Voitures Anciennes

[RobertArthur]

Fortunately, there are still some slightly more affordable descendants of the Fiat 500 to be found in the narrow streets of Italian city centres. Although they face stiff competition from the modern small citadines produced by Citroën, Renault, Hyundai, KIA, VW and Toyota, as well as the modern Morris Minor. Alongside other well-known street performers, two-wheelers and those with three wheels.

[Hotrodder]

When I was last searching for a vehicle I was very keen to look into the new retro Fiat 500. Sadly, not all the models review well. Choose carefully. In the end they were all way too expensive, and when I read that the Fiat and the Ford Ka shared many components I definately went off the boil.

[RobertArthur]

@ Hotrodder, right, I realise that even buying a modern 4-door Fiat 500 isn’t exactly your first choice either. Difficult question. To suggest to someone with V-8 blood running through his veins, even with an interim Austin Healey blood transfusion, that he might consider a simple Piaggio, just a little modern workhorse, nothing more and nothing less, seems to me to be something to approach with caution, even if it is available in a range of colours.

Perhaps back to other classic cars like the Renault 4. Or right back to the roots – a proper Fiat 500. The only risk is that, before you know it, you’ll be expected to turn up at all sorts of classic car events. And before you know it, your rear side windows will be completely covered with proof of that.

And, last but not least, before you know it, you’ll be driving from one gig to the next, just as Bruce Springsteen describes in his autobiography ‘Born to Run’. Lots of admiring glances, and plenty of attention from young ladies too. Look through any window, what do you see... But in between, you’ll still be tinkering with and polishing a car like that. In short: it’s a trade-off...

[curtis]

Ah, the Triporteur. I nearly bought one when I first came to France. Later bought a Méhari instead.