Another Fiat 500 Test Drive
Jun. 17th, 2011 07:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
annissamazingA few months ago, Justin and I went to the Fiat dealership up in Strongsville to test out the 500. At the time, the dealership was under construction, but they were taking test drives by appointment. However, the only car they had was a clutch, and neither Justin nor I know how to drive one. We liked the car, but couldn't quite get a feel for it because we never got it up past 25 miles per hour.
Yesterday, we went back up to the dealership to drive some automatic transmission models. The dealership is finished and looks very nice. There were little Fiat 500s everywhere! In all kinds of colors! We drove all three trims: the Pop, the Sport, and the Lounge.
First, we tried the Pop. Honestly, it was nothing special. I took it for a quick lap around the parking lot. One thing I noticed was when I took a sharp corner (and these little cars turn on a dime!), I felt like I was going to slide out of the driver's seat. Not a good feeling.
Next, the salesman pulled around the Lounge. This surprised me because I didn't want to test drive the Lounge. It's the most expensive of the three and I was more interested in the Sport. So I was surprised when it was my favorite of the three. It was a comfortable drive and I didn't feel like I was going to slide out of my seat. The downside is the optional sunroof lowers the roof of the car about 2 or 3 inches, which made both Justin and me hit our heads on the roof every time we tried to shift in our seats.
When we got back to the dealership, they were getting ready to close, but I asked if they wouldn't mind if I took a quick lap around the parking lot in a Sport. One without a sunroof. They let me take it a bit further than the parking lot, so I popped it into sport mode and hit the gas. Honestly, I wasn't impressed. I took it around an industrial park and back. Though the handling was nice, the acceleration wasn't what I was hoping for. I brought it back and when I said that I preferred the Lounge, Justin piped up and said he wanted to drive the Sport. He was gone far longer than I was. When he got back, he gave me the strangest look. I went to see what was up and as I got closer to the car, I began to smell something unpleasant. I walked up to his window and said, "You must've had fun. I can smell the car." He laughed and told me he'd tell me about it later.
After the test drive, we went to an Italian restaurant just down the street from the dealership and he told me that he was doing donuts and J-turns in some parking lot and nearly set the brake calipers on fire. He's in love with the Sport. Totally in love with it.
We told our salesman that we'll make a decision in 90 days or so (which is when we'll find out whether or not that promotion to assistant store manager will actually happen). Justin wants to custom-design the car, though he's well aware that I will likely take it from him and give him my Nitro.
It just makes sense for me to take the little car with good gas mileage to and from Kent when Justin's going to be so much closer to home. Gas is expensive!
Edited to add: I forgot to mention that when we got to the dealership, they were playing the classic Doctor Who theme over their sound system! Hee!!
Yesterday, we went back up to the dealership to drive some automatic transmission models. The dealership is finished and looks very nice. There were little Fiat 500s everywhere! In all kinds of colors! We drove all three trims: the Pop, the Sport, and the Lounge.
First, we tried the Pop. Honestly, it was nothing special. I took it for a quick lap around the parking lot. One thing I noticed was when I took a sharp corner (and these little cars turn on a dime!), I felt like I was going to slide out of the driver's seat. Not a good feeling.
Next, the salesman pulled around the Lounge. This surprised me because I didn't want to test drive the Lounge. It's the most expensive of the three and I was more interested in the Sport. So I was surprised when it was my favorite of the three. It was a comfortable drive and I didn't feel like I was going to slide out of my seat. The downside is the optional sunroof lowers the roof of the car about 2 or 3 inches, which made both Justin and me hit our heads on the roof every time we tried to shift in our seats.
When we got back to the dealership, they were getting ready to close, but I asked if they wouldn't mind if I took a quick lap around the parking lot in a Sport. One without a sunroof. They let me take it a bit further than the parking lot, so I popped it into sport mode and hit the gas. Honestly, I wasn't impressed. I took it around an industrial park and back. Though the handling was nice, the acceleration wasn't what I was hoping for. I brought it back and when I said that I preferred the Lounge, Justin piped up and said he wanted to drive the Sport. He was gone far longer than I was. When he got back, he gave me the strangest look. I went to see what was up and as I got closer to the car, I began to smell something unpleasant. I walked up to his window and said, "You must've had fun. I can smell the car." He laughed and told me he'd tell me about it later.
After the test drive, we went to an Italian restaurant just down the street from the dealership and he told me that he was doing donuts and J-turns in some parking lot and nearly set the brake calipers on fire. He's in love with the Sport. Totally in love with it.
We told our salesman that we'll make a decision in 90 days or so (which is when we'll find out whether or not that promotion to assistant store manager will actually happen). Justin wants to custom-design the car, though he's well aware that I will likely take it from him and give him my Nitro.
It just makes sense for me to take the little car with good gas mileage to and from Kent when Justin's going to be so much closer to home. Gas is expensive!
Edited to add: I forgot to mention that when we got to the dealership, they were playing the classic Doctor Who theme over their sound system! Hee!!
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no subject
Date: 2011-06-17 04:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-17 06:07 pm (UTC)I might be able to join you guys again for the rewatch for a little bit tonight. Just mentioning it in passing because I *really* want to watch! I'm needed in-game at 10:00 and I usually take a nap beforehand because it goes for several hours (and you already know about my sleep needs!). But if I'm up at 8, I can watch up to two episodes with you guys. I'll pop on later and see if you're there.