Calling Abarth Oppos

"Flyboy is FAA certified insane" (flyboy396)
06/09/2016 at 14:57 • Filed to: Car Buying

How reliable are they at higher mileage? Like above 70k? I’ve found a 2013 with under 30k miles, and if I buy it, it would be my only vehicle for quite a while. Anybody with a 1.4t FCA vehicle know sowe good mods for them?

DISCUSSION (39)

Shamoononon drives like a farmer > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/09/2016 at 14:58

Déjà vu

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Shamoononon drives like a farmer
06/09/2016 at 15:03

Huh? You have one?

RyanFrew > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/09/2016 at 15:08

Your post got Kinja’d and shows on Oppo twice.

Vicente Esteve > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/09/2016 at 15:08

From what I’ve researched the 1.4 hasn’t given people much trouble. Of course, it won’t be a Toyota, but it shouldn’t be unreliable IF well maintained.

I adore these things, they really make a damn hard case for themselves.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/09/2016 at 15:09

A friend of mine has one, it has to be up around that mileage by now. It’s his daily driver, and he also beats the snot out of it on track. It saw a track day within two weeks of him buying it, and it’s been to at least 3 different tracks now.

He’s had 0 issues, and his car is tuned. He has an intake and I believe a downpipe, and maybe a blow off valve. Simple stuff but it sounds like a hilarious baby Ferrari the way it snaps and pops.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/09/2016 at 15:09

Double post. By the way, have you test driven it? I though it was an absolute riot, but felt like I was sitting in a minivan. The lack of cruise control might be a deal breaker for a DD, but it should put a smile on your face every time you turn the key.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > RyanFrew
06/09/2016 at 15:12

Roger, fixed it.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
06/09/2016 at 15:15

That’s okay, my current DD doesn’t have Cruise either. But yea, I’ve driven it and loved it. I’m just seeing conflicting reliability reports.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
06/09/2016 at 15:17

Sweet, thanks. That’s what I’m going for, also.

mazda616 > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
06/09/2016 at 15:19

These don’t have cruise? Huh. Didn’t know that.

Learn something new everyday.

I don't see many Abarths but there are a surprising number of Fiat 500s in my relatively small western Kentucky town.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/09/2016 at 15:20

As far as I’ve heard, the 1.4 itself is relatively bulletproof (it really is in just about every Euro model from FCA, from the 500 to the Renegade), but it’s the rest of the car that might suffer from the typical Italian ‘character’.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/09/2016 at 15:23

From what heard from a couple owners by me (because I almost bought one) the main powertrain and stuff don’t cause problems. Ive heard it’s the little things that are just annoyances. One had their horn stop working. Broken trim pieces. Bad window regulator. Just dumb little odds and ends.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > mazda616
06/09/2016 at 15:25

Yup, I know since my mom was looking at it for her new DD. She’s currently driving a GTI, which has adaptive cruise, so the no cruise was an immediate no go, even though it was more of an event to drive.

Here in Europe the facelifted Abarth has just come out, and while they’ve improved the multimedia system (it’s now got Uconnect), there’s still no cruise.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/09/2016 at 15:25

Yea, I’m not worried about that kind of stuff, as I’ve owned several Chrysler products

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/09/2016 at 15:34

You know you cannot use them for Auto-X without different suspension, right? At least that is what I recall reading somewhere.

I hated the seating position, otherwise I would probably have one also. That or if the dealer by us hadn’t been such a patronizing, misogynist dick to my wife when she was looking at them.

I am quite happy with my GTI, but I came from an SVT Focus so having some actual space is okay with me. I’m not a big guy, but I felt like I was wearing the regular 500 we test drove.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
06/09/2016 at 15:37

Wait it doesn’t have cruise control?? What kind of shit is that!

Chasaboo > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/09/2016 at 15:49

If that color blue was available in the States, that would be my car, right now.

Arrivederci > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/09/2016 at 15:51

Here’s a good thread to read on mnet about someone who bought a 500 Abarth. Hasn’t been reliable, but they still love it (I think):

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.…

mazda616 > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
06/09/2016 at 15:55

Oh, so it's a Europe-only thing? I was thinking I could've sworn the Stateside Abarth came with cruise control.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Chasaboo
06/09/2016 at 15:59

It is... Lol

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
06/09/2016 at 16:01

Well, truth be told, if you don’t do long distances, the car more than makes up for it. It’s not really geared for highway cruising either (short ratio 5-speed), but that just increases the fun on backroads.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Arrivederci
06/09/2016 at 16:04

Thanks.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > mazda616
06/09/2016 at 16:04

Ah, looks like you’re right, what a moronic decision by FCA. Could you send one here?

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
06/09/2016 at 16:10

Well a Miata is not geared for highway driving either with pushing 4k rpms at 75mph in 6th gear. But I certainly love using it on cruise control to get places. Sure I spend more of my time having fun on backroads without it but often I have to travel a good bit of highway to get to the fun roads first. I have found when I don’t use cruise control I get all sorts of cramped up from holding my foot in one place for hours.

Vicente Esteve > Chasaboo
06/09/2016 at 16:11

You’ll have to buy it now!

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
06/09/2016 at 16:16

Mazda616 just pointed out that the US model gets cruise, it’s just ROW that’s screwed. (though there are aftermarket kits available)

I don’t have cruise in the MR2, and so far it hasn’t really been a problem, but I haven’t continuously driven more than 2 hours yet. It’s not like I could put my feet somewhere else in any case, so ¯\_()_/¯

Arrivederci > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/09/2016 at 16:17

No prob - I keep thinking about one for myself for a knockaround daily. Like others here have said, the problems never seem major, just minor niggles - bluetooth quits, sideskirt loose, rattle in dash, etc. A few nice used 2015s in the $15k range.

MUSASHI66 > Chasaboo
06/09/2016 at 16:21

New for this year. Probably none of them on the roads yet

MUSASHI66 > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/09/2016 at 16:24

I only have 9k miles on mine so I can’t help. Based on the forums, no real issues though. Not too many people have high miles - car came here in 2012, so 4 year later, most are well under 60k miles.

What’s the price on the one you found? It should be well under $13k.

mazda616 > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
06/09/2016 at 16:24

I'm sure it's small enough to fit in a FedEx overnight mail box, right? :-)

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > MUSASHI66
06/09/2016 at 16:36

Well that one only had 22k miles. the one that had 67k was only $8k.

In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/09/2016 at 17:18

That shit breaking is Italian Car as Fuck

boxrocket > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/09/2016 at 23:01

One of my friends has a 500 Abarth and it just passed 84K and it’s fine, other than the interior falling apart. He bought it from CarMax though and is covered up to 125K miles.

TysMagic > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/22/2016 at 17:04

I’m real late to this party...but I’ve put 4k miles on mine so far (bought it at 10k, currently 14k and change). So far nothing major. From speaking with others in the VERY active Abarth community, there’s not a lot major to be worried about. With that said, thus far my rear view mirror has fallen off, the top has broken and doesn’t go all the way back, and the dash...I would highly recommend getting one with the newer style fancy digital dash (2014+) as the mild heat of Tennessee causes the dash to get funky AF on the regular. The top is going to the dealer for warranty work. My problem is the dealer (that’s recommended in TN) is 2.5 hours away, but free loaner. Another big benefit of the 2014+ Abarth is you get two arm rest. If you have someone who rides with you every at all, they will thank you for getting the one with two center arm rests. And yes, my side skirts have pulled away ever so slightly. The aftermarket is pretty good, however priced like a much more expensive vehicle.
With all of the nitpicking aside, I LOVE my Abarth and I am very excited to be out of the car flipping game for a while to enjoy the absolute hell out of this thing.

I purchased mine through Carvana and highly recommend them. If you’re interested in a discount code, let me know.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > TysMagic
06/22/2016 at 18:01

Sounds cool, man. Always good to hear another perspective. How much or a discount are we talking for Carvana? Because their prices are kinda high.

TysMagic > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/23/2016 at 09:01

That’s just what I’ve seen from comparing cars in the community. So far the people are all pretty cool so I think that makes ownership even better.

The Carvana code takes $500 off any car. I found mine for what felt like a good price so I’m quite happy with it.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > TysMagic
06/23/2016 at 11:43

Oh, cool. Right now the ones they have are both really high mileage. There’s one in my county that I’m keeping an eye on while I get my current car sold.

TysMagic > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/23/2016 at 11:56

They replace them it seems as they sell. I was very satisfied with the experience.

Two Drink Minimum > TysMagic
06/30/2016 at 16:35

Even later to the party. I’m at 26K miles and LOVE this car. That said, my engine needed replacing at 11K miles.

I’ve heard of a handful of the 1.4l Multi-Air engines having compression issues, with moderate oil loss (1 quart-plus per 1K miles) being an initial symptom. The studio put mine through leak down and compression testing, and approved the warranty engine swap. Since then it’s been smooth sailing. If you are shopping, you might pull the spark plug and peak at cylinder 1 (passenger side), as that one seems to foul on some cars. And if you purchase an Abarth, just keep an eye on oil consumption.

Again, my experience has been great. The warranty replacement was done without a fight and the car has been nails ever since.