Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Fiat 500 Arbath in the US! 1 2 3

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  Feb. 6, 2012 8:42 a.m. DoctorBlade Dork

  Outside of the price, it's just too dang small to be of any use to me.

  "Meh."

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  Feb. 6, 2012 8:54 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork

  if I were looking for a new car.. it would be neat the top of my list. I like and prefer small cars. my 318ti is the largest car I have ever owned.

  And this is coming from somebody who used to drive commercial for a living

  Be careful of your words, for someone will agree with them. Be careful of your conduct, for someone will imitate it. -Leih Tsu

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  Feb. 6, 2012 9:56 a.m. neon4891 SuperDork

  I hope this doesn't get banned in SCCA SOLO Stock class like the normal version due to tip factor.

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  Feb. 6, 2012 10:09 a.m. darkbuddha Reader

  BTW, according to the released specs for the Veloster turbo, it weighs about the same as the 500 Abarth, has a more useable back seat, makes 204hp, and will probably cost about the same as the 500 Abarth. Pick your funky styled poison.

  Wyatt

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  Feb. 6, 2012 10:28 a.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid Dork

  Knurled wrote:

  SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: Just FYI to the guys complaining about the weight, A base Mazda 2 weighs over 2300lbs. 200 extra pounds may seem like a lot, but I think you guys forget about all the bullE36 M3 they put in these cars to make them safe. I also guarantee it has a leather interior and a back seat and 10 airbags.

  A Mazda2 is under 2300, IIRC. I remember seeing 22xx in a test somewhere.

  I think complaining about the weight is a valid point. $22,000 is not chump change, and it wouldn't make sense to spend it on something you won't be happy with.

  And besides that - the 500 is a smaller car than the 2. And they both meet the same safety regulations.

  I checked Edmunds just to double check, this is what I found:

  Mazda 2 Touring Curb weight: 2306 lbs.

  Fiat 500 Sport Curb weight: 2363 lbs.

  Fiat 500 Lounge Curb weight: 2434 lbs.

  Fiat 500 Abarth Curb weight: 2533 lbs.

  So the 500 Sport weighs 57 lbs more than the Mazda 2 Touring. The Lounge which is the luxury version is 128 more than the 2. Now all three of those cars are 100 hp. The Abarth weighs 227lbs more and has 60 more horsepower. By looking at the accessories and options list. the extra weight on the Abarth makes sense. We all know that the supplemental restraints add weight. Yes the Mazda and the Fiat have the same standards.

  I think the problem here, Is that the people on this forum are the only people that that are going to complain about the weight. The normal person that would be interested in this car wouldn't even look at the weight. They would look at horsepower, fuel economy, and accessories.

  Honestly unless on the racetrack, who's going to know a 200lb difference?

  '95 Jeep Cherokee / '80 Mazda Rx-7 / '68 Corvair Monza Coupe

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  Feb. 6, 2012 10:48 a.m. volvoclearinghouse Reader

  Everyone knows, intrinsically, that a lighter car must get better MPG, and handle better, all other things being equal. But all other things are never equal. I have a '75 Ford LTD, an absolute boat of a car, massive in every dimension. Stock curb weight was about 4300 pounds.
  

  Guess how much a brand new M5 weighs?

  I'd love to live in an alternate reality where the Fiat's powertrain came wrapped inside of a '79 Civic's body...But then I think, despite all the extra bulk, which gets better fuel economy and which handles better?
  

  Incidentally, I think the styling on the new 500 is a bit fugly, but that's a totally subjective discussion.

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  Feb. 6, 2012 11:33 a.m. NOHOME HalfDork

  Sadly, any chance that Fiat was going to sell any incarnation of the 500 to a male segment of the species was destroyed by the use of J-Low as the introductory spokesperson.

  Not saying that the car is or is not any good, just that it is branded with a sales limiting image. I have to wonder how that was fumbled so badly?

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  Feb. 6, 2012 12:23 p.m. Knurled Dork

  volvoclearinghouse wrote: Everyone *knows*, intrinsically, that a lighter car must get better MPG, and handle better, all other things being equal.

  I don't care about the fuel economy, I care how it feels.

  Drive a Mk3 and a Mk2 Golf and tell me you can't feel the extra weight.

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  Feb. 6, 2012 1:51 p.m. Coupefan Reader

  Someone asked about a translation:

  "What are you looking at? Uh!?

  What are you looking at?! (slap)

  Are you undressing me with your eyes?

  Poor guy…you can't help it?

  Is your heart beating? Is your head spinning?

  Do you feel lost thinking that I could be yours forever?

  Can't wait to drive one of these beasts. Wondering if they'll offer the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse here, with even more power.

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  Feb. 6, 2012 2:00 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

  we all know that wicked commercial...

  how about this one?

  The legend lives on

  Be careful of your words, for someone will agree with them. Be careful of your conduct, for someone will imitate it. -Leih Tsu

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  Feb. 6, 2012 4:05 p.m. clutchsmoke Reader

  For that kind of money I'd rather get a V6 Mustang or Toyobaru.

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  Feb. 6, 2012 4:35 p.m. Coupefan Reader

  Quite interesting to see reactions from this site's, ahem, enthusiasts, versus other sites. No matter, it's mostly positive comments for the Abarth 500 as a whole.

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  Feb. 6, 2012 5:11 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

  what is the difference, Coupefan?

  Be careful of your words, for someone will agree with them. Be careful of your conduct, for someone will imitate it. -Leih Tsu

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  Feb. 6, 2012 6:02 p.m. nicksta43 Reader

  I want one. I don't care about the weight or the girly image or J-lo. I was sold on them when Clarkson did his test of the Abarth and then the SS. It's just one of those cars that appeals to me. Of course if it drives like crap that will quickly change but until I get to drive one it is on the want list.

  The drift being, within certain limits, a state of equilibrium, it is comparratively easy for a competent driver to keep the car drifting along the desired line.

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  Feb. 6, 2012 6:47 p.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

  nicksta43 wrote: I want one. I don't care about the weight or the girly image or J-lo. I was sold on them when Clarkson did his test of the Abarth and then the SS. It's just one of those cars that appeals to me. Of course if it drives like crap that will quickly change but until I get to drive one it is on the want list.

  Yeah. Me too.

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  Feb. 6, 2012 8:16 p.m. T.J. SuperDork

  neon4891 wrote: I hope this doesn't get banned in SCCA SOLO Stock class like the normal version due to tip factor.

  I figure any car that is taller than it is long or wide would be a bit of a rollover waiting to happen.

  "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." George Orwell

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  Feb. 6, 2012 8:38 p.m. Grizz Dork

  In reply to T.J.:

  Training wheels.

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  Feb. 6, 2012 10:07 p.m. duetto_67 New Reader

  i really want to love this car, sat in one at the LA auto show and it felt really good. Dashboard was seriously funky, with a huge bulge right in your view of the street. Otherwise it was stiff, good quality mat'ls, comfortable, and the kids actually fit in the back seat - though that will change when they grow a bit.

  i fear the understeer though, unless they get the rear swaybar right it's gonna consume front tires like any other front driver...

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  Feb. 6, 2012 10:22 p.m. rotard HalfDork

  That seems really expensive, to me. You can get a V6 Mustang and many other "better" cars for that kind of coin.

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  Feb. 6, 2012 10:25 p.m. 93EXCivic SuperDork

  rotard wrote: That seems really expensive, to me. You can get a V6 Mustang and many other "better" cars for that kind of coin.

  I don't see why the V6 Mustang is better then the Fiat. Sure the Mustang has more power but it doesn't look like nearly as much fun as the Fiat. Plus the V6 Mustang is such a girls car.

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  Feb. 6, 2012 11:45 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

  that's why "better" is in quotes

  In that same vein.. a V6 Mustang is better than any bmw aside from the 135, 335, and M cars..

  Be careful of your words, for someone will agree with them. Be careful of your conduct, for someone will imitate it. -Leih Tsu

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  Feb. 7, 2012 2:34 a.m. mr2peak Reader

  T.J. wrote: In reply to MCarp22: ...and I would still find them so visually unappealing...

  But, but, the girl. Don't forget about the hot girl.

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  Feb. 8, 2012 3:26 p.m. 4eyes HalfDork

  I want to like it, but haven't seen one in person. I want it to sell very well, so the Alfa Romeo will sell here.

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  Feb. 8, 2012 6:28 p.m. racerdave600 Dork

  rotard wrote: That seems really expensive, to me. You can get a V6 Mustang and many other "better" cars for that kind of coin.

  Have you priced a new V6 Mustang? I think you'd have to order one to get anywhere near that around here. I went Mustang shopping recently (V8 though) and the cheapest V6 I saw on the lot was 27k, and a couple were over 30k. The v8's started around 37k and went up over 50k for the Shelby. Mustangs are no longer cheap in the real world.

  I'd really like to see a new Abarth before I buy a car though. I'm about to pull the trigger so they better hurry!

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  Feb. 8, 2012 7:40 p.m. FlightService SuperDork

  I like the Fiat 500, I am 6'4" and fit.

  And I can get a sporty one too that doesn't feel like a cheap econo car.

  Win

  Your Momma is so ugly Dick Cheney shot himself in the face

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