I took delivery of mine after 4 months of painful waiting.

Seating position takes a bit of getting used to, cramped leg space, high center of gravity and tight rear seats(but lets be serious, this isnt a practical car to begin with) are some of the cons.

Lets get to the pros and let me state how awesome and fun this car FEELS when you drive it. Styling is still cute but with the abarth upgrades, i think it has decent curb appeal. This car appeals to a wide group, so i always tell my friends...'i get lots of awkward attention, in a good way!' And old guys in their Mini-S's try to race me, its quite funny lol

Seriously, i have fallen in love with driving again. You know it, when you just find an excuse to drive. This lil hatch aint no drag monster or exotic, but it's DNA may think otherwise :) Its true what they say about the Abarths exhaust tone, it's one of the best sounding four bangers on the market. Blurps, gargles and spits....with back fires now and then. It still scares me when it back fires :p

Pretty decent on gas, if you drive in non-sport(150lb ft/tq) mode, but i really dont care for that. So its in sport-mode(170lb ft/tq) 90% of the time for me, resulting in lower fuel economy, but who cares! This thing seriously makes me smile everytime i hop in it.

Go for a test drive, make sure you feel the difference with and without sport mode. You'll understand. Hope this helped!

Is your Abarth made in America?

I believe in Mexico, Toluca plant.

had a chance to test drive one... good torque for a little car and that exhaust noise.. :sweetjesus:

I think they are bringing the production line to Poland next year. I was planning to pick one up as my second car for the gas/standard/cool factor but i was told its quite loud when cruising on the highway.

Thanks.

I'm very curious (as I was once a prospective buyer) but how did you justify buying the Abarth after the final price tag? Did you compare any other vehicles or were you dead set on getting this one?

This is what I'm wondering too.

It's a cool car, and I've grown to fancy quirkier-looking vehicles, but when I saw the price, I was kinda like err...

I guess you have to just really want this specific one.

FR-S money for the abarth.. and thats without adding options...


two very different cars though.

Yeah. At first, it was thinking "Oh man, perfect hipster douchebag car for me to park in front a trendy coffee shop on Main Street to flaunt my coolness while I sip on my organic soy latte." But when you factor in the options, taxes, and other fees, I couldn't help but think that Mussolini was trying to slap me upside on the head.

I know I'm being close minded about this but Italian branded car made by an American subsidiary and in Mexico? I can't justify paying that kind of money.

Yeah, that's the thing. You could have a reliable, Japanese built sports car for the same kind of money. With a boxer engine too! And did I already mention Toyota/Subaru resale value?

They don't look that great with the Fiat's I've seen on the market. Again, different cars, comparing apples to oranges. But at the end of the day after crunching numbers, I couldn't help but think, "WTF?"

Why? Hmm...it a very unique car to me. Few on the road, takes some balls to be seen in one, fun to drive and makes me grin ear to ear.
Never considered the FR-S, a bit too boy racer for my taste. No offense to anyone, just look at me, Im driving a chick car but the performance it gives, i really could care less. The Abarth is just the car i want to suit me. A ton of personality and style, is what i like. My first car was a 97 Impreza 2.5RS, i think it cost 2000 grand less than the Abarth, but the Abarth definitely wins in fun-factor. Closest comparison i have, based on price. Ive driven a few six figure exotics and honestly, i like my Abarth more lol, may sound biased and you guys may call me crazy.....but sometimes it's about how the car makes you feel and how you feel when you drive it. Plus, im getting almost the same mileage for half the cost to fill up my old car.

Yeah you're right, i just really wanted this car. I did not have a second or third choice. Was very set on this vehicle. After two months of waiting, i had some butterflies, like...'did i make the right choice?' All of that went out the window once i got settle in the new car, love it more n more every day :)

Yeah its not a quiet highway cruiser for sure. City driving is its natural habitat.

I just crank up the audio when on the highway. Would like a sixth gear too.

Even tho these things are small cars they are fucking fun to drive and the exhaust on the Abarth sounds :sweetjesus: . And also I've noticed a lot more guys drive these than girls IE like minis usually all girls
Posted via RS Mobile

lol my dad has a Fiat 695 Abarth Tributo Ferrari in HK


http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1af01796.jpg


http://i1073.photobucket.com/albums/...psfc39f9d8.jpg


that thing is fun as hell :D

^ perfect car for a cramped city like HK

I heard reviews the paddle shift aint the most precise, but still...695 respect!

Sadly i have only spotted two Abarths on the streets, couldnt tell guy or girl driver cause it was dark. All the other times i see a 500, they are all driven by females:okay:

lol yea its just a fun car, and its pretty dam loud. it was unbelievable a little fiat flying by with the exotic Ferrari note

Drove a couple of them at work. I love hearing the turbo spool up, they're fun little cars.

maybe I should go test drive one. I drove the 500 sport before and it was "okay." cuz for the price, $24k + taxes etc I could easily get my hands on an used evo x and that's a whole other league.

still a mexican tin can

I'm still curious about the reliability of it.
Posted via RS Mobile

Same.

Overall, I'm iffy.

cool car, i almost bought one, but the reliability and the fact that they are sold through chrysler dealers - have made me go in a different direction.

if i were to shop for that car class again I would consider a mini or a GTI

I know its comparing apples vs oranges, but I was shopping between a FRS and a FIAT. I wanted something fun and they both definitely have that "fun" factor. I went with the FRS because it was more "fun" to drive for me being rwd. But honestly, you cant go wrong with the FIAT, its such a cool little car.

Did you lease or buy it out right? What's the predicted residuals on these things?
Given how insanely high the %'s are for the Pooper S, and with the free scheduled maintenance, I would just 'rent' the Mini. You can always go for an an Akropoficasac (sp???) exhaust to make it sound angrier than the Abarth.