Bought a new daily (mini Redzila!)

[ui]ICEMAN · 12 Nov 2012 at 02:34

Grabbed this little car last weekend as I wanted something to keep the miles off the GTR/Boxster while still having a little fun. The petrol I save alone, without factoring maintenance or depreciation actually makes leasing this car better than free, it actually pays me $200 a month!

It's a '13 Fiat 500 Turbo. It has the Abarth engine in it, albeit slightly detuned, Abarth bodykit, brakes and slightly less harsh suspension. It also costs $5k less than the Abarth which IMO at $25k in the US is stupidly overpriced for what it is.

I'll be moving the REDZILA plate from the GTR onto the Fiat and I have a new plate coming for the GTR in a few weeks; sadly not as cool as the first one but not bad.

I'm pretty happy with it, it's just a mile muncher for us but it's a lot of fun - sounds great and isn't a bad place to be at all. It's a lot quieter and smoother than my GTR that's for sure but then it doesn't quite have the GTR's turn of pace

paradigm · 12 Nov 2012 at 07:42

So basically, the money you save (by not running the GTR or the Boxster) pays for the 500, AND nets you $200/mo?

Pretty good going. Of course the second you use either other car, surely that figure plummets like a brick dropped off a bridge?

Raymond Lin · 12 Nov 2012 at 07:53

Seeing petrol is like $4 a gallon, you must do a lot of miles!

mccarf · 12 Nov 2012 at 07:58

That photograph showing the inside of your garage = Instanly jealous

Nice buy

Berger · 12 Nov 2012 at 09:45

Manual too, not flappy paddle?

Good colour, the grey is my favourite for the Abarth.

[ui]ICEMAN · 12 Nov 2012 at 13:30

paradigm said:
So basically, the money you save (by not running the GTR or the Boxster) pays for the 500, AND nets you $200/mo?

Pretty good going. Of course the second you use either other car, surely that figure plummets like a brick dropped off a bridge?

I personally do 350-400 miles a week right now just commuting so even if I take the GTR every other week, it still pays me to own it! When I don't take the Fiat, the wife can take it instead of the Porsche. She only has a 10 mile commute but sometimes it's nice to keep the toys for the weekend or a few days a week

I'd have to work it out including maintenance but I suspect leasing the 500 will probably save me 4-5k over 3 years, probably more. It's one of those weird occasions where man maths actually works, spend money to save money

Steve_bullockuk · 12 Nov 2012 at 13:46

Sometimes I really dislike you

Addicted · 12 Nov 2012 at 14:05

[ui]ICEMAN;23150074 said:
I personally do 350-400 miles a week right now just commuting so even if I take the GTR every other week, it still pays me to own it! When I don't take the Fiat, the wife can take it instead of the Porsche. She only has a 10 mile commute but sometimes it's nice to keep the toys for the weekend or a few days a week

I'd have to work it out including maintenance but I suspect leasing the 500 will probably save me 4-5k over 3 years, probably more. It's one of those weird occasions where man maths actually works, spend money to save money

Damn impressive saving!

What do you do for a living out of interest?

Griffo · 12 Nov 2012 at 14:17

Looks nice, though a bit strange seeing it without a front plate!

GinG · 12 Nov 2012 at 15:12

Addicted said:
Damn impressive saving!

What do you do for a living out of interest?

Student

Scania · 12 Nov 2012 at 15:29

Your garage makes me hate you

(in a friendly manner

)

scousegit · 12 Nov 2012 at 17:28

are they xenons or projector headlamps? they look like xenons

indyskyz · 12 Nov 2012 at 18:22

What's up with the camber on the rear wheels

rare · 12 Nov 2012 at 18:32

Cool! Single exhaust? Is this the multi air engine?

Janesy B · 12 Nov 2012 at 18:36

indyskyz said:
What's up with the camber on the rear wheels

Looks like the rear suspension needs to settle.

[ui]ICEMAN · 12 Nov 2012 at 19:10

indyskyz said:
What's up with the camber on the rear wheels

Think it may be a trick of the light, seems normal in the flesh.

rare said:
Cool! Single exhaust? Is this the multi air engine?

The T has the single exhaust but it's more akin to the Abarth one. The engine is the same as the Abarth so yes the multi air turbo but it's down a few horses.

scousegit said:
are they xenons or projector headlamps? they look like xenons

They're actually bihalogen projectors - surprisingly good too, way better than I'd anticipated.

Wizardskills · 12 Nov 2012 at 21:24

Nice, I picked up an Abarth EsseEsse a couple of weeks back. They are great cars, enjoy yours

Philz0r · 12 Nov 2012 at 22:02

that rear wheel is lost in that arch

Django x2 · 12 Nov 2012 at 22:31

Here's an idea. Have even more money and sell the Porsche and give the mrs the 500

You can't net $200 a month if you have to pay out for the cars in the first place. There's man maths, and then there's bad man maths.....

[ui]ICEMAN · 12 Nov 2012 at 22:59

Lucero said:
Here's an idea. Have even more money and sell the Porsche and give the mrs the 500

You can't net $200 a month if you have to pay out for the cars in the first place. There's man maths, and then there's bad man maths.....

Doing that would move us backwards. I don't need the money in the bank, I'd much rather have the nice cars - that said, I fail to see the point in throwing away money on boring/pointless miles. It's not like I get to actually enjoy my GTR on my 75 mile commute

If you want to tell a half Puerto Rican, half Sicilian woman that you're going to sell her car, be my guest