Oppo Educate me

"Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras" (jegoingout) 09/23/2015 at 14:12 • Filed to: None

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Tell me what you Oppo’s love or hate about the Fiat 500 Abarth!

I am overly ambitious and have notice these are relatively cheap to buy ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ). My commute to work is mainly highway, roughly 30 miles total, though I can take some back roads with twists and turns. I also don’t have kids or any need for large amounts of space.

What do you like?

Dislike?

Have you owned one?

Would you buy one?

Tripper > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:14

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They sound real good for a tiny 4cyl. I have not driven one but would like to

Ike > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:15

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Drove Regular 500, fun and nimble

Small overlap crash test... Scary bad

DrJohannVegas > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:15

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I hate the one which blasts through the 4-way stop in front of my house at least twice a day. Admittedly, that may be more about the driver than the car, but it could also have terrible brakes.

Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:16

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Go for it! I love these little guys, and they’re a real blast to drive. Looks like a really good deal as well, my only reservation is that it’s not black. But I do hope you know that you are obligated to watch this video before your purchase.

CalzoneGolem > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:16

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If I didn’t have two kids, a wife, a dog, a cat and three fish I’d want to get the smallest vehicle I could and one of these would be at the top of my list.

punkgoose17 > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:16

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I think you should get one. I want one too. Reasons: Noise and fun.

Note: I have not driven one.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. 09/23/2015 at 14:19

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that was funny as all hell. I couldn’t find a decent black one in the area :(

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:20

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I have driven the regular Fiat 500 for several days and would not DD it even if I didn’t need the room. It felt like I was driving a shopping cart with a lawnmower engine. My DD is a Mazda 3 and it feels like a limo with a spercharged V8 by comparison.

Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:21

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oh well...still is quite a sharp looking car though. I do love the “Abarth” accents.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 09/23/2015 at 14:21

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I feel like that’s my biggest reserve about buying one, stepping out of a car with a V6 into a small little turbo 4 will be...uh different

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:23

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Owned a Fiat based on the same chassis (although probably doesn’t have a lot in common with the Abarth) and it was a fun little car but there were a fair few quality issues with it.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 09/23/2015 at 14:26

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poor interior build?

Punk_Girl_98 > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:26

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I dislike the fact I don’t own one lol.

sebdel > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:27

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I heard Matt Farrah from the smoking saying it was terrible, I usually trust that guy when it comes to car reviews. I can’t remember what was it about the car that makes it terrible though.

Jonee > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:27

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It is a different kind of fun. It’s small and zippy and makes you feel like the world is your own giant obstacle course.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > sebdel 09/23/2015 at 14:28

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Yeah i remember that video. He took an auto convertible one around a track

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:29

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Like: sounds good, apparently drives well, looks worlds better than base models, cheap, your wife/girlfriend/female admirers will probably love it.

Dislike: Proportions seem funny, too tall and narrow.

Never owned one.

Would buy it for cheap in 10 years and strip it down for super lightweight time attack car.

Milky > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:30

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Roommate has had his for a year now, no problems to speak of. The sound really is amazing.

Also, holy crap thats a good deal.

Twism > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:30

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Pros:

Fantastic sound
Nimble as all hell (little understeery, but it’s a FWD car the size of a large fridge, what do you expect?)
More-than-adequate power
looks mean

lots of tuning potential, too

Cons:
Buzzy on the highway

not really comfortable

useless if you want to bring people in the back

not sure about the reliability so far.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:33

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The seat was shredded after only 70’000 miles (the previous owner was a little old lady so I doubt she did much to cause it) but otherwise the the interior was okay if a bit creaky. The electrics werent great, indicators were completely random and the key fob forgot the immobiliser code. Plus I had to get rid of it because the engine failed.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:37

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I’ve got a Pop that I make a 60 mile round trip commute in, and I love it. Mine is the stick, so I get incredible gas mileage. I have a co-worker with an Abarth that lives near me, and he likes his so well that he got a second one.

Sometimes I wish that I had a little more space for hauling things, but for 98% of the time, it does well with the day to day stuff.It is a hatchback, after all.

It’s a quirky car, if you are on the fence about it, I would suggest renting one for a week just to see how it is to live with. In my opinion, the good outweighs the bad.

One thing though, I would really, really reccommend getting the stick shift rather than the automatic. The difference in performance is like night and day.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > CalzoneGolem 09/23/2015 at 14:38

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I have all that you’ve just described and we get along quite well in mine...granted, we also have a Mazda 6 for longer hauls with the entire family unit.

CalzoneGolem > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 09/23/2015 at 14:40

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Yeah, my car needs to fill the role of family truckster.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 09/23/2015 at 14:41

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I don’t plan to get an auto...been itching for another manual. Thanks for the response!

Saracen > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:42

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By the numbers it’s not a great car, and wouldn’t perform well on a track. But it looks awesome, makes fabulous noise and I hear it has go-kart like handling. The Abarth is all about character, and it has that more than most cars on the market.

The only REAL downside is the questionable reliablity.

Having said that, under $11k for 18k miles? Fuck. Do it.

MPA > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 14:51

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I considered an Abarth and a Fiesta ST, but while the Abarth has that awesome stock exhaust note, the Fiesta handled better, and has 4 doors

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 15:01

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I was super close to getting one of these. They sound awesome and are quite fun to drive.

But... Seating position is kind of weird. And the shifter is in a funky angle too so it’s not a normal sporty car feeling.

Also it’s quite useless at being a car.

Oh and reliability and quality isn’t the best. But at that price it’s worth it if you can live with it

sebdel > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 15:01

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Here’s the full review from 2012

http://www.thesmokingtire.com/2012/2012-fiat…

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > sebdel 09/23/2015 at 15:06

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Him and Thad hate the seats/seating position, and they said it feels like it is going to roll every time you take a corner fast. 11k is a pretty good deal though, if you fit the car.

cazzyodo > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 15:10

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If I fit and there was a deal like this near me, I would buy it just for the sound.

For reference, the lowest priced Abarth in 100 miles has 36k miles and is listed for $13,500.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 15:30

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Haven driven them and ridden in them, they are fun as hell. Good brakes, enough power for what it is, quick enough. Overall just a really fun little car. Rear head room is tight for taller people (I’m 5’10” and hit a bit). Good seats, exhaust note is awesome.

Sam > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 15:58

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I drove one and it’s totally sweet. You definitely need to try to get a 2013+ if you can. They sound better and a lot of the problems are dialed out.

jariten1781 > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 16:10

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I went in fully intending to buy one. Couldn’t. Seating position is awful, a total deal breaker for me. It feels like the seat is two feet higher than it should be...like driving a Transit Connect or something rather than a sporty tiny car.

Other than that I liked it fine, handling was good, power was good, fit & finish was adequate (as expected for a ~20k car), exhaust was amazing, and the deals they were offering were amazing.

Don’t get too hyped for one until you’ve taken it for a spin.

jjhats > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 16:12

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looks fun as hell and love the exhaust but every other thing is awful. and its a fiat so I don't trust the reliability one bit plus its impractical as hell

Sam > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 16:20

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That seems a bit... unfair.

DipodomysDeserti > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 16:24

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I’ve owned one for about two years.

Pros: noise, gas mileage, nimble/easy to have fun with, quirky, was cheap, its been reliable ( I only have 17k on it though), the engine idles very smooth for a four banger, overall fun car

Cons: tons of turbo lag, very cheap interior, stupid seating position, front end started squeaking after 5k miles, transmission feels aweful

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > DipodomysDeserti 09/23/2015 at 16:49

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feels awful?

DipodomysDeserti > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 17:27

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Very vague gear engagement with kind of a long pull. Feels very rubbery.

wiffleballtony > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 17:34

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I like the noise and the looks, and the relative speed. I do not like the alleged reliability issues. I would buy one, but it would have to be cheaper than a FiST.

Jayhawk Jake > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 18:22

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Seating position is miserable

marshknute > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 18:34

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I test drove one earlier this summer. It’s unquestionably the most fun new car under $30K. The driving position is a bit weird, but it means you have stupid good visibility. And know exactly where all 4 corners are. The short wheelbase makes it tons of fun to whip around tight turns.

the interior has mostly cheap materials, but the touch-points (wheel, shifter, seats) are A+ quality. And the Italian flare makes the rest of he interior seem way better than the actual quality of the materials.

Oh, and you’ll need to spend $80K to get a better exhaust note (Alfa 4C). Fiat managed to trap the spirit of a Ferrari inside a the body of a tiny city car.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 20:29

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Always admired them and respected them until I saw a red one with white stripes. It looked so good, and red ones are rare and sexy as hell. If I didn’t have a wife and daughter, I would buy one and drive the hell out of it.

Khalbali > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 21:07

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I came close to buying one last year, the biggest turn offs were the clutch and the shifter, it felt like a softball. The seating position as others have mentioned is not the greatest, but wasn't the deal breaker for me, it was just a lot of interior things that bugged me,

pip bip - choose Corrour > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/23/2015 at 21:33

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if i had the monies i’d buy one.

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 09/24/2015 at 01:56

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I read the last line as “I also don’t have kids or any need for them”. Made me chuckle.

Sorry I got no helpful input! Enjoy your bitchin’ Abarth though.

Two Drink Minimum > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 10/28/2015 at 12:34

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Sorry for the late response, but we have identical fleets. My wife drives the Mazda6, which we use for long drives, while I drive the Abarth. We have three kids and a dog. Works out great.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Two Drink Minimum 10/28/2015 at 12:57

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Yougot one more kid than me, but yeah. same thing. The wife’s car is the family car on the weekend, unless we are going to town, then we cram in my car because parking it in urban areas is just easier.