DITPL- Abarth Style

"SBA Thanks You For All The Fish" (santabarbarianlsx)
03/11/2020 at 14:12 • Filed to: None

I know these get no love, due to not being “as good” as the Miata it was whelped from.... but seeing this Abarth treatment with the blacked-out hood? It’s a nice look. Plus— manual.

I don’t know why he isn’t displaying a front plate. It’s the law in California, but I never see Teslas with front plates either.

BTW-- That’s my beater A8L (Ming Blue, the best color!) to the left.

DISCUSSION (28)

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 14:20

I know a lot of people who deliberately ignore the front plate rule in CA and just expect to pay for the violation if dinged. Fine is about 200 bucks, although I think it could raise your insurance rates? Nobody I know anecdotally has been dinged recently in my feed.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
03/11/2020 at 14:23

Yeah, I have a complex about it after being stopped “in other states” where apparently they DO care... so it’s jarring to see all the cars here in SoCal that blatantly ignore it. I’m like “why invite needless traffic stops”? But apparently non-display-of-front doesn’t invite anything in this state.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 14:24

I got ticketed years ago by some bored copper for my car parked in front of my house with no front tag. When I went to the CHP office to get it signed off, there was a Corvette parked right out front with no front tag. The car belonged to the sergeant in charge of the CHP office. I was a younger man then, and I didn’t raise a stink beyond pointing out the irony to the officer at the front desk. I am older now. I would not depart until a citation was issued, or a lieutenant or captain met with me in person. Real talk.

Jesus Arias > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 14:25

I live in California and I dont run front plates either. I am surprised I haven’t been pulled over or ticketed for it yet.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Jesus Arias
03/11/2020 at 14:30

The more time I spend here (I’m only part-time) the more I notice that most of the CHP guys don’t even bother to signal. It’s weird.

The one thing you can count on in most of the country is that the LEOs always set a good example on that basic stuff. Here, count on the CHP to never signal, always speed, never yield... It’s like the CHP patrol cars are BMWs or something.

Milky > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 14:32

$2,200 for the black hood and trunk, plus another grand for the LED headlights. Thats a p ricey miata.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 14:33

I’ve heard conflicting reports that you might be able to be pulled over for it alone, and I’m like you in the sense that I don’t like being pulled over for any reason, I suppose in practical terms there are millions of people in CA and the attention spread can be pretty thin at times

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Milky
03/11/2020 at 14:34

Yeah. I suppose that’s the rub. But I like the look. Too bad an M139 engine won’t fit under the hood..

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
03/11/2020 at 14:37

Yeah, I’m fanatical about tail lights, front beams, even license plate lights in back. Why do I need ANY conversations with LEOs if I can avoid it? I don’t even like how chummy the Citrus Cop is at the border these days.

“F U, why do I owe you my three-day weekend travel itinerary?”

Milky > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 14:39

But a LS will ...

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Milky
03/11/2020 at 14:45

My “dream” is a set of 8500 RPM heads and valvetrain for a 4.8L block LS/LQ/LM. I may have to build it myself.

In fairness, I’m not sure that MultiAir or whatever it is in the Abarth 124 really sounds that good either.

Realistically? That EcoTec has Fiat roots so has a claim to the engine bay. Those CAN spin up there with some work and some $$.

For Sweden > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 14:46

Who says these aren’t as good as the Miata?

We need names.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > For Sweden
03/11/2020 at 14:49

Most of the magazine reviews were bitching about “the engine is better in the Miata” and “the chassis tuning is better in the Miata”.

I can go dig up those “lukewarm reviews”...

I haven’t driven one though.

For Sweden > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 14:49

Maybe it’s time to ban the magazines

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > For Sweden
03/11/2020 at 14:51

This is lifted from the Motor Trend Review of the 2017. It’s typical...

I said “might be,” as the engine is obviously the biggest distinction between the two cars. Fiat’s 1.4-liter, turbocharged Multiair I-4 produces 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The Abarth gets the aforementioned slight power bump to 164 hp, though torque remains the same. If you’re not familiar, Multiair is Fiat’s name for variable valve timing that not only controls inlet valve lift and duration but can also do so on a cylinder-by-cylinder basis. The Fiat 500 Abarth has the same engine. In the Fiata, the engine is torquey but laggy. Now, if you’re used to turbocharged engines, the lag is moderate and manageable. Either keep the mill above 3,000 rpm, or get on the gas about a half second earlier than normal to build the boost up.

If you’re accustomed to the Miata’s naturally aspirated Skyactiv motor, well, welcome to the wide, wonderful world of lag. Still, if torque is your thing, the Fiata is absolutely the way to go, as it sails on waves of the stuff up to about 6,250 rpm. Redline is 7,000 rpm, but the torque is gone by that point. Fiat is claiming 0-60 mph happens in 6.8 seconds for the Abarth and slightly less for the others. My prediction is that the Fiatas will be quicker than that. In terms of sound, there’s not much to hear when it comes to this engine. Even with the top down. Such is life with small, turbo motors

For Sweden > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 14:57

Kinja'd!!!

i86hotdogs > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 14:59

As a former owner of a vehicle equipped with a 1.4L turbo, there is so much to hear. Ever hear a stock Abarth? sounds great.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > i86hotdogs
03/11/2020 at 15:08

I haven’t. I’m quoting one-off magazine interns... but they are posted on The Internet so I’m sure they are authoritative....

This lack of experience on my part needs to be remedied. Soon.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 15:22

I used to see one but now I don’t see any. Fix it again Tony??

Snuze: Needs another Swede > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 15:23

Anything can spin up with work and $$.

The Ecotec LTGs are apparently good for around 400 HP before they start melting pistons.

As for the 4.8L, you’re doing it wrong. The 4.8L is a small bore (3.78 ”) block LS. The poor man’s spinn y boy is a 4.8L crank and some long forged rods in an LS3 block (4.060" bore). Believe it or not that extra bore helps a lot with valve unshrouding, and it’s a nice little displacement bump (332 cubic inches vs 293). But you are right in that spinning 8500 needs some serious valvetrain work. A big lumpy cam, light weight valves, stiff springs, titanium locks and retainers, shaft rockers, etc.

If you really want to go nuts, you can build a 366 incher - LS3 crank in an LS7 block. These are capable of 650+ HP at 8,000 rpm.

All that said, if you really want to mess with people, why not a built Honda F20 (S2000 motor). With cams and headwork you could push 280 HP all motor at like 9,000 RPMs.

InFierority Complex > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 15:23

I think the 124 looks a lot better than the Miata but i think I would prefer a NA engine over a turbo all things considered? Honestly while I have definitely seen more Miatas than 124s it’s not like they are common either.

I think I’ll just stick with my 500 Abarth for now.

i86hotdogs > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 15:33

FYI

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > i86hotdogs
03/11/2020 at 15:43

What I want in an Abarth? Sounds like this...

vondon302 > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 15:46

Future classic!

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/11/2020 at 15:52

I’m messing with people already with that ‘243 head 6.0L LQ4 in the vanilla looking BMW 323iT wagon. Man, via the Flowmasters, do you get weird looks from people when you fire it up.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 16:11

That’s awesome! I bet it sounds great!!

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 16:35

I really like the 124 , but ruled it out and went with an ND2 largely because Fiat didn’ t add the telescopic steering wheel. I like the Miata styling a little better too, but the 124 Abarth still looks good.

( Also fuck front plates, I hate them.)

CaptDale - is secretly British > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
03/11/2020 at 18:03

1. I would 210% spend my money on an Abarth 124 over the ND

2. Because front plates can die in the hole they belong in. I don’t run one on my Vette. It lives behind the passenger seat.