Fiat 500 Abarth

[Daniel]

Can I just say yum?

I mean just look at the detailing on the interior. That car will be such a nice place to be in. Not my sort of car to be honest as it's a little bit too "obvious"? Not sure if that's the right word.

http://static.blogo.it/autoblog/ginevra-2008-fiat-500-abarth/big_DSCN0891.jpg

http://static.blogo.it/autoblog/ginevra-2008-fiat-500-abarth/big_DSCN0898.jpg

http://static.blogo.it/autoblog/ginevra-2008-fiat-500-abarth/big_DSCN0895.jpg

Isn't it great to see Fiat back? Making good small cars like the Panda, 500 and Grande Punto and also producing nice larger cars like the Bravo too. They're not just boring cars either! The Panda is cool, the 500 which is bound to be a hit and the Grande Punto which is the only good looking car in it's class. Plus they're doing well in the quality states too. In 2006 the Panda came 8th out of 152 cars in the Top Gear survey and scored well in all categories and the 500 is based on the same platform with the same engines so I don't see them being any worse. I do really hope this is the end of the days when people made jokes about how bad Fiat's were.

[pino]

Nice cool little car which I would love to test it on the Apricale-San Romolo stage...want to join me Daniel ? :cool: :D

btw have a look a this video (http://www.abarth.it/abarth500.asp) ;)

[leopard]

You might see gasoline gauge on that interior details Daniel.

[GridGirl]

Thank god that interior is nicer than the monstrosity they put in the normal 500. It really was spoiling what was quite a nice car.

[Mark]

You might see gasoline gauge on that interior details Daniel.

Eh?


"Shift indicator" can't say I've seen that outside a racing car, and why would you need it?

[Daniel]

Nice cool little car which I would love to test it on the Apricale-San Romolo stage...want to join me Daniel ?

btw have a look a this video (http://www.abarth.it/abarth500.asp)

Pino I value my life :uhoh: So you going to buy one? If you buy one I'll join you Me myself I quite fancy one of the Panda 100hp's. If they put a turbo engine in it's a done deal.


Thank god that interior is nicer than the monstrosity they put in the normal 500. It really was spoiling what was quite a nice car.

I don't know if I'd say that :) You have to differentiate between models. The dash on the boggo 500 has to less attractive than the Abarth version. I do like the fact that the low end interior manages to be retro without SCREAMING it in your face.

I mean this is just hilariously "LOOK AT ME I'M A RETRO CAR ISN'T THAT GREAT? LOL HEHEHEHE" so deliberate and a bit boring for it.
http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/images/mini-4.jpg
Whereas the standard 500 interior is rather nice in that it's really just a Panda interior that's been redesigned a bit :) It's functional and fairly basic just like the real 500's interior.
http://image.motortrend.com/f/europe/fiats-all-new-cinquecento-makes-its-european-debut/6511678+w600+cr1+re0+ar1/fiat-500-interior.jpg

[MrJan]

I quite like the 500. It seems to be a bit closer to the original when you compare it to the mini, even though both have got all fat and round.

Even though both cars feel a bit like accesories, I reckon the 500 (especially Abarth) is much more blokey and I'd feel far more comfortable driving it.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

I'd swap my Grande Punto for the Abarth 500, but I'd prefer the Abarth Grande Punto to the 500 ;)

http://www.fiat.co.nz/images/News/2007/AbarthPunto.jpg


I think i'd look wrong in a 500 because you should never drive a car that you are taller than it is long!!

[Daniel]

I'd swap my Grande Punto for the Abarth 500, but I'd prefer the Abarth Grande Punto to the 500 ;)

http://www.fiat.co.nz/images/News/2007/AbarthPunto.jpg


I think i'd look wrong in a 500 because you should never drive a car that you are taller than it is long!!
You're not taller than a 500 is longer though :p

[GridGirl]

I didn't have a problem with the 500 dash, it was the material that was used on the seats. The car looked cool on the outside then you looked inside and saw the seats and thought *ohh* that's a bit rubbish.

[Malbec]

Isn't it great to see Fiat back?

Never mind Fiat, Lancia's going to come back to the UK! Now thats something worth celebrating!

[Daniel]

Never mind Fiat, Lancia's going to come back to the UK! Now thats something worth celebrating!

But to put it in the words of a friend who is a massive Lancia fan they're going to fail dismally. People here just won't appreciate the product at all.

[MrJan]

The only thing I ever liked about lancia was that they had a rallying pedigree. Difficult to see the link now that they've been out of the sport for so long.

[Malbec]

But to put it in the words of a friend who is a massive Lancia fan they're going to fail dismally. People here just won't appreciate the product at all.

You're probably right, but at least the cognescenti will be catered for!

[leopard]

Eh?


"Shift indicator" can't say I've seen that outside a racing car, and why would you need it?

Gas gauge and Shift indicator are completely different, You will never have correct read if you read one for another.

[Daniel]

I didn't have a problem with the 500 dash, it was the material that was used on the seats. The car looked cool on the outside then you looked inside and saw the seats and thought *ohh* that's a bit rubbish.

I see what you mean now. Went to the local dealer to have a bit of a look and the cheap cheap ones are indeed RUBBISH. Better to splash another £600 and get the black leather I say :) Don't like the all white dash/wheel combo though :uhoh: Looking for something to replace the Fiesta anytime soon? :p


You're probably right, but at least the cognescenti will be catered for!

For me all I car about is that the brand gets back on it's feet again in the UK and people stop buying boring VAG, BMW and Mercedes products and buy an interesting Italian car instead.

And in other news VW have released their "looks like an Astra but it isn't" Scirocco in Geneva. So what if it goes fast? It looks like a piece of poop!

http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/218205/geneva_vw_scirocco.html

I've also heard rumours that VAG are planning a new hypercar platform which will have 4 versions. An Audi version with a TDi engine, an all out performance Bugatti one, a slightly softer Lambo one and an even softer Bentley one. Sad thing is it'll probably quite a success even though they're just using their different brands to hash out the same thing to as many different people as possible. What happened to the days when different manufacturers mad DIFFERENT cars rather than just sticking a different badge on each one and pretending one's a Bentley and the other's a Lambo :rolleyes:

[GridGirl]

Paying £600 for a seat upgrade seems more than worth it to me.

Nah, I don't want to replace my Fiesta. I was just working at a Subaru and Fiat dealership and was checking out the cars that were really for collection on 1st March. :) Although Ibby said bye bye to his Vrs yesterday and is currently car less untill his new car is ready for collection.

[Daniel]

Paying £600 for a seat upgrade seems more than worth it to me.

Nah, I don't want to replace my Fiesta. I was just working at a Subaru and Fiat dealership and was checking out the cars that were really for collection on 1st March. :) Although Ibby said bye bye to his Vrs yesterday and is currently car less untill his new car is ready for collection.

What's he replacing it with?

[GridGirl]

He's making the huge step and getting an..... Octavia Vrs. When I manage to curb his nice new 18" alloys he'll soon be taking me off the insurance. Mines still prettier though. ;)

[Daniel]

He's making the huge step and getting an..... Octavia Vrs. When I manage to curb his nice new 18" alloys he'll soon be taking me off the insurance. Mines still prettier though. ;)
:laugh:

Well I won't say you have taste (viper stripes! viper stripes!) but at least you've bought something that's not totally and utterly devoid of charm and bland in every way. Sure a Skoda's a good car but there's absolutely 0% charm in a Skoda in my opinion. The Octavia was kinda cool about 5 years ago but not so much now :p

I think I might start up another thread about speccing up a 500 and get people to do screencaps :)

[Daniel]

Took a 500 1.4 Sport for a test drive today and have to say it's great. Engine wasn't exactly the most powerful but it was more than enough I guess :)

Traction control was a bit intrusive (wasn't driving that hard really :crazy: ) which was a bit of a negative but the car looks soooo nice inside and seems to be put together quite well. Plus it just looks cool from the outside.

Caroline then drove a 1.2 Panda and the interior was cheap as you'd suspect but it's a lot cheaper.

Pino :) You should go and test one of the Abarth's or at least a 1.4 when you get the chance :D

[pino]

Daniel I will test the Abarth next time I am in Sanremo again, roads are too boring in Denmark :p : Meanwhile I will test the 1.4...and waiting for the new Lancia Delta :D