Catching up with an old flame

I had been looking forward to taking the Fiat 500 out for a date ever since it was reincarnated.

Anyone who experienced the original 500 fell in love with it.

I was no exception; the only problem was that I was still not old enough to drive it.

Instead, I would spend hours cleaning and polishing it to get the chance to hold the steering wheel.

Traffic and roads were much safer then.

There were two surprises in store when I called for the 500. The first was the colour, a silver brown shade officially named 'Punk Grey'. It's just right and suits the car.

The 500 was a treat to drive, wtih well-balanced brakes.

It had a great deal of power for a little diesel and engine noise was good for a diesel.

The second was the engine: a 1.3 multijet 16v turbo diesel delivering 75 bhp.

On the road, the 500 drew a lot of attention. At the first set of traffic lights, I felt I was being watched. And the stares were coming from both sexes, which was even better.

The car was getting a thorough once-over inside too - from my daughter Roberta in the passenger seat, a second-generation Fiat 500 fan, even though she gets about in a Grande Punto.

The glass roof, the USB connection, the glove compartment beneath the dashboard, the coloured dashboard - absolutely everything got noticed.

All the while I was enjoying the latest technology and powerplant on the 500.

Imagine meeting up with an old flame with your daughter in tow!

She wouldn't even get out of the car as I took some shots of it.

The original 500, with its puny rear engine, never went fast enough to worry about handling. How things change! Now there's power steering with a button setting that lightens it further for parking.

There's a host of electronic safety features to control the brakes and chassis balance. So though outright speed still isn't a vital ingredient of the new 500 - unless you are opting for the Abarth version - there is still the opportunity for an entertaining drive. For the true enthusiast, however, the electric power steering doesn't transmit enough feel through the wheel.

The 500 feels taut and well connected with the road.

There's plenty of tyre squeal to telegraph the message you are going too fast.

Small cars almost inevitably have issues with ride comfort, and Fiat has opted for comfort at the expense of some body roll in the corners.

Was there anything that I disliked? Considering its size, the 500 has limited space to travel in fours.

If you are going to take on rear passengers, make sure the head rests are set up clear of the seats as these might prove uncomfortable to lean on.

Other than that, this really is a fun car to own. I wouldn't mind having one in the garage. The first love is forever.