Abarth 500 - I am confused.
Discussion
Some of you may have read my previous threads about RS Clio and Abarth Punto - I am thiking of ditching my MX5 for something with a back seat that is not a shopping car.
Local Abarth dealer didn't have a Punto in for me to see but did chuck me the keys to a 500.
Wow!
As someone used to an agile but slowish MX5 MKIII 1.8 and an agile but chunky Mazda CX-7, it was a revelation.
Really like it.
One thing is nagging me. Is it too girly for a fat bloke of 41 to drive? It will be my wife's motor and mine equally, but we share the cars for what we need, so one day it could be a fight for the MX5 keys because it is sunny, the next the CX-7 because one of us has a longer trip or needs to carry stuff.
So will I look stupid in an Abarth 500? I have a few friends with 500s - they are all girls.
Ultimately I don't care what others think. If I like it, I like it, but I do have to admit to a nagging part of my brain tellng me "No"
My silly hang ups aside, I am confused about the car's heritage. I read this road test.
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/03/review-20...
Now it is an American market magazine. Is the US version of the Abarth 500 a completely differnt beast then? The engine it says was based on a Fiat unit but with the performance work being done in the states by MOPAR. Is it built in Mexico just for the US?
No probs with haveing a car worked over by MOPAR, but I thought the Abarth 500 was built in a special Italian plant, by Italians and warmed over by chaps from the Austro-italian Abarth chap's company.
Local Abarth dealer didn't have a Punto in for me to see but did chuck me the keys to a 500.
Wow!
As someone used to an agile but slowish MX5 MKIII 1.8 and an agile but chunky Mazda CX-7, it was a revelation.
Really like it.
One thing is nagging me. Is it too girly for a fat bloke of 41 to drive? It will be my wife's motor and mine equally, but we share the cars for what we need, so one day it could be a fight for the MX5 keys because it is sunny, the next the CX-7 because one of us has a longer trip or needs to carry stuff.
So will I look stupid in an Abarth 500? I have a few friends with 500s - they are all girls.
Ultimately I don't care what others think. If I like it, I like it, but I do have to admit to a nagging part of my brain tellng me "No"
My silly hang ups aside, I am confused about the car's heritage. I read this road test.
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/03/review-20...
Now it is an American market magazine. Is the US version of the Abarth 500 a completely differnt beast then? The engine it says was based on a Fiat unit but with the performance work being done in the states by MOPAR. Is it built in Mexico just for the US?
No probs with haveing a car worked over by MOPAR, but I thought the Abarth 500 was built in a special Italian plant, by Italians and warmed over by chaps from the Austro-italian Abarth chap's company.
Billy_rfc said:
Man drives Mx5 and thinks a 500 is girly
Just do it! I prefer them in that dark silver colour rather than the usual white.
yeah, good point. I mean, I should be used to any abuse coming my way at traffic lights. At least in an Abarth I can get the hell out of there quickly. Just do it! I prefer them in that dark silver colour rather than the usual white.:-)
I am thinking about the Essesse. Pronounced SS or Ess Ess Say? The salesman uses the latter.
I like to think I am a pretty cynical sort of person. I don't buy into marketing and when I find I have been dragged-in I feel a bit dumb....As the owner of an Ipad and Iphone for example.
However, the kit in a crate marketing you get with Essesse stuff really pushed my buttons. I could feel myself being drawn into the patter, then the salesman sayd enought talking, there are the keys, its fuelled-up go and have some fun.
He knew what he was doing I think.
May I be so brave as to suggest a Factory John Cooper Works? You get the odd "girls car" comment from idiots, however it really is an amazing car that punches well above it's category. I like to think I've had some fairly decent cars, and after them all I think the Mini is staggeringly brilliant. A 500 wouldn't know which way it went...!
Edited by kmpowell on Monday 25th June 14:09
wildcat45 said:
That car looks great.
Thanks, I bought it because it didn't have the coloured roof, stripes etc. I wanted it to be a bit less 'mini-ish' and stand out from the usual 'look at me' mini crowd. I've not had anything but positive comments so far, apart from [as I said above] the odd clueless idiot who knows nothing about cars and just stereotypes. The Mini build quality inside is solid, and unlike most Fiats won't start rattling and falling apart after 6 months.
I like the 500, but I'm rather stumped at this quote...
wildcat45 said:
Some of you may have read my previous threads about RS Clio and Abarth Punto - I am thiking of ditching my MX5 for something with a back seat that is not a shopping car.
These are all shopping cars. Just because they've an extra name added and a slightly more powerful motor doesn't not make them fwd hatchbacks packaged for convenience and practicality.It is a "bit" girly but then so is the Clio 172/182 in being a performance derivative of a popular chick car.
The way round this is to order it in black as black can hide a multitude of feminist styling cues. If tehy offer tints, don't spec them as this will confuse you with the worst "yoof" drivers too. I would say white simply exacerbates the problem.
The way round this is to order it in black as black can hide a multitude of feminist styling cues. If tehy offer tints, don't spec them as this will confuse you with the worst "yoof" drivers too. I would say white simply exacerbates the problem.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff