Summer is right around the corner throughout the Twin Cities, and now is the best time to feel the wind in your hair and enjoy a relaxing drive around town in style. The Fiat 500 comes in three convertible trim levels: the Pop, Lounge and high-performance Abarth.

The Pop trim comes standard with heated mirrors, keyless entry, air-conditioning, full power accessories, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth, and auxiliary and iPod inputs.

Moving up to the Lounge adds a chrome exterior trim, a fixed glass roof, automatic climate controls, a three-position power cloth top and rear parking sensors. Lounge buyers can add on a luxury leather package as well.

The Pop and Lounge trims are outfitted with a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Standard for all Fiat 500 trims is a five-speed manual transmission, however buyers can opt for a six-speed automatic transmission earning 31 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.

The top of the line, high-performance Fiat 500 Abarth adds on 16-inch alloy wheels, a sporty styling, sport-tuned suspension, fog lights, front sport seats and a distinctive exterior. The Abarth model is equipped with a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine generating 160 horsepower and 170 pounds to feet of torque. The turbocharged engine earned EPA estimates of 28 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.

Visit your local Minneapolis Fiat dealer to step inside the desirable Fiat 500 Convertible and take one for a test drive today.

The post Put the top down in the 2013 Fiat 500 Convertible appeared first on Luther Fiat Minneapolis Blog.

With GAP, if you have an accident that totals the vehicle, you will not have to pay for the cost of the car. Because lease agreements typically have little to no down payment, the difference between what you have paid for the car and its worth is rather significant. GAP insurance is necessary to protect you from having to pay that difference.

If you have an accident, your insurance will pay you the current market value of the car, but not the total amount of what you owe the finance company. Many leasing companies require GAP insurance, so it is usually included in the contract. Even if GAP is not required in your lease agreement, it is a smart investment and vital protection for your wallet.

Stop by your Minneapolis Fiat dealer to discuss GAP insurance for your leased vehicle.

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Tracking the number of months that have passed is important, even if you don’t reach the mile mark. This is because the seldom use of your car causes the engine to heat up and then cool down for an extended period of time. This creates condensation accumulation in the oil cap which can cause potential engine problems in the future. Here are a few more tips on the importance of changing your car’s oil regularly:

* Changing your oil at home can be a messy project. Professional mechanics are well-versed in performing quick and efficient oil changes, but they also analyze other aspects of your car that can help increase performance. On routine oil changes, mechanics will assess other problems your car may have like fluid leaks, cracked or frayed belts, bulging hoses, torn wiper blades, burned out lights and unsafe tires.  Schedule an oil change with your Minneapolis Fiat dealer and make sure your car is running at it’s best.

* An oil change will increase the life of your engine and maximize the amount of horsepower it produces. The oil acts as a lubricant for all the moving parts in your engine, reducing friction and engine noise. It also functions as a coolant, helping keep your engine running at an appropriate temperature, and as a cleaner by picking up dirt, carbon deposits and metal pieces, and filtering them out through the oil filter.

The post The Importance of Changing your Oil appeared first on Luther Fiat Minneapolis Blog.

Maintaining your vehicle can be worry-free if you follow a few easy tips:

* Don’t delay. Getting off track with car care can mean costly repairs down the road. Prevent these by following the manufacturer’s guidelines for scheduled maintenance times.  Be sure to schedule a service

* Drive with care. The best way to fix a problem is to prevent it, so avoid major wear by driving smoothly and carefully.

* Keep it clean. Many owners overlook the carwash as a strictly cosmetic concern, but dirt and salt buildup can lead to rust problems and improve resale price. Clean the interior to prevent corrosion and fading as well.

* Monitor tire inflation. You should check your tire’s PSI every month to prevent wear and improve fuel economy. Automated reminders only notify the driver when pressure drops 25 percent.

* Don’t take short cuts.  If it is time for an oil change, don’t just top it off. Taking short cuts may seem simple in the moment, but they can cause costly issues later on.  Make sure it’s done right by scheduling a service appointment at either Fiat of Bloomington or Fiat of Brookdale.

The post Important Maintenance Tips for your Fiat appeared first on Luther Fiat Minneapolis Blog.

You may recall… things got cold.

Very cold.

Very, very cold.

And then…. heaps of snow.

But then!… as is often the case, spring came back to the frozen tundra of Duluth! Bliss!

It was a beautiful springtime and summer in the Northland. Shall we fondly reflect on the good times?

Pretty flowers…

Trips to the beach…

Drives down to the cities… for a Twins game!

Adventures to lakes in Minnesota… aside from that Superior one…

Relaxing lunch stop-offs along the way!

Hot, hot weather!

Massive crazy flash-flooding…? Yep…

And now… as is often the case… it’s back to autumn.

And brisk days…

And… SNOW ON CARS?! Come on, it’s October!

But still… awesome cost to fill the tank!

The post Fiat 500 Embraces Autumn… Plus… Wait… SNOW?! appeared first on Luther Fiat Minneapolis Blog.

Holy… whoa…

Thanks to the delightful compact nature of the Fiat 500, I swiftly squeezed into and out of this spot without a hitch. And thanks to my relatively small frame… I’m glad to admit I was able to slip out (and, miraculously, back into) the Fiat without risking a graze of the car door against the concrete divider. Phew!

Not pictured: the time I parked in an EVEN TINIER spot, but did in fact have to scoot over and exit via the passenger door… hey, better than fussing with the pearly white paint job

The post Follow Up: The Really-Real Tiniest Parking Spot In All the World appeared first on Luther Fiat Minneapolis Blog.

Naturally, due to the overwhelming amount of awesomeness that oozes from these babies, other vehicles seem to be feeling a bit… inadequate… at least, I imagine they are, anyway…

The post Fiats Flock To Duluth, All Other Cars Feel Slightly Less Adequate (Sexy) appeared first on Luther Fiat Minneapolis Blog.

Behold, the super-sleek black-ninja Fiat Abarth (I’m fairly sure that’s the model, anyway) – in all her super-sleep black-ninja glory! Driver was not to be seen, otherwise maybe we really could become BFFs and tag-team the roads of Northern Minnesota, making some sort of black and white good vs. evil ultra dramatic car commercial.

Maybe some day…

The post OMG ANOTHER FIAT IN DULUTH, LET’S BE FRIENDS! appeared first on Luther Fiat Minneapolis Blog.

(Proof that I was actually there – notice the shadow.)

AND! Exciting news. Yesterday, I noticed, for the first time, another Fiat driving around the streets of Duluth! It was a black beauty, I believe one of the sporty Abarth models. Primo, for sure

Happy Friday + Long Holiday Weekend, y’all!

The post Super Fun Car-Other-Than-A-Fiat-500 Friday! appeared first on Luther Fiat Minneapolis Blog.

1. Crazy surprising storage. You really wouldn’t believe the amount of stuff that fits in this tiny car.

2. Amazing on gas. A trip to and from the Twin Cities left me with 1/4 of a tank. That’s over 400 miles, people!

3. Totally adorable. Gets compliments everywhere we go. So many it’s hard to keep track. Sometimes, gets hit on.

4. It’s made by Italians, and Italians are sexy.

5. Fun gadgets, like super-simple USB iPod hook up (doubles as an iPhone charger, booyah!).

6. Easy-to-read orangey-glow dashboard with everything you need to know (while driving)…

7. Drives well in the snow!

8. Cools down quickly in hot weather.

9. Incredibly fun on road trip (great on gas + super adorable = pleasant road trippin’).

10. Ultimate scorer of killer parking spots. The tinier, the better / more impressive.

Yes, the Fiat 500 has so much about her that is completely lovable. But it’s that last part that leads me to… the loathing of other cars, more specifically… their jerkface drivers.

Dear reader, I’ll said it again – since driving the Fiat 500, I pride myself in scoring sweet parking spots in the parking deck at work. I try to sneak into the tiniest spots possible, while still being safe and responsible, to demonstrate this unbeatable perk of driving such a teeny car!

Which is precisely why I don’t understand… why some cars, namely other teeny cars (*cough* namely the so-and-so who parks in the same deck I do every week day…) insist upon being ULTIMATE JERKS by hogging up TWO parking spots, despite their TEENY CAR.

JERK.

Recognize the spot(s) this car is in? The slot to the right, which is a 100% legit parking spot, ESPECIALLY when the spot to the left is taken by a small car, and not some massive white truck, is the same spot I proudly squeezed into (with room to spare / open the car doors safely) the day I captured this:

Thanks for making it this far. This morning, I was so infuriated by this car, which parks there (stealing TWO spaces in prime proximity to the exit / entrance of the deck) very often – it was all I could do to not leave a nasty passive-aggressive note on his/her windshield. I decided to passive-aggressively blog about it, instead .

The post 10 Reasons Why I Love the Fiat 500 & 1 Reason I Kinda Hate Most Other Cars / Drivers appeared first on Luther Fiat Minneapolis Blog.