Anyone own or driven a Fiat 500 Abrath?
Anyone own or driven a Fiat 500 Abrath?
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Discussion

996 sps

Original Poster:

6,165 posts

237 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
See so many of them in the South of France (Monaco especially) what are they like?

Is it the Renault 5 GT Turbo of this era?

Mouse1903

839 posts

174 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
Never driven a GT turbo but wouldn't mind a shot ;-) My Esseesse celebrated it's 2nd birthday yesterday, I bought it new over a Clio 200 as although not as good to drive it was more exclusive and would save me over 2k in running costs / tax / insurance / depreciation, despite it costing £700 more new (up to my desired spec). It's great fun to drive, and can be economical when you want it to be, lots of character as it usually pops out the exhausts when booting it through the gears. Build quality is ok, air vents rattle and drive me like mad, dash looks great, exterior paint quality ain't that great. Has been pretty much faultless with me, only niggly issues like wipers needing adjusting, squeaky climate control fan bearing. Can attract the wrong attention with a lot of everyday cars and white van men wanting to race you even when your just pootling along. Handling or steering isn't perfect but pretty good. Can struggle for traction off the line, especially in the wet, but I put that down to it weighing only a ton. Planning on keeping it for a couple of years before I move onto bigger and better things (Megane 265 in my sights :-))

Mouse1903

839 posts

174 months

Tuesday 17th April 2012
quotequote all
Forgot to add, the Interscope stereo with built in subwoofer under the drivers seat and uprated speakers is FANTASTIC, a bonus with me being a big music lover :-)

996 sps

Original Poster:

6,165 posts

237 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for the comments, I think they are funky looking cars.

rsv gone!

11,288 posts

262 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
Surely your head would be sticking out of the sunroof?



paperbag I like them too

996 sps

Original Poster:

6,165 posts

237 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
rsv gone! said:
Surely your head would be sticking out of the sunroof?
Ha ha I know was going to wear my lid.

daydotz

1,778 posts

182 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
test drove one a few days ago couldn't stop smiling great fun laugh

Pig Skill

1,368 posts

224 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
Crap cars.

Predominantly owned by female twentysomethings

They are just crap.

Crap.

Crap.

w00tman

609 posts

166 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
Pig Skill said:
Crap cars.

Predominantly owned by female twentysomethings

They are just crap.

Crap.

Crap.
You are an idiot.

Abarth 500 is fantastic, nippy, looks good, sounds GREAT and is pretty rare on the road.

Eighteeteewhy

7,259 posts

189 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
Pig Skill said:
Crap cars.

Predominantly owned by female twentysomethings

They are just crap.

Crap.

Crap.
Really?

Not sure I've seen a girl driving an Arbarth.


Brilliant looking things IMO.

Pig Skill

1,368 posts

224 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
w00tman said:
Pig Skill said:
Crap cars.

Predominantly owned by female twentysomethings

They are just crap.

Crap.

Crap.
You are an idiot.

Abarth 500 is fantastic, nippy, looks good, sounds GREAT and is pretty rare on the road.
They are st, girly chariots that have numb steering,a a crashy ride and crap looks. They are rare for a reason son.

Try this forum instead - you may get more people who like them on there

http://www.babycenter.com/

Mouse1903

839 posts

174 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
Pig Skill said:
They are st, girly chariots that have numb steering,a a crashy ride and crap looks. They are rare for a reason son.

Try this forum instead - you may get more people who like them on there

http://www.babycenter.com/
Oh well, in that case I love my st, girly chariot with it's numb steering, crashy ride and crap looks :-)

996 sps

Original Poster:

6,165 posts

237 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
Mouse1903 said:
Oh well, in that case I love my st, girly chariot with it's numb steering, crashy ride and crap looks :-)
There were loads of lads driving them in Monaco mate so wouldn't worry about it.


rallycross

13,675 posts

258 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
They dont handle very well.
In fact they are a joke.
Best wear a crash helmet if you fancy driving it to its limits....

They tried to make a race series with them, Trofeo 500, but they kept falling over!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJU2vhKHaTA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqil28vrcnE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VztPQtCh-CU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eapEWRLTSsc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cunHj_4xgQA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J0LWNhhJ-k


Edited by rallycross on Wednesday 18th April 19:04

jbi

12,697 posts

225 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all

Chrisw666

22,655 posts

220 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
Pig Skill said:
Crap cars.

Predominantly owned by female twentysomethings

They are just crap.

Crap.

Crap.
You've driven one then?

How about the Ford Puma, Panda 100HP, Swift Sport, Mini Cooper S, or Porsche Boxster?

Hoygo

725 posts

182 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
Nice little car,drove one in italy,ride not a problem for me,but the price don't justify it,massively overpriced,it's nimble and quite fast but no Clio Sport levels of chuckability,compared to my 172 don't come even close as a drivers car.

Better cars can be had for its price,not worth it.

VidalBaboon

9,074 posts

236 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
I shall stick my head on the chopping block, but echo the above, I was bitterly dissapointed. It was the car I wanted to buy, I wanted to hate the Cooper S, but after driving both my opinion is completely reversed.

ste throttle control, fussy dials, gash seating position (if you have big shoulders). All the controls felt remote, no mechanical conection between driver and car. Just ste.

The Mini Cooper S is a far better proposition. Try both back to back, you'll soon see for yourself.


Edited by VidalBaboon on Wednesday 18th April 19:40

Pig Skill

1,368 posts

224 months

Wednesday 18th April 2012
quotequote all
Chrisw666 said:
Pig Skill said:
Crap cars.

Predominantly owned by female twentysomethings

They are just crap.

Crap.

Crap.
You've driven one then?

How about the Ford Puma, Panda 100HP, Swift Sport, Mini Cooper S, or Porsche Boxster?
Yes, I have driven a couple, quite thoroughly.

Ford Puma - Wife had a 1.7. Great handling, good gear change, revvy engine. Small seats with no support powerfully built MD's like me.

Panda 100HP - Yep, great fun. We have one as our courtesy car.

Swift Sport - Not driven one. Look st

Mini Cooper S - Prefer the earlier one — steering far more precise and better weighted. Too common and a bit of a s car.

Porsche Boxster - Epic ride. Even the weedy 2.7 is a delight to hustle

Anything else you car to know? My favourite colour...?