500 Abarth/esseesse

[gra001]

Hi all. I got chatting to a guy driving a 500 Abarth (not SS) and he absolutely loved it. Anyway, I`m now thinking about going down that route so would appreciate views from other owners. I want something that`s lots of fun having recently sold my Caterham R500 and packed up track days with both cars and bikes. I`ve considered loads of stuff including JCW, Exige, Focus RS, and R26R. I`m concerned it just isn`t quick?!

[gra001]

Thanks, I`ve just registered. Think I`ll have to find a good dealer and go have a play!!!

[Le Man]

I'm a good dealer lol. look at thescorpionreturns.com

[V6Alfisti]

shirazjiwa said:

Focus RS or the new Alfa Mito GTA due out next year!

The Mito GTA is said to have around 240hp, carbon fibre roof, lightweight alu suspension,differential to keep the power down.....sounds to me

Adore the 500 Abarth as well

[Alfa_75_Steve]

You do realise you have to give them a whole working car when you take it for 'scrappage', don't you?

Seems a shame to send a Fiat Coupe to the crusher, too.

[gra001]

Just been looking at some stuff on the Mito GTA.....could be very nice. Also, not keen on being lumbered with a bloody big crate of stuff that I don`t want if going the A500SS route.

[ghiblicup]

Picked my SS up yesterday

Have not stopped grinning yet. Still bedding in the brakes (boy do they need it) and the tyres and will write more when I can give it all.
But first impressions are of a very well put together car that feels great. Can't believe the attention it's getting either, more than any other
car I've had and that's just in a day. It's cool 'cause it makes people smile and be curious instead of "flash git" etc.

As for the box with the old wheels, tyres and bits I've already got a taker for them so am making a bit of money back and the dealer is gonna deliver
them to the guy as well!

Sweet.

[gra001]

Very very nice and a great result with the crate, how did you get rid??? Can I ask which dealer you used and how you found their overall service?

[ghiblicup]

Selling the stuff to a mate, though alot of people are getting rid of them on ebay. Fiat west end looked after me very well and got the car a month before they said I would.

[gra001]

Mmmmmmmmm, that`s interesting re the dealer. I left a message with the receptionist a couple of weeks ago for one of their sales team to call me but didn`t hear. I made another call several days later to check if the salesman (Lee) had been given the message........he had. I figured if that was the pre-sales service then I`d look elsewhere.

[Dick Sternum]

Very nice ghiblicup. Congratulations on the best colour choice...

Here's ours.



Ours is from Research in Nuneaton, can't fault them. They're even storing the SS kit box for us until we can sort out how to get it home. Ironically the Audi A4 Avant we had before this would have taken it...

They had a grey one in when we went to sort the final bits of paper work out, I think white or grey are the only colours to consider.

Edited by Dick Sternum on Friday 12th June 12:13

[pastrana72]

Abarth 500 Ferrari Edition.








but 30k + :O

Edited by pastrana72 on Saturday 13th June 00:29

[ghiblicup]

Cool Mr Sternum! How you finding it?


As for that Ferrari version... That really is taking the biscuit.

[Agrilla]

Bargain...


http://www.joemacari.com/cars/ferrari_fiat_500_050...

[ChasW]

I test drove an Abarth. It me with impressed on space, design, special interior. Not noticeably quick unless you use the power button.

Didn't like the jittery ride, gear change/boost gauge, speedo/rev counter hard to read in daylight.

Overall package better than expected.

[Dick Sternum]

ghiblicup said:

Cool Mr Sternum! How you finding it?

I generally just go outside the house and it's right there on the drive.

As for the car, it's more for the other half than me and I've only managed to drive it once (she had a major pout on at that!). The ride is very bumpy and the seats are disappointingly lacking in support but it does but a grin on your face. Driving position feels really high up to me, but then my every day car for the last 4 years has been a Porky Boxster which isn't exactly known for it's lofty seating position. At 6" I have no problems with room in the front although I do tend to find the rear view mirror and A frame can get in the way of visibility, but again it's probably down to what I'm used to!

First thing we did with Blue and Me is get it to swear via text message. Highly grown up and amusing. We have had a couple of niggles with this, but then it is a Microsoft product so what do you expect!

Shine went off at the weekend when I noticed that she's already curbed one of the alloys after less than a week. Not a happy bunny so she's off to find a good refurbisher this week.

Edited by Dick Sternum on Monday 15th June 12:37