Car guys spending a day driving fun roads, part 2

"Asphalt" (Asphalt)
03/17/2014 at 23:11 • Filed to: fiat 500 abarth, laguna seca, corkscrew, asphalt, best driving roads, fun driving roads, great driving roads, car nirvana, fun, hoon

Enter part 2 of fun driving roads! If you didn't read part 1, read it !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

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Okay, back with us? Great.

The road from last time, Joes Hill Road, was a fairly fun, but narrow hill climb. The tarmac was quite damaged as well, to the point where it almost resembled a rally track. Frankly, if you headed there in anything wider than a Fiat 500, you'd probably end up bumping into a Buick LaCrosse, and frankly, you just don't want to do that.

So, we headed out to find some roads more suitable to normal-sized cars, and we sure did find quite a gem... North Mountain Road in Connecticut:

This road is fairly average throughout, except for one corner close to the end/beginning(depending on which side you start from). It has a steep elevation change, and at the same time is an extremely tight corner, and thus resembles a mini-Corkscrew (you know, that famous corner at Laguna Seca that Jennifer from Top Gear couldn't get the NSX around quickly). Be careful if this is the first time you are driving this corner, as it comes up on you by surprise and is both tighter and steeper than you expect.

Not only does North Mountain Road have a fantastic corner, it also has extremely smooth asphalt. This is quite a big deal, as the northeast has only recently come out of a winter of severe cold, snow, potholes, and general misery. Frankly, the smoothness of this road was quite a relief after a day of driving around, as Abarths don't exactly have gentle suspensions.

However, a day of driving means that the matte paint job had become, well, even more matte:

Now we look like rally drivers!

Fortunately, Chris directed us to a fantastic brushless car wash, where we emerged looking fresh:

Here's a couple more shots:

Ah, fantastic pictures means lots of showing off. It had been an exciting day, meeting up with another Abarth and driving fun roads. You know, people might think it strange, that we would drive around for seemingly no reason. We had no destination, only a journey to experience. It's what car enthusiasts are all about, hooning about, having fun, burning gasoline, heating up our planet. In the end, our drive did have reason, and did have purpose. We were scouting great driving roads, and we certainly were quite successful. We weren't driving around to commute, we were enjoying our cars, enjoying the road, and when you put the two together, you get car nirvana. Thanks for reading and hoon on, Oppoverse!

DISCUSSION (16)

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > Asphalt
03/17/2014 at 23:18

Your videos make me want an Abarth so bad.

Burrito de EJ25 > Asphalt
03/18/2014 at 00:30

God, I love the Abarth so much. It's so damn endearing!

cluelessk > Asphalt
03/18/2014 at 01:34

I test drove a regular 500 and it was a blast. Can't imagine an Abarth.

ICantStandNewJalopnik > Asphalt
03/19/2014 at 14:04

I get my Gucci C next week. I already have a Focus ST for fun time. I probably would've bought the Abarth instead looking at the current prices of them, new at the dealer. I loaded Abarth C is like 17,500 at my dealer right now. It's like they're giving it away! If anyone wants the best bang for your buck, go buy these all up. You will NOT be disappointed.

Can you take a C on a track? I would think you could because basically the top is like a massive sunroof.

Canofminus > Asphalt
03/19/2014 at 14:10

I've test driven an Abarth twice. The only reason I didn't trade in the 08 R32 is that the first test drive they didn't have an Abarth with the options I wanted and second time the salesman was just a douchebag and a week later the 2014's were hitting the lot.

Right now the forthcoming 2014 Cooper S just seems like the better car with its extra .6 liters of displacement, but this video has me thinking "Fuck that, listen to that stock exhaust!"

case-sensitive > Asphalt
03/19/2014 at 14:34

Much want here. You guys need to check out some of the roads out here in northeast CT. Or where I grew up in the Adirondacks.

Asphalt > ICantStandNewJalopnik
03/19/2014 at 18:51

I don't want to disappoint you, but I believe the SCCA does not allow the standard Fiat 500 on track without certain modifications, due to their rules regarding rollover. The Fiat's high center of gravity and a combination of factors gets it banned but there are mods you can do to change that. The Abarth is lowered and bigger antiroll bars etc.

Asphalt > Canofminus
03/19/2014 at 18:52

That new Mini is quite fantastic, but I doubt you can compare it to the Abarth! You're not getting into those unless you hand over around 26-30k with options, whereas people have gotten Abarths for 17 to 18k in certain states.

Asphalt > case-sensitive
03/19/2014 at 18:53

We'll slowly make our way there!

ICantStandNewJalopnik > Asphalt
03/19/2014 at 21:45

Oh, that's fine. I bought the Gucci for fun. The Focus ST is for the track.

ICantStandNewJalopnik > Asphalt
03/19/2014 at 21:55

By the way, I meant to ask if you can take a Abarth C on the track. Not my 101 HP hamster mobile.

Asphalt > ICantStandNewJalopnik
03/20/2014 at 00:56

The Abarth C has slightly softer suspension but otherwise isn't too different from the hard top so I'd imagine so but you should find out from the SCCA or whatever track organization you're trying to go with.

case-sensitive > Asphalt
03/20/2014 at 09:50

I highly recommend Route 10 in the Adirondacks, and almost any road out here in northeast CT.

sonicvato > Asphalt
03/21/2014 at 10:51

Yup, near me: 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth - 18K

Man, if I was in the market for a new car, I would get this so quickly...

Peter > Asphalt
03/21/2014 at 11:26

Great vid, great writeup! I love your exhaust note too.

Canofminus > Asphalt
03/23/2014 at 14:55

The standard 500 doesn't meet regulations with the stock suspension, but the stock abarth now does ;)