Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - View Single Post - Fr-s VS. Fiat 500 Abarth

speed7 · 07-19-2013, 03:41 PM

So to bring a thread back from the dead. I was actually googling for a Chris Harris Abarth video and found this.

So I actually just recently purchased an Abarth. But was specifically looking at the BRZ prior to even considering the Fiat. Mainly I wanted to sell my C55 and buy a track car. Something that would be reliable, new, and I could simply just drive it to the track and then drive home.

The BRZ is what I test drove.. Love the car. Handles like a dream, planted. Very reminiscent of a 93 R1 Rx7 I used to have. Same blind spots too. =)

Except for one HUGE issue I had with the car. All of the power was at the top. And unless you really gave it the beans you really weren't going anywhere. And the lack of torque was really killed it for me.

Now I test drove the Abarth honestly by accident... walked up to the dealership which was next to the Ford dealership (looking at mustangs) and asked to test one out. I flat out said.. "I'm not going to buy one of these" to the sales guy. Told him I was just curious.. looked meaner then I thought they would IRL. He laughed at me and said "everyone says that, but then ends up buying one."

So first thing to note when you start an Abarth and the engine and exhaust is cold. It is soooooooo LOUD.. it just screams "I'm upset right now". Give it a little gas at that point and it back fires and grumbles. All at the same time... puts a big $#!T eating grin on your face.

So in the end I got this for my track car. Mainly because after a little bit of research I found that with just a few bolt on's you can get some really fun power out of it. At the wheels 196 HP and 233ft lb torque. Couple that with a KW coil over suspension and some good sticky tires you can really make this thing scoot.

Granted the seating position is all wrong.. and the car is FWD. But for the money you really can't beat it. To start its cheap 22k.. Tires aren't all that expensive. The KW v3's cost the same if you are a BRZ or a Fiat... To get the HP up to the numbers I posted costs $700. And even comes with a remote so you can on the fly choose between 3 settings (Off, sport, and race).

And being that this was going to be a track car I was going to cage it anyways and so the resale value wasn't really going to be there. Plus in all honesty the car I really wanted for a track car isn't here yet.

Till then this is what I went with. However... when the STI version of the BRZ is released. That will be track car number 2. That is all the BRZ really needed to be perfect. More torque.. and I'm hoping that with a lower compression engine and an added turbo this would complete the package for the BRZ.

07-19-2013, 03:41 PM	#31
speed7 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: 2006 C55 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	So to bring a thread back from the dead. I was actually googling for a Chris Harris Abarth video and found this. So I actually just recently purchased an Abarth. But was specifically looking at the BRZ prior to even considering the Fiat. Mainly I wanted to sell my C55 and buy a track car. Something that would be reliable, new, and I could simply just drive it to the track and then drive home. The BRZ is what I test drove.. Love the car. Handles like a dream, planted. Very reminiscent of a 93 R1 Rx7 I used to have. Same blind spots too. =) Except for one HUGE issue I had with the car. All of the power was at the top. And unless you really gave it the beans you really weren't going anywhere. And the lack of torque was really killed it for me. Now I test drove the Abarth honestly by accident... walked up to the dealership which was next to the Ford dealership (looking at mustangs) and asked to test one out. I flat out said.. "I'm not going to buy one of these" to the sales guy. Told him I was just curious.. looked meaner then I thought they would IRL. He laughed at me and said "everyone says that, but then ends up buying one." So first thing to note when you start an Abarth and the engine and exhaust is cold. It is soooooooo LOUD.. it just screams "I'm upset right now". Give it a little gas at that point and it back fires and grumbles. All at the same time... puts a big $#!T eating grin on your face. So in the end I got this for my track car. Mainly because after a little bit of research I found that with just a few bolt on's you can get some really fun power out of it. At the wheels 196 HP and 233ft lb torque. Couple that with a KW coil over suspension and some good sticky tires you can really make this thing scoot. Granted the seating position is all wrong.. and the car is FWD. But for the money you really can't beat it. To start its cheap 22k.. Tires aren't all that expensive. The KW v3's cost the same if you are a BRZ or a Fiat... To get the HP up to the numbers I posted costs $700. And even comes with a remote so you can on the fly choose between 3 settings (Off, sport, and race). And being that this was going to be a track car I was going to cage it anyways and so the resale value wasn't really going to be there. Plus in all honesty the car I really wanted for a track car isn't here yet. Till then this is what I went with. However... when the STI version of the BRZ is released. That will be track car number 2. That is all the BRZ really needed to be perfect. More torque.. and I'm hoping that with a lower compression engine and an added turbo this would complete the package for the BRZ.