Fiat 500 + Hipster

[SoCalDubber]

A while back, I picked up a Fiat 500 Sport in Mocha Latte, 5 speed from Orange Coast FIAT... Around the same time, I decided to put together the SoCal Fiat Club (www.SoCalFiatClub.com). Seeing that I have been active in the european car "modding scene" for some time, I decided to try put together a very mild project to help steer people in the right direction... "Project 500" came to be.

Up to this point, I had made the decision to give the little car a bit of a bump in the performance/fun-to-drive category so Road Race Motorsports had installed their Corsa Intake as well as the Magnaflow cat-back exhaust; both of which I absolutely loved and made the car a blast to drive!

For the next step, I decided to deal with the suspension. KW Suspensions has always been an industry leader in coilovers and handled great and looked the part, so I decided to jump on a set of Variant 1 coilovers. Road Race Motorsports, the only shop that has laid a finger on the car, was called-upon to do the installation.





After an hour or so, we got to adjusting the height. Because of the way the solid beam rear suspension is setup from the factory, there wasn't a whole lot of lowering capabilities in the rear. So the short version is that we went as low as the rears would go and then matched the fronts to that height.

Here is the fronts on their lowest setting (keep in mind that they'd settle a bit from here)



After adjusting the fronts to the right height, the car came off the lift and looked great!



On the drive home I was so impressed by the way the car rode and excited about the whole experience that I decided I wanted to "debut" the car in a much more glorious at California Car Cover's event the next day. I thought for a bit about what companies would POSSIBLY have a wheel in stock that is made in Fiat's weird bolt pattern; 4x98. I remembered talking to ESM Wheels in Northridge, CA (a few miles from home) about their wheels and decided to make a visit. Sure enough, they had a set of their "004" wheel in 17x8 et 38 in the proper bolt pattern. They also happened to have the proper sized tire (205/40/17) in stock so I paid for everything and dropped off the wheels/tires at a local installer just before they closed.

Here is the final product... Better pictures coming soon! The coolest thing is that everything on this car is bolted on exactly as it could be purchased. Magnaflow exhaust, RRM Corsa Intake, KW V1 coilovers, ESM 004 17x8" wheels, and tires. No modifications needed to get it the way it sits today!

[Slipstream]

Looks great! LM style is classic on almost anything.

[Grey Mouser]

Hey! My dog poops that same shade of brown.

[mellbergVWfan]

I'd rock it. How much better does it drive with coilovers now?

[SoCalDubber]

Looks great! LM style is classic on almost anything.

Thanks... I hate to think of them as LM reps because as a copy, they're TERRIBLE. Pretending the LM doesn't exist, though, the wheel is a good looking wheel.

Hey! My dog poops that same shade of brown.

That's a weird dog. Does your dogs poo have 101 hp?

I'd rock it. How much better does it drive with coilovers now?

A lot stiffer now... My fiancee has amazing, fake ta-tas... so I'm enjoying her as a passenger more now

[Grey Mouser]

102, bro. Cihuhaha power.

[SoCalDubber]

102, bro. Cihuhaha power.

Get the Road Race intake and Magnaflow exhaust... My dog poo car feels great after it

[Grey Mouser]

Get the Road Race intake and Magnaflow exhaust... My dog poo car feels great after it

You should try for "DOGPOO" for a custom plate. Bad ass all around.

[SoCalDubber]

You should try for "DOGPOO" for a custom plate. Bad ass all around.

But on a serious note, take your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

[devianb]

Love the wheels, but that is a terrible color.

[Grey Mouser]

Its just the squirts. Car guys call that "nawwwwwwz".

[SoCalDubber]

Love the wheels, but that is a terrible color.

I love your shirt but your face makes me want to vomit.

[sforsancho]

Undecided on color.

Like the ride height.

Think the LMs are an inch too large.

Pretty sure I like the car in general, but need to see pictures of aforementioned fiance to be sure.

[smoove7410]

I love it. I like the stance wheels on the fiat also.

[FiveAinOne]

Harsh crowd, I don't mind the color. Let's see more.

[mellbergVWfan]

A lot stiffer now... My fiancee has amazing, fake ta-tas... so I'm enjoying her as a passenger more now

Pics/Video of her in the car?

[alfafan]

Harsh crowd, I don't mind the color. Let's see more.

Yeah. I like the color, just not in love with the wheels. More pics please.

[2.0_Mazda]

I really like the color wheel combo, not like many other people here

Also in for more pics

[Horror Business]

I like the color. Solid/non metallic paint is so rare these days that it looks great on the right vehicles.

[nickthaskater]

The pic doesn't do that colour justice at all; it's a great looking paint in person.

Car looks good

[feels_road]

Hot.

[HI SPEED]

That is the best colour available for the 500 IMO. I see a girl in a sport that colour almost daily, and it never fails to catch my eye. Personally I would have just saved up for an Abarth, rather then tricking out a sport.

[deepspeed12]

What wheels are those? I am still deciding if I want to swap the wheels on my fit or not. I really like those.

[Bigtree]

Beige?

[Hufeisen]

Looks good

[Brimjolt]

love, love, love it.

Pics of fiance please.

[B3passatBMX]

A lot stiffer now... My fiancee has amazing, fake ta-tas... so I'm enjoying her as a passenger more now

I seriously hope you didn't post this and then not expect to post a pic of said fiancee.
Car looks great btw

[Jordan 191]

If I was buying a 500 I would pick that color.

[Hawk]

Hey! My dog poops that same shade of brown.

Is your dog sick?

[velocidub]

Wow, that looks really cool. Nice job. Bet it's a lot of fun to zip around in.

[alleghenyman]

I like it all. I'm picking up my Sport in a few weeks. A few questions:

How noticeable are the gains from the CAI and Magnaflow?

Do the KWs still let the car handle acceptably?

My wife's lovebags are huge these days ( becausebreastfeeding) - can you aim the rear view mirror the rigt direction without fiancé noticing?

[SoCalDubber]

The pic doesn't do that colour justice at all; it's a great looking paint in person.

Car looks good

iPhone picture... Should have some good ones later to post

That is the best colour available for the 500 IMO. I see a girl in a sport that colour almost daily, and it never fails to catch my eye. Personally I would have just saved up for an Abarth, rather then tricking out a sport.

The Abarth is awesome... but a) wasn't available when I needed the car b) won't lease well and c) I saved ~ $5k by not getting that Abarth and to be honest, I have a 5-600 whp Mk4 Jetta wagon VR-T in the process of being finished up, so this car is doing a great job in the purpose it was meant for.

Plus, think of how upset you guys would be when I bagged it

What wheels are those? I am still deciding if I want to swap the wheels on my fit or not. I really like those.

They are the ESM 004s. www.ESMWheels.com 17x8 et 38

I like it all. I'm picking up my Sport in a few weeks. A few questions:

How noticeable are the gains from the CAI and Magnaflow?

Do the KWs still let the car handle acceptably?

My wife's lovebags are huge these days ( becausebreastfeeding) - can you aim the rear view mirror the rigt direction without fiancé noticing?

The CAI and Magnaflow dynoed ~ 10-12 whp gains. But WAY more importantly, the sound is bloody fantastic! I find myself revving for absolutely no reason

As mentioned, the KWs are a bit firm but very compliant... My fiancee drove the car a few miles home from work at this heigh with the stock 16s and the 195/45 Contis that came on the car and she didn't seem to mind. With the short wheel base, firm suspension, and smaller tire, you notice most imperfections in the road (which I like). I've yet to do any aggressive driving, but it seems like the improvement will be HUGE.

Here she is with my 8 year old daughter (picture is 2-3 years old). Please be respectful of my beautiful fiancee and gorgeous daughter... If you're coming to Wuste 2012, you'll meet my fiance at the registration booth.

[THE KILLER RABBIT]

i like

[Exhaustdd]

Nice looking family and car, keep it up bud!

[Fritz27]

If someone dumped a Frostee on that thing, you'd never know.