Modern Vespa

Bob Copeland -- please do not post stock photos. There are serious copyright issues.

This is cheering me up today.

Okay, this is also cheering me up today:

I love the schizophrenic spring weather on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada range. Monday I was enjoying perfect skiing conditions. Today we hit 73F and I took a long ride on my PTW.

As much as I love ski season, I'm looking forward to consistent riding weather. Today was glorious!

Good lord, when I watched the video about how they went about making the "sound" I hung my head and cried. It's not as bad as the sound generator for the new Abarth, but geezalou ... it's a freaking FIAT, not a Bentley.

I say this with nothing but wholehearted love for my own FIAT 500e, but make it sound like what it is. One review of the 500 I heard explained it this way, "Once all of the little Italian bits have fallen off and been replaced, you wind up with a relatively reliable little car."

I'd make it sound like the Jetsons car.

Mr Copeland.

Would it be all right id I answered your enquiry in mid May as I'm working on something related to your question.

Thank you.

I think you underestimate the importance of the original Fiat 500 in Italian culture. It was every bit as much of a milestone as the Vespa.

Granted, the Fiat 500e of today is not the Cinquecento of old. But it is already enormously popular in Europe and might even gain some traction in the US.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I get the FIAT's importance. I love the history of the car. I even have a vanity plate that pays homage to the Topolino. It was truly a basic car for the people. It is part of Italian culture.

But, it looks like the new one will be north of $30K and full of things that far exceed "basic car". I get that's the direction all automakers are going. Profits are profits.

But that sound?

"booooooooOOOOOOOOOFWAH-LAH-LAH-LAH!!!"

If I weren't married, one of these would be in the garage.

I've heard a lot of different EV sounds up close, both in the EU and the US. I really like BMW's pedestrian alert sound (composed by Hans Zimmer). I think the new Fiat 500e sound is in that same vein, but with an Italian twist.

And that's the kind of surprise and delight that I can get behind.

I learned to drive on a Fiat 600 with suicide doors; if you got a good grip on the door and coordinated with your passenger and popped both doors open, the deceleration was better than with the brakes.

It was a great little car, survived my onslaught and never failed although you had to row your way up our hill with the gear lever. The engine was the size of my shaving kit.

I would like mine to sound like Andrea Boccelli.

I would agree maybe if ... it wasn't every single time I left from a stop.

I have a pretty long record of iconic car appreciation and ownership. A Beetle, a couple of Buses, a Rabbit, 16 years driving two Volvo 240s and now the FIAT.

Maybe I'm just an old man shaking his fist at the clouds, but I don't see a lot of newer cars I could have that relationship with. VW folks call it fahrvegnugen. It's that relationship you have with a car that, when it breaks down, you don't get upset; you say, "Don't worry, baby. We'll get you all fixed up." I actually got that with the 500 right away. Anyone who's had that with a car gets it. Probably a lot of the NSM folks are nodding their heads. They get it.

But I can agree about the FIAT 500e. It cheers me up every time I get in it. I don't know if the newer one would do the same.

I bought my first Fiat 500 in Italy in 1973 for $750.00. Drove that car everywhere. Yes, everyone earlier posting is correct. The car did much for the Italian Economy because it allowed Italians to drive farther for employment.

Definitely not a speedster - but a riot to drive.

Bob Copeland

Regarding the image you posted.

Technically you are almost safe to share the image the way you did. I looked up the source, and saw that part of the copyright owner's license states: So to be completely compliant and safe you'd need to link back to the license, or provide the URL of the license.

Oftentimes I'll simply add a text link that says "source", with the link going to the page where I got the image from. That's probably not compliant either, but it at least allows the viewer to find the source, and the original author/photographer/artist gets views.

You could also use the Img button and paste the URL of the image, then either add a Source link after, or make the entire image a clickable link using the URL button. Again, it's not exactly what the license requires, but it might keep Jess out of hot water. Adding the photographer's name afterwards would go a long way towards complying.


credit: Vauxford (source)

I think the fact that Wikipedia simply links it to a separate page listing the license information and photographer, linking to the source either via text or image link would work.

Please keep in mind that I am NOT a lawyer.

I don't hear the pedestrian alert sound in my previous-gen 500e, except when I'm backing out of my driveway. In the summer. With the windows rolled down.

And then only a little bit.

The other night Walter climbed into the Capsule portion of the cat tree we bought specifically for him.

It only took him 2 years to do it.

He usually only gets into the bottom two areas. He's the only one of the 4 cats to get into the Capsule.

Pussy Projectile.

I saw the band Blur at a small venue in Pomona, CA last night. The last time I saw them was in Boston in 2003. Supposedly it's their only US show (aside from the upcoming Coachella festival).

They played for 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in July 2023.

Last night's attendance: 1750.

In the mid 70's I was in the US Army stationed in southern Germany. I bought a 1968 or 69 Fiat 850 Special that was in rough shape. The good news is I only paid 50GM for the car. And, spent that money buying dinner for the previous owner and myself. Very odd situation, but that's another story. I don't think I was ever able to get all the lights working on the same day. There was always something messed up with the lights. I wish Fiat would have put as much effort in designing electrical connectors in the 60's as they did with the 'sound' today.

It was a great car as long as it was driven less than 100km/h. I kept it for a little over a year and sold it to a friend for the price of a dinner before I left.

I think you're mixing your metaphors.

I think that I might need to talk to someone.

This cheers me up. Someone else's BMW. Sorry it's a touch out of focus. Not my work.

Second time in a month.

Proper downforce there.

So funny.

All fun and games till you have a handful of snacks and no picnic table to eat them at. Then who's laughing?

Bet it handles lie a dream now!

The worrying thing is that it's the second one I've seen.

I see them everyday over here. It's funny cause they always seem poorly installed and shaking going down the road. Always in tandem with an obnoxious exhaust system.

I have been known to pull up alongside these kinds of aerocars and pantomime pointing and laughing at the rear wing. Which generally makes them very angry.

I feel embarrassed for the car

Its like painting flames on a "71 Dodge Dart.

Oh, it most certainly is not, Mr. Smartypants.

Fun fact: The rear spoiler on the third-generation Dodge Viper ACR is 1,776mm wide.

Guess why, Britain.

Yeah! Stick it to those imperialist oppressors by using Metric!

Oh, wait…

Loud exhausts on small cars just reminds me of a child banging on a drum knowing that they will get attention during the revelry.

It's a combination of being sad, pathetic but endearing at the same time.

I agree, except for the endearing part.

Today, although bittersweet, I'm happy that I got to meet and hang out with Ashrat a few times. Very cool to exist on this planet at the same time as a legend.

Don't be a dick.

Wifey got us checked in for our Southwest flight on the morrow.

A1/A2 baby.

Right where you belong.

If you're gonna make a scene, be seen.