Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) or Steyr 650 (a)?

Which should you choose?

On performance, every comparable figure that differs favours the Steyr 650 (a): three-point lift. It is also ahead on top speed and PTO speeds.

  • The Steyr 650 (a) suits PTO-driven implements (mowers, balers, pumps) better on this data: offers 1000 rpm.
  • The Steyr 650 (a) suits loader and hydraulic implement work better on this data: 48% (780 kg / 1,720 lb) more three-point lift.
  • The Steyr 650 (a) suits road haulage better on this data: 20% (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) more top speed.

Generated by rule set compare@4 from the figures on the side-by-side table, allowed by route “the same stated configuration”. Measured figures are compared only with measured, claimed only with claimed, at the same test condition; differences within each figure’s tolerance are not called.

What decides it, question by question?

Buyer questions for Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) and Steyr 650 (a), with the call on each
Question500 Spezial (DT)650 (a)Call
Which puts more power through the PTO shaft?32.7 kW (43.9 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 500 Special/500 Special DT”32.9 kW (44.1 hp)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 650”EvenEven on power at the PTO shaft (both power at the PTO, claimed): the difference is under the 10% threshold for claimed figures, too small to call.
Which turns a litre of fuel into more work at the shaft?No figureNo call on fuel efficiency at the shaft: no figure on record for the 500 Spezial (DT) and the 650 (a).
Which pulls harder at the drawbar?No figureNo call on drawbar power: no figure on record for the 500 Spezial (DT) and the 650 (a).
Which pumps more oil for implements?34.0 L/min (9.0 gpm)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 650”No figureNo call on hydraulic flow: no figure on record for the 500 Spezial (DT).
Which lifts more on the three-point hitch?1,620 kg (3,571 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 500 Special/500 Special DT”2,400 kg (5,291 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 650”AheadThe Steyr 650 (a) has 48% more lift (780 kg / 1,720 lb) than the Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source).
Which is heavier, for traction?1,880 kg (4,145 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 500 Special/500 Special DT”2,180 kg (4,806 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 650”Ahead (a fact, not an advantage)The Steyr 650 (a) is 16% heavier (300 kg / 661 lb) than the Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
Which may carry more ballast and load?4,000 kg (8,818 lb)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 650”No figureNo call on maximum permissible mass: no figure on record for the 500 Spezial (DT).
Which has the wider choice of gears?8 to 12Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 500 Special/500 Special DT”8Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 650”EvenEven on forward gears (both forward gears, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
Which offers a creeper range?No figureNo call on a creeper range: not stated for the 500 Spezial (DT) and the 650 (a).
Which is faster on the road?25 km/h (15.5 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Fiat 500 Special/500 Special DT”30 km/h (18.6 mph)Traktorenlexikon, “Steyr 650”AheadThe Steyr 650 (a) has 20% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source).
Which offers more PTO speeds?540 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Fiat 500 Special/500 Special DT”540/1000 rpmTraktorenlexikon, “Steyr 650”AheadThe Steyr 650 (a) offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) does not (as stated by the sources).
Which PTO runs independently of the ground drive?No figureNo call on PTO independence: not stated for the 500 Spezial (DT) and the 650 (a).
Which drives on both axles?Two-wheel or four-wheel driveTraktorenlexikon, “Fiat 500 Special/500 Special DT”2WD / 4WDTraktorenlexikon, “Steyr 650”EvenEven on drive: every machine is available with four-wheel drive.
Which is newer, and what about parts?1971–19801971–1977EvenSame era: production began within 5 years of each other. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.

What does this mean in plain words?

  • The Steyr 650 (a) has 48% more lift (780 kg / 1,720 lb) than the Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) (both lift at the hitch ends, as stated by the source).
  • The Steyr 650 (a) is 16% heavier (300 kg / 661 lb) than the Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) (both unladen weight, as stated by the source).
  • The Steyr 650 (a) has 20% more top speed (5.0 km/h / 3.1 mph) than the Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) (both top speed forward, as stated by the source).
  • The Steyr 650 (a) offers 1000 rpm at the PTO, which the Fiat 500 Spezial (DT) does not (as stated by the sources).
  • Even on power at the PTO shaft (both power at the PTO, claimed): the difference is under the 10% threshold for claimed figures, too small to call.
  • Even on forward gears (both forward gears, as stated by the source): the figures vary by configuration and the ranges overlap.
  • Even on drive: every machine is available with four-wheel drive.
  • Same era: production began within 5 years of each other. We hold no parts-availability data, so there is no call on parts.
  • No figure on record for every machine, so no call on: fuel efficiency at the shaft, drawbar power, hydraulic flow, maximum permissible mass, a creeper range and PTO independence.

← Every figure for both machines, side by side, with sources