Wait....wut? New Abarth for less than 18K?

"Tom McParland" (tommcparland)
03/04/2014 at 09:32 • Filed to: Abarth

If I could get a way with having a car this small again, I would totally buy this it !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! MSRP is 26k. Anyone know, what the hell is wrong with these things that they can't sell them?

DISCUSSION (32)

Nibbles > Tom McParland
03/04/2014 at 09:33

The only thing wrong is the badge and the fact that Americans cannot get over stereotypes.

Brian Silvestro > Tom McParland
03/04/2014 at 09:33

They must be too much fun

Nibby > Tom McParland
03/04/2014 at 09:34

People are dumb and would rather buy Rav4s instead.

yamahog > Tom McParland
03/04/2014 at 09:35

Trying to sell it to Americans is what's wrong with it. WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS WHEN THERE ARE BORING SEDANS TO BE HAD!

Jayhawk Jake > Tom McParland
03/04/2014 at 09:36

I've seen used ones going for $16k.

It almost seems like the fun isn't enough to overrule the shortcomings. Pretty spartan interior by today's standards, weird seating position, little space...

I want to love the Abarth but I can't. It's got a fantastic engine and great driving dynamics, but to me it's got too many other issues to love it. I like it, but I would never buy one.

I'm curious to try the new Renegade when it arrives, it might address many of the issues I have with the Abarth while offering AWD.

Party-vi > Tom McParland
03/04/2014 at 09:36

It's a 2013. Possibly making way for better 2014 models? I remember someone posting about cheap Abarths for a while.

Could it also be that these have sat on deal lots for so long that they're losing too much money by not selling them? I remember hearing that dealerships purchase the vehicles from the manufacturer and the longer the vehicle sits, the more it costs the dealer.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Tom McParland
03/04/2014 at 09:38

Most men don't want a cute car, no matter how quick and fun it is to drive. Most women who want a cute car don't necessarily want to shift gears themselves. They also don't want something that loud.
See how the VW New Beetle Turbo S was a market failure despite the fact that the GTI with the same engine and suspension was a big hit.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Jayhawk Jake
03/04/2014 at 09:39

When I read this morning that the Renegade would be available with manual/AWD/1.4T as a possible combo, my thought was pretty much the same. More useful Abarth.

Tom McParland > Party-vi
03/04/2014 at 09:40

Correct on both counts...but almost 8 grand off sticker for a car with such slim margins is insane.

Jayhawk Jake > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/04/2014 at 09:43

As long as it's not overly heavy and the suspension isn't overly soft, it should be a blast.

I will 100% take one for a test drive when they show up. It's basically the exact car I've wanted for a long time, but no one has made. I do wonder the cost though, if it pushes into WRX territory es no bueno...

Party-vi > Tom McParland
03/04/2014 at 09:46

I wonder how long they've been sitting there. I can't imagine the Abarth appealing to anyone who isn't a hard-core enthusiast, and I doubt very much that people visiting a Fiat dealership are enthusiasts. Still, it's a screaming deal considering that's at least a few thousand less than a Fiesta ST.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Jayhawk Jake
03/04/2014 at 09:47

I say get the Trailhawk and buy the 190-200hp reflash and call it a day. And since the TigerShark/9AT will be the "upgrade" model, the one with the 1.4T should be pretty afordable.

Tom McParland > Party-vi
03/04/2014 at 09:47

Not just a few thousand less...most Fiesta STs are selling for 24-26k. I am currently shopping one for a client and the dealers don't want to budge.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Tom McParland
03/04/2014 at 09:52

The ONLY reason I didn't buy an Abarth when they first came out and were selling with dealer markup is because of how tiny they are. I already have a race car and I needed something more practial for daily driving (I'm a photographer (sometimes) and a skier and outdoor sports kind of guy and haul a lot of gear around)... Also, as it turns out the FieSTa is faster and drives even better... BUT, the Abarth is a peach and it just sounds so damn good... it's a gem of a little car if you can live with the tiny, or it's a second vehicle. Also, fuel economy is excellent even when you flog the living piss out of it.

TL;DR:

Buy one!

505Turbeaux > Tom McParland
03/04/2014 at 09:53

It is nuts. I want one but like you I need to always have space in the car if I have to go pick the kids up on a moments notice. If I was a single non dad type dude in my position in life I would have run out and slapped cash down at my local dealer yesterday

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Brian Silvestro
03/04/2014 at 09:54

Y'know, you might be right... Most Americans hate fun. (not actually sarcasm).

Tom McParland > 505Turbeaux
03/04/2014 at 09:54

Yeah I got the small car thing out of my system when I was young and single. I miss my Cooper S.

yamahog > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
03/04/2014 at 09:55

But if people think guys driving big trucks are overcompensating, what does that say about one in a cute little car?

Brb, calling Fiat. Forget P.Diddy and Charlie Sheen, I got their new ad campaign right here!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Tom McParland
03/04/2014 at 09:55

You can hardly blame them, all the press is right -its a phenomonal little pocket-rocket- and there's little margin in it...

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > yamahog
03/04/2014 at 09:56

I drove my wife's baby blue bug convertible for a year and a half before we got a second car...

Tom McParland > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/04/2014 at 09:57

Yeah that is why I am trying to swing my client into a Focus ST I can get a few grand off sticker for those...or maybe an Abarth because of the savings.

Dsscats > Tom McParland
03/04/2014 at 09:59

As far as I've heard, fiat expected much greater sales numbers for the Abarth so they pushed it pretty hard to dealers, but the demand is fairly low so now the dealers need to dump them cheap

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Tom McParland
03/04/2014 at 10:01

They are different cars. Frankly I'm glad I bought the FieSTa, even if I could have had the FocuST for the same money... The Abarth is just pure fun on a stick if you can live with the itty-bitty factor, but I really do beleive the FieSTa is the winner of the lot... it's just THAT good.

Agrajag > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/04/2014 at 10:02

I'm wondering what price range these will be in. Thinking base price somewhere around 22-25 for the 1.4, 27 for the tigershark. If they somehow make an all wheel drive, turbo Jeep for under 25k, I mights be getting a Renegade.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/04/2014 at 10:04

Agreed. When my wife and I were shopping for a car for her, we drove an Abarth. I was okay with it being TINY and impractical because I have a Kia Soul which is neither. I was even OK with the ridiculous gold scorpion decal on the hood because it drove brilliantly and was 16k for a '12 with 6k miles. But she wanted more room and couldn't justify the fact that I needed to either do the "gangsta lean," or let my head poke through the sunroof to fit properly. We ended up with a big, practical, B6 passat wagon.

Tom McParland > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/04/2014 at 10:04

I think the Fiesta ST is amazing, but my customer is open to other cars so I suggest he test-drive some alternatives and if he really wants the Fiesta that is cool.

505Turbeaux > Tom McParland
03/04/2014 at 10:05

That was the last truly small car I owned too. I do miss it but I had a BMW 502 3.2 Super, a 3.0s and a Series 2a Land Rover at the same time so I was never without a large vehicle if I needed it :)

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Agrajag
03/04/2014 at 10:08

I think that's too close to the Cherokee price. With America's "bigger is better" philosophy, Fiat knows it will have to price down this option to make it appealing in the market. Look for it to start at 19k (slightly cheaper than the 500L), and for the AWD to add 1.5-2k. I think you could probably get a decently equipped one for under 23k.

You heard it here first.

Brian Silvestro > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/04/2014 at 10:14

This is entirely true.

willkinton247 > Party-vi
03/04/2014 at 10:14

Like I wrote about here , there's a fairly significant update coming out soon, and dealers are trying to get them off their lots.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Agrajag > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
03/04/2014 at 10:15

I hope you're right. Maybe that is why we're starting to see price drops in Abarths. Why buy a front wheel drive vehicle with no space, when you can get an all wheel drive Jeep with the same engine for the same price?

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Agrajag
03/04/2014 at 10:18

Exactly. The company is finding out the hard way that just because these cars are Fiats or Fiat-sourced, that they don't command "Euro-pricing". I love the Abarth, and would take it over the Mini S in a heartbeat, for the same price as well. But unfortunately, the market doesn't seem to agree. No one is going to pay more than 25k for what is essentially replacing the Compass. Even if it is a great car, which it just might be.