Happy days
Filed Under Curt Hennig | Posted on April 12, 2008
Contrary to popular belief, retro cars are not passe. Motoring
Editor Joshua Dowling introduces the ‘new’ Fiat 500 to some
familiar faces.
Some ideas are old enough to be new again. Since Volkswagen
released a modern version of the Beetle 10 years ago, manufacturers
around the world have discovered there is money to be made by
tugging at the heartstrings of car buyers.
The formula is simple: design a cute car that looks like
something from the 1960s and reminds people of happier times. Equip
it with modern features, reliability and the latest safety systems,
so buying it is a rational, as well as an emotional, decision.
The original Beetle, Mini and Fiat 500 were affordable runabouts
that put the masses on four wheels. The modern interpretations of
these various themes, though, come with handsome premiums.
In addition to adding polish to a brand’s image, retro cars have
also taught makers about the appeal of good design. Retro cars are
all about transforming appliances on wheels into cars people want
to drive.
When the new Beetle went on sale in 1998, not even Volkswagen
expected it to still be selling strong a decade later. Sales of the
Beetle increased by almost 6 per cent last year, at a time in its
life cycle most cars would be starting to lose their lustre.
That’s the genius of retro cars: they don’t date because they
already look old.
The first modern Mini Cooper, released in 2001, was such a hit
that the all-new 2007 model looks exactly like the one it replaced
- even though the cars don’t share a single panel. Sales of the,
er, new, new Mini increased by 20 per cent last year.
Not every retro car has been a success, though. Sales of the
Chrysler PT Cruiser, a small-ish family wagon that looks as if it
was designed by The Fonz from Happy Days, halved last year.
Perhaps the reason the Chrysler isn’t selling as well as its
peers is because it’s not a copy of any particular model from the
Chrysler catalogue - rather, it’s a mix of ideas. The secret to
retro-car success seems to be authenticity, if that’s the right
word. It has to be a remake of a classic.
The Fiat 500 certainly qualifies as a classic. It was to
Italians what the Mini was to Britons - and the Beetle was to
Germans.
With the arrival of the new Fiat 500 in Australian showrooms
this month, we couldn’t resist the urge to get behind the wheel -
and get reacquainted with two other familiar faces.
FIAT 500
Fifty years after the original Bambino, a new model has gone on
sale.
Unlike the retro cars before it, the Fiat 500 is at least a step
closer to being affordable.
The new Fiat 500 range starts from $22,990 and stretches to
$27,990 and there are three equipment grades: Pop, Lounge and
Sport.
With a couple of options, though, the cost can easily eclipse
$30,000. For example, leather seats are $1450, a sunroof is $1950,
Italian racing stripes cost $450 and metallic paint adds $750.
Most Korean and Japanese cars of this size cost between $15,000
and $20,000. At least the Fiat is cheaper than the other retro
cars. The VW Beetle range starts from $25,990 and stretches to
almost $40,000. The new Mini Cooper starts at more than $30,000 and
stretches well beyond $50,000 for one with the works.
With the new Fiat 500, there are three engines from which to
choose: a 1.2-litre petrol (51kW), a 1.4-litre petrol (74kW) and a
1.3-litre turbo diesel (55kW).
We tested the 1.4 petrol, which is likely to be the most popular
choice. At $26,990, the 1.4 Sport is not the cheapest - nor the
dearest - in the Fiat 500 range. A six-speed manual transmission is
standard on this model (the others come with a five-speed manual
only), although a five-speed automated manual (that is, with a
robotised clutch) will be available as a $2000 option on the 1.4 in
the coming months.
As with the new Beetle, the Fiat’s engine is now under the
bonnet instead of in the boot.
Almost 3.9 million Fiat 500s were made between 1957 and 1975 and
more than 600,000 are believed to still be on Italian roads. The
Italians love the original 500s so much the government was lobbied
to make the cars with the wheezing engines exempt from strict
emissions laws. The new model has no such problems, as it complies
with restrictions not due to be enforced for several years.
When I sampled the 1.2 last year it was a little underdone, even
by economy-car standards. But the 1.4 has good power and a nice
exhaust note. The official 0 to 100kmh claim is 10.7 seconds,
average for the class. The 1.2 is the slowest (12.5 seconds) of the
trio; the turbo diesel manages an OK 11.5 seconds.
The six-speed manual’s shift action is fuss-free. The
electrically assisted power steering is a touch too light but
there’s a “sport” switch on the dash that adds more steering feel
at the press of a button. A tight turning circle of 9.3 metres
makes light work of U-turns.
The ride is comfortable, if a little bouncy when the car is
unladen. With its feather-weight (just 930kg) and good grip, it
corners with ease and feels agile.
The quality of the car is excellent, even though the new 500
comes to us from Poland. The cabin materials are sound and the
placement of the dials is logically laid out. Some buttons also get
the retro treatment, with a gloss covering and chrome rings to give
it an upmarket feel. Between the seats is a USB input socket so you
can play MP3 files through the sound system. Every model in the new
Fiat 500 range comes with seven airbags (front, side, curtain and a
knee-protecting airbag under the steering column), stability
control and anti-lock brakes. Each occupant has a lap-sash seatbelt
and an adjustable headrest.
This means the new Fiat 500 is the first vehicle of its size to
be awarded five stars for crash protection by the European New Car
Assessment Program. So it’s not just a pretty face.
It’s also a joy to drive and a cinch to park. The Fiat 500 is
only a snip over 3.5 metres long - slightly shorter than a Mini
Cooper and much shorter than a VW Beetle - but, as we discovered,
this delivers advantages to the other cars in other ways.
MINI COOPER
The car-spotters among us will have already noted that the Mini
in these photos is the most expensive model in the range, the
long-winded, $50,000-plus Cooper S John Cooper Works.
As the name implies, it comes with the works, including more
power from its 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The standard
Mini (the Cooper) comes with a regular 1.6-litre petrol engine.
Mini didn’t have a standard car available for us in time for the
photo shoot so we grabbed the JCW Cooper S because it still gave us
a worthwhile insight into the rest of the car, particularly
interior roominess.
Even though this Mini looks like the one that was released in
2001, it is in fact an all-new model that went on sale locally in
March last year. Every panel is different and the car is 60
millimetres longer to create more cabin space.
There is no doubt the Mini feels slightly bigger inside than the
Fiat, although it’s mostly shoulder room, thanks to the Mini’s
wider body. The Fiat and Beetle have superior headroom, except in
the rear, where all these cars are compromised by their
designs.
The Mini’s oversized dials and cute toggle switches look
familiar but are also completely new, maintaining a nod to the
interior look of the original Mini. The speedometer in the new Mini
is even larger than it was before.
The Mini is the most popular British car ever, with more than
5.3 million of the original model built between 1959 and 2000. In
April last year the new Mini passed a milestone of 1 million sales
after just six years in showrooms - just a month longer than it
took the original Mini to reach the same total in March 1965.
No wonder German owner BMW, which took over the British brand in
1994, didn’t want to mess with the formula.
The slightly longer and wider footprint has improved the Mini’s
already highly regarded agile handling. The one thing that’s not
been fully addressed, however, is the firm ride over bumps.
The JCW Cooper S has stiffer suspension because it’s the hot
hatch version but our comments regarding the sharp ride come from
our experience with the regular version of the new Mini we tested
earlier this year.
The Mini’s “run flat” tyres, which can be driven for short
distances when punctured, are part of the reason for the Cooper’s
sensitivity to bumps. Tyre supply is also a thorny issue and the
replacement rubber isn’t as cheap as a regular tyre, either.
Some people argue the Mini is the most authentic of the gaggle
of retro cars because its DNA is largely unchanged: the engine’s
under the bonnet (the VW and Fiat retro cars had their engines
transplanted from the back to the front) and all four wheels are
pushed out to the corners of the car.
In its most basic guise, the Mini is also reasonably economical.
But there is a catch: model-for-model, it’s the most expensive of
the three.
VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
The original Volkswagen Beetle was in production for 65 years -
the longest continually produced motor car in the world. More than
21 million were sold worldwide before the last factory to build the
Bugs closed its doors in Mexico in 2003.
The new Beetle is unlikely to top that record but it’s fair to
say sales have exceeded even Volkswagen’s expectations.
The new Beetle turns 10 this year and to celebrate VW has
released an anniversary edition.
The Beetle is likely to be around in its present guise for
another few years yet. It went on sale in 1998 and continued
largely unchanged until September last year, when it got a minor
facelift.
Only the eagle-eyed are likely to spot the difference: the front
and rear bumpers now have a slightly sharper crease moulded into
them.
The new Beetle is getting a bit long in the tooth, which may be
an odd comment to make given the 65-year tenure of its
predecessor.
But buyers demand more these days. The new Beetle is based on
the previous generation Golf’s underpinnings, which is why it lacks
such items as stability control (on the petrol models) and curtain
airbags (on any model).
That said, the Beetle still feels well made. The quality of the
materials is good.
We tested the cheapest model in the line-up, the basic 1.6.
Anyone familiar with this engine will confirm it’s no ball of fire
but it gets on with the job, providing you’re patient enough with
it.
The Beetle drives well enough, although it’s not as nimble as
its retro rivals. But it is a more relaxing experience behind the
wheel. Peace.
The suspension is by far the most comfortable of this trio, as
it soaks up bumps and thumps with ease.
Volkswagen says that 65 per cent of Beetle buyers in Australia
are women aged between 18 and 29, who prefer economy over slingshot
acceleration.
A sporty turbocharged model was sold in Australia for a few
years but it was phased out in August 2005 because of slow
sales.
As with all the other cars in this group, the Beetle requires
premium unleaded petrol. However, the official guide says it
requires a minimum of 98 octane, whereas the rivals are happy to
drink 95 octane.
It’s a shame the Beetle has such expensive tastes in fuel
because it’s quite a pleasant car to drive.
It is, however, in need of some attention and an update to some
of its available safety features, such as curtain airbags across
the range and stability control on the petrol-powered models.
THE VERDICT
These cars make you smile and they attract attention whether you
want it or not. Trying to decide which of these vehicles is best is
possibly a futile exercise, given that buyers of retro cars tend to
be swayed by their hearts rather than their heads.
For what it’s worth, we’ve attempted to apply some logic to the
discussion.
The Beetle is a sound vehicle but it is now outclassed in a
couple of areas, most notably on safety features. The Beetle comes
with a four-star European New Car Assessment Program crash rating
and four airbags but both rivals have better safety scorecards and
come standard with curtain airbags and stability control.
The Mini is a sweet, fun-to-drive car but is compromised by its
too-firm ride and higher price range.
That leaves the little Fiat 500. It’s not quite as roomy as its
peers but it won the judges’ hearts because it had the best safety
credentials, was a joy to drive and, importantly, was the most
affordable. No wonder there is a four-month queue for one.
MINI COOPER
Country of origin Britain.
Price range $31,100 to $50,000-plus.
Engines 1.6-litre, four-cylinder petrol (88kW) and 1.6-litre
turbo petrol (128kW).
Safety Six airbags including front, side and curtains. Stability
control. Five-star NCAP crash rating.
Fuel type Premium unleaded, 95 octane.
Consumption and emissions 5.8L/100km and 139g/km (Cooper),
7L/100km and 166g/km (Cooper S).
FIAT 500
Country of origin Poland.
Price range $22,990 to $30,000-plus.
Engines 1.2-litre (51kW) and 1.4-litre (74kW) four-cylinder
petrol, and 1.3 turbo diesel (55kW).
Safety Seven airbags including front, side, curtains and a
driver’s knee airbag. Stability control. Five-star NCAP crash
rating.
Fuel type Premium unleaded, 95 octane.
Consumption and emissions 5L/100km and 118g/km (1.2), 6.3L/100km
and 149g/km (1.4), 4.2L/100km and 110g/km (1.3TD).
VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
Country of origin Mexico.
Price range $25,990 to $40,000-plus.
Engines 1.6-litre (75kW) and 2.0-litre (85kW) four-cylinder
petrol and a 1.9-litre turbo diesel (77kW).
Safety Four airbags including dual front and seat-mounted side
airbags. Anti-lock brakes standard. Stability control available
only on the diesel. Four-star NCAP crash rating.
Fuel type Premium unleaded, 98 octane.
Consumption and emissions 7.7L/100km and 185g/km (1.6),
8.8L/100km and 211g/km (2.0), 5.5L/100km and 148g/km (1.9TD).
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