as an EV owner, I've read about the drum brakes in the back... because of regen braking, the friction brakes don't get used very often. this causes the exposed disk brakes to not stay clean and rust. the drum brakes are sealed and don't let in the elements... it seems a step backwards, but it was necessary for the longevity of the brakes oh and the key on the 12v adapter means it's switched with the key... :)
Drum's also have an advantage that Drag Racers and Land Speed racers know about, but most people don't seem to realize. When they're not in use, the shoes pull in from the drum and no longer float on the surface, so they don't cause friction drag or heat during regular motion. For the racers, this means the only power loss there is in the bearings. For EV's, it means longer range through lower power losses and less cabin noise of pads scraping on discs.
VW uses drum brakes in the rear of the ID4 for supposedly the reasons you highlighted. But the Audi equivalent to the ID4, the Q4, uses disc brakes. Can’t help but think the drum brakes are to save money.
@@roch145 Drum brakes are cheaper and last longer. But they do have an issue with heat. Especially when you take multiple mountain passes in sequence and/or you're heavily loaded. Even on my normal car, if I drive economically (which means to avoid using the brakes), the rear discs will eventually start to rust.
@@svr5423 Then as part of normal maintenance you should do an aggressive stop every now and then to get rid of any rust. I hope you don’t frustrate too many people driving behind you. If you aren’t using the brakes often you are decelerating very slowly and probably you aren’t accelerating very fast either.
A British electric motor?!? Just doesn't get any more confidence inspiring than that. The face you made at the beginning of the acceleration test was priceless!
@Neojhun Brits can't make reliable electrical systems. Their equivalent of the NEC is based on the concept that they have noncombustible buildings so their wiring can be crap. The fact that you don't comprehend doesn't make the point any less valid.
I own one an original 500e, and 11 years later, I still love it! The range has decreased a little, but not by much, no more than 5%, I would guesstimate. My car’s drivetrain was designed by Bosch, and incorporates both a floor and ceiling in the battery management system, I think about 10% in either direction, in order to help preserve battery longevity. It also handles like a go-kart because it borrows a number of suspension components from the Abarth model. It’s such a blast to drive, I just wish it had a lot more range, since 70-80 miles is realistically all I can get out of it. When the original battery does eventually get tired, I really want to rebuild the pack with higher capacity cells, and possibly retrofit a Level 3 charging system in it, for maximum usability. I’m a little tempted by the new model’s 145 mile range, but I think I’d rather spend my money on upgrading the little pocket rocket that I already know and love. ❤️
Would have been great if they upgraded the capacity like BMW I3 did. Bosch drivetrain, FCA must have hated them. Samsung batteries I think, Italian design USA mfgr, nuilt in Mexico.
I am so old I learned to drive in the UK in an original 500, air cooled twin, stick shift crash gearbox so you had to double de-clutch like a 1960's racing car driver. It was incredibly tiny although it was just possible to use the original bench back seat for conventional teenage copulatory activities. At 68 mph it blew the dipstick out of the engine, revealing to your irate parent that you had been thrashing the nuts off it. It had drum brakes all round which stayed properly adjusted for about 5 miles so on the driving test I amused the examiner, when doing the emergency stop by taking a great armful of left lock and stopping in a dead straight line. Ours was mainly rust, held together with red paint, and we paid £100 for it in 1974.
My parents bought one around 1971 as my mum's runaround, then the '73 oil crisis hit and it went into storage in my grandmother's spare garage, until petrol got cheaper... My grandmother died ~20 years later and as nobody in the family wanted it we sold it to an enthusiast. But for the year or so we used it it was great fun!
My friend had a second gen version, badged ‘Cinquecento’ not ‘500’ and it was the rattliest car I've ever been in, behind a Ford Exploder and an Alfa 147 which was so rough the CD player was useless above 5kmh
I'll say it again - Sarah's videos are funny, informative, and you'd be hard pressed to find any other one-person operation on RU-vid with a better and more scene-ehancing selection of background music
Also, as a graphic designer I appreciate the visual side of things. Attractively designed, consistent and still tongue firmly in cheek. The footage is of a very high quality too.
I had to laugh at the “donuts” trying to imagine a crowd at an intersection cheering it on. 🤣 With that range, definitely a car built for urban travel, but one wonders how and where apartment dwellers are going to charge it. It’s always fun watching a review that produces many smiles. 😃 As always, thank you, Sarah. 👍👍👍
EV owners who live in apartments should treat charging them like gas cars. If you need gas, you go to a gas station. If you need to charge it, just drive it to a charging station when it’s time. The need for a charging station at home is nice but not necessary.
@@housepianist True, as an EV owner and apartment renter myself, I can manage without my own charging solution, of course it would be nice, but if the public charging network in your town or local region is decent enough, it can be done. For example both of my go to grocery stores have DC fast chargers installed, as long as I don't get there with just 10% battery left, the battery is typically charged about 80-95% when I leave the store. Major downsides is pricing of these chargers.
@housepianist No idea what it's like in the US but here in The Netherlands newer apartment complexes generally get their own chargers and they're dotted all along the streets. There are two public chargers just outside my apartment building and four more within a 300 metre range.
@@justkiddin1980 WTF that makes no sense. Sure the 1.2L Fiat engine is fine if you look after it. This generation of EV will survive much better with less maintenance effort. Neither are better than the other, it's a TIE.
@@justkiddin1980 I currently have a 1.3L hatchback (Toyota Echo). It's the bees knees 😊 Definitely want an EV in the future, but I'll probably drive this thing to death first.
@@LordPhobos6502 I have a Scion (Toyota) iQ with the same engine. Nothing but fluid changes, it will likely run til the wheels fall off. Or until I win the lottery and put that legendary supercharger kit on it.
I like that you're incorporating a few different (and very picturesque) roads into this vid compared to the same roads you used a couple years ago. It keeps the variety up and makes a nice background.
I live in Turin, where these are made. The factory is currently idle due to lack of demand, and has been for a few months now. It’s a cute city car, but it’s just too expensive for what it is. A hybrid 500 is currently in development and should arrive in late 2025, but I don’t know if that will be available in the US too.
No sh*t, I can’t believe they want $37k for a fukin Cinquecento, it’s ridiculous! I grew up in Poland and a Fiat Cinquecento was the cheapest car you could buy most of the 90s, car prices have gone stupid high, I hope these companies go out of business, it’s what they deserve.
On the one hand, the range is way better than the old one. On the other hand that car was a compliance retrofit incorporating the fewest number of changes. It was also less than $100 a month to lease in California with all the credits and stuff.
The 12V cover that has a key on it means the car has to be on for that to have power. The covers with a little battery on it means that it has power all the time, even if the car is off. Fun fact!!! :)
Hooves Garage just did a review on this model. A 10-year old car with 40,000 miles. The car is dead and junk whilst still looking great. Battery replacement $7,500 and the car was purchased for $700.
Nope. The battery controller had a problem and is currently on its way to Europe for repair. Cost will be around 1000 to 2000 in repairs according to the garage. Battery itself was fine.
I enjoy seeing the penguin riding shotgun. I can't explain why, but the addition of penguins in your car reviews and work videos uplifts my day. So far I have purchased four of them from your store. Thank you for making them available. The Fiat e500 is a great city car as you mentioned. The pricing is just too high. When they become used vehicles, they will be more in the 20k range. Then they might find a market.
@15:16 The schedules are for pre-conditioning the car before leaving for work or for home. Helps to use shore power for conditioning. Also could be for scheduling charging to charge at off-peak rate times.
I leased a couple of the old 500e for six years and loved them. It didn't feel heavy at the time, but it did only have 88 miles range. I'd go for this new one, but our range needs have changed since that time, unfortunately.
A perfect little car for urban driving. Hint the average American drives - .According to the Department of Transportation, the average American driver drives 39.7 miles per day. So call it 40 miles per day with 140 mile range, Charge once every 3 days = full tank, or "fill up" every night. It all depends on each individuals needs.
I like it! I've never been a Fiat fan, but this is a great idea! Keep it light by making it 2 door and you don't need a huge battery...What a concept!!! Make it small and simple to keep the price down and sell a brazillion of them...I sure wish American manufacturers would wake up and get this clue!!!
I have a 1s gen 500e. 2014 with 68k miles, no noticeable range loss. In the original model they limited battery usage to slow down degradation. I've gotten the same electronically limited (less than nominal) usable battery capacity over time. Eventually I expect some loss of range, but so far nothing noticeable. Bosch drivetrain in the 1st gen btw, and assembled in Mexico 🙂. 1st gen is also quicker than this one I think, it's actually a hoot around town. 0-30 is impressive lol.
@10:43 Sarah is unphased by the driver crossing the double yellow into her lane in a Ram truck. We don't drive small cars so you can use our lane too, ding dong.
schedules are important, this car is intended for the person who commutes to work so scheduling the car to be ready at a particular time is a very nice feature especially if you live in a cold environment. There is nothing better than having the car de-ice its own windshield!
We have the Abarth Scorpian EV here (in NZ), but only in the 2023 and they've dropped the prices by NZD$35K to sell...not been a success story. Pity, as they're lovely. However my pick of the wee Fiats is the Abarth 695 Competizione 1.4, 132kW of pure fun. The quad tail pipe emitts sonic perfection! Still, the EV Abarth Scorpian (in bright lime-yellow) is a perfect urban assault car, for looks and zippyness. Just nothing else out there like it. And being heavily reduced is a great deal.
Heck put the first BMW version (with the kidney grille hidden behind the chrome) next to the current one and marvel at how they've gradually grown the overhangs.
For those playing the home game, this car is a few piunds lighter than a second gen Scion xB (3,082 lb curb weight from stock). The xB2 had 20 cu.ft. of cargo space behind the second row, a second row that folded nearly flat, and the second row seats would actually fit 2 full-size adults fairly comfortably when in place. Oh, and it wasn't prone to spontaneous combustion or thermal runaway like battery-operated cars.
10000%. As an owner of two Fiat 500's (both an Abarth and a Pop), the entire reason people liked those cars is because they were cheap and small, with emphasis on cheap. The pricing on the new ones is borderline insulting to long-time Fiat 500 fans.
If it weren’t for You, looking incredibly Beautiful in this video, I would never watch it. You are such a joy to watch, and your humor brightens my day, I love your channel.
I can't help but think that finding one of these in a parts yard would be awesome with the battery being a decent size and easy to remove to repurpose :)
Luckily we don't have the ugly wheelarche blinker in Europe. Fiat was really keen on saving, they had the chance to install a rear wheel motor, give it a smaller turning circle due to missing front wheel axles and a frunk. Instead they gave it a traditional front motor layout and probably saved 10 dollars per sold car.
Sarah: The Italian word for beans is "Fagioli" pronounced "Fah-jio-lee" or, as some Italian-Americans say "Fah-zool." "Give it the beans!" in Italian is "Dagli i fagioli!"
These cars are definitely overpriced, but most EV’s are overpriced. And they are not highway cars. They are not made for long trips. They are city cars and for suburban driving. I have had a 2017 500e for four years now and my wife absolutely loves it. At around $10k with 13k miles on it, ours was a steal. After adding 20k miles we have spent less than $500 total on maintenance (2 front tires). The range is around 100 miles, but really closer to 70-80 and for around town commuting it is just fine. And I haven’t seen much battery degradation at all. I typically charge it once or twice a week overnight using the 110 charger it came with. Bottom line - This is one of the most fun and cheapest to own cars I have ever had.
I dont mind the batteries capacity. I already drive a 500 Abarth. Around town (Tempe) its perfect. $20 in gas lasts almost 2 weeks for my daily to work. So 140ish miles would be fine. But my ICE 500 Abarth is more fun. More fun than just about anything I pass on the streets.
found your channel last month for the 1974 Celica ST. i had a 1974 GT. loved it. now i see a review on a fricken fait. ok ... kind of get it. Fiat sold maybe 500 cars in the usa this year. everyone hates them. not only for what they did to jeep, dodge. they build crap cars. i will still watch cause of the 1974 build you did. wonderful build. thank you
