I love all things Italian, whether it’s the language, the food, the art, or the men! So when I heard that my Italian dream car, the 2012 Fiat 500, was making its North American debut, you can imagine my excitement. I first saw a Fiat in Capri when I was 21 and, at that time, I dreamed of getting the car in pink. Four years later, my dream of owning a Fiat hasn’t died, but you may be happy to hear that I have reconciled myself to getting it in a more conservative color. 😛
As would any prospective car buyer, I’ve done a lot of online research. But after reading site after site of specs that I’m able to make as much sense of as I am of hieroglyphics, I decided to give the car a test drive myself and write a girl-friendly review. So buckle your seatbelts, ladies! You’re in for a treat.
Let’s start with the first thing a girl notices about a car: how it looks. In this case, the 2012 Fiat 500 gets tops marks. The new design definitely pays homage to its Italian ancestors and manages to be sleek, curvy, classy, and, above all, cute. Heads turn and eyes look longingly as it speeds by, and with good reason: it is simply a beautiful car. In many ways, the new Fiat reminds me of the Mini Cooper when it came out on the market a few years back. It’s so adorably tiny, you’ll just want to hug it, and once you see how easily it parks in tight spaces, you’ll probably want to kiss it as well. (I know I did. Parking was never my forte!)
In terms of ambience, the Fiat I drove had Sirius radio installed which I certainly appreciated. During my drive, I was able to listen and sing loudly along to some of my favorite tunes by Rihanna and Phoenix. A road trip staple? I think so.
While the interior of the Fiat 500 is a little small, the good news is that the backseats are retractable. And why is this an important detail? Well, retractable backseats means I have more than enough room for my many shopping bags after an indulgent spree! In my love affair with the 2012 Fiat 500, the only real problem I saw was that using the clutch in 6-inch Louboutins might be an issue. But even for this problem, there’s a solution. Thank God for automatics!
xoxo
