Anyone driving a Fiat 500 Abarth?

**Gustav Halbach** · 06-21-2012, 07:13 AM

I would never be comfortable safety wise driving that thing anywhere except around slow downtown steets. Can't imagine putting it on the highway or interstate with semi tractor trailers wizzing past.

Also, my experience with things made in Italy has been less than stellar. My opinion of is they offer a lot of bling...but not much substance.

-G

**Face&Head** · 06-21-2012, 07:44 AM

It's my understanding that they seriously under-estimated demand for the Abarth and have sold out the entire 2012 production run so they won't really be available until late this year (this is sketchy info so may be nonsense). I had the opportunity to test drive one a couple of months ago and must say it was a hoot to drive although I think the salesman in the passenger seat wet his pants. I thought it would feel tippy but the handling exceeded my expectation. Oh yes, the exhaust note is quite lovely and during my drive with the tach rarely below 4K, I felt like Walter Röhrl in the San Remo. I wasn't really interested in buying one so was really just out for a bit of fun and it delivered.

**sprite** · 06-21-2012, 08:35 AM

The new Dodge Dart is built on the Alfa Giulietta, Platform

**COHunter** · 06-21-2012, 10:53 AM

Rolling coffin...with a "racing" stripe

**BigFoot** · 06-21-2012, 10:59 AM

But Charlie Sheen can drive one in a house.

**Miles** · 06-21-2012, 05:03 PM

For the price, I'd go with a VW Golf. Volkswagens are just so great!

**Bluebriz** · 06-21-2012, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by Jim

Attachment 252175

I think I love her. I would buy a Fiat Punto if she told me to.

**jd_1138** · 06-22-2012, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by Miles

For the price, I'd go with a VW Golf. Volkswagens are just so great!

They certainly look better than a Fiat Abarth, and the Golf is a more substantial car. Also, a low mileage certified one or three series BMW is in the price range of an Abarth.

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**harmoni** · 06-22-2012, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by jd_1138

They certainly look better than a Fiat Abarth, and the Golf is a more substantial car. Also, a low mileage certified one or three series BMW is in the price range of an Abarth.

The Golf and BMW 1 series aren't the headturners a Fiat 500 Abarth would be, though they could be seen as more "sensible" purchases than the 500..imo.

**timsclips** · 06-22-2012, 03:30 PM

As a previous owner of a Fiat 128, one time MotorTrend car of the year, I can say that Fiats can be fun to drive but have more upkeep then most domestic cars.

**Argonaut** · 06-22-2012, 03:45 PM

My first car was a '69 Fiat 850 Spyder, I love the resurgence of the brand. The problem seems to be the same, attracts the fairer sex, but provides no adequate space once it does.

**oc_in_fw** · 06-22-2012, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by Bluebriz

I think I love her. I would buy a Fiat Punto if she told me to.

She is scorching, and only one woman has more beautiful eyes (IMO)- Salma Hayek.

**scottish steve** · 06-23-2012, 11:11 AM

You're all missing the point of this car!
The 500 Abarth is about one thing only- fun.
I say get a test drive asap and see what you think

**David in Boston** · 06-23-2012, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by scottish steve

You're all missing the point of this car!
The 500 Abarth is about one thing only- fun.
I say get a test drive asap and see what you think

Great point!

There are cars and another example motorcycles that may not have the performance figures of other vechiles. What they do have is a "fun factor" which many modern vehicles lack. One example comes to mind is the Ducati Monster motorcycle. A lot of Japanese bikes can go faster in the 0 to 60 range or quarter mile times. But they never put a smile on my face like a Duc when I got off it.

Oh and not to name drop but I meet Tommy from the "Car Guys" on NPR in Harvard Square, Cambridge. Ask him what he was driving. Told me some small Italian sports care which I can't remember the name. He said it was a pain in the ass to take care of but it was so much fun to drive. Now keep in mine this was an older car. For the most part all auto companies now have fair to excellent quality control.

**rxonmymind** · 06-23-2012, 02:33 PM

This car hold no advantages over other domestic production car. As I go throught the mental checklist, I don't see the appeal.
Mpg: 34
Crash test/safety: Abysmal/poor
Comfort: small wheel base=rough ride/choppy
Maintenance: poor
and so on...

If that car had just one advantage like 80mpg then I might go for it. I just find it interesting that car get's less gas milage as the Honda CRX (49mpg) and about the same size when it came out. In two decades, gas milage hasn't improved. Now what's the chances of that? In thirty years, of all the top engineers that have graduated from Harvard, MIT, Yale, Cambridge, Stanford, etc, and mpg has stayed the same. How odd. Everthing else has improved. TV, Phones, medicine, agriculture, just not the mpg.
Anyhow, I wouldn't put my kids into that car. Go for Mazda Mx-5 a proven performer and reliable. A VW deisel. BMW, Audi (nicly used), Anything but this gas guzzler for it's size.

**BallisticBurrito** · 06-23-2012, 03:57 PM

My only real complaint about the whole US FIAT thing is that they're all "WOOOOOO WE'RE ITALIAN BUY US WE'RE AWESOME!"

But the US 500 is made in Mexico(Last I checked..not very Italian)..I don't know about the european ones.

If you really want a small/tiny car..get a Mini or something. :p

Or get a Focus ST when they come out:
http://www.ford.com/cars/focus/focusst/
Gonna be a bit of a beast.

**BallisticBurrito** · 06-23-2012, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by rxonmymind

This car hold no advantages over other domestic production car. As I go throught the mental checklist, I don't see the appeal.
Mpg: 34
Crash test/safety: Abysmal/poor
Comfort: small wheel base=rough ride/choppy
Maintenance: poor
and so on...

If that car had just one advantage like 80mpg then I might go for it. I just find it interesting that car get's less gas milage as the Honda CRX (49mpg) and about the same size when it came out. In two decades, gas milage hasn't improved. Now what's the chances of that? In thirty years, of all the top engineers that have graduated from Harvard, MIT, Yale, Cambridge, Stanford, etc, and mpg has stayed the same. How odd. Everthing else has improved. TV, Phones, medicine, agriculture, just not the mpg.
Anyhow, I wouldn't put my kids into that car. Go for Mazda Mx-5 a proven performer and reliable. A VW deisel. BMW, Audi (nicly used), Anything but this gas guzzler for it's size.

Are you going by actual real-world accounts or by the published EPA estimates?

I ask because the EPA has changed how they did estimates at least once, possibly twice, since the 80's. Cars that were rated for 40-50 back then are now substantially less with the new estimating system.

**Stubblefield** · 06-23-2012, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by jd_1138

They certainly look better than a Fiat Abarth, and the Golf is a more substantial car. Also, a low mileage certified one or three series BMW is in the price range of an Abarth.

You just HAD to post a picture of the R, didn't you!

I've had an 06 GTI since new, and other than replacing the cooling fan, have had zero issues with it. A late model VW or BMW would be the way to go, IMHO.

**Seraphim** · 06-23-2012, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by COHunter

Rolling coffin...with a "racing" stripe

In third grade I had a pair of tighty-whiteys with a racing stripe. I guess I should have considered them "high performance" underpants.

**jd_1138** · 06-24-2012, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by Stubblefield

You just HAD to post a picture of the R, didn't you!

I've had an 06 GTI since new, and other than replacing the cooling fan, have had zero issues with it. A late model VW or BMW would be the way to go, IMHO.

Oh, lol, yeah I guess I did post a pic of an 'R'. The 'R' type has AWD and a Turbo and only comes with a manual gearbox. It's a real pocket rocket, or as they say across the pond -- "Hot Hatch".