once on coil overs and slightly lowered it is even better, I also like the Sporty looks so if these are going to be decidng factors...pick the Sport.

Also, welcome to the forum.

 

Thank you all for the great comments. You guys are very helpful in here! I must say I do prefer the sportier looks of the Sport, especially the front and rear bumpers, and the seats look nicer as well. However, it's coming down to availability of the manual tranny and exterior color. In Orlando, we actually have 2 FIAT dealers, which is great for service, BUT I'd prefer to buy from the stand alone FIAT dealer rather than the Dodge/Jeep dealer (they REQUIRE you to come inside the dealer and sign in before you can even look at their cars...uuggghh). The stand alone studio has no manual tranny Sports left though, which is why I'm considering the Pop.

Question: can factory fog lights be added to the Pop easily, meaning, is all the wiring already there and all you have to do is buy the kit and have it installed? How much does it cost to add it? This is one area where Hyundai really ticked me off. The top line Accent had standard fog lights but they offered no factory kit and none of the wiring was present so adding fogs to my mid line model was a completely aftermarket job. Also, how much does it cost to upgrade to the Sport or Abarth shocks?

Sportivo, the financial aspect is one area that is giving me pause. I refuse to lose my shirt just for a desire for a cooler car. The relatively high mileage is killing me when getting the car appraised, but luckily, I got a good deal to start so I think it's possible to wind up being even or only slightly upside down. I'm for once on the right side of the fence when trying to buy a car. I don't need a new car so if they don't give me the number I'm looking for, I'll just hold on to my car longer and pay it down some more and try again later.

 

you may have to look farhter away to find the car you want. if you prefer the looks of the sport, that is what you should look at. many of us had no choice but to deal with a studio 100, 200, or even 300+ miles away since we arent close to any studio. it will always be worth a long drive to get the style (and color) that you really want.

for example, the dealer in winter haven appears to have a few manual sports...as does the daytona dealer...and those arent even long drives.

 

Carfreak09, just buy the sport, you can take it to the stand alone dealership for service. The 2013's are coming out this month too. The sport has everything you want on the car already.

Wish they made a C model sport.

 

Hopefully msjulie will step in to give you more details, but one can purchase the full Abarth suspensions (shocks and springs, etc.) from the sale section of these forums for around $400. Lots of Abarth owners immediately change their suspensions out for aftermarket ones, and so will sell them. msjulie reported that the ride in her cabrio is significantly better. (She's offered me a test drive, but I've yet made it out to a gathering.)

Alternatively, you can check out Madness for aftermarket bits; for example, you can get a new full-on coil-over suspensions set for as low as $699. http://500madness.com/500madness/shop/index.php?route=product/category&path=42_69

Either route will give you better handling than the stock Sport.

In my mind (and others have expressed the same), having the classic, clean line of the Pop and then upgrading a few things will make it a highly capable car. As far as the differences in seat bolsters between the Pop and the Sport, I didn't think this was a pragmatic issue -- I just don't look at the taller, civilian nature of Fiat 500 the same way as I do my BMW 550i with McPherson and multi-link suspensions underneath 360 HP and 360 ft-lbs., which can be thrown into the corner at nearly twice the speed. So I never felt the need for the seat bolsters in the 500 Fiat; there's no speed that I'll ever take in the corner with the Fiat that will require bolsters to hold me in -- that's only a romantic idea in my head. Additionally, I felt that the bolstered seats in the Sport was configured improperly into this type of car with an inherently taller seating position, because the bolster behind the knees makes operating the clutch awkward and inefficient... unless, of course, your shin bone is twice the length of your femur.

 

Late to the party!

I ordered the fog light kit from moparonline and had capital fiat in san jose install them - came with switch (set) wiring, etc. They did a good job; my car was ordered last Dec and fog light kits for the pop did not exist but now dealers can do this before you pick up the car. $4-500 seems to be the price people are paying.

Abarth shocks/struts and springs have shown up for sale on this and the other forum (http://www.fiat500usaforum.com) now and again. I've seen $350 and up asked for them; being the accidental pioneer on this (least that I could tell) I paid more than some but still reasonable and I really like the difference the car has but that's a personal thing for sure. I wish the seats were more supportive to go with it but since I had this deal where I got the car at %1 under dealer price, I splurged and had the seats recovered in leather to at least make them a little richer feeling and I think the color works well for this car (very retro, see the link below)

Another thing not possible when I got my car was a lounge with a 5 speed; the lounge seats are more like the sport seats than those in the pop and you get some other things as well depending on what you wanted - I also added the rub strips on the side in an attempt at avoiding some door dings but also cause I thought it looked cool.

So end of day I have a Pop 500c with fog lights, rub strips and more aggressive/competent suspension. It's a lot of fun, is averaging 36mpg in stop and go traffic (only the occasional highway run for me). Just wish it wasn't in the shop getting a new rear bumper, grrr (different thread on the inattentive truck driver who hit me at a red light!)

Anyway, good luck on whatever choice you make!

 

I test drove both. They basically drive the same. The interior on the sport was much more plain. I wanted a 500 with the ivory or red interior. The grey/black seats was all that came in the sport. The suspension on the sport is stiffer, but the car feels no quicker. It has the same HP. So for spending $2k-ish more for the dealer to add stiff springs, some cheap plastic skirts, and seats I don't like. Isn't worth it.

I got my pop with rims at the dealer and painted the calipers myself for $20. May eventually get Abarth suspension, which is better than the sport's. Added the high flow air filter. Have seen the Fog light Kit for $100. Haven't spent even an extra $1k.

The sport just isn't worth it, unless you want to pay the extra $$ to say,"It's a Sport" and you truly prefer the cosmetic appearance of the sport to the pop.

Otherwise, for the $18k-ish for a sport, a pop will save $3k, and an Abarth is $23k.

 

there is more room to bargain on a sport. mine was $16,700 out the door taxes included. for me it was worth it just for the seats alone (and the better stereo that many of them already had). taking turns with any speed at all wasnt fun in my pop because the seat backs have almost no edge at all and with an already high seating position that didnt cut it. i agree the added color choices are nice on the pop, but i wanted fiat to make a better effort on the quality of the pop seats instead of just using toyota yaris like seats.

 

Don't the relatively flat seats in a Pop follow more closely to the seats in the '57 Nuova 500? I thought the new seats were trying to maintain some of that look while creating a more modern and stylish look. I do agree the Sport seats 'hug' the driver a bit, which I don't think is a good thing in high seated position. The high seat already forces the driver into a (in my opinion improved small car position) we're not accustomed to, being held into that position didn't work for me. The Pop seats work best for the kind of driving for which the standard FIAT 500 was designed. Those who prefer to zip around would most definitely be better served in Sport, no Abarth, seats.

 

sure, if the current 500 were being driven in the same manner as the original. however, even the 101 hp 500 is being driven at speeds far in excess of what the original was capable. as such, i find the pop seats lacking in their shape. heck, i dont even drive that hard...evidenced by my 44+ mpg average....but i dont like the feeling of coming off the edge of the seat in sharper turns at even moderate speeds. my experience is based on over 3 months in a pop and over 5 months in a sport. others have agreed with me, while some are fine with the pop seats. i could only suggest the op try both as extensively as possible.

 

That's the same thing I've suggested. Try 'em both. I tried them all ~ I've even took an Abarth for an extended spin. It's all in the preference of the driver.

 

Trust me, I would LOVE an Abarth in black with red stripe and power sunroof. It reminds me so much of my old Rabbit GTI and it's really what I want, but alas, its too darn expensive

Here's another few questions I forgot to ask: How's the stock stereo compare to the Bose setup? Is the stock stereo decent in sound quality? What size speakers are in the front doors and back seat area? My Accent has a 180 watt 6 speaker setup that sounds pretty darn good. I never felt the need to upgrade the speakers. Also, does the Pop have a USB port in the glovebox that allows you to hook up an mp3 player that the stereo can then control? This is a feature that my Accent has and is something I don't want to give up. Thanks again for all the great info! Wish me luck as I'm supposed to hear back from the sales manager tomorrow on how close he can get to my numbers.

 

Here's another few questions I forgot to ask: How's the stock stereo compare to the Bose setup? Is the stock stereo decent in sound quality? .

i found the stock system in the pop pretty disappointing, and i am by no means an audiophile. the bose system in my sport is at least adequate...more clarity, some decent base, highs could be better, but a noticeable improvement over the stock pop system.

usb port is in glove box...would be nice if they moved it near the radio.

 

While driving I usually listen to audio books or NPR so I can't comment on the audio system for sound richness and depth. But I can tell you that the Pop does have the USB port for an MP3 -- it's how I listen to downloaded books.

Good luck! Play hard (but politely) with the sales manager.

 

I bought the original '83 Rabbit GTI w/90HP. I own a Pop and an Abarth now. The Pop doesn't come close to my memory of the GTI but the Abarth does, hands down.

Like so many have said, the GIT was a really FUN car to drive. I put over 100,000 fun, fun miles on mine before I gave it to my step-son. He ended up not caring for it by not ever changing its oil. One day it finally burnt itself out. Sad day for me when I heard about it 'cuz it was such a fun car. I was overseas so didn't know of it for months later.

Anyway, if you want to "feel" those GTI memories I say, get an Abarth!
..rickko..
PS. I love both Fiats today. They are each very cool in their own way.

PSS. No kidding, the Pop gets way more double-takes, thumbs-up, quick comments from people that pull up next to it at stoplights than the Abarth. Just today I had both cars parked side-by-side in a popular restaurant parking lot (my girlfriend drove the Pop). While waiting to be seated more people walked by them and looked in and around the Pop than the Abarth. Like a 5 to 1 ratio! The Pop is red, the Abarth, white. It was funny really, It was like the Abarth didn't even exist, hahaa.

PSSS. The exhaust noise on the Abarth is only noticible when you start from a stop. While driving/cruising you don't hear it at all.

 

my pop

stereo versus Bose.....Pop has the auto adjust volume...as speed increases...volume goes up....
there is an option for a base and amp...by kicker....that is suppose to be plug and play

regarding the ride

i liked the stock ride...but wanted more for canyon driving...went the lowering springs route....fun....nicer stance.....
but then switched to the abarth suspension...and i got great canyon runner...and a good overall height that im good with...

regarding the seats......i like the pop versus the sport seats.....the thigh supports didnt feel right...and i was more comfortable in the pop

i just ordered seat covers with heated seat option...so this will be a major plus

i couldnt be any happier with my selection..as this car is a total blast to drive right now and is the highlight of my day..getting to drive to work and back....

there is so much you can do to this car in the small amount of time its been out....and this Forum is a costly one...lol

Pop all the way.........


now i would dig a small aftermarket supercharger...for passing..........anybody....

 

Well, folks, I bit the bullet and am now a Fiat 500 owner! Fields Fiat was an extremely pleasant dealer to deal with. If anyone lives in the Orlando, Florida area, I can say that Fields was awesome in customer service and didn't play any numbers games, nor did they try to upsell me anything. They came within about $300 of the price I asked them to give me through an email. They appeared very motivated to move some metal before the end of the month. I purchased a 2012 Grigio outside/Nero inside 500c Pop 5 speed that stickered for $20200. I had some negative equity in my trade so giving final price won't tell you much, but I can give you the price they sold me the car for, which was $18783. This price includes $500 added for Pop alloys that they traded off another car on the lot but does not include the $2000 rebate. I'm so excited that I finally found someone who would give me a great deal!

First impressions: Car drives great! On the way home, the ride seemed very harsh and skittish and the chassis was flexing a lot but I figured the tires were overinflated. Sure enough, they were at 44psi so I lowered them down to about 35 and the ride was greatly improved. The engine has plenty of pep, definitely more than my Accent, but it does have a loud diesel sounding idle when standing in front of the car. Is this just a sound effect of the MultiAir mechanism? I definitely prefer the Sport setting as the gas pedal seems too lethargic with it off and the steering too light. I wish it stayed on instead of resetting everytime you turn the car off. Seats are comfortable and I found I prefered the Pop seats over the Sport seats for the same reason others have mentioned (the thigh support felt odd under my legs while trying to work the clutch. I'm a short guy at only 5'5"). The convertible model lacks interior lighting as the back seat is a black hole at night. I wish they had added some lighting under the front seats or a small dome light where the rear spoiler is. I also wish they had found a way to make the top retract just one more inch for better rearward visibility. Doors feel very heavy and stout, which gives the impression of safety, and they close with a solid thunk. The stereo and bluetooth controls will take some getting used to, as will the menu selections. My car didnt come with a manual (you can supposedly ask Fiat to send you one, anyone do this?) which I think sucks as i like to read up on how everything works. No backseat floor mats, which I didn't notice till I got home. Is there supposed to be a back set of mats or is that extra? I'm gonna miss XM satellite radio, but maybe I will add it in the future and besides, I got a lot of new features that my old car didn't have. I wish the USB port was near the cupholders instead of in the glovebox but I did like that they provide a handy mesh pocket to hold the MP3 player in place. AC seemed very strong, which is a definite plus in Florida's heat and humidity. My average fuel economy is already reading 37.8!! Very pleased with that as I'm driving it normal, not babying it. I don't know why car mags were saying the car is gutless in 5th gear. I had no trouble increasing speed at a normal pace in 5th. Overall, I think it's a great car and it does have a lot of personality, something my Accent sorely lacked. I just hope it will be as reliable as my old Accent.

One neat thing was that Fields Fiat has you sign a painting they have on the wall with a personal message in whatever color sharpie you choose. It's silly but it makes you feel like you just joined an elite special group

 

I purchased a 2012 Grigio outside/Nero inside 500c Pop 5 speed

500c, great choice. I generally run mine with the top in position 2; 1 is the tiny 'sunroof', 2 is the roof back but rear window still up, 3 is all the way down. Best of top free and reasonable rear view. Of course, you can set it in just about any place you want as well...

Have fun!

 

Question: The speedometer comes to rest above 0, therefore it reads faster than the digital readout does. Anyone else noticed this?

 

yes, they're different, and neither is correct. Check it with a GPS sometime.

 

CarFreak, congrats!
Since I did not sign a painting with a sharpie of any kind, I regret that I'm not among the elites.
But the dealership gave my car a complimentary wash with a dirty rag.

 

But the dealership gave my car a complimentary wash with a dirty rag.

lmao.

 

Congrats & welcome to the family. Our LS has customers sign canvases too ~ each year they start a fresh one.

You should have a DVD manual in your owners packet, and you can contact FIAT corporate for a printed manual. I have the DVD, but I did request the printed manual.

I don't know much about the 500c. But I've noted the problem with rear visibility (and I'm a 6 footer). I know 500 cabrios have always been as they are now. The option was always the half top, which is now the sun and/or moon roof. Yes. The loud sound of that tiny engine is, in fact, normal. No rear mats for me either ~ that's normal. I haven't ordered any yet, but I know they are inexpensive to obtain. There are some inexpensive interior floor light kits. A few members have posted photos of their equipped 500s.

The menus will eventually grow on you, although it may or may not always feel strange. At least the cluster is in front of you, rather than off to the side. Right? Great job on your average mpg! You're a pro already.

I hope that answered your initial questions.

Once again, Benvenuto.

 

Welcome to the Fiat family! None of the cars come with a manual. My studio gave me the number to call to order one and it came within the week. I've never noticed any additional lighting, even in the hard top. It always seems pretty dark in the back seat. As stated above, everything else you described is normal. Enjoy!

 

Must be a USA thing as I got the dvd and paper manual