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What is it?

This is a Fiat 500 with a very large, electrically operated fabric sunroof and a sizeable £3000 mark-up over the standard car, though you do get more kit for your cash.

Curiously, it was this body style that the 1957 Nuova 500 was launched with, its full-length roof and rear window furling to a point just above the rear engine lid. Apart from its nostalgic qualities, this arrangement has made today’s conversion from closed to open 500 a little easier for the body...Read the full article

Dosent really look like a proper convertible to me, reminds me of the VW Polo open-air, and I bet rear visibility is bad.

Like I said, the MINI stopped being cool a long time ago due the sheer numbers of the damn things around and yes, I've owned two, but is still a better car in most areas than the 500 and at least it's a proper convertible which the 500 is clearly not. And I know both cars are aimed at mostly Women but I know which car I would look less of a berk in.

...i was talking to my mate George and he says you would look equally stupid in either of them.

I think it's fine, but two major issues:

£3k is a BIG premium - £1.5k-£2k would be slightly more palatable.

 Rear visibility does indeed seem shocking when the roof is down - surprised they weren't willing to sacrifice a tiny bit more boot space to improve your view out the back.

That said - most will be bought by women, so the feminine looks aren't an issue. I think it looks fine. I'd buy it, though maybe for my wife! The roof solution is far better than lopping the entire top off the car, adding 200kg of strengthening and fitting a large metal, two piece roof that gives your car a massive backside. Note: see 206CC. It's more "basic" motoring and that's "in" right now. I think it's mostly quite an honest little car, if playing slightly on the retro/nostalgia thing!

I quite like the look of it and can't wait to see it in the metal. 3k for a large sunroof and air-con does seem a bit steep, but in terms of what it does for what it costs, the basic model still seems very tempting.

theonlydt:

That said - most will be bought by women, so the feminine looks aren't an issue.

Neither will the lack of rear visibility :0

On a serious note I like it. Can't imagine ever buying one but it would make an ideal hire car while on the annual summer hols in Italy.

The 500C is a cracker - nice and stiff for an open car, feels very snug and quiet roof up or down. Roof can be raised or lowered up to 37mph, which I think is the highest on the market. Little roof-down buffeting. Diesel very quiet and unsmelly even with the roof down. Clever combined roof spoiler and high-level brake light set into the fabric roof - think this may be a first.

The 3K premium over the hatch is a bit steep but in absolute terms this car is still cheap. I suspect this may be the first step in realigning prices for the 500 in general. That said, MINI still probably has the edge in pure driving terms.

Re. rear  visibility; contrary to what the pics may suggest this is excellent - the rear headrests can be lowered when not in use so that they barely protrude above the top of the seat back. The roof doesn't intrude into the boot when folded down either; it just folds very flat, I think onto the rear parcel shelf. Rear visibility was a particular problem on the MINI convertible until the recent revamp, but I suspect (without having seen the two cars back to back) that the 500C is better in this respect even than the revised MINI convertible.