I have a new Fiat 500!

[Happydad4]

Hello All!

I purchased a 2017 Fiat 500, 5-speed (pop). I used to drive a Prius C but had to get rid of it because my daughter needs it for college and I can't afford another one. I used to get around 46 - 52 mpg out of the Prius C by driving normally. The 4-cyl engine in the Prius is underpowered so I'm sort of glad to get rid of it. Anyway, this situation ushered the opportunity to get into a little car that I've always wanted.

Trading a hybrid for a 1.4L also brought me back to this forum. I need to get back into hypermiling driving tactics that I used before I bought the Prius when I drove a Toyota Matrix XRS. I don't mind driving this way as long as it doesn't piss off drivers that don't hesitate to pop you the "finger". Southern California's slow lane speed is NOT 55 and I remember being stopped by the CHP for obstructing traffic . I'm looking forward to seeing how much mileage I can get out of the Fiat with the help of this forum.

My practices so far are: I shift under 2k rpm, coast everywhere that I can, turn off the car when I can but this is really difficult and scary at red lights where I'm not familiar with their times, and other general stuff. Let's see how this works out!

[SH@UN]

Congrats!

A couple of years ago I almost bought one of those, but our closest dealer is over 60 miles away, and stupid me didn't get it "just in case" it ever needed warranty work. I wish I would've, because they are seriously cute. Have fun with it.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Would you eventually consider to make a kill-switch?

[Happydad4]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Would you eventually consider to make a kill-switch?

Absolutely! How do you do that?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Happydad4

Absolutely! How do you do that?

I have never done that, but it does seem quite similar to what we see in some motorcycles fitted with electric start. Anyway, there are some threads about kill-switches that would guide you more accurately on how to wire it properly.

[wdb]

What kind of mileage are you getting now?

[JockoT]

Originally Posted by Happydad4

but this is really difficult and scary at red lights where I'm not familiar with their times

We are lucky in that respect, here in the UK, in that we get a Red and Amber as a warning, before the light turns to Green. As you cannot move off until the Green light comes on, it gives you time to start the engine.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by JockoT

We are lucky in that respect, here in the UK, in that we get a Red and Amber as a warning, before the light turns to Green. As you cannot move off until the Green light comes on, it gives you time to start the engine.

I have already seen this feature in a handful of traffic lights in another city near my hometown, but it's uncommon here.

[puddleglum]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new ride. They are cool little cars.
You probably want to be careful with adding a kill switch. If you it you want to make sure that you do it in a way you don't have a warranty fight down the road.
I don't know if anyone's done one on a Fiat yet, maybe, but the plan is generic. Finding a wiring diagram or the right wire might be tricky. Here is the basic idea. You need to identify the common wire that powers the injectors, install a normally closed relay into that wire. You can also feed the relay's coil from the injector power wire. Use some sort of microswitch to open the relay in the relay coil ground wire and your done. I love mine. It is by far the best return of any mod I've ever done IMO.

[SRSW]

Those little Fiat 500s are really cute, I heard a really bad sounding one the other day though that wasn't very old. Does/did yours idle rough?
3 cylinder engines aren't they?