Is there any 500 Abarth Owners on Oppo?

"Long Live the Longdoor" (victoryred08)
07/29/2014 at 21:29 • Filed to: 500 Abarth

I have a couple questions...

Has anyone had much experience with one in the winter? How has it faired reliability-wise? Also, just for shits and giggles, what's you favourite part of owning it?

DISCUSSION (18)

Shiftright > Long Live the Longdoor
07/29/2014 at 21:54

I have one

Shiftright > Long Live the Longdoor
07/29/2014 at 22:02

I love the base 500; Fun to drive, handles and drives like a much bigger car, oodles of character, refreshingly not trying to look like it's angry at you and wants to kill you.

The Abarth is a very different animal however. Feels much more composed and serious, structure feels stiffer. Impossible to drive one and not have fun or not be in a good mood. I've had mine for 5 months. So far only had to replace a bulb in the cruise control switch on the steering wheel and the sunroof squeaks a little sometimes depending on humidity / temperature. Slightly annoying but nothing that diminishes the fun.

Long Live the Longdoor > Shiftright
07/29/2014 at 22:08

Cool, good to hear!

I really quite like the Abarth, I have for a while. I'm tossing around the idea of purchasing one as my next car (a daily driver, year round). The Miata is high on my list, but I can't shake my love affair for the Abarth.

I'm not super concerned about squeaks, if they get too loud one could just downshift and let out that exhaust noise. Problem solved!

Milky > Long Live the Longdoor
07/29/2014 at 22:34

I have a friends that just got one, like 2 weeks ago 'just'. Lovely little thing.

HideyoshiJP > Long Live the Longdoor
07/29/2014 at 22:47

I'm doomed to buy one soon. :( Why did I take the Abarth loaner when I got my car serviced?

Ferrero1911 > Long Live the Longdoor
07/29/2014 at 23:06

I have one. I love it sooooo much. I don't know first hand how it does in winter because I live in Los Angeles. I know most of the guys on the forum put winter wheels on it and call it done.

My favorite part of owning it is the sound, and also the torque that goes with it. It really is fun to drive a slow car "fast".

As far as reliability, I have had some warranty repairs done - new clutch master, side skirt coming loose, check engine light for an under boost condition. It's been a month since those repairs and it seems like everything is working great. Mine was build in the first month of production, before they took away the fake muffler, so it is a very early car. That might explain some of the issues, or not. Other than that it's been very reliable and the gas mileage is as advertised, but only if you are immune to the effects of the exhaust noise on you right foot.

Let me know if you have any other questions, and take a look at the forums. http://www.fiat500owners.com/ and http://www.fiat500usaforum.com/forum.php

Burrito de EJ25 > Ferrero1911
07/30/2014 at 01:24

I desperately want to drive one. I'd rather have an Abarth than a Fiesta. It's just such a hilarious little car.

Newsboy > Long Live the Longdoor
07/30/2014 at 03:43

I've got a base 500, so take that for what it's worth. It isn't my first choice in the winter. The light weight mean that it floats over snow and ice rather than digging into it. The short wheelbase makes it more eager to swap ends than most cars. I much prefer the Outback with snow tires.

Reliability has been fine, except for a leaking coolant bottle which was replaced under warranty.

Favorite part of owning it: THE SOUND. No lie, it sounds like a baby Ferrari. Very Italian.

Long Live the Longdoor > Ferrero1911
07/30/2014 at 12:13

Thanks for the info!

Does the Abarth exhibit any turbo lag in daily driving? I have a 1.4L turbo Chevy Cruze and there's times when im waiting to make a left turn at a light an I go to floor it and literally nothing happens for half a second... It's a little annoying.

I haven't migrated to any Abarth forums yet but I imagine I will soon.

Long Live the Longdoor > HideyoshiJP
07/30/2014 at 12:18

LOL, ya that might have been foolish or not depending on how you look at it.

Long Live the Longdoor > Milky
07/30/2014 at 12:20

Right on, I've had a big interest in them ever since I saw Jeremy Clarkson review one on top gear (a couple years before they made their way to North America)

Ferrero1911 > Long Live the Longdoor
07/30/2014 at 13:32

It does have some turbo lag, but not much. The turbo kicks in around 2000 rpm, so it doesn't take much to get there. If you floor it you'll launch it. As long as you don't shift too early it doesn't feel laggy during daily driving.

Shiftright > Newsboy
07/31/2014 at 02:48

Do you have a good set of winter tires on it? A family member bought one in the Boston area and they transformed it into an OK winter car to a spectacular one. She's passed 4x4 stuck in deep snow drifts.

Newsboy > Shiftright
07/31/2014 at 08:15

I do have good winter tires for it, Goodyear Ultra Grips. Better yet, I only paid $35 a tire at Sears!

They help quite a lot, but they don't magically transform it into a Snowcat. I pass cars on all season tires like they're standing still, but IMO I'm also better than the average driver (I rally in the winter.) The narrow track width means you have to pay attention to the tire grooves in the lane, otherwise you end up with two wheels on snow and it gets a little squirrely. The short wheel base makes the back end step out under braking if you're trying to steer, but a dab of oppo cures that.

Keep in mind I live in Western NY where we get a hell of a lot more snow than Boston.

Also keep in mind that my point of reference is a 4th gen Subaru Outback with General Altimax Arctics. I regularly take that out when no one else dares to be on the road. Practically unstoppable.

All of that to say: I love it, and would highly recommend the 500 in any trim. Don't drive like an idiot in the snow and you'll be fine.

Shiftright > Newsboy
07/31/2014 at 11:52

Hard to beat any Subaru in the snow. Those things are magical

Two Drink Minimum > Long Live the Longdoor
08/05/2014 at 21:50

I'll be winter driving my Abarth in Vermont. I came from driving a Honda Fit, so I'm used to handling a small, light, FWD car on snowy roads, and I can tell you that it's all about the tires. I am on 17-inch wheels now, but plan to get a set of 16-inch wheels and snowtires for the winter. I've heard the Pirelli Snow Controls are quite good, but I'm going to do some more research.

My reliability through 2K miles has been very good. No issues. I'm in a '13 Abarth with leather, premium wheels and convenience package.

Favorite part of owning it? Everything. Seriously. The looks, the sound, the retro interior. I drive now hoping to get stuck behind someone slow, just so I can bide my time and wait for that moment when I flash past them so fast they have no time to react. It's a wonderful feeling.

Long Live the Longdoor > Two Drink Minimum
08/05/2014 at 23:03

Thanks for the feedback! That sounds awesome! Keep us posted on how she does in the winter.

Is there any drone at highway cruising?

Two Drink Minimum > Long Live the Longdoor
08/06/2014 at 17:55

Just got done with a long highway drive. There is definitely some noise at highway speed, but it's not bad. The engine gets significantly louder when you accelerate, but that's entirely a good thing.