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Re: Abarth - Fiat 500...anyone test drive one yet? Posted by Justin VanAbrahams [Email] (#32) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Justin VanAbrahams) on Wed, 21 Aug 2013 11:08:41 In Reply to: Abarth - Fiat 500...anyone test drive one yet?, GFW3pedals [Profile/Gallery] , Wed, 21 Aug 2013 07:55:07 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I had a regular 500 as a rental in the Bay Area for a weekend a while ago and loved it. Never wanted for space, and even hustling that thing over Highway 17 between Santa Cruz and San Jose was not a problem. I was surprised by how much power the little 1.4l made. Of course the rental was an automatic, but it was a 6-speed and never really got in the way. I drove it like I stole for several hundred miles and averaged 33mpg anyway. I think I did ~600 miles and never got tired or sore driving - in traffic, on the freeway, or re-enacting Bullett in SF.
I was so enamored of it, when the Abarth came out I took it for a test drive. It didn't plus me in the same way as the regular 500 - you give up a fair amount of fuel economy, and the chassis really isn't ideal for putting that much power to the ground. It's faster, sure, but not practically faster. As Top Gear put it, the car dynamics make you feel like you're driving fast, but you're not. :) I didn't buy one.
I went back again about six or seven months ago to try again, thinking maybe my expectations were too high. Still didn't care for it. It's just so close in price to several options that even when a dealer in SoCal offered $18k on it, I didn't pull the trigger. The 500 is a great small car (IMHO), but not a great hot hatch. I'd take a regular 500 Sport for it's adequate power and good fuel economy over the 500 Abarth for it's somewhat useless level of power and big hit on economy.
If you're looking for this type of car, I'd give a big recommendation for the Fiesta ST. About the only thing you give up is a little size - it's faster, equal economy, and a superior drive in every regard. It's a *great* little car. The 500 Abarth is certainly neat, but the Fiesta ST is wonderful. Every magazine that's reviewed it has great things to say, and my "I shouldn't buy a Jaguar" emergency ST test drive was extremely positive. I'd definitely give one a go.
posted by 12.195.130...
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