Trekking from SFO to LAX in the 2016 Fiat 500X
Guest Contributor
|
Not just looking cool on a road trip, but staying that way, too.
Every six to 12 months, the Blab team goes on an offsite trip to think differently. When I heard the Blab team was going on our yearly retreat to southern California, I instantly wanted to make it a road trip.
Driving to Southern California from San Francisco has always been a pain because my current car doesn’t have AC. In the valley where the summer can hit 120 degrees makes turning the car on is an adventure in itself.
Enter the Fiat 500X
Back in March, 2016, I went to a car show in Dallas, TX., where I spent well over 30 minutes just sitting in a Fiat. I’ve never been much of a car person, but the Fiat felt different.
When I mentioned I had a trip to Hermosa Beach and San Diego, CA., I was given an opportunity to take a 2016 Fiat 500X down to the Blab hackathon. DOWN.
“Getting Shwifty”
So my colleagues Josh and Neil and I, with our luggage and two computer monitors, packed up into the Fiat 500X for the trip. The first time I put the car in reverse and the back up camera flashed up on the screen, someone said, “Oooooo we’re getting shwifty now.” The term was coined pretty early on in the drive, and every time the car was put in reverse someone would shout it out. What exactly does it mean? We’ll never fully know.
Getting “shwifty” with the back-up camera! Photo: Brittany Metz for AGirlsGuidetoCars
A smooth drive
Aside from my colleagues and I getting to know each other way too closely, the ride was really smooth. I had the car on cruise control for most of the trip and there was no better feeling than not having to have my foot on the gas for 400 miles down the I-5.
Bonding time with co-works on a road trip to LA. Photo: Brittany Metz
LA traffic? No problem
Most of the traffic and typical annoying aspects of the road were all gone. Sitting in 40 minutes of traffic was much more enjoyable with air conditioning.
Driving this car around made me understand why people have nice things. ????
Even the steering wheel is nice. Photo: Brittany Metz for AGirlsGuidetoCars
I drove into West Hollywood after meeting with a few Blab users for lunch at Lemonade with my mom and brother .
If you’re having lunch at Lemonade, your manicure must match. Photo: Brittany Metz for AGirlsGuidetoCars
Lemonade lunch = YUM. Photo: Brittany Metz for AGirlsGuidetoCars
I also successfully street parked in LA without getting a single ticket, and dropped by Tinder to say hello to Jeff Morris Jr. so I could see the inside of the app that has fully consumed all of my free time. x)
LA street parking was a breeze with the Fiat 500X. Photo: Brittany Metz for AGirlsGuidetoCars
Checking out tinder from the inside. Photo: Brittany Metz for AGirlsGuidetoCars
I kept telling my mom after I drove the Fiat 500x that it’s something she should own. I’ve always loved this car just from the outside, and driving it just confirmed that love. So much so that I wrote my very own love letter.
Dear Fiat 500x,
I know we only knew each other for a short amount of time, but I’ll miss you. I think about you when I’m driving my ’07 Hyundai. It won’t be long until my car gives up and I’ll need to replace it with a beautiful angel such as yourself.
After I said goodbye, I reflected on everything this car brought into my life.
A gallery of reasons to love the Fiat 500X. Photo: Brittany Metz for AGirlsGuidetoCars
I was driving the Trekking model, which was AMAZING. 
What we loved
- Heated steering wheel is amazing
- The side mirrors light up to let you know when a car is in your blind spot, which makes freeways incredibly easy to navigate through
- Cruise control is super smooth
- A smooth drive
What you need to know
- Base price for the Trekking model: $23,310
- Gets 22 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway
- The car is a lot bigger inside than it looks
- Fits 3 people and 2 giant computer monitors, and tons of luggage comfortably
If you’re interested in all of the configurations, check out the different models here.
SBC note: We met Brittany at our AGirlsGuidetoCars event at the DFW Auto Show earlier this year. Brittany covered the event on Blab, a livestreaming platform that enables a public video chat among four participants at a time. When she announced she was making the trek down from Northern to Southern California, we arranged for her to drive her new favorite car, the Fiat 500X.
Brittany Metz is an llustrator, designer, and aspiring comedian.