Oppo, I Need Advice

"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley) 10/25/2018 at 11:24 • Filed to: None

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Sorry to double post this morning with the earlier DOTS. I think I made a mistake in buying my Forte. I hate this POS. Why anyone would buy it for the $17,900 (CDN) MSRP is beyond me. I only bought it because it was $12K. I want to know, how stupid am I for considering the below? I don’t even want to mention it to my wife as she is touchy on the subject of me obtaining more cars for some reason....

I am thinking about trading in my 2018 Kia Forte with 1500 miles on it currently on a used Abarth. You can find them below 50,000km a few years old for about what I paid on my Kia. Given what the massive discount I bought the Kia at, I think I could trade it in with no loss.

The issue is, the Kia handles for shit, accelerates like a snail and the gear-leaver feels like a banana sticking out a bowl of pudding.

I know that Abarths are essentially turds in terms of quality, but goddamn, I love them so much. They radiate happiness. I see them downtown and I just smile as they roar past.

Life is far to short to drive boring cars, even for work.

Thoughts? Am I stupid? If so, how stupid.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:29

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do you need useable rear seats? cause if you do the abarth is gonna be a bad time

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 10/25/2018 at 11:30

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No, this is only for urban/suburban driving with me in the car.  Nobody, and I mean nobody else will ever be in the car with me.

CalzoneGolem > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:31

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do you need a reliable car ? cause if you do the abarth is gonna be a bad time

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > CalzoneGolem 10/25/2018 at 11:31

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I do... yeah.  How bad are they?

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:31

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I imagine you’d lose a lot more than you’d expect. I’m sure its a boring car, but for the time being the responsible thing to do is to keep the Kia a few years before trading it in or selling it.
But if you’re fine with spending / losing the money, and it’s not a financial burden; then find the car you want and go for it. But I imagine the Abarth is not as reliable as the Kia.

vondon302 > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:32

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You came here to talk you out of this idea?

Abarth it is then.

CalzoneGolem > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:34

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Let me just set this here:  https://www.edmunds.com/fiat/500/2013/abarth/consumer-reviews/

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 10/25/2018 at 11:34

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Deep down, I know this is true. But I hate this Kia so damn much.

Plus... no AC so I worry I may melt in the summer.

CalzoneGolem > vondon302 10/25/2018 at 11:37

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We all know that the decision to get the Abarth is wrong for the wallet but may be good for the soul.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:38

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Plus... no AC

I sometimes am surprised by what isn’t standard equipment. Like still being able to order crank windows from Chevy.

Milky > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:39

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Roommate has one, its amazing.

B ut he also got it with a lifetime warranty, which is good because the turbo went at 50k miles.  If you can get a warranty, do it and never look back, they are fun.  

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 10/25/2018 at 11:39

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Yeah, I didn’t even think that was a thing. When I showed up at first to look at the car and saw that the AC button was blank, I walked.

But $11900CDN for a brand new car?  Made me come crawling back,

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:39

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really, no A/C? Did you intentionally order it that way?

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback 10/25/2018 at 11:40

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No, it was just like that.  I imagine it was part of the reason it was only 9000USD brand new.

Chuckles > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:41

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I love my automatic, non Abarth 500. But it is a very small car, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you need to use the backseat. In terms of spirited driving, it feels a lot less stable than my Miata, because you are sitting about a foot higher up from the ground. But it's a pretty practical car.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:41

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I really only use the AC in my truck maybe a week or two a year, so for an especially good deal I’d probably be tempted too.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Chuckles 10/25/2018 at 11:42

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But I still have my ST for pure performance driving.  

404 - User No Longer Available > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:44

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https://www.autotrader.ca/a/bmw/3%20series/victoria/british%20columbia/5_40810554_20171016181143961/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&ursrc=pl&urp=1&urm=2&sprx=100

Maybe E90M3 can chime in...

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > 404 - User No Longer Available 10/25/2018 at 11:45

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That’s suspiciously cheap.  Also future repair costs scare the shit out of me

Chuckles > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:46

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That's actually why I went with a non-Abarth 500. I have the miata for proper fun driving, and also owning an Abarth seemed redundant. Also, at the old age of 32, I've learned to appreciate an automatic transmission. Manual is great for fun roads, but daily driving a stick shift is incredibly overrated if you live in an area with bad traffic and your whole commute is at low speeds.

404 - User No Longer Available > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:49

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Actually given how my F30 is already wholesaling under 15 k... I wouldn’t exactly say suspiciously cheap.

smobgirl > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:49

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I’ve had an Abarth for 4 years - it’s 6 years old with just under 70k miles on it. Water pump failed at 65k but having the timing belt and water pump done early at an indy shop was around the same cost as my last car (20 year old Civic). It’s o therwise been fine. I mean, stuff rattled and there’s a lot of plastic but it’s a fine trade to me for the fun of driving it and the exhaust noises.

It also fits a remarkable amount of stuff in the  hatch with the rear seats down, though obviously the dimensions are what they are. Two people luxury car camping? Won’t be able to see out the rear window, but you’ll fit. Bought a couch at IKEA? Get it delivered.

Chariotoflove > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:50

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So here’s my perspective. While I was in college, my dad needed to replace his ‘84 Olds wagon. He went to the dealership and fairly drooled over the Trofeo he saw there (and my dad doesn’t drool over anything). But then he bought another wagon, because he thought it was the sensible thing to do with kids and horses and etc.

Fast forward a year, and he did get p lenty of use out of it, but I think he was always a little sad. I think it was mom who convinced him that it was the right time in life to get something nice for himself. He went to the same dealer, different salesman, and traded that year old wagon in for a Trofeo. Because of deals, time of the month, and the salesman ’s quota, he lost almost no money on it.

He drove that car until it almost fell apart. And then he fixed it as best he could and drove it some more. So, you know my advice. Just make sure you don’t lose money on the deal or buy yourself a potential lemon, because you don’t want to be here kicking yourself again a year from now.

Chariotoflove > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 10/25/2018 at 11:51

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No, you lie.  That can’t be true!

Mercedes Streeter > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 11:53

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Let’s say it like this...I love smarts and will collect them until the day until I die...However I would love to daily an Abarth 500C, in white, with the red stripes and red interior. Mmmmm.

Wobbles the Mind > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 12:04

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Talk to your wife about your feelings then make a plan together . Maybe a 2-3 year old Mazda or something is the way to go since I think you just need something sensible and engaging rather than  a  b ox of fire- breathing ferrets and bubble wrap.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 12:04

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Why not upgrade to something more exciting like a volster or elantra GT ?

DipodomysDeserti > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 12:05

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I had an Abarth 500 for a while. It was a fun car, but it’s going to feel slow if you already have a Fuesta ST. I bought mine brand new for around $16k, and they were selling used ones for $10k and lower when I sold it. I wouldn’t pay more than $10k for a used FIAT. Worse depreciation I have ever seen. Never had any reliability issues, but the Dodge dealers here don’t know how to work on them. Had the top hats replaced on account of a TSB, and they installed the new ones wrong which caused the same clunking problems. Very fun city car though.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Chariotoflove 10/25/2018 at 12:11

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I guess it depends on the model. T he Cruze comes standard with power windows, but if you go to the Spark’s build page you’ll find this

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 12:12

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Remind me why the Fiesta ST shouldn’t serve as your daily? It won’t be a collector item, it isn’t as though Ford is ending production . . . oh, wait.

But really, it isn’t surprising that the Forte is killing you, but you bought it as a cheap, reliable, warrantied disposable, right? Well, there you go. The Abarth would seem to go counter to that plan.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 10/25/2018 at 12:14

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The fiesta isn’t a dd because of the money/care I’ve put into it. It is a fun times only car.

BeaterGT > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 10/25/2018 at 12:17

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Seconded, the Fiesta sounds like the exact car for the job.  

DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 12:21

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I’d check and see what older Civic Si (they may be called something different up there) are going for. Since you still have the ST, it seems it’d be more wise to get a car a little more balanced to the practical side than the Abarth.

Chariotoflove > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 10/25/2018 at 12:32

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Inconceivable!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 12:37

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I think I made a mistake in buying my Forte.

bhtooefr > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 12:38

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...what about a 500e? Although you'd have to import it from the US, but it should have plenty of range for urban/suburban stuff, and with less to break than a 500 Abarth. 

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 12:39

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Yeah I done WARNT you to not get a car without AC you foolish fool

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > bhtooefr 10/25/2018 at 12:41

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They sold 500e’s here.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/25/2018 at 12:44

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Honestly, if it was just that, I’d live with it.  But overall, this car really sucks.  The lack of AC is the sweaty icing on the cake

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 12:45

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You get what you pay for, as they say.

random001 > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 12:51

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Well, can you import an American Abarth, because I have one for sale that has nothing wrong with it....

AestheticsInMotion > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 12:56

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Responsible car-buying choices aren’t really my f orte, but I do know that the Abarth sounds incredible, and I’ve talked to lots of owners who have seemed to love the Fiat universally.

+1 for Abarth 

AestheticsInMotion > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 10/25/2018 at 12:57

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My base Silverado has crank windows, manual locks, android auto/Apple car play and power seats. Super strange

random001 > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 12:58

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Well, my experience is not as bad as it looks on internet paper. Mine has ~67k miles and nary an issue has shown it’s head. Car just runs well. I think the unreliability is like most things, blown way out of proportion by a few vocal people, but mostly they’re good.

Also, remember that ~180 HP/l?  in a car weighing 2413 lbs?  And that glorious noise...

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 12:59

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Buy another?

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 13:00

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Sounds like the Kia was a pricey turd where as the Abarth will be a cheap *but fun* turd.

Hope that helps put it into perspective. 

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > AestheticsInMotion 10/25/2018 at 13:00

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Yea, trucks are much more customize- able than any other vehicle...almost every option is an independent one instead of grouping them together in packages/trim levels. 

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 10/25/2018 at 13:00

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I thought about it, but they are actually tough to find

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 13:07

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You managed to find a brand-new, wa rrantied Kia for US $9,000. I have confidence you can find another FiST. Or even simply a Fiesta.

Surely either is going to prove more reliable than an Abarth 500.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > CalzoneGolem 10/25/2018 at 13:21

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Happiness>money

TysMagic > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 13:23

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Prior Abarth owner here - I loved it. I miss it. I’m very happy with the Miata and don’t regret the change, but that little meatball was the stuff. To the unreliable topic, I put 35k miles or so on it with no issues that left me stranded on the road - until the very very end. Purchased with 10k miles and drove the piss out of it. The top was replaced under warranty (cabrio, see prior posts for info on that) otherwise it was quite trust worthy. I traded it in as it decided to consume ALL of it’s oil. Didn’t leak it and didn’t burn blue smoke, so it just ate it. Found out that’s a common thing for the multiairs to consume oil, however I’m at a point in life where I don’t feel like adding a quart of oil to my car at every fill up - so Miata (and I was also shopping already for something else, the oil thing was kind of just the nail in the coffin to moving on). 

TysMagic > TysMagic 10/25/2018 at 13:24

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TL;DR Buy the abarth.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 13:27

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Get the Ecoboost fiesta, non-ST. Apparently the 3 banger is hilariously fun.

Khalbali > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 13:32

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I’m with wobbles. Get a skyactiv mazda3 with a stick. Decent to drive, comfy and great on gas, I loved my 2015 hatch, even the 2.0 is pretty fun if you wring it out and they're pretty reliable I was a Mazda tech for a couple years too.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 13:39

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2 major problems. 1 you bought the 18 forte and then the 19 was an all new, it was a dated platform to begin with. 2nd to get the manual you have to go full bare bones on a kia. The no AC is a canada only option I believe.

My recommendation is to keep the Forte until it’s paid off then sell it to the next unsuspecting sap who needs a cheap functional car. Oh and d rive the FiST as much as you can.

Rico > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 14:10

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You should do a review on the Forte to serve as a warning for others! I always have this feeling about Kias, once you look beyond the chintzy allure it’s still a Kia.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Rico 10/25/2018 at 14:12

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I will do a full review

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 14:25

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I think Abarths are actually not quite as terrible a quality/reliability as people make them out to be. Not saying they’re amazing, but definitely OK. I actually like your Forte, but I like cheap basic cars, so I’m weird. As a FIAT fan though, ABARTTTHHHHH!!!!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Chuckles 10/25/2018 at 14:26

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I would love a manual non-Abarth 500 as a DD....how has yours been in reliability terms? :)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 10/25/2018 at 14:28

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My car has no A/C and it never worked on my old car, I’ve never felt I HAD to had it. Unless you’re stuck in traffic, open windows do just fine! I live in a semi-rural area though, so traffic jams aren’t a thing I have to worry about!

Chuckles > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 10/25/2018 at 14:58

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I have had it for about a year. It’s a 2012, purchased in 2017 with 55,000 or so miles on it. As far as reliability, it has a faulty tire pressure sensor in one wheel, but I have always checked my own tire pressures anyway. I’ve replaced some headlight bulbs and a brake light. That’s it.

Mine is an automatic, and I would like it less if it were manual. Do you live somewhere with snow? If so, the traction control works great. It cuts power to the wheels until you get grip. I use it to easily get up my snowy steep driveway. BUT, if you have a manual, it's terrible because the traction control stalls out your car repeatedly and you can't fully turn it off.

RPM esq. > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 15:44

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I say do it. The stupid part was buying a boring car you hate just because it was a good deal. If you won’t take a bath on the trade, do it tomorrow and be happy. If you can afford to own and maintain three cars in the first place you can afford to take a deep breath and eat the cost of making sure you like all of them, while simultaneously learning a life lesson and investing in your future happiness.

Life is short and you can’t take it with you.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > RPM esq. 10/25/2018 at 15:46

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I have 4 cars... :(

RPM esq. > CalzoneGolem 10/25/2018 at 15:47

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One of those things is important and fleeting. The other thing is a number.

CalzoneGolem > RPM esq. 10/25/2018 at 15:50

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You say that but if this Abarth breaks all the time and cost him money he won’t be happy.

RPM esq. > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/25/2018 at 15:50

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I don’t see how that changes anything. U nless you’d be at risk of starving if you traded the one you don’t like for one you would, I can’t think of any reason why not to do so.

CalzoneGolem > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 10/25/2018 at 15:50

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Money doesn’t make you happy but neither does a broken Abarth.

RPM esq. > CalzoneGolem 10/25/2018 at 15:57

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No modern car “breaks all the time.” The difference between the top of the reliability charts and the bottom is like one dealer visit per year. Sure, that isn’t free, but he knows what he’d be getting into. I mean, I personally wouldn’t buy any FCA product (although those 500 Abarths look and sound super fun), but if it’s between that and a shitbox he has to drive every day and hates every minute of driving, it seems pretty worthwhile!

CalzoneGolem > RPM esq. 10/25/2018 at 16:04

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It is entirely possible for a modern car to spend more time in the shop than in your driveway.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > CalzoneGolem 10/25/2018 at 16:12

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True, but rare, even if we do hear about those horror  stories all the time.

RPM esq. > CalzoneGolem 10/25/2018 at 16:12

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Sure. Lemons exist. Presumably, lemon Fiat 500 Abarths exist. But “p ossible” and “remotely probable” are not the same thing. That said , if you are aware of any current or recent model for which this risk exists across even a substantial percentage of the population, I’d love to know about it.

CalzoneGolem > RPM esq. 10/25/2018 at 16:15

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Didn’t you just tell me you’d never buy and FCA product?

RPM esq. > CalzoneGolem 10/25/2018 at 16:31

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I’m not the one shopping, here.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > RPM esq. 10/25/2018 at 22:44

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Trade you this ball point pen for C-class god bless

they-will-know-my-velocity > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/26/2018 at 10:15

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Shitty car you hate < shitty car you love.

My friend had a 2003 Turbo Beetle. We both wanted to roll that bitch off a cliff on fire when he was done with it (especially after the engine fell out the second time) but damn he loved that car. Eventually, he realized that a short wheelbase turbocharged go-kart with the most chinese of low profile tire available was absolutely the most dangerous thing he’s driven on a daily basis (especially since the engine falls out) but he always had a smile on his face from it.

Plus he could put a full pizza and or/laptop on the dash for long car rides. If you want it, get it. You know what you’re getting into. I love the little Abarth too. Unique, they sound mean af and damn if they aren’t charming. Tony might have to fix it again but hey, it’s fun.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Chuckles 10/26/2018 at 18:44

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Damn, I would want the manual and live in a very snowy area (and our driveway is a hill)....I wonder how well that would all work...

Chuckles > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 10/26/2018 at 18:57

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Talk to fhrblg. I think he owned a manual fiat 500 in Colorado. But if mine was manual, I'd like it less.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Chuckles 10/26/2018 at 20:17

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I like it more as it’s a big enjoyment factor for me. :)

Spasoje > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/27/2018 at 14:04

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W e r e n ’ t a l l 5 0 0 e ’ s h e r e i m p o r t e d f r o m t h e U S ? C a n ’ t r e c a l l t h e m b e i n g s o l d n e w . . .