Before you get all antsy about the title of this blog post, don't worry — yes, it’s about cars. Lots of them. Specifically, ones I've owned (or driven). My new toy? A 2018 Fiat 500c Pop Turbo Cabrio (manual transmission). Here's how it looks:
A closer look at my new joy ride.
The stylish exterior of the Fiat 500c.
Nice, huh? I had driven an early 2012 500 Sport manual (in that deep forest green color, which I really liked) - I stopped at the Birmingham Fiat dealer on my way south from a business trip to Huntsville circa 2012 and the sales guy and I took it for a spin on a twisty road and up on the interstate - it was fun, surprisingly comfortable, and enjoyable. "One day," I thought. Something Italian, something light, something fun (fondly remembering my first car, a 1978 Alfa Romeo Sport Sedan - the same one that Ferris's friend Cameron drove to pick him up at the start of the movie). (Aside: I would love an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio - but that's a bit more expensive than the 500c, and probably I'd get in way more trouble with that one, haha!)
This one, new to me, one prior owner, under 39k miles - it has all the options (well, a lot of them anyway): the Urbana package (better seats, the "hyper-black" wheels, dark headlight trim, etc.), the Beats audio, the integrated TomTom navigation (which, admittedly, is kind of "old" nowadays). No, it doesn't have Android Auto or Apple Carplay, but that's OK. That's not really the point. It's a fun little thing (like the 2012, but with more power due to the turbo motor). Surprisingly comfortable (like the original 2012). Great MPG (so far, not much driving, I've averaged over 35mpg, and no - I'm not taking it easy!). And it's a cabrio - top down, but with better rigidity than a typical convertible due to the nature of the cabrio - the top slides back (all the way down to the trunk), but the sides are still fixed. I haven't driven it much... but I've enjoyed every drive so far!
Looking back, over the years, I've had some interesting rides:
- 1978 Alfa Romeo Sport Sedan (my first car) - synchros on 2nd were a historical footnote, and eventually the headlight switch only worked on high beams, and too many times I saw its face near the ground as it was being towed to the mechanic shop, but when it was running? maybe the most "fun" car I've ever driven
- 1983 Renault Fuego (2nd car - the one that I ended up driving to a parts place to sell with the throttle set around 2200 RPM with a pair of pliers after starting the car because the throttle linkage had broken inside the engine intake manifold and the clutch slipping so badly it didn't matter anyway) - typical French soft, rolling suspension, but once it set (pitched over), it stuck to the road
- 1985 Oldsmobile Toronado (surprisingly capable, especially on long, sweeping corners like freeway onramps)
- 2004 Sentra SE-R Spec V (my "I've graduated college!" self-present, which I foolishly traded a year later on a Tundra... one of the worst financial decisions I've ever made)
- 2007 Suzuki Forenza - a surprisingly fun car to drive, for what it was: a model of global engineering - a GM-Daewoo, styled by italian design firms, with an Opel/GM-Europe engine, sold in the US by Suzuki
- 2003 BMW 525i Sport Package (5-speed manual) - unbelievably balanced and decently fun to drive, despite its weight and comfort
- 2010/2012 Kia Fortes - my wife liked the 2010 we bought our daughter so much we bought her a 2012 hatchback (the first Forte5 in our area, I believe) - one of my sons is still driving that one; these were surprisingly quick, and deceptively so, especially the 2010 (you'd be doing 75 in a 55 without even thinking about it)
- 2015 Chevy Volt - again, surprisingly, deceptively quick (on the test drive, I looked over at the speedometer and told my wife, "you realize you're doing 83 in a 55, right?) - instant torque, surprisingly nimble and capable (that low center of gravity from the battery helped), surprisingly comfortable and quiet, zero gas in the normal weekly usage but capable of cross-country trips if needed due to the plug-in hybrid configuration
- 2003 Kia Spectra (manual trans) - handling tuned by Lotus, so despite no power and generic looks, surprisingly fun to drive on twisty roads (much like the 83 Renault)
- 2014 Chevy Spark with a manual trans - again, no power, had to wring it out to get going, but fun to do so in a "slow car fast" way, and surprisingly nimble and quick steering
- 2009 Suzuki SX4 hatchback (manual) - replaced the Spark when it was "totaled" in the 2017 William Carey Tornado while my youngest was on campus (we drove the car back home after pulling the front fender away from the tire, but insurance totaled it due to the fact that the entirety of the bodywork had sustained damage, requiring all new body panels for the whole car)
- 2009 Mazda 6 (4-cyl 6-speed) - not huge power, but tons of fun (replaced the SX4 after it was rear ended in Hattiesburg... the Spectra, Spark, and SX4 were all my youngest's and all ended after damage)
(Note: this isn't the full list - just the more interesting "joy" machines, not counting the 2005 Suzuki SV-650 I also had for a while, which was a two-wheeled freedom-joy machine. I also learned to drive on a 1985 Peugeot 505 STi Turbo Diesel / 5-speed manual - my dad also has great taste in cars; he's the one who got me the 78 Alfa as my first ride, got my mom, who also loves fun cars, a 1987 Mazda 626 GT 5-speed — which I unfortunately totaled in a one-car accident, and who originally bought the 03 BMW and later sold it to me when he replaced it with a 2010 Mini Cooper, among others. And I didn't include, in the list above, the 1967 Mustang GT that my uncle bought new and gave to me almost a quarter of a century ago - totally different class of "fun" although it's currently in need of brake work before being driveable.)
So, yeah, I enjoy "fun" cars. Would I love something with "supercar quickness" (like a Polestar 2 with the Performance Software Update or a Volvo EX30 Dual Motor Performance or a Kia EV6 GT)? Absolutely. But... I also have a spot for cars that are fun, regardless. 1987 Chevy Sprint Turbo? It's on my wishlist. 1988 Mazda 323 GTX? Yes, please. Isuzu Impulse Turbo? You bet. Yugo GVX? Believe it or not, yes. Original Toyota MR-2 (especially the supercharged version)? Of course. 2018 Fiat 500c Pop Turbo Cabrio? In Granito Gray with the Urbana package? It's in my driveway right now (but not for long, as I may be out driving it as soon as I finish this post). So much fun, so little chance of being utterly stupid and wrapping it around a tree. Not quite as spunky - or as death-inspiring - as the Abarth model that I wanted as soon as it was introduced - but the new Turbo hits that sweet spot I’ve always loved — small, eager, and just enough oomph to make me grin at any stoplight (yes, it will easily chirp the tires in 2nd... much like that Mazda 626 GT of yore, RIP).
Don't call it a mid-life crisis... call it a 54-year-old diabetic heart attack survivor who loves to drive - and always has - getting back to the "joy" in driving. The 08 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Quad Cab with the 5.7 Hemi is certainly powerful, and entertaining for a truck (but still a truck - my Grandaddy B said "every family should have a truck" — and this is mine!). The 19 Buick Enclave that the wife drives is super comfy (the first car she has no trouble sleeping in on the road!) and super spacious and works great for hauling grandkids and luggage when we're on a trip. And the ’67 Mustang in the garage? A whole different class of fun — sentimental, loud, and waiting on brake work before it can stretch its legs again. But the 18 Fiat Turbo — just a daily joy maker!
PS: Bought this one from Carvana (same as the Enclave). Both transactions were smooth, and the home delivery was great. Prices aren’t always the best, and delivery fees can bite (be sure to watch those), but the selection is hard to beat if you’re not near a big city.
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