CarbonGray Earl

Hey all, had to say goodbye to my 05 TSX 5at this weekend. Loved that car for about 7 years, dreaded it for about 2. All said and done, had it for 9 years, 4 years with no payment, and drove it for 137000 miles. I loved it, but now that my kids are 11 and 7, can climb up in their own seats, and don't need the baby/toddler support equipment, I decided it was time to get something with more 'me' in mind than kids and their supporting equipment.

I honestly love driving cars, as most of us do. For me, its about the experience, not the power alone, not the stance, not the looks, not the details of the engineering...though they are part of it. The TSX didn't tick those boxes for me anymore. I also wanted to get away from Acura/Honda, which I've had for the last 20 years now. I love them, but I needed a change.

So...after seeing some of the incentives (about $4000 in rebates), I decided to pick up a 2013 base 500 Abarth during the Superbowl (that showroom floor was empty). My 4 word review on it: Its fun as F***. It is seriously some riotous fun. Its not the fastest, certainly not the most practical, but it has that character that no other car has (though Mini comes close, but doesn't have the exhaust note ). Its certainly not for everyone.

Other cars that were on my list were the Ford Fiesta/Focus ST, MazdaSpeed 3, Mini Cooper S, and to a lesser degree, the FRS/BRZ. They were in that 'cheap speed' range, got great reviews, etc. They would have been great. But I like that this is strikingly different, quick, and cheap all at the same time.

Anyways...crappy cell phone pics...








I'm developing my mod plans for this, but there seems to be plenty of customizations options out there. Of course, intake, ECU, lowering springs, are all on the table. The company itself seems pretty receptive to customization.

Did I mention they threw in the Abarth Experience? It's a track day, with 6 modules....I think Autocross, a driving instructed track time, a couple of laps as a passenger with a 'Pro', and some other stuff.

SuperTrooper169

iTrader: (2)

Congrats! Those have the best 4 banger exhaust note I've ever heard. It must be a blast. Can't wait to see some better quality shots!

charliemike

$4,000 in rebates? Damn. That's probably a $17k car at that point. Hell of a deal.

Yumcha

Congrats!

CarbonGray Earl

Definitely! The exhaust note is awesome...and my kids want me to pick them up in front of the school for that very reason. Its obnoxious and its great.

I'll see if I can get some pics up soon.

Yup...just about. Fiat/Chrysler overbuilt, so they were trying to get rid of the 2013 inventory. I went in during the Superbowl and was basically the only one in there, save for another couple thinking about buying the other Abarth on the lot. They basically gave me what I wanted.

Thanks!

ttribe

Congrats on the Abarth!

Does it come with the model in the commercial?

oonowindoo

for $17k, that is hard to beat.

oonowindoo

you want Charlie Sheen?

ttribe

MTEAZY

cute car OP



I hope you removed the license plate frame.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Niceeeeee!

When I was at the track last Saturday, I was actually parked next to a 500 Abarth. The owner was late 40 asian guy who owns a BMW tech shop near my house. We were both in the same group and ran together all day. It sounded reallllllly good and handled very well for a FWD.

He hauled in a set of lightweight OZ wheels and RS3 tires plus some some basic tools. Other than that, he had Bilstein shocks with some springs. He was testing out different damping set up for every session.

Anyway, congrats on the pick up! You will have so much fun with it! Keep us posted as you mod it!

Sarlacc

Congrats.

I LOVE the Abarth, the exhaust is just amazing.

Fiat has an in house tuning company ala mopar, svt, M, etc...they make a piggyback ECU that will give the car the "venom concept" tune good for 200hp...a real nice gain.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, the exhaust note was amazing. I let him pass in one session, and that thing sounded like a monster.

chill_dog

Congrats! I like the interior design over the Mini's.

CarbonGray Earl

I wish...though the wife would have a little trouble with that. That model makes my suspension stiff.



Good point....that is my next mod.



Will do! looks like they have a nice enthusiast following, so there are definitely mods to be had.

So far, been looking at 500madness.com.


Awesome, thanks! Been looking into that one too and if its through Fiat itself, even better. I think Jay Leno has one through Road Race Motorsports.

Thanks! I agree, but I'm biased now. I still like mini's but I'd have to get a JCW, which is WAY more expensive than this.

ez12a

i had no idea the abarth sounded like that. totally worth.

CarbonGray Earl

Hey, just curious...what track? Fontana? I did a Ferrari experience out there, and the course was out in the parking lot next to the kart track. That was nice and flat, and if you ran out of talent, you just spun into cones. Was it in the inner part of the track (roval?), or was it outside in the parking lot?

That must have been really fun.... I'm hoping to get this car on the track sometime after break-in.

This is the Ferrari experience I did last year. Its unedited, but basically, I drove an F430 first and a Gallardo second. It was an awesome time.

Sarlacc

Yeah I spent some time playing on that site awhile back...seems like they have they most stuff.

Its the Magneti mareli company, that is there in house tuner.

CarbonGray Earl

^^Thanks, looks like there are a couple of options out there. I'm going to look into how it plays out with the warranty, but since its a turbo, an ECU mod will have a ton of bang for the buck. Its almost stupid not to up the boost.

Hope it either complies with the warranty or there is a work around, i.e., they won't see it or I can turn it off.

KarKraze

Congrats,looks like you are having a ball already

It's a fun car and like everyone else i love the exhaust note.

Sarlacc

There are different versions of that Magneti tuner...one that you can turn on/off/toggle tunes through the radio...and one that has a separate controller. And since its its a piggy back...I assume its easy to just unplug and take it out for dealer visits.

But see if the dealer offers the ECU and covers it? Anonymous call of course.

VR1

Congrats! Love the exhaust note.

Moog-Type-S

Abarth is

Love 'em!

Congrats! Fantastic car. So much fun.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

It was at Streets of Willow.

AZuser

Nice exhaust note.

Congrats.

I had no idea they could be had for so little.


6 of them.

Hockeyman

Nice ride. I also went for cheap speed when I traded in my TL. I bet it is a blast!

myron

iTrader: (4)

that is an amazing price. Cheapest one locally is 18k and it's 2012 model with 40 000km. 2013 private sale with 600miles is going for 30k. It's down right stupid what they want for these cars here. Great deal on that little thing man, congrats

RPhilMan1

Congrats on the new purchase. I'm glad to hear you are now enjoying your drive a lot more. That's what matters most!

I felt very similar to you when I switched from my '04 TSX to an ST. The TSX was a great car but I never had nearly as much fun as I do now. Turbocharged is fun!

CarbonGray Earl

ya....I think you are right. Looks like a couple of things I'm looking into for power are easily removable. I know the car comes with a 'black box' that logs things now, but I think that thing only comes out of the car in accidents.

I have to read up on this stuff...I haven't owned a new car in about 9 years, (let alone a non-Honda product in about 20) so some of this stuff is really new to me.





Might have to take a trip out there...fontana is my 'home track' though, lol.



Thanks! Cheap speed can be fun, at legal and a little over legal speeds.

Thanks man...couldn't pass this one up.

Turbo is a whole different experience!

Love your Focus ST btw. Was thinking about getting that as well or a fiesta, but the incentives for the Abarth were difficult to pass up.

Nicklogan355

I also got a new car recently but ill be sticking around

neuronbob

Love the Abarth. Congrats!

And holy low price, Batman! That is really tempting......

CarbonGray Earl

^^Thanks! The incentives put it over the top for me, no doubt.

Sarlacc

Which dealer did you go to that they were offering such crazy incentives???

CarbonGray Earl

Puente Hills Fiat. Its a fairly small dealership ('studio' as they call it). I went during the Superbowl so the place was a ghost town.

There were a total of 2 sales people there that day...the front guy and then the boss/closer guy. We were the only people in there from about 3pm on to the end of the day, so our timing was perfect.

I heard the Superbowl was boring anyways, lol...

Sarlacc

It did indeed suck.

asianspec

iTrader: (1)

Congrats pare.

CarbonGray Earl

Thanks man. Gotta make myself happy about something if the Lakers aren't doing it for me anymore.

asianspec

iTrader: (1)

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)

congrats

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

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