Test drove the 500 abarth

Yesterday I passed by a Fiat dealership, and had a few minutes to kill. After B.S.ing with a sales guy, he asked if I wanted to take it for a drive.

It was a fun little thing. I wouldn't call it fast, but it was quick. It sure made some pretty noises for a little 4. Is it worth the cash outlay compared to my Focus SVT? Considering that they accomplish practically the same thing, it is hard to say yes.

I do like the way they sound.... personally I wouldn't do it over the SVT though, just for the price difference.

My girlfriend has a co-worker with a 500 and it's had a ton of issues in something like 9 months of ownership. I'd stick with the SVT, personally.

Curious if you turned on the sport button during the test drive? Probably, but worth asking because it does make a difference.

-Rob

A friend of mine bought one about a year ago, damn fun little car. Definitely makes great noises, especially on track. They havent had any issues with theirs though.

I agree about keeping the SVT though, I wouldnt say the Abarth is 10k more fun.

If you already had a nice SVT Focus i cant see spending 20k on top to get a 500 Abarth.

As for not calling it fast, i raced one in my stock SOHC neon and kept up. I wouldn't call my neon fast either.

I know a guy "upgrading" to a focus ST after a couple of problematic years in the Abarth

I recently purchased a 2013 Abarth after driving it and the Fiesta ST. I purchased the Fiat because I found it to be more fun to drive and more nimble. I purchased the car for $2000 less than purchasing a Fiesta ST.

I plan on putting a piggyback ECM which will yield around 200 hp at the wheels. Being a couple of hundred pounds lighter than the fiesta, will make the car quicker than a stock fiesta for less money. Plus the sounds the car makes is fantastic.

I did like the Fiesta and it is probably the better daily driver. It comes stock with more features. It is fast and handles well. My wife has a 2013 Ford Escape titanium and loves all the features on the car.

I just liked the sound, lighter weight, looks, and price. Those are the main reason I picked the Abarth.

I autocrossed one a few months ago.

Sounded amazing, the power was nice, the bit of turbo lag was fun, handled reasonably well... but was twitchy under heavy braking, brakes are very abrupt/touchy initially, seating height is absurd and it's a bit pricy for the performance.

Just get a fiesta st.

I had a Fiat 500 as a rental last week. Not so good in the snow on whatever tires were on it. I abhored the circle in a circle in a circle gauges. I could live with the dorky looks, but not that dash. Not sure if the Abarth gets a new gauge cluster or not. I liked the Fiesta better in the looks, space, and driving experience (comparing rentals with auto boxes).

Gauge cluster in the Fiat made me think of a Rankin-Bass character that gets knocked in the head and their eyes go all crazy.

rob_lewis wrote: Curious if you turned on the sport button during the test drive? Probably, but worth asking because it does make a difference. -Rob

Yeah, I did; I could definitely feel the changes. This dealer had a few on the lot for about $18k. Considering what else that money gets you, it doesn't seem like a terrible deal for a new car with sporting intentions.

For that money, it's sort of in a league of its own among new cars. Most of my theoretical gripes about the Abarth (i have never wanted one or planned to buy one, so all comments on it are armchair QB'ing) had to do with it being priced substantially higher than the number you just listed.

Mitchell wrote: Yeah, I did; I could definitely feel the changes. This dealer had a few on the lot for about $18k. Considering what else that money gets you, it doesn't seem like a terrible deal for a new car with sporting intentions.

$18k? For an Abarth? Were they used?

Does the 500 fit your space needs, it's a very very different size car from the Focus

It always amuses me when people compare either the Focus or Fiesta to the 500. The Focus is a 'C' class car, the Fiesta a 'B' class and the 500 is a 'sub B', it's the same car, built on the same line as the current Ford Ka which slots below the Fiesta. I don't seem them as cross shoppers. But if you like the 500 why not? HAve you gone and tired the new Fiesta ST though?

Powar wrote: $18k? For an Abarth? Were they used?

I don't think 500's are selling well, maybe they are trying to move them, especial with the Fiesta ST being such a hit in the pocket rocket segment.

Guy at work has an Abarth. It's pretty cool, zippy. Might be a little short wheel based for long term highway travel. At least I noticed some bouncing fore and aft, similar to CJ/Wranglers on oversized tires.

He was cross shopping the two SVTs, and already has a Mazda3 and had a Fiesta.

Powar wrote:

Mitchell wrote: Yeah, I did; I could definitely feel the changes. This dealer had a few on the lot for about $18k. Considering what else that money gets you, it doesn't seem like a terrible deal for a new car with sporting intentions.

$18k? For an Abarth? Were they used?

Nope, new. Leftover '13s.

http://iphone.fieldsfiatorlando.com/index.htm#new_p_2FFIAT_p_2F2013-FIAT-500-144dbfb20a0a0049760199207c5db1f2_p_2Ehtm Edit: just saw that my link refers to one for about 20k; you'll have to search their inventory.

racr28 wrote: I recently purchased a 2013 Abarth after driving it and the Fiesta ST. I purchased the Fiat because I found it to be more fun to drive and more nimble. I purchased the car for $2000 less than purchasing a Fiesta ST. I plan on putting a piggyback ECM which will yield around 200 hp at the wheels.

Just curious about this... do you have any data to back that up? Those are impressive gains, because IIRC they only dyno around 125 stock?

In reply to ProDarwin:

Stock Abarths dyno at about 150hp

Both the Magneti Marelli and Road Race Ultimate ECMs have impressive gains.

Here is a stock Abarth with the Road Race Ultimate.

http://roadracemotorsports.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=118_119&products_id=1957

[URL=http://s149.photobucket.com/user/racr28/media/UltimateECM_zpsc685502f.jpg.html][/URL]

Stock with Magneti Marell http://shop.500madness.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1055

[URL=http://s149.photobucket.com/user/racr28/media/Magnetimarelli_zps9c7edbe8.jpg.html][/URL]

NO! friend of mine traded his performance model VW (forgot which model for I am old) and paid big bucks when they were first released, and hated it. Sold it and bought the Scion boxer and loves it

Chipperb wrote: NO! friend of mine traded his performance model VW (forgot which model for I am old) and paid big bucks when they were first released, and hated it. Sold it and bought the Scion boxer and loves it

What did he not like about it?

If I was looking at this car I would look at the Fiesta ST instead of the Focus. Would be more comparable.

The 500 also had a ridiculously locked down ECU that you have to do all kinds of workarounds and E36 M3ty half-assed mods or send your chip to be flashed, etc to in order to mod it like these people are posting. The fords ECU is easily tunable for real almost like any Subaru or Evo at almost any dyno tuner.

EUDM Abarth is a different story.

racr28 wrote: In reply to ProDarwin: Stock Abarths dyno at about 150hp Both the Magneti Marelli and Road Race Ultimate ECMs have impressive gains. Here is a stock Abarth with the Road Race Ultimate. http://roadracemotorsports.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=118_119&products_id=1957 [URL=http://s149.photobucket.com/user/racr28/media/UltimateECM_zpsc685502f.jpg.html][/URL] Stock with Magneti Marell http://shop.500madness.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1055 [URL=http://s149.photobucket.com/user/racr28/media/Magnetimarelli_zps9c7edbe8.jpg.html][/URL]

Wouldn't that likely void the warranty? Just asking.

kanaric wrote: send your chip to be flashed

Like almost any vehicle for the past two decades? Most have a core return program as well that allows them to ship you one and then you return your original for a "core" return.

It's really not a big deal IMO. Pay for next day shipping if it is that big of a deal.

Mitchell wrote:

Powar wrote:

Mitchell wrote: Yeah, I did; I could definitely feel the changes. This dealer had a few on the lot for about $18k. Considering what else that money gets you, it doesn't seem like a terrible deal for a new car with sporting intentions.

$18k? For an Abarth? Were they used?

Nope, new. Leftover '13s. http://iphone.fieldsfiatorlando.com/index.htm#new_p_2FFIAT_p_2F2013-FIAT-500-144dbfb20a0a0049760199207c5db1f2_p_2Ehtm Edit: just saw that my link refers to one for about 20k; you'll have to search their inventory.

'13s are going for $16-17k new here in Baltimore. Not a bad price for a fun little car.

http://www.heritagefiat.com/new-cars/all-years/fiat/500/abarth/mk-62/rows-10/index-1/sort-price-asc/pricefield-internetprice/t-30214/