Project Wannabe Abarth: The Fiat is now driveable-- and getting driven

"InfinityAero" (infinityaero) 09/19/2016 at 11:55 • Filed to: None

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My friend swung by last Thursday to help me bleed the brakes. Got the alignment done Saturday. Decided to take a spin that afternoon.

You can hear me on the throttle for the first second... the car sounds spectacular. It’s still got a little pull to the left, but tracks straight under breaking and feels very solid across bumps or in the middle of turns. The manual steering rack will take some getting used to under hard driving.

At this point, I’ll be putting more gas in it than parts for a bit. Feels good!

GenuineAlexReid - The Reidus > InfinityAero 09/19/2016 at 12:07

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Love it!

Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer > InfinityAero 09/19/2016 at 12:12

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Considering Fiat, my apologies for your upcoming breakdown on account of your extreme hubris. ;-)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > InfinityAero 09/19/2016 at 12:19

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Looks like a blast! :D

InfinityAero > Comes over to help work on your car and only drinks beer 09/19/2016 at 12:19

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Ugh.... you’re right, I totally just jinxed myself, and there’s no wood to knock on in my office...

InfinityAero > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 09/19/2016 at 12:26

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Yeah, a little bouncy but really engaging— definitely can’t help but bring a smile to your face. I’m so happy to be driving something old again. Cars have really been tainted by the last 30 years of nannies and advancements; they can still be a joy to drive, sure, but there’s just something joyous and pure about driving an old car from before airbags, electric steering, higher belt lines and all the weight that comes with it all.

I’ll probably pull apart the front suspension and lower it about an inch over the winter— that should help add a little stiffness to the front and cut down on the bouncing. My buddy with a Lotus called the ride “the cadillac of sports cars”... I kinda dug that description.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > InfinityAero 09/19/2016 at 13:38

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Looking good!

InfinityAero > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 09/19/2016 at 14:07

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Thanks.... god forbid I ever get the windshield wipers working— I don’t know if I’d be able to fight the urge to daily drive it!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > InfinityAero 09/19/2016 at 18:23

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That’s what I am looking forward to once I import my 126 in the next few years....no assisted ANYTHING, just a very pure driving experience :)

adamftw > InfinityAero 09/20/2016 at 06:56

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This is awesome. I want to get one of these or a TR6 for a commuter next spring/summer.