RE: Driven: Abarth 500C
Discussion
MonteV said:
Thanks for the review, Garlick. What's the steering like? I find the steering to be crucial for the feel of a car such as this. Af for the flex, I had hoped it would be stiff enough as it has less roof cut off than normally for a convertible. You wrote it's got softer springs than the hard top. I've seen using soft springs as a way to cover up chassis flex in convertibles. Didn't seem to help with this one. Too bad.
Flex wise you notice it most on typical UK back roads as the rear view mirror wobbles and you feel a bit of flex when crashing through bumbs and road imperfections. It's odd as the 500C feels so enclosed (for the reasons you suggest) that you sometimes forget it's an open car at all until this happens. Steering wise it was ok. The wheel is too chunky, and it's hard to get the correct seat/ wheel position but feel is rather good actually.
As for the suspension, the official line is that the softer suspension has been fitted to appeal to female buyers (!) perhaps you have uncovered the real reason?
Overal I really rather likes it, it's great fun.......I'd still choose the non C version though.
All of the new A500s have revised spring rates - softer than the originals in mine. Even the SS springs feel softer thanks to a progressive rate.
The biggest complaint for pretty much every owner has been the springs are too stiff so Abarth may have been killing two birds with one stone on that one.
The biggest complaint for pretty much every owner has been the springs are too stiff so Abarth may have been killing two birds with one stone on that one.
Garlick said:
BILL PAYER said:
makes all the right noise when you put your boot on the pedal
Really? I found the little Swift to be quite harsh? Decent car other than that though, and not a bad shout. Not quite as 'fashionable' as a 500 or MINI, and I guess that can be seen as a good thing. Garlick said:
Flex wise you notice it most on typical UK back roads as the rear view mirror wobbles and you feel a bit of flex when crashing through bumbs and road imperfections. It's odd as the 500C feels so enclosed (for the reasons you suggest) that you sometimes forget it's an open car at all until this happens.
The interior mirror on our brand new 500C wobbles very slightly as you're driving but only because it's very slightly loose in its mount. The door mirrors are the same. However, there's not even a hint of scuttle shake in the way we found in our old Saab convertible or in Audis we've ridden in. (Edit: ) Or at least, we haven't noticed it; perhaps ours, with the standard suspension, soaks up the bumps that would unsettle a firmer-sprung version.Paul - if you still have the 500C at PH Towers could you check whether the mirror is slightly loose like ours? If it is then perhaps the flex/wobble wasn't scuttle shake after all. I've never seen flex or scuttle shake mentioned in any other reviews, and I read a lot about 500Cs before we bought ours.
(I might be becoming a fanboi, but I'd hate to see these fantastic little cars maligned. Ours is brilliant.)
(Edit: ) In your article, Paul, you generously give the lower versions an excuse:
Garlick said:
In reality, if you want the open experience in your 500 you really should choose a lower model with a small engine and buzz around town in style, not noticing the shake and flex.
Maybe it's just the Abarth that has the flex/shake? Or perhaps I'm just not tuned to the flex because I'm not pressing on as enthusiastically. More testing needed. 
Edited by AcidReflux on Friday 7th January 18:50
Interesting comments indeed. It may well be that the interior was loose but it's worth clarifying that the flex, while noticeable to me, was nowhere near as bad as I've experienced in other full cabrios. Along B roads, at speed in corners and along bumpy stretches was where I felt it the most.
Sadly we don't have it around anymore, I say sadly because I miss the little hooligan. It was great fun.
Sadly we don't have it around anymore, I say sadly because I miss the little hooligan. It was great fun.
MonteV said:
Thanks for the review, Garlick. What's the steering like? I find the steering to be crucial for the feel of a car such as this. Af for the flex, I had hoped it would be stiff enough as it has less roof cut off than normally for a convertible. You wrote it's got softer springs than the hard top. I've seen using soft springs as a way to cover up chassis flex in convertibles. Didn't seem to help with this one. Too bad.
The steering in the Abarth 500 is best described as poor. It starts with the way to thick steering wheel which has to many panels in it's construction, this makes the wheel have no sensitivity.The rack is quick, 2.5 turns lock to lock, but is the strangest electric rack I've ever driven. It offers weight, but zero feedback, in fact it almost feels like your fighting magnets in that it is initially light, then fights you as it trys to add weight, then centres quickly. You have to rely on the belief the wheels are biting as the steering will not tell you it is.
I don't like the position or the feel of the gearchange which for me felt like the articulation is wrong, like you are reaching over the top to select the odd gears. It also has no mechanical feel whatsoever, it's precise enough if long in throw, but is light weight and feels like the shaft is made of plastic.
The seats offer no support as you perch yourself apon them in a sit up and beg position, & rather annoyingly the adjustment handle gets in the way of the handbrake.
The accelerator pedal is set to high being same height as the brake pedal.
The engine though is a little beauty. Very eager, lots of low down torque, & feels genuinely quick, but at expense of any high end thrills having done it's best work by 5000rpm. They all make more than Fiat quote from standard, more like 150bhp not 135 going on the ones we've stuck on rolling road. Torque figures are on the button.
Suspension is unresolved. The rear bump stops allow approx 30mm of travel before bottoming out, if you remove them the rear end becomes much more compliant, though it has that typical oversprung under sampered Fiat approach to set ups. If buying factor in buying new suspension either the Koni FSD dampers approved by Abarth or alternatives like AVO coil over monotube set up. The SS cars with lowered springs & the same bump stops have approx 15mm of travel & can best be described as skittish & harsh.
It's a great little car thats well made, gives a such a good impression of quality that you miss the fact the dash top is the hardest plastic ive seen in years, unless you inspect it and dont get dazzled by the leather cover binnacle and body coloured dash strip.
But overall it's this impression of solidity and quality & that stand out little powerplant that mark this car out as brilliant at 7 10ths but unravels for more keen drivers.
j333evo said:
The engine though is a little beauty. Very eager, lots of low down torque, & feels genuinely quick, but at expense of any high end thrills having done it's best work by 5000rpm. They all make more than Fiat quote from standard, more like 150bhp not 135 going on the ones we've stuck on rolling road. Torque figures are on the button.
Interesting. Has anyone dyno'd an essesse?I kind of agree with Garlick. Great car with shortcomings. But then I haven't owned a car that hasn't had any (no wise cracks please). Overall it is a "cheap" experience (steady Viant - this post is about cars, not birds). I've just ordered a 500C SS. Not a massive fan of the auto box, but the wife is. Plus it has been "tweaked" and I can hear the new Monza box. A compromise. And a very happy one :-)Plus DMS will be tweaking it to about 200bhp...just don't tell the missus.... :-))
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