Fr-s VS. Fiat 500 Abarth

[Lonewolf]

The 500 Abarth has the same things going for it as the Fiesta ST...they're both peppy and cute FWD cars that look like squished up minivans...not the kind of car I spend time admiring in my garage, but whatever floats your boat...

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

The 500 Abarth has the same things going for it as the Fiesta ST...they're both peppy and cute FWD cars that look like squished up minivans...not the kind of car I spend time admiring in my garage, but whatever floats your boat...

I'm trying to think of what car I would admire in my garage. A Ferrari or Lambo. Maybe a Lotus 7. I mainly admire cars when I drive them.

[davidp]

i drove the abarth and it's a pretty cool car .. what it needs is better seats (lower seating posotion especially) and a short shifter with decent bushings... the car is quick and nimble, sounds really good and isn't too expensive

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

I'm trying to think of what car I would admire in my garage. A Ferrari or Lambo. Maybe a Lotus 7. I mainly admire cars when I drive them.

The driving part comes first (and should go without saying)...but what's staring back at you while you're in the garage is important to me..

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

The driving part comes first (and should go without saying)...but what's staring back at you while you're in the garage is important to me..

Do you wash your car often?

[Mikem53]

I couldn't get past the 90 inch wheelbase.. Just too darty at speed.
But would be fun for zipping around in city traffic

[Mikem53]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

The 500 Abarth has the same things going for it as the Fiesta ST...they're both peppy and cute FWD cars that look like squished up minivans...not the kind of car I spend time admiring in my garage, but whatever floats your boat...

Econobox first... With sports car add-ons..

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

Do you wash your car often?

Oh yeah, I got problems...

[Trap63]

Originally Posted by HunterGreene

Has anyone actually driven an Abarth that has posted so far? I can't say I have. Personally, I wouldn't get one simply based on the looks--the car just isn't for me. But numerous professional reviews I have seen rank the Abarth pretty highly in its segment, and enjoy driving it.

I HAD a 500Abarth....believe me (and mine - AC 215 HP with Quaife - wasn't the USA model with Multiair engine...) the worth of contents is a maximum of 25% of worldwide retail price. The European engine T-Jet 1.4 is very tunable but the multiair (great engine as philosophy ) has wide limits....
It's funny, trendy.....but first of all Marketing @95%.....I cannot see you that drive from Wyoming to California or from Boston to San Francisco...with 500A, but with a BRZ other that some track days, yes.
About the story....or History...it's 100% Poland or for your market 100% Mexico .....
I was very happy driving it, but as sport car (isn't a sport car) is poor. You drive at 50/60 cms from ground....entry is like a Renault Trafic or DHL/USPS parcel road cargo....

[n2oinferno]

Finally test drove an Abarth today. Honestly, love the car. Love the exhaust, love the zippy feeling. I didn't get on the highway though, and I've heard that can feel like a scary experience. The seating position is okay, but not the best. The touch points are all very nice though. I didn't think the transmission was bad, but I've heard a lot of people say they thought otherwise.

In a perfect world, I'd have both. In a world where I can afford both.. thinking I'd probably rather have the FRS. But the Fiat "Studio" nearby is cutting several thousands off of these things, I guess because they're not selling well. It's a real shame too, because while the sales guy was nice enough, I spoke with the sales manager for a while. He ordered the first one available here, is a real enthusiast and a nice guy. We chatted for a while about his 500, the local club, and the mods he's already done to his car. They also had a X1/9 sitting up front. I've never seen one, and it looked pretty awesome.

[EAGLE5]

I can't imagine why it would be scary on the freeway. In a perfect world, I'd have a few hundred cars to choose from.

I in no way regret the FR-S over the Abarth. I would love to have an Abarth, though.

[n2oinferno]

Short wheelbase, small car. Some people are scared by it, I guess. My wife and I owned a Yaris liftback for a while, and freeway trips at 80mph never bothered me.

Ugh, I'm going to have to test drive both of these back to back again.. First world problems. The good news is that my son's car seat fits in the back of the 500 very well.

[jflogerzi]

Originally Posted by n2oinferno

Short wheelbase, small car. Some people are scared by it, I guess. My wife and I owned a Yaris liftback for a while, and freeway trips at 80mph never bothered me.

Ugh, I'm going to have to test drive both of these back to back again.. First world problems. The good news is that my son's car seat fits in the back of the 500 very well.

To me the fiesta ST would be the better car. Thats the one I really want to test drive. My guess is it might be a bit more tunable. Bump the HP and TQ to 250ish on the ford, that would a fun little car!

[Morg]

Originally Posted by DAEMANO

Speaking solely in terms of a Fiat, the performance bargain is the straight 500 Turbo model (not the Abarth). It's $19,500 base with the same engine as the Abarth, just detuned (or lacking of the extra grunt provided by the ECU when pressing the Abarth's sport button).So a track build with a base 500 Turbo would look something like this.

2477 lbs / 2387 lbs (w/rear seat delete)
203 HP / 239 lb.ft TQ

$19,500 Fiat 500 Turbo MSRP (new)
+$900 Dyno-comp Stg 1 ECU Tune
+$850 Koni shocks & Springs combo or ST Coilovers
+$950 Wilwood BBK
+$600 Summer/Track tires (16" will do). Your choice.
$22,800 Fiat 500 "USA Competion Spec"

This would be a beast at the Auto-X or track. No it wouldn't offer the pure driving pleasure of an FRS/BRZ/86. However if we're going to toss cars like the high COG, front drive Fiesta ST ($22,195 msrp, 2700 lbs, 197 hp, 202 lb.ft tq) against a Fiat, dollar for dollar new an upgraded Fiat 500 Turbo would absolutely smoke the Ford. It's 400 lbs lighter, and has more HP and TQ.

As far as new cars go, an upgraded 500 Turbo may actually be the current performance bargain king if we're talking purely about lap times per dollar. Now that sounds strange, but for these prices I'd love to see another new equipped so well, weigh so little, and have so much power. Otherwise, on the strength of it's chassis dynamics, platform, and aftermarket, give me an '86 all day.

Disagree.

The US Fiesta ST MSRP's at 21.4k And absolutely NOBODY is paying anywhere even close to that. lol Fords have massive incentives and wiggle room. For the price you pegged the Fiesta ST for, you could easily pick up a Focus ST.

Looking at the detailed contents/specs of the vehicles, Imho Fiesta ST is clearly giving you more for less.

So you throw 3 grand worth of mods into the 500 turbo... When people can get a Fiesta ST for almost the same price as the 500, and throw the 600-800$ mountune kit in, which actually gives you better performance & power than the spec's you posted for the 3 grand worth of mods in the 500. Still coming out with more for less.

Find me a reviewer that favors the Fiat from a driving experience stand point....

Don't get me started on the looks... Or the reliability/warranty issues everyone's having with their Fiat's..

Anyway, the 86 looks better than both. Handles better than both.. If I wasin the market for another coupe....

I bought a Fiesta ST though in the end. Don''t want another coupe right now. Needed 4 doors.

Fiesta ST is a way better bargain than the Mini/Fiat's.. And doesn't lookas goofy as either. (Granted it does have some weird dimensions going on) Looks a little squished. Still no where near as goofy as the other two.

Next on my shopping list, when there is room for another in the garage..Will probably be an updated '86 hopefully with a power boost. Need to fix thatTQ.

I'd never dream of letting a Fiat in my garage.. I would however take the exhaust note and the Italian lady from the Abarth

I don't know why anyone would consider a Fiat over an 86 though.. To me that'scrazy talk.. but to each his/her own.

Also, FiST's are posting better times than the Fiat's... And getting pretty much glowing reviews from everyone. Not quite to the extent that the '86 did, but definitely picked over the Fiat in pretty much every review out there as far as driving enjoyment & track fun.