Fiat of Brookdale at BIR?

I was very impressed how well the Fiat 500 Sport handled during my first test drive from the dealership. It's not often you can take such a tiny little car running on 195mm tires around clover leaf's consecutively and be doing 62mph going up and down with minimal tire squeal. Don't be deceived by it's size, everything from comfort to overall performance has been properly balanced IMO.

Yes little car's shouldn't pick fights with big rig's but then you can't get hurt if you are there to receive it. She doesn't pack a lot of punch but that was never the point, this car has agility and the brakes have great initial bit and performed consistently throughout our testing at the 2.5 mile competition track at BIR. Brookdale Fiat had requested and received..they brought out two of their car's to have me test drive them around our track so they can get some professional feedback. This was done yesterday.

Here are some cliff notes:

Fiat 500 Sport AT:
1. This car managed to do +93 mph thru turn 2.
2. Braking into turn 3 coming in at +100mph at the third marker with easy.
3. I would suspect the tires would give up before the brake.
4. Very neutral handing thru each turn.
5. Very easy to setup for the carousel and experienced minimal understeer while trying to to achieve a fast exit. Once you setup for the turn WOT all the way thru, try that with most cars.
6. Transfers weight very well, easy to load each tire when needed.
7. The short 6 speed Automatic transmission matched our track beautifully and shifts seamlessly.
8. Very easy to walk to the limit, talking to you each and every step of the way.
9. The All Season's performed exceptionally well, hardly screamed, only noticeable during the carousel.

Fiat 500 Pop MT:
1. Performance overall is very similar to the Sport except with the 15" wheels and taller sidewalls under heavy braking into turn 12 the ABS kicked in because the tires got a little squeamish from the walls being compressed.
2. The longer 5 speed manual transmission didn't match our track as much as the power band was much higher and felt like it only had power for 2k revs after down shifting you'd end up being out of the power band.


You'd usually suspect car's with similar specifications to experience top heavy like feeling but not with this car. One thing I like most about this car and it's pretty apparent when comparing with others in its class that I've recently tested like the Ford Fiesta and Focus, Honda Fit, and Toyota Yaris is the Euro Style Suspension as they call it. This style of design has really enhances the car's characteristics in it's appearance and how it drives.

 

The passenger in white couldn't hold himself in the seat, he almost kept falling on you, but you gave him the elbow...lol. I think the seats where designed for Italian people not the Americans.

So how does it compare to a mini cooper?

 

For how much Top Gear loves that little bugger, I don't doubt it's a blast to drive. I have yet to drive on personally. I've only so far have had the chance to sit in one at the auto show. It's laid out quite well.

 

That passenger was the Fiat sales rep who had asked me to go back for another test drive so they could video tape me going around the clover leaf's on the highway.

I've let to test drive the Mini around the 2.5mile track. I've taken on down the 3.1 mile and did I believe 119mph down the straight.

 

I really enjoyed driving this little booger around our competition track, WOT from turn 13 into 3.

 

This is a very encouraging review. The Abarth is slated to come to US shores and will easliy make the 500 a very fun performance car.

 

Well Fiat of BD was very pleased, if things go well maybe they'll come back for another test drive with the Abarth.

 

Think they'd let me take that one out for you? :naughty:

 

I don't see why not, I don't know why they would ask me, I could barely see over the steering wheel let alone reach the paddles. My friends have offered me a great deal of $$$ for my BIR badge, crazy I know lol