One of the few cars that'll keep me from getting the FT-86 (Abarth 500)
 

Lightweight, excellent power/weight ratio (especially in SS form) and even smaller than the FT-86 concept. This, the FT-86 (toyota and subaru versions), the Fiesta, the MINI Cooper S, and the possibility of an Audi A1 all have the chance of being my next car. The WSJ reported that the Abarth 500 might be here as early as next year, as they start to filter Fiat/Alfa Romeo product into US dealers. Great time to be a small-car fan! :happyanim:

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/upload/...hcarreview.jpg

Sorry... don't care how it performs, I would never drive it just because of how it looks...

Just like a Veyron... wouldn't ever drive it.. too damn ugly.

I like 'em. Look weird as hell but everything about them sounds like they'd be a fun ride. I'd love to test drive one someday.

I like them, I even like the way they look, but i could never own a modern FWD car...
Unless I really REALLY had to...

Q will be, how much down grade US gonna do. Just like all those JDM cars.

the hell is that!?!:thumbdown:

I wont buy a abarth 500 but the abarth esseesse 500 ill want to own maybe just for daily

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/d...00_essesse.jpg

+1 IMO. Probably a fun ride regardless.

there are a few FWD cars that i would love to own. ITR or an '08 Si sedan. and i used to have a 1993 Mazda Protege that was AWESOME. best $700 car ever.

had the close ratio 5 speed, the DOHC 1.8L, no a/c, power windows and central locking, 12 disc changer, subs, and 270K miles. the exhaust rusted off so it was basically a straight pipe. black on black steelies. really really good condition. that car loved it the more you beat on it!!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25...-R1-006-1A.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25...-R1-008-2A.jpg

-Mike

I see your point Mike, and I agree that light old FWD cars are very fun to toss around. I just hate how most newer fwd cars are so dull. It's like driving a car with clownshoes and boxing gloves on. It's like the the pinion in the steering rack is made of cheese. I drove a 2009 corolla last week, and it might be the most boring thing i have ever driven.

Sporty versions, like the Civic Si and the Golf GTI are nicer, but they still plow outward massively in a corner, the engine fights against your steering intputs and the whole car just feels like it want to do the exact opposite of what you're trying to accomplish.
Car makers need to bring us back to the days of the original Golf GTI, where the car will oversteer instantly when you lift your foot off the throttle, and the inner rear wheel comes 3 inches off the ground. Then you bury your right foot into the carpet to cure the oversteer and shoot out of the corner with a massive grin on your face.:happyanim: Until these cars come back, $700 for a FWD car sound about right, but I would not buy a new GTI, Civic, ...

The most modern fwd car I think that kind of brings back that spirit is the EP3 Civic Si.

PS: To be fair, I haven't driven ANY fiat 500, let alone the hot one, so this might be the FWD car i've been waiting for.

yeah, i'm mostly playing devil's advocate. i prefer RWD (MR, FR, whichever) over FWD all day, every day. i think the new Si's should be better since they come standard with LSD, but it definitely is not the same as having the rear wheels driven. :happy0180:

-Mike

I like it, but I wouldn't choose it over the ft!

Great alternative to the mini cooper S but both cars are FWD unfortunately. Cool cars nonetheless. Just happy to see manufacturers open to bringing smaller and smaller cars to the US. Just hope the US people are ready to buy them.

But in the end I don't think there'll be many people cross shopping the Abarth 500 and FT-86. Two very types of cars with very different images.

Funny you brought this car up, seeing as how I used to own one myself. Thing is, in stock form, this car is an understeering plow. But with the best mod I ever did to it (JDM Type R rear sway), it then became a much more neutral-balance car.