Driven: Fiat 500 Abarth

[Raza]

So, as I mentioned in the Chat Thread, I test drove a Fiat 500 Abarth today.  To sum it up in one word...awesome.

The dealership where I drove it has a private test track, so I didn't really get a chance to see what it was like on real streets, but I was able to test the handling.  And I did. 

It's a pretty simple track.  Three 90 degree turns and an S-curve.  But when you fire up that Abarth, with its downright wicked engine note, all you want to do is attack corners.  I feathered the throttle--it's a lot, lot lighter than the throttle on my Z4--and hit the S-curve at full speed.  Flicked left, turned right hard, then hit the last left.  Tore out of it to the first left hander, floored down the straight, and stood on the brakes as I hit the left that claimed a Camaro earlier this year. 

So here are the impressions I got as I pushed this car to the absolute limit.  I pushed the tires past their limit, I'm pretty sure I kicked up a rear wheel at one point, and in my ten or so laps, the car never failed to impressed.  It is an insatiable little car, constantly begging you to push it.  It is so sharp, so surprisingly quick, it really makes most sedans and hatches feel dull.  I mean, I loved my Jetta, but this was way more eager, far sharper, and just straight up more fun.  Sure, it has its downsides; it's very narrow, so passengers can feel quite on top of each other.  The Abarth doesn't have a sunroof, so that doesn't make it feel the most airy car.  The throttle is a little light and makes it a little difficult to start off smoothly, especially coming off a car with a stiffer pedal.  And, maybe it's just because of the Z4, but sitting in the driver's seat and really going at it, you do notice how high up it feels when you're sitting in it.  The seats don't grip you as hard as you'd like, so you do get tossed around a bit. 

But man, oh man, this is a tight and fun car.  You've got enough space in the trunk once you fold the seats down, and it looks like you could shove someone in the back if you needed to.  The shifter isn't the best I've ever rowed, but it does feel good.  Short, positive throws, with the right amount of feedback; I never missed a shift, nor did it ever feel vague.

Long story short, I'm working on numbers, but this very well could be my new daily driver.  It would be totally awesome to have a scorpion badge in the family.  It would represent a number of firsts for me.  First hatchback, first non-German car, first car that isn't black or gray (it'll likely be red), first car that doesn't have leather or leatherette. I'm really hoping I could make it work.  The car I drove didn't have the tape strips, but I don't know what it'll look like if/when I get it.  The one I drove looked like this:

[CALL_911]

Sick, I really want to try one out.

I still have no idea what's meant by "positive" when describing a shifter.

[Raza]

Sick, I really want to try one out.

I still have no idea what's meant by "positive" when describing a shifter.

Confident, clear, precise. 

[2o6]

It's a nice little car, but I would have loved one more gear

[Payman]

Is there a stripe delete option? That solid red looks sick. 

I hope you get one. I wanted one so badly, but I had to buy something the rest of the family could drive (the Focus). I guess I'm asking you to fuck the hot chick because I can't. 

[Soup DeVille]

Sick, I really want to try one out.

I still have no idea what's meant by "positive" when describing a shifter.

Some shifters feel like you're shifting a soup ladle inside a giant bowl of rubber bands, some feel like like a shovel in loose gravel, and some feel like you're chambering a round on a precision rifle. In the last, you're instantly more positive that you've done something right.

[GoCougs]

So why/how are you buying a new car if you're soon going back to school?

[Raza]

So why/how are you buying a new car if you're soon going back to school?

Why?  To drive. 
How?  With money. 

The plan was always to get something more city and all-weather friendly than the Z4 and give the Z4 a rest from the daily grind; plus, the in the neighborhood where school is, my Z4 would stick out like a neon sign that said "ROB ME". 

I was planning on spending 8-10K on a used car, but my brother convinced me to look new so I'd have a warranty.  This car convinced me to listen to him.

[Raza]

Is there a stripe delete option? That solid red looks sick. 

I hope you get one. I wanted one so badly, but I had to buy something the rest of the family could drive (the Focus). I guess I'm asking you to fuck the hot chick because I can't. 

The stripes (and mirror caps, they come together) are a $450 option in the US. 

[Colin]

The easiest sale in the book........... let the prospect drive one, and they want one. I've lost count of how many people have come on the Abarth Forum and said that this is how they ended up getting theirs! There are still no discounts, unless you get a pre-registered car (of which there are very few), but the upside is that barring a Skoda Yeti, the Abarth is the least depreciating car on the market.

Agree a 6th gear would be nice for long journeys, but I gather that at least for European ones, there is simply no space in the gearbox for an extra cog, so it's not going to happen. 

US spec models are slightly different to European ones (yours are made in Mexico and have the same differences as the Fiat 500s compared to ours), and the options etc are probably different. In the UK, by the time you factor in the combination of colours, stickers (side, roof and bonnet), wheels, interior colour and leather or not, Skydome etc, it is very rare to find two that are absolutely identical. With less than 1000 a year sold in the UK, it remains a rare sighting, far far far more exclusive than a MINI. Indeed, in Lndon, probably more exclusive than an Aston Martin.

[Catman]

Its ugly and feminine.

[280Z Turbo]

Its ugly and feminine.

AND ITS FOREIGN MADE

BUY AMERICAN

[cawimmer430]

Nice review, nice car. Looks great in red. 

Its ugly and feminine.

Drive it, baby. Drive it.   

[CALL_911]

Fiesta ST?

[cawimmer430]

Next testdrive - Peugeot 208 GTI. 

[Raza]

Fiesta ST?

I was thinking about it, but I ran out of time on Saturday. Not sure how I feel about the Fiesta, even the ST. They're so ugly it makes me sad.

[Raza]

AND ITS FOREIGN MADE

BUY AMERICAN

If I buy this, I'll have two American cars. A South Carolina BMW and a Chrysler.

[CALL_911]

I was thinking about it, but I ran out of time on Saturday. Not sure how I feel about the Fiesta, even the ST. They're so ugly it makes me sad.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Fiesta-ST-2014-Ford-Fiesta-ST-Nav-Recaro-Wheel-Pkg-Molten-Orange-Only-960-Miles-/201066566782?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ed080547e&item=201066566782&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

Ugly!?!

[Xer0]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Fiesta-ST-2014-Ford-Fiesta-ST-Nav-Recaro-Wheel-Pkg-Molten-Orange-Only-960-Miles-/201066566782?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ed080547e&item=201066566782&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

Ugly!?!

Jeez, almost 27k MSRP, that's a lot of money.  Although I'm willing to bet this guy paid closer to 20k for it.  And if that interior is anything like the Focus rental I had, it's annoying.

[Mustangfan2003]

Its ugly and feminine.

So is your face.  Oh snap!

[2o6]

I liked driving the fiesta more, but the fiesta does have a worse interior and can't touch the price of the discounted Abarth

[MrH]

I gotta ask, what are you thinking you'll be able to get one for?  MSRP is something like $22k or $23k right?

[Madman]

Not sure how I feel about the Fiesta, even the ST. They're so ugly it makes me sad.

http://www.lenscrafters.com/

[Raza]

I gotta ask, what are you thinking you'll be able to get one for?  MSRP is something like $22k or $23k right?

Should be about 18K for a 2013.


EDIT: 7K rebate on 13s.

[Raza]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Fiesta-ST-2014-Ford-Fiesta-ST-Nav-Recaro-Wheel-Pkg-Molten-Orange-Only-960-Miles-/201066566782?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ed080547e&item=201066566782&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

Ugly!?!

You're right, the hatch isn't too bad. But still not pretty, and not nearly as good looking as the Abarth.

[MrH]

Should be about 18K for a 2013.


EDIT: 7K rebate on 13s.

...Seriously?   $16k for a new abarth is a steal.

[Rupert]

Jesus, yeah, maybe I should go test drive one.

[Laconian]

[2o6]

Yeah, that's only for 2013MY cars....

2015 model year cars will be on the lot in a few weeks.


My local Fiat dealer is advertising non Abarth 500's for as low as 12,995.

[veeman]

That car in solid red is gorgeous.  I hope you get it.  I was seriously considering getting my beetle in red instead of black.  I think red cars attract more attention from LE so I passed but it does look cool.

What school are you going to?