I spent the weekend with a hot, little Italian

"Vee Ate Injun" (VeeAteInjun)
01/14/2014 at 14:40 • Filed to: None

The Fiat Abarth is as fun to drive as they say it is.

The 2013 Fiat Abarth pictured above was under my custodianship for several, hoon-filled days and I can honestly say that the little bugger is one of the most fun cars I've ever driven. Quicker than it should be and easy to manhandle, every drive was a smile-making event. I smiled as I drove it around town. I smiled as I took it for a spirited morning drive on a lonely, winding mountain road. I smiled as I !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I smiled as I made my mother crap her pants in the passenger seat ("What is this thing?!?"). It is just a fun car to drive for any automotive enthusiast.

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Sure, it's not perfect: the rear seats are good only for infants and amputees; the nasty blind spots, especially over the driver's left shoulder; door panels look cheap; the mandatory looong pause before shifting to reverse to avoid grinding ("approx. two seconds" reads !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! from Fiat).

But where it wins it wins BIG : exterior styling; the sport seats; that fat, flat-bottomed sport steering wheel; the handling (SPORT mode should be the default ); the brakes; and last but certainly not least… the sound. OH THE GLORIOUS SOUND. Seriously, this little beast has one of the best-sounding stock exhausts. I never turned on the radio for the entire time I had the Abarth in my possession. [ NOTE TO FIAT : step 1 ) release a stripped-down version with no radio, rear seat delete with stabilizing brace, more exterior aero/styling and maybe a few more horses. step 2 ) take our monies!]

The fun-to-dollar ratio is very high with this tossable little hot hatch, and I recommend every Jalop spend some seat time in one when they get the chance. So I will add the Fiat 500 Abarth to my list of possible next 'affordable, petite fun car' (it joins the company of Miata, MR2, and possibly Mini Cooper S if I get around to taking one for a spin).

DISCUSSION (22)

ncasolowork2 > Vee Ate Injun
01/14/2014 at 14:42

That hot italian has a fat ass though

Vee Ate Injun > ncasolowork2
01/14/2014 at 14:45

whatsamatta u?

you say that like it's a bad thing!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Vee Ate Injun
01/14/2014 at 14:51

The Fista ST is ultimately faster, and more practical than the 500 Abarth, but if I had the money i'd own both becuase the 500 is, as you say, just so damn much fun. (and it does sound amazing!)

duurtlang > ncasolowork2
01/14/2014 at 14:56

Don't you like some curves ?

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Vee Ate Injun
01/14/2014 at 15:09

I took one for a few hour test drive one weekend last summer and the abarth was worlds more fun than the Challenger SRT8 I owned at the time (Challenger is WAY too heavy)

this is definitely one of the best fun for dollar cars out there.

Ferrero1911 > Vee Ate Injun
01/14/2014 at 15:14

I took my rear seat out. No one fits back there anyways and now I have more cargo room with the added bonus of never having to pick up 2 people from the airport. I'm glad you got to drive one. I smile even in 405 traffic, I really love it that much.

D > Ferrero1911
01/14/2014 at 15:31

How much weight do you reckon that removes?

Casper > Vee Ate Injun
01/14/2014 at 15:33

I think it's the noise that makes them fun. I didn't particularly like the feel, but something about the noise the Abarth makes just tells you to beat the **** out of it and makes it pretty fun. That said, there is no way I would lump it in with the likes of a Miata or MR2... but probably the Cooper S. The only way the other two would be similar would be if you were only going to be in city traffic most of the time.

Roberto G. > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
01/14/2014 at 15:35

"Fista" sounds quite perverted, and in dire need of a can of Crisco... or of some tender, Orloving care!

Ferrero1911 > D
01/14/2014 at 15:43

About 40 lbs. if I take the sea belts out it would be another 9 or so, but I want to be able to put them back quickly.

Jayhawk Jake > Vee Ate Injun
01/14/2014 at 15:44

I don't like the Abarth much.

It sounds cool, sure. It's kinda neat looking I guess, but it certainly suffers from modern car bloat.

I've driven one, and yeah, it's fun to drive I suppose. It's reasonably quick, it handles really well, it sounds great.

But the seating position...my god the seating position is awful. I hate it. I could never own one. You sit awkwardly high up. Pressing the clutch is like stepping on a bug more than anything else, it just feels weird.

It's a great car, with one absolutely soul crushing flaw.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Roberto G.
01/14/2014 at 15:57

The girls tell you they hate it, but they actually love it. at least thats what the bros tell me.

Vee Ate Injun > Jayhawk Jake
01/14/2014 at 19:40

i heard the similar things about the upright seating position, and yes i did notice that, but i got used to it very quickly. i'm going to try and spend some time with a Mini S to compare - I had two different people tell me they've driven both and prefer the Mini over the Abarth.

as far as bloat, i didn't think it was bloated especially compared to any other contemporary car. it's direct competitor is the Mini S, which is longer, wider, heavier and has a longer wheelbase. The Abarth felt pretty nimble and small to me.

to be honest, I prefer the styling of the Mini. and from what others have told me, the Mini also handles better. i'll just have to find out for myself...

Vee Ate Injun > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
01/14/2014 at 19:45

hah, i was just thinking the same thing about my 'beast' (i have a C3 'Vette).... I took it for a drive today and it just felt mammoth after spending those last few days with the Abarth. it also reminded me how much i want to upgrade/modernize the steering on my beast.

although in a perfect world (or, more precisely, a perfect garage) there'd be room in the garage for a big, muscle-headed bruiser and a quick, darty pocket rocket.

Vee Ate Injun > Casper
01/14/2014 at 19:48

how so? are you saying the Miata and MR2 are better-handling cars or vice versa?

yes, i agree the noise was a big part of the fun. i think the designers/engineers scored with that exhaust note.

Vee Ate Injun > Ferrero1911
01/14/2014 at 19:53

yeah, i didn't mind traffic because that just let me get that rumble going over and over again. plus, it's quite an easy car to drive. i had a very good time with that little bambino, especially up in Angeles Crest.

how long have you had yours? (and, i'm guessing you've figured out how not to grind shifting into reverse?)

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > Vee Ate Injun
01/14/2014 at 19:55

I can't agree with you more.

And you really nailed how it's fun ALL THE TIME. Even just idling around a parking lot, I was smiling the whole time, because exhaust note.

As a commuter/DD I found it more fun than the FRZ86.

Casper > Vee Ate Injun
01/14/2014 at 20:12

They are completely different handling and performing vehicles. The MR2's point of rotation and push sensation as well as general handling characteristics and performance potential are in a different class. Same with most generations of the Miatas.

I would compare it more to other hunchy FWD micos or minis like Coopers, Fits, Focus, etc.

Vee Ate Injun > Casper
01/14/2014 at 20:19

that is all true. i lumped them all together in a generalized "small car" list because... well, just because they're all small. it's just my personal shortlist of contemporary "small" cars i find appealing and would seriously consider purchasing.

Vee Ate Injun > Vee Ate Injun
01/14/2014 at 20:43

also: i was surprised to discover the country of assembly was Mexico. i was also surprised to see so many Chrysler logos under the hood (i've had mixed results from Chrysler products in the past). however, i was pleasantly surprised to notice a hose with FIAT, LANCIA, and ALFA ROMEO on it..

Ferrero1911 > Vee Ate Injun
01/14/2014 at 21:09

I've had mine since May 2012. I've only experienced the grinding once or twice, just make sure the car is completely stopped and don't shift it too quickly. I do have an increasing problem getting it to go into reverse though. I'm getting that checked out soon.

Casper > Vee Ate Injun
01/14/2014 at 21:26

Ah, gotcha. You were literally talking about size.