500 Abarth in the states?

[priapism]

Sat in a 500 at the auto show yesterday, jeez the interior felt like it came off a Fischer Price toy. Big, loose bits of plastic.

[pandaboo911]

It's no e30..

[SkiFree]

Fiat 500's being sold at Chrysler dealers!? Their bound to fail.

Sorry for the long post I'm an auto news junky and can go on for ever about this stuff.

Someone like to hear themselves talk! As a self proclaimed auto news junky, do you have any first hand experience with the 500, and specifically the Abarth? Have you even driven the Abarth 500? Have you been to Europe recently and had first hand experience with other Fiats, or are you regurgitating what others have claimed?

Have you read into the MultiAir Turbo engine going into the Abarth? Pretty impressive list accolades given to it by the same news outfits you read.

[325ix]

Id rather have a Nissan Leaf > the fiat

Oh! The Nissan Leaf is supposed to be such a fun car to drive, good 0-60 times and a great skidpad rating.

[CrusherCurtis]

Sources for any of this?

+ 1

Everything I've said has been fact, just google it. As I said I'm a car news junkie.

quick searched turned this (skip to 6:35):

Id rather have a Nissan Leaf > the fiat

I rather pay $16k for an e30 and an e28. Or e30 and a TJ

I seemed to have missed the part where you have driven the 500 Abarth, am I the only one?

You've got me there I haven't driven one, however everything I've seen/read about the 500 Chassis has been negative. I'm sure the Abarth will feel better, but its anything like the 500 or the rest of fiat's current line up it will be less than spectacular.

And I can't believe a 1.6 liter 160hp FWD Fiat, gets you guys excited. Please act like you've driven an e30. But honestly I think you guys are all just talking. I think that at the end of the day very few here in this forum would honestly pay $16k for the 100hp base model or $25k for the 160hp Abarth. You simply know better. You may let or wives or GF's do it, but honestly I have a hard time even believing that.

[Mercury[BKM]]

Id rather have a Nissan Leaf > the fiat

[M3TROY]

sources for any of this?

+ 1

[rThor432]

While I can't comment on the m40 an m42 318is is of course a great car. That 1.6 (i believe) 500 is not.

M40= 1.6-1.8L + single cam + timing belt. Makes M10 power with 20 year newer technology. Maybe you can draw a conclusion based on that.. Guys in Europe swap M42's into M40 cars and call it an improvement.

For what it's worth, I've crawled around the 500's, and I think it's just too narrow of a niche. The car is tiny, nearing Smart car size yet it doesn't boast great performance or efficiency. Compared to it's competitors it is average, nothing special. I would like to drive one, but I have a feeling it won't be terribly impressive... The Abarth may be cool, but it will not be exceptional. There will still be several other cars in the price range that will make it look like the Si of the Civic division-- just a hopped up econobox. Takes a bit more to make it really stand out. Don't get me wrong, I've wanted the Essessee to come to America for a long time, but after checking one out and seeing Jennifer Lopez in their commercials I am pretty disinterested.

^^My opinion. Not a hater or a fan, just don't think the car is anything special to get hyped up about.

[chadthestampede]

If this fiat is so great and so cool, then why does no one buy them? Why is there such a huge supply of them? Why did they suspend production of engines already?

Does anyone remember when the Mini came out? My brit lit teacher paid 2x msrp for it. The shittness of the 500 will be the reason why we might not get alfa romeo's back year. IMO they should have launched Alfa first.

O and has anyone seen the rest of there Fiat's lineup. There even worst. Fiat almost has no chance of succeeding here, with the recent success of Hyundai/Kia and the vastly improved domestics (namely ford). No chance.
The 500 doesn't get 40 mpg. Its not fast. Its not big. Its not cheap. Fiats historically aren't reliable. Between today's economy and gas prices, there's very little room for cars that only meet the "cute" criteria.

Sources for any of this?

[lambo]

^ It does make sense. I will say this. While I can't comment on the m40 an m42 318is is of course a great car. That 1.6 (i believe) 500 is not.

I seemed to have missed the part where you have driven the 500 Abarth, am I the only one?

[CrusherCurtis]

^ It does make sense. I will say this. While I can't comment on the m40 an m42 318is is of course a great car. That 1.6 (i believe) 500 is not.

[rThor432]

Again, This is the Abarth version we are talking about. That's like saying a M40 318 is boring, therefore the M3 is boring too.

M40's do suck.. So what you say kind of makes sense.

[CrusherCurtis]

^Good point, at least BMW stamps their name on it. If that's worth anything nowadays.

[Holland]

Don't buy from this brand. Again if you friend is looking of a Euro hot hatch with prestige get the John Cooper Works Mini. Its from Bavaria!!!

Problem with that is the engine comes in a box from France, among other things...

[AnimalE30]

You and I are in the same spot. I was ready to pull the trigger the second the Abarth was announced. I have been saving my nickels ever since I heard they were coming. When I first went to the dealer, I was told the Abarth wouldn't be out for a while so I should just wait.

I have heard from a few different people that Alfa will be returning to the states, so I'm going to wait and see where that goes. I would much rather have an Alfa Romeo.

I did see an Alfa on the road in Detroit, MI. Was all covered up, with just the grill sticking out. Not sure which model, but it did look like a hatch.

The 500 would have been pretty cool if they didn't use J-Lo to market it. Total chick car now.