For the better part of the year, I spent my time browsing Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and various used-car websites, hunting for a cheap, cute, compact vehicle to drive around New York City. Now, do I need a car? No. But when I briefly had access to a car last year, it opened up more leisure opportunities.
Getting to our favorite dog-friendly beach was just a 30-minute drive instead of an hour-and-a-half subway ride with three transfers. Visiting my in-laws and parents was easier, considering they didn't live in the city. But if I was going to buy a car, I wanted it to be unique.
Something that'd make me feel good driving it. Not many options in the used marketplace fit that criteria unless you're OK with buying a 20-year-old vehicle (I wasn’t). A mechanic I spoke to urged me to buy a Toyota Yaris.
“It's reliable!” Apologies to any Yaris owners, but no thanks. That's when I started seeing the Fiat 500 crop up. Some used options fit my budget, it was appropriately tiny for New York, and I loved the design.
It's cute, and the 2015 model I bought through Marketplace wasn't boring black or white, but bright yellow. I've had it for several months now and wouldn't change a thing (though I think I may have to change the transmission soon). Funnily enough, while researching, I found out that Fiat was introducing its electric Fiat 500e ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends ) to the US market this summer.
As someone with limited experience with electric vehicles , I wanted to see what t.