Fiat Abarth usedbuyers guide

Fiat Abarth usedbuyers guide

Author
Discussion

justice.

Original Poster:

3,681 posts

163 months

Monday 4th November 2019
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Have my eye on getting an Abarth as a spare car to run around in and for guests when they are in town. Test drove one back in 2015 briefly when buying the 4C and remember the seating position feeling like I was sitting on top of the car. This will be the first mod I’d look into.

There are a few high milers on the market with 40,000-80,000 on the clock going for £4k-£5.5k. They seem mechanically simple but are high milers worth a punt or is it asking for trouble? I’d say 8,000-10,000 a year would be going on it over in L.A. Mercifully no bad weather to contend with either. They weren’t sold in the U.S until 2012 so that’s the starting year there.

Had a look through the PH Abarth buying guide but it had very little info in the article. Any insights, running costs, essential mod advice from owners would be much appreciated.

pidsy

7,958 posts

156 months

Monday 4th November 2019
quotequote all
Get into the Abarth thread and ask away.

One of the best sources of info that I’ve found.

ecsrobin

17,023 posts

164 months

Monday 4th November 2019
quotequote all
Here you go: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

However the us cars have a different engine so not everything is the same.

justice.

Original Poster:

3,681 posts

163 months

Monday 4th November 2019
quotequote all
Will do, cheers! Heading out to look at a few today.

Pereldh

537 posts

111 months

Wednesday 13th November 2019
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Depends what Abarth you're looking at I suppose. The 124 Abarth, Punto Abarth or the usual 500.
I think the Punto suffers from the GM gearbox (not much else?) but has MUCH better driving positon etc obviously.
IMHO looks tons better too.

ecsrobin

17,023 posts

164 months

Wednesday 13th November 2019
quotequote all
Pereldh said:
Depends what Abarth you're looking at I suppose. The 124 Abarth, Punto Abarth or the usual 500.
I think the Punto suffers from the GM gearbox (not much else?) but has MUCH better driving positon etc obviously.
IMHO looks tons better too.
OP is in America so no punto.

justice.

Original Poster:

3,681 posts

163 months

Monday 20th January 2020
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Finally got around to testing a few today. Found a 2014 with sensible miles, good condition apart from a cracked rear light cover, driver’s side skirt coming away a little just behind the door and the rubber trim just behind the A-pillar crumbling away. Bar that it looks good and the test drive didn’t throw up any major warnings etc.

Any essential mods/upgrades eequired for one of these? ECU for a little extra kick? The gear knob size/shape felt very awkward so that’s going in the bin immediately.









ecsrobin

17,023 posts

164 months

Monday 20th January 2020
quotequote all
Side skirt is just 3m tape so a quick fix, window surround is relatively cheap so again a simple fix and the light shouldn’t be too much of an issue and again the gearknob is a simple fix.

They respond well to a remap but not sure on what you can do with the US spec engine.

justice.

Original Poster:

3,681 posts

163 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
Cheers! Bought it yesterday and now working out which ECU tune and upgraded head unit (stock one refuses to connect) to go for. Some bizarre arguments on the dedicated forums/youtube channels regarding the different offerings. Entertaining, but getting to facts is a little tricky..

ecsrobin

17,023 posts

164 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020
quotequote all
justice. said:
Cheers! Bought it yesterday and now working out which ECU tune and upgraded head unit (stock one refuses to connect) to go for. Some bizarre arguments on the dedicated forums/youtube channels regarding the different offerings. Entertaining, but getting to facts is a little tricky..
If you’re on Facebook “Abarth owners club” has quite a few knowledgeable American owners. Off the top of my head Andrea on there autotests a 500 in America and seems very clued up.

justice.

Original Poster:

3,681 posts

163 months

Thursday 23rd January 2020
quotequote all
Thanks for that.

Zipped down to the LA HQ of 500Madness. Had a few ideas of what I wanted but wanted to talk to them to see what might work best to turn up the wick for city use.

They fitted a GoPedal to the car and had me to go for a spin. The throttle response was transformed and I bought it on the spot. A few more upgrades in mind including short shifter, head unit upgrade -!: steering wheel spacer as my long legs are getting jammed against the console and turning right has my hand stuck between my leg and the wheel if I move the seat forward a little. Will think about an ECU upgrade after a week or so with the GoPedal as so far in the city it feels a lot better.

loskie

5,144 posts

119 months

Thursday 23rd January 2020
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when I was 17 a local farmers son a couple of years older had a (then) new Strada Abarth.

That thing could fly.

Anyone know the road from Kirkcolm to Stranraer? It was like our own private rally stage.

pidsy

7,958 posts

156 months

Thursday 23rd January 2020
quotequote all
justice. said:
Thanks for that.

Zipped down to the LA HQ of 500Madness. Had a few ideas of what I wanted but wanted to talk to them to see what might work best to turn up the wick for city use.

They fitted a GoPedal to the car and had me to go for a spin. The throttle response was transformed and I bought it on the spot. A few more upgrades in mind including short shifter, head unit upgrade -!: steering wheel spacer as my long legs are getting jammed against the console and turning right has my hand stuck between my leg and the wheel if I move the seat forward a little. Will think about an ECU upgrade after a week or so with the GoPedal as so far in the city it feels a lot better.
500 Madness have some great looking stuff on their website.