They do great in snow. If you throw on steel wheels with snow tires. Have 85k on my Turbo, thrived through two Wisconsin winters with Michelin X-Ice rubber.
what i've learned for the past year from this guy is selling to him my broken car let him fix it and then buying it from him again to save on repairs lol
I want one of these so badly. The cars that people (mostly family) have told me to get didn't last or had multiple problems, vs the ones I did research on and gut feeling about that were so much fun to learn to work on, drive and were great cars overall. I am worried that my limited space will make it difficult for me to work on my own car. I prefer working on my cars, that way I seem to be able to figure out any issues before they become problems, and I get to really understand how each make and model works.
I rented a 500c Abarth about two weeks ago. Put 300 miles on it in 48 hours. It seriously was the most fun I've had in a car in a long time. Hilariously fun. So much personality, I didn't care about all of its flaws, I still want one so badly!
I bought my Fiat Gucci Limited Edition n I love, love, love it!! Bought from original owner, low mileage , beautiful Gucci striped soft top!! N all the Gucci leather detailing n seatbelts. I’m in heaven.!!! Now that COVID restrictions are mostly lifted, I’ll cruise So. Cali coastal Hwy 101 with the top down. It’s a classic n collectors item. Win, win !!
This guy couldn’t have actually paid $200 for a knob - no one is that stupid right? He said “shifter”, but not sure exactly what he meant. Mechanics must see this guy coming a mile away...
That said, Fiat parts are generally pretty expensive and difficult to get ahold of as they always ship from Italy, and that's coming from a former Fiat owner in the UK!
I own a 2013 Abarth like this, only in black. Recently I crashed it and the reparation costs are so steep mainly because you can't find parts for it anywhere. I don't live in the USA, but I'm forced to import almost everything from there and what do you know? There aren't parts for it even in the US. The car has been in the shop for months waiting for the parts, however, I don't plan to sell this car anytime soon or even ever, it's the most fun I've had in a car and as said in the previous episode I'm sure one day it'll get the appreciation and love as a collector car. It defies all logic, I love it.
My wife bought one and we both love driving it. Heck I am selling my more practical Kia to make my wife's FIAT 500 my daily driver. (I took ownership of it)
Small cars are great in the snow. Their light weight makes it practically impossible to get stuck in one, provided you have good tires. Although, if a truck crashes into you and you're in a Fiat 500, that's another story.
Protector of the Republic Ehh. They are no match for a 4 WD truck or SUV in the snow. I live in PA and have had pretty much every type of vehicle there is and small fwd cars are certainly fine to get by with there’s not enough ground clearance to get through any substantial amount of snow, on top of that this one is even lower and has sport tires on it. To be fair though, I think he was really meaning that he’ll have a car to drive after the snow has been cleared but there’s still salt, sand and gravel on the roads.
Afaik the Fiats/Abarths in Europe are not the same that they are in the US. Different engine, gearbox, etc. And based on how bad reputation Fiat in general has in the US (well, at least based on RUclipsrs), I think the US versions have far inferior quality hardware.
Gofuckyourself Nicely you seem a very angry person. You also need to understand the difference between platform sharing where 2 or more manufactures share/develop a basic platform to cut costs to create their own cars and badge engineering where a global company will badge a car differently in different markets depending on brand recognition. The Fiat 500 is based on the panda platform and the KA then used it to save money.
Absolutely right about the Fiat 500. I had a turbo non abarth version. Loved that car. A drunk driver hit me and totaled it. I miss that car. I was gonna get another one this year and just found out it’s being pulled from the market.
These are amazing little cars, and now make for fantastic winter beaters and cheap runabouts. I want one. Also, I agree. People largely are idiots, buying up all the CUVs and ignoring excellent cars such as the Abarth. You have made this automotive landscape for us, and damn you for it.
A Chevy Spark is a beater. This is an enthusiast Italian car that should be treated with respect. This is the Abarth version. But you're right, people are largely idiots and don't care or understand the racing history and tradition behind a legendary brand like this.
@@624radicalham I would run mine as my winter car happily. Save my Alfa Romeo for summer. Would rather run an Abarth as a winter car than a stupid Spark that's for sure!
@@ChaosphereIX Driving it in winter is fine. That's not treating it like a beater, which was my response to the OP. A person wants a beater, buy a fucking Spark not an Abarth 500.
They are far more popular in Europe because they are perfect for the type of roads. In the UK I see them everywhere and aftermarket support is pretty good. You can lease a brand new 595 for about £180 a month here. On our narrow and twisty roads these small hot hatches are as quick as a supercar.
I worked in a VW based garage in the 70s, and we could swap a motor in 35 minutes. One time a woman was passing through and she blew the motor in her 66 Beetle. She had an appointment, so I lent her the motor out of my 66 Beetle so she wouldn't be late. 35 minutes later, out with the blown and in with my used, she was on her way. For my "sacrifice" my boss gave me a 1600 duel port head motor for a project I was working on.
@@DoctorSkillz I feel so badly for your feet. The pounding your tootsies took just to propel you to the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes club to perform your duties as the Grand Poobah. Give a tip of the helmet to the boys there.
Frank Galpin It’s Craftsman. The 19 end turns about 45° at 1 1/2” from the center of the box end. It shows no heat or tool marks. I’m thinking the more common U-shaped wrench might also work.
Hey Hoover, I did the same for my winter beater! Except I bought a pristine 2013 500 Turbo with 25K miles for 4k! I immediately spent 3 grand on it on modifications (bilstein coilovers, k&n intake, catless downpipe, set of advanti storm wheels, front mount intercooler, various forge bits, and other odd ends...) and now I have.a 200+ hp little beast that is an absolute blast to drive.... and obviously is now absolutely un-drivable in winter.
Agreed with everything Hoovie said about the Abarth and our country’s sad, sad taste in vehicles. I wish we were able to import current production euro spec vehicles!!! Or just make a custom order from the manufacturer (not that I can afford any of them new-but the concept is what matters) is love to have a Mazda6 wagon manual 😍
@@ScoobyShotU OK, again, why buy ALL SEASON tyres if it's a winter beater? ( all season are shit, not too good in the winter, not too good in the summer)
@@musimir1883 True! People do not often think about the fact that the rubber gets harder during cold. That's why you have dedicated winter tires ("friction tires" in northern Europe, that come without studs) when temperatures fall below 5-10°C. If you have tires that can deal with the cold, it usually means much higher wear during warm days.
Original owner of a 2013 Abarth. Nero with the red stripes, 17" rims, leather, convenience package, Sirius. 6 years on and it still puts a huge smile on my face every time I drive it. Problems? 17" rims are easy to bend. I do not recommend the P-Zero Neros that come stock. A softer compound I believe will help save the rims. Bent rim lead to a worn wheel bearing. But I fixed it in my garage for $70. Getting all 4 rims straightened and painted black was $700. Driver floor mat wore through. Shift knob grey paint is wearing off. Hope to replace the shifter for less than $200. Other than that, stone cold reliable. If you can accept some of the cheap plastics, you won't have many complaints. I also bought factory black lighting all around for $700. Tinted the windows. It's murdered out now. I ran a 500 Madness piggy back box on it until the Chinese wiring harness crapped out. That combined with the "go-pedal", an adjustable TPS thingy, the car was a total hoot! I'd guess it peaked at 185hp or so. Albeit with the box removed power delivery is quite a bit smoother. I prefer. I can't recommend enough picking one of these up for between $6500 and $10,000. You cannot buy this much fun in a car for that kind of money. And Hoovie is totally correct that it's very usable. You'd be shocked at how much stuff you can put in the back of the thing. I love it. Car is a home run. American's are just automotively daft.
It's probably more than just the knob, the stock linkange & bushings are garbage. Replacing all of that ran me $200 and shifted sweet & positive after that.
Yes and no, that'll blow a head gasket and cost more than this abarth. He doesnt live where there are mountains so he doesnt need AWD. The WRX is cool, but I see so damn many of them the content would be super boring for me.
I appreciate the love for the ford flex. I had one up to 120,000 miles when the suspension components started falling apart after the crazy expensive water pump replacement. toyota and honda for this guy.
Adding 2 or 3 big odor absorbers from the Walmart auto section worked for us- meat from the grocery store slid under the front seat in the middle of the summer and leaked onto the floor. Odor eliminator spray from a pet store also helps.
@@jpoeste The 500 in general yes, here in Italy it's typically owned by women. But the fact that our cars are smaller it's great in 2 ways: 1 - one must be an idiot to go around with a 2t giant useless SUV/truck that drinks a huge amount of gas, on the slippery surfaces is a disaster and it doesn't handle well compared to any lighter sedan, just ro move around an 80kg ass. 2- in EU we have a thing called "history", something doesn't exist in the U.S. of A. Our cities have narrow streets. Try to get in the center of Parma with a giant 'murican car... Good luck with that.
Alex-GenTLe Yea most of our streets were made in the age of cars or other types of transit. But there are some exceptions like Boston, which has wide cobble roads.
Alex-GenTLe Geez at least try to be a little more arrogantly insulting. You forgot to comment about McDonalds cheeseburgers and how stupid and uncouth we are too.
I’m just glad we haven’t lost the entire Fiat lineup. FCA invested so much in to bringing them here, so I can’t imagine they’d drop the entire brand here. At least Fiat is thriving across the Atlantic
Speaking from Italy here: FCA are a fucking bunch of retard. Not because of their purchase of the USA group, but: - they stayed in IT until they were able to mug the country money threatening to send people home and close factories, then they moved to a fiscal paradise and killed nearly all the 3rd party italian supplier - they have no idea of how to use their brands: they own Lancia, one of the greatest and more innovative brand of all the time (search for its history: they are those that invented the monocoque, the 1st independent suspensions on all wheels, the dion bridge transmission, the inboard brakes, the V engine -YES!-) and what are they doing with it? A damn egg-shaped Lancia Y. They practically killed it. They killed Innocenti, they killed De Tomaso, they killed Autobianchi (search A112 Abarth). They have not been able, like VW group did, to create a placement for each of them, for instance: utilitarian -> Fiat / Sporty -> Alfa / Elegant and luxurious -> Lancia / Electric and esperimental -> Autobianchi. No. All dead. - they have no idea of the product: they are just money movers. Fiat brand is producing 3 cars. THREE!!! 500, made in Poland, Tipo, made in Turkey, and Panda (which is nearly EoL too). And Alfa? Giulietta is EoL and there will be no replacement, Giulia (yes, that's good!) and one of those stupid big SUV, the Stelvio. They can't survive. And now they're partnering with Peugeot, hoping to be able to survive by sharing chassis between way too many cars that will be all the same.
I have a 2018 TD04 turbo swapped Abarth trofeo with 240bhp and the usual supporting mods, and it's absolutely hilarious fun, reliable, unassuming, 45mpg regardless how you drive...and it handles amazingly well. They don't take themselves seriously, yet are very capable. There's nothing else on the market that can complete, tiny, lightweight, and genuinely focused. They probably don't suit the roads in the USA, but in Europe they're brilliant.
@Joaquin Fernandez Dodge,Chevy,Ford, Izusu NPR with a chevy engine. I'm not a brand loyal twit, I buy what works and lasts for personal use and my business. Not everybody wants to drive a 94 toyota like Scotty and honestly he is out of touch with modern cars.
@@georgeburks3755 And yet, there are groups and clubs full of people who love them. I guess they didn't get the memo that you and Scotty don't like them.
Yes you really need FIAT Abarth 500 500X or L or 124 Spider good cars Maybe old Fiat is not reliable but coming and new Fiat products are way reliable my Fiat Punto is 2008 model done 1,98,111 miles still runs as strong almost new never break down Twice my vw polo break down first vw polo got ecu failure and electronic failure Second in winter when we were in Ladakh battery dead of new vw polo car we jump start by cable that we connect to Our Fiat Punto Battery
Back in the day, late sixtys, I worked for a designer who had accumulated some early sixtys Abarths. Seven hundred fifty cc. with a single Weber carb. About one forth smaller than what they are now, and a kick to drive. About the same time he bought a 1958 Ferrari 250 Tour de France, for around seven thousand dollars. Those were the days when most exotic european cars were just not on the radar. Cheers
Hey, I own a 1963 Beetle that belonged to my grandfather, it has its original engine, never opened or refurbrished, original paint, everything, and it is immaculate! It has 45k original miles, and starts every time I go drive it which is every month or month and a half. Those engines are built to last!
@@CRAPO2011 He'd repaint them by hand with a brush while talking about it for 6 hours calling it a 'touch-up detail" and they'd end up looking like crap.
@Death trooper most American cars can't hold a candle to most European cars in terms of finish or reliability. Interiors in particular are something US manufacturers never get right, made of the cheapest plastics and faux leather they fall apart within 30k of driving, the switch gear fails just as quickly and while the engines may be reasonably reliable they are thirsty and underpowered. And with so basic running gear you would think it would be reliable and reasonably comfortable, but no, how can they mess up suspension so badly it handles like a brick on a rollerskate while wallowing like a 400lb person on a trampoline?
@Death trooper Our european cars in Europe are very reliable. vw bmw mercedes renault peugeot opel taxis, most have well over 400.000 kilometers. That is because our cars are manufactured in Europe where the quality control are high standards. Where the american market european cars are made in mexico and other 3th world country's where the quality control is very low.
Bashing the reliability of American cars just shows how ignorant people are. Aside from Toyota vehicles a majority of America vehicles are as reliable or more so then their competition. Asian cars are not as bullet proof as urban legend suggests. When a American or European car has a issue it is a POS. If a Asian car has a problem it is unavoidable because nothing is perfect.
Thanks for the positive review on the abarth. They are great cars and extremely fast/fun when you modify them. Let me know if we can do anything for you with your Abarth.
This show is really cathartic. Watching this reminds me of all the times I had huge expenses from a mechanic, except here it's even more money and it's not me.
I loved my Fiat Uno, it was the best car I ever had. Made so many road trips all over Europe with it. And it was realy reliable, no issues at all. I sold it for a bigger more luxury car when the Uno was 16 years old. It was still in a great shape. No tust no issues, it was just great. My sister drives her Fiat 500 since 10 years without any issues neither. My father drove a Fiat in the 70's as well and he was a car engineer. He always said it was the best car he ever had. He made a 6.000 miles trip in those days with it and had zero problems. The reputation of Fiat is out here in Germany not very good as well but most germans still think that Our cars are the best in the world. 😂 And so thinks the german motor press as well.
Pablo Chappelli remove the seats, strip the floor down to the sticky sound deadener pads, pour in some Fabuloso and put a new carpet in it. Or drill drain holes and spray truck bedliner in it
nobody maybe bought it in the USA but here in Italy, it's a classic. This car, if you keep it for a few years, will never lose money, prices are already rising. Abarth cars from the 70's and 80's are fetching silly money now. buy you parts directly from Italy. They're undesctructable and a lot of fun...
I bought some Achilles all season tires for my 500 for $200 from Amazon. A complete set! 3000 miles into those tires and I can tell you that they are actually much better than the factory junk that Fiat put on this car. They perform better than the factory tires did when new. And at only $200 for a complete set, I don't care if they wear out at 20k miles.
I kind of get sick of hearing "It's our fault, we should have bought more of these". A lot of us still love sports cars, we still buy them. It's "their" fault. I always felt a car could be an extension of your personality, just like clothing for some. Back when I was a kid in the early 80s, sports cars were mainstream. Now they are not. Everyone I work with would rather have the same bland car over and over. Nothing makes one cross-over different from another. Cell phones used to be unique, but then they all became the same. Cars seemed to follow suit. I think maybe it's just the times we are in... I wonder what will become bland next...
He only claims to not care... yet he puts new tires on it and a $200 shift knob. It's entertaining to watch him "not care" about any of his cars while spending thousands of dollars on each one.
@@Justice-qw7sj My Brothers (driving school) Abarth is about to hit 400,000km (250,000 miles), & is still mechanically great .. Head never been off, sump never been off, gearbox never been apart, original turbo/throttle body/exhaust/AC compressor etc, in fact the whole car is 97% original... Its broken down twice in its life, once with a broken hose clip on the thermostat, & once with a fuse.. And that's it.. And no, its not a Mk2 Golf, as in it makes you smile & feel joy every time you drive it, not boredom..
A little white car in the snow? Perfect choice to blend in, when driving I would be more vigilant than usual if i were you. You do not want to find yourself stuck in the radiator grille of one of the SUVs, lol. Joking aside, I love the 500 abarth and I totally agree with you on all points made. Keep it up.
I had a 2015 500 Abarth, was a fun car, had some build quality issues but never broke down. I sold it (for 1/2 what I paid) because the dealers in my area all suck, it was so hard to get anything done, even scheduling an oil change was difficult.
My leased 2014 Abarth made a great winter beater/daily driver/track toy. I never did an oil change myself, I took one look at the oil filter location and said naaaah! I kept a set of dedicated snow/steelies and swapped them each winter/spring. Poetic justice: it was leased turned in on a flat bed truck due to broken shift linkage which I had covered under warranty but I also had less than 30 days left in my lease and didn’t want to keep paying for the high insurance.
I narrowed it down to the Fiesta ST, or the Abarth. I threw caution to the wind and bought the Fiat. GREAT car, I made the right choice. Everytime it backfires and farts I get happy. Two years later, dead reliable. Even I was surprised by that.
I love these little cars, I would really appreciate a 2019 TT RS 5 Cylinder. However, as hoovie stated, No one can take my 2005 Chevy Tahoe from me; I just can't seem to let that go. Murica'!
I like the advice about having a winter beater. My 269,500 mile BMW 328i is definitely going to be my winter duty car this season. Have to keep the nice cars out of the salt here in New England!!
The "problem" I see with cars like the Fiat 500, and the Beetle is that they tried to make a car like the old car that everyone loved, and then put modern front-wheel drive, front-engine into a car that was always, and should have stayed rear-engine, rear-wheel drive.
I live in the KC area and it's snowing now. I wish I had a winter beater. But instead I got a 19 Fiesta ST Line. They quit making Fiestas back in May and what dealers have is all they're going to have of them. My wife drives on 06 Expedition 2 WD with off road tires. I told her "good luck getting around in it."
this thing makes a good winter beater
it will snow tomorrow
buys Michelin Pilot Sports tires
torquemada67 it just snowed in Chicago
You beat me to it.
They do great in snow. If you throw on steel wheels with snow tires.
Have 85k on my Turbo, thrived through two Wisconsin winters with Michelin X-Ice rubber.
I drive around in ultra high performance tires all the time in the winter time too on my Yaris.
@@Agent77X I don't know what's worse... Ultra high performance tires on yaris, or high performance tires in the snow...
what i've learned for the past year from this guy is selling to him my broken car let him fix it and then buying it from him again to save on repairs lol
Ahhahahahahahahahha you are quite right
He’ll probably sell to you lower than the price he brought it
perhaps he will sell you his mail order wife..then you can sell her back and make money.
@@chadhaire1711 thats a very stupid thing to say man, i will pretend i did not read that
@@LogitechXibanga true that statement wasnt nice. I. Get that shit all the time. Asain women dont have the feminist attitude
You own a Raptor and you’re taking the Fiat out on the snow?
it'll be fun, throw some winter tires on it and youre set
Uh yea, don’t want to rust that raptor!
Raptor is overrated and it an AWD vehicle! No fun for the snowy winter climates!
Worried about snow in Kansas? Now that's funny
Joe Stacks it has Michelin Pilot Sport tyres on it it’s nowhere a winter beater 🤣🤣
When Michael Schumacher was asked on that British car show , what he drove daily he said 500 Arbath, the most fun you have & not gt into trouble.
I want one of these so badly. The cars that people (mostly family) have told me to get didn't last or had multiple problems, vs the ones I did research on and gut feeling about that were so much fun to learn to work on, drive and were great cars overall. I am worried that my limited space will make it difficult for me to work on my own car.
I prefer working on my cars, that way I seem to be able to figure out any issues before they become problems, and I get to really understand how each make and model works.
I have a base Pop and I love it! It's been very reliable but has had minute issues but whenever it needs basic maintenance it's a joy to work on.
I rented a 500c Abarth about two weeks ago. Put 300 miles on it in 48 hours. It seriously was the most fun I've had in a car in a long time. Hilariously fun. So much personality, I didn't care about all of its flaws, I still want one so badly!
Tyler Hoover: "I'm bad at math." Biggest understatement in your channel's history lol
$200 for a shifter, tf
Didn't even look new
Paid $500 for my All Angles Designs Short Shifter.
Pretty much what any make costs. Ever bought a toyota? Parts are expensive.
@@cargueone1971 the entire shift mech for my Cadillac is like $80, linkage lever display and all
29€ for a VW Golf VI
I bought my Fiat Gucci Limited Edition n I love, love, love it!! Bought from original owner, low mileage , beautiful Gucci striped soft top!! N all the Gucci leather detailing n seatbelts. I’m in heaven.!!! Now that COVID restrictions are mostly lifted, I’ll cruise So. Cali coastal Hwy 101 with the top down. It’s a classic n collectors item. Win, win !!
"I bought the most expensive shift knob in America"
For real
This guy couldn’t have actually paid $200 for a knob - no one is that stupid right? He said “shifter”, but not sure exactly what he meant. Mechanics must see this guy coming a mile away...
This guy is an idiot it's $20 for a decent knob at Autozone that matches the trim. I have one in my Abarth XD
@@ca11umc75 :D
You’re missing a center cap. I’m putting one in the mail
Christopher Kirkman invoice him $100 he’d pay it
Not hero Tyler hoover needs but the one he deserves
Great video, here in the uk these cars are everywhere and parts are a lot cheaper.
That said, Fiat parts are generally pretty expensive and difficult to get ahold of as they always ship from Italy, and that's coming from a former Fiat owner in the UK!
$200 for a shifter, they must have seen you coming. It $28 on ebay. 🤣😂😅
For an abarth knob?
@@hackdeez1075 54 pounds for a new one here in uk. an yes its the abarth one
@@hackdeez1075 Hoovie just pays whatever the Wizard charges him. At this point he has bought that man an island in the Caribbean.
@@mcspooney He probably has 100 subs would would send him one for free if he just asked.
I think the $200 was for both the shifter and the emergency brake lever- the dog chewed both.
I own a 2013 Abarth like this, only in black. Recently I crashed it and the reparation costs are so steep mainly because you can't find parts for it anywhere. I don't live in the USA, but I'm forced to import almost everything from there and what do you know? There aren't parts for it even in the US.
The car has been in the shop for months waiting for the parts, however, I don't plan to sell this car anytime soon or even ever, it's the most fun I've had in a car and as said in the previous episode I'm sure one day it'll get the appreciation and love as a collector car. It defies all logic, I love it.
My wife bought one and we both love driving it. Heck I am selling my more practical Kia to make my wife's FIAT 500 my daily driver. (I took ownership of it)
read that fast and thought you wrote "my rally driver".
@@johnp556 Ironically I have wondered whether it would make for a decent amateur rally car. I mean the wheel base is pretty short
Better a 500k miles fiat abarth than a…. Kia…
I always thought the Fiat 500 was the most attractive car in this class, by far.
In the US it was the ONLY car in its class. But yes, everything inside and out is Italian art.
@@emjayay it went against the Mini Cooper
"this is the perfect winter beater.....I put Michelin Pilot sports on it..."
perfect way to crash it in the winter...
Daniel Hurley Since Fiat is Mediterranean, they used rubber fuel lines, and those are notorious for freezing in winter weather.
@@afa304 haha
@@weedmastersr haha
I thought the same....winter beater with summer-only tires?
Owns a Hummer and a Raptor.
Takes the Fiat in the snow.
Small cars are great in the snow. Their light weight makes it practically impossible to get stuck in one, provided you have good tires. Although, if a truck crashes into you and you're in a Fiat 500, that's another story.
Protector of the Republic not in Michelin sport tires 😂
Small cars are better in the snow. Those cars are only good for off roading
im pretty sure the hummer and the raptor suck in the snow. way too heavy.
Protector of the Republic Ehh. They are no match for a 4 WD truck or SUV in the snow. I live in PA and have had pretty much every type of vehicle there is and small fwd cars are certainly fine to get by with there’s not enough ground clearance to get through any substantial amount of snow, on top of that this one is even lower and has sport tires on it.
To be fair though, I think he was really meaning that he’ll have a car to drive after the snow has been cleared but there’s still salt, sand and gravel on the roads.
Abarth's are pretty popular in Europe. I know we love them here in the UK :)
Gofuckyourself Nicely YOU might feel like that but the amount of them you see on the roads really contradicts what you’re saying lol
Afaik the Fiats/Abarths in Europe are not the same that they are in the US. Different engine, gearbox, etc. And based on how bad reputation Fiat in general has in the US (well, at least based on RUclipsrs), I think the US versions have far inferior quality hardware.
@Gofuckyourself Nicely you mean the Ford Ka2 uses a Fiat platform. The Ford Ka2 is even built in a Fiat factory in Poland
Gofuckyourself Nicely you seem a very angry person. You also need to understand the difference between platform sharing where 2 or more manufactures share/develop a basic platform to cut costs to create their own cars and badge engineering where a global company will badge a car differently in different markets depending on brand recognition. The Fiat 500 is based on the panda platform and the KA then used it to save money.
Absolutely right about the Fiat 500. I had a turbo non abarth version. Loved that car. A drunk driver hit me and totaled it. I miss that car. I was gonna get another one this year and just found out it’s being pulled from the market.
These are amazing little cars, and now make for fantastic winter beaters and cheap runabouts. I want one.
Also, I agree. People largely are idiots, buying up all the CUVs and ignoring excellent cars such as the Abarth. You have made this automotive landscape for us, and damn you for it.
A Chevy Spark is a beater. This is an enthusiast Italian car that should be treated with respect. This is the Abarth version. But you're right, people are largely idiots and don't care or understand the racing history and tradition behind a legendary brand like this.
@@624radicalham I would run mine as my winter car happily. Save my Alfa Romeo for summer. Would rather run an Abarth as a winter car than a stupid Spark that's for sure!
@@ChaosphereIX Driving it in winter is fine. That's not treating it like a beater, which was my response to the OP. A person wants a beater, buy a fucking Spark not an Abarth 500.
Charlie Sheen racing one of these around in his house with his ankle monitor on was a hilarious commercial!
Lol who buys a complimentary latte? Its complimentary! 😂🤣
They are far more popular in Europe because they are perfect for the type of roads. In the UK I see them everywhere and aftermarket support is pretty good. You can lease a brand new 595 for about £180 a month here. On our narrow and twisty roads these small hot hatches are as quick as a supercar.
just as fun in America, have owned for awhile, never gets old
It’s funny that the whole car fits on your rug
I worked in a VW based garage in the 70s, and we could swap a motor in 35 minutes.
One time a woman was passing through and she blew the motor in her 66 Beetle. She had an appointment, so I lent her the motor out of my 66 Beetle so she wouldn't be late. 35 minutes later, out with the blown and in with my used, she was on her way. For my "sacrifice" my boss gave me a 1600 duel port head motor for a project I was working on.
Frank Galpin I still have my crooked 17/19 for the starters
I worked in a town called Bedrock a few thousand years ago and we were the motor. We could easily swap the motor in no time at all.
@@DoctorSkillz I feel so badly for your feet. The pounding your tootsies took just to propel you to the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes club to perform your duties as the Grand Poobah. Give a tip of the helmet to the boys there.
@@sammolloy1 The world's most popular handmade tool. I have never seen a genuine VW starter wrench.
Frank Galpin It’s Craftsman. The 19 end turns about 45° at 1 1/2” from the center of the box end. It shows no heat or tool marks. I’m thinking the more common U-shaped wrench might also work.
Hoovies wife puts away laundry
Hoovie- "ITS COMPLETELY SORTED !!!"
Chinese wife do laundry?....ooohh you bad racist --fukie sukie...
@@chadhaire1711 She's Vietnamese.
@@AWMJoeyjoejoe she is too fat for a Viet cong...they are skinny.
I had to guffaw when he said "happy ending" lol.....I know, I'm terrible hahaha
Hoovies parent in laws- "he no good" hoovie gives wife Mercedes and make 200k.. "welcome to family whiteboy"
You overpaid for that damn shifter
And the car, and all the other parts. $600 for an axle? Could have bought an entire parts car for that.
He overpays for everything. Why shouldn't he overpay for the shifter too?
Doesn’t he know about EBay Motors.
@@Kodachrome40 Midnight autos much cheaper.
I just went out and bought an Abarth for $4600 and I love it!
Lucky you , they are at least $11k now
@@jeff346 yes I paid 8k for a low mileage one in 2018 now I can re sell it for just as much. crazy
looking at a 32k mile one in 2024 for 11.5k. these things retain their value it seems
5:07 "The year 2019 had been kind of a genocide"... Just wait...
Psh - not even two whole months in, and 2021 has told '20 to hold it's beer, it's dick, and it's newly divorced wife.
@@vincedibona4687 and China went literal with the G word!
Driving that in winter, it’ll look like a snowball on the road.🇨🇦
i would love to see this car receive a professional paint correction and detail just to see how it turns out.
Well, it's a Fiat 500, so it's gonna be ugly no matter what the paint looks like.
Why not, it's already up to $7k, what's another few grand?
@@chuckschillingvideos shut your mouth
The weird non-factory graphics make my eyes switch. Would love to see the car get derailed and the original graphics put on it.
@@chuckschillingvideos Looks is in the eye of the beholder dummy.
I'd like to see hoovie fix a car for as cheap as possible just like the rest of us 😂 it'd be a good hooptie guide
yep, cheapest possible shady ignition coil packs from China on Ebay? I'll take them, sold! Saved me $20 over OEM.
Now finish it - order new carpeting, get the hand brake cover and the missing wheel hub cap on the right rear.....then send it to be detailed
Hey Hoover, I did the same for my winter beater! Except I bought a pristine 2013 500 Turbo with 25K miles for 4k! I immediately spent 3 grand on it on modifications (bilstein coilovers, k&n intake, catless downpipe, set of advanti storm wheels, front mount intercooler, various forge bits, and other odd ends...) and now I have.a 200+ hp little beast that is an absolute blast to drive.... and obviously is now absolutely un-drivable in winter.
Agreed with everything Hoovie said about the Abarth and our country’s sad, sad taste in vehicles. I wish we were able to import current production euro spec vehicles!!! Or just make a custom order from the manufacturer (not that I can afford any of them new-but the concept is what matters) is love to have a Mazda6 wagon manual 😍
I’m so early I got the title with the spelling error.
Same. Wonder when he'll fix it.
WHAT WAS IT
What was the error?
@@austrinivanderfanly745 "Fixing by Cheap Fiat 500 Abarth Was Pretty Easy, But Still EXPENSIVE!"
Normal boring typo, don't worry about it, ha.
Bevan Edwards lol I still thought it was funny. I just wanna to see how long before he noticed.
Why put those Pilot Sport tyres on for a “winter beater”. Why not fit winter tyres that might actually work in the snow or ice
Richard Major Well your first mistake is that you’re asking Tyler to do something logical
That's what I wanted to ask?
They're all season ones man they are meant for it two they multiple different types of pilot sports bro...
@@ScoobyShotU OK, again, why buy ALL SEASON tyres if it's a winter beater? ( all season are shit, not too good in the winter, not too good in the summer)
@@musimir1883 True! People do not often think about the fact that the rubber gets harder during cold. That's why you have dedicated winter tires ("friction tires" in northern Europe, that come without studs) when temperatures fall below 5-10°C. If you have tires that can deal with the cold, it usually means much higher wear during warm days.
--Michelin Pilot 4s tires
--Perfect winter beater
I think you have to pick one, Hoovie
Levi Hutchison
He installed Michelin Pilot Sport AS3 tires which are rated all season.
Except that all season performance tires are an oxymoron. At best those Pilots are a three season tire.
Original owner of a 2013 Abarth. Nero with the red stripes, 17" rims, leather, convenience package, Sirius. 6 years on and it still puts a huge smile on my face every time I drive it. Problems? 17" rims are easy to bend. I do not recommend the P-Zero Neros that come stock. A softer compound I believe will help save the rims. Bent rim lead to a worn wheel bearing. But I fixed it in my garage for $70. Getting all 4 rims straightened and painted black was $700. Driver floor mat wore through. Shift knob grey paint is wearing off. Hope to replace the shifter for less than $200. Other than that, stone cold reliable. If you can accept some of the cheap plastics, you won't have many complaints. I also bought factory black lighting all around for $700. Tinted the windows. It's murdered out now. I ran a 500 Madness piggy back box on it until the Chinese wiring harness crapped out. That combined with the "go-pedal", an adjustable TPS thingy, the car was a total hoot! I'd guess it peaked at 185hp or so. Albeit with the box removed power delivery is quite a bit smoother. I prefer. I can't recommend enough picking one of these up for between $6500 and $10,000. You cannot buy this much fun in a car for that kind of money. And Hoovie is totally correct that it's very usable. You'd be shocked at how much stuff you can put in the back of the thing. I love it. Car is a home run. American's are just automotively daft.
200 buck shifter?! DUDE!!
Yeah Hoovie's pretty smart according to the Wizard....dunno how. Maybe he earns heaps and this is a tax write-off?
Maloo230 ya he’s an idiot
he shops bent over lol
It's probably more than just the knob, the stock linkange & bushings are garbage. Replacing all of that ran me $200 and shifted sweet & positive after that.
chad haire who cares?
Perfect winter beater? Eeeh I think next we need a “worlds cheapest WRX”!
Yes and no, that'll blow a head gasket and cost more than this abarth. He doesnt live where there are mountains so he doesnt need AWD. The WRX is cool, but I see so damn many of them the content would be super boring for me.
Demarcus King hell no
In b4 title changed to "my" instead of "by"
crallen 1197 me too....!
Thanks for the shout out for the Volt, Tyler. on my 3rd.
3 year leases.
a 2019 LT, I will be keeping, for good.
I appreciate the love for the ford flex. I had one up to 120,000 miles when the suspension components started falling apart after the crazy expensive water pump replacement. toyota and honda for this guy.
To solve the smell you can by an Enerzen ozone generator off of Amazon.
Adding 2 or 3 big odor absorbers from the Walmart auto section worked for us- meat from the grocery store slid under the front seat in the middle of the summer and leaked onto the floor. Odor eliminator spray from a pet store also helps.
“The abarth is amazing”
*italian happiness noises*
Because it's a women's car...
@@jpoeste The 500 in general yes, here in Italy it's typically owned by women. But the fact that our cars are smaller it's great in 2 ways:
1 - one must be an idiot to go around with a 2t giant useless SUV/truck that drinks a huge amount of gas, on the slippery surfaces is a disaster and it doesn't handle well compared to any lighter sedan, just ro move around an 80kg ass.
2- in EU we have a thing called "history", something doesn't exist in the U.S. of A. Our cities have narrow streets. Try to get in the center of Parma with a giant 'murican car... Good luck with that.
Alex-GenTLe Yea most of our streets were made in the age of cars or other types of transit. But there are some exceptions like Boston, which has wide cobble roads.
Alex-GenTLe Geez at least try to
be a little more arrogantly insulting. You forgot to comment about McDonalds cheeseburgers and how stupid and uncouth we are too.
@@sunnydayz9032 there is really no such need, it stands out by its own ;)
Donut media: "USA never gets the good stuff"
USA: gets the good stuff... *people don't buy it*
Superkoopatrooper - The engine in that little Abarth is great, it can easily last 200K miles.
@@deerlord2363 I'll believe that when I see it.
@@JS-hw8ve I think you will. This engine in the Abarth edition is based on the FIRE engine, which has been around since 1985 and is quite reliable.
@@deerlord2363... what year is this one? Because it already needed enough work that it needed all the work listed in the article.
We didnt get the updates or the 595, 695, biposto, etc... I loved my Abarth but it would have been nice to get the hot ones.
I’m just glad we haven’t lost the entire Fiat lineup. FCA invested so much in to bringing them here, so I can’t imagine they’d drop the entire brand here.
At least Fiat is thriving across the Atlantic
Speaking from Italy here: FCA are a fucking bunch of retard. Not because of their purchase of the USA group, but:
- they stayed in IT until they were able to mug the country money threatening to send people home and close factories, then they moved to a fiscal paradise and killed nearly all the 3rd party italian supplier
- they have no idea of how to use their brands: they own Lancia, one of the greatest and more innovative brand of all the time (search for its history: they are those that invented the monocoque, the 1st independent suspensions on all wheels, the dion bridge transmission, the inboard brakes, the V engine -YES!-) and what are they doing with it? A damn egg-shaped Lancia Y. They practically killed it. They killed Innocenti, they killed De Tomaso, they killed Autobianchi (search A112 Abarth). They have not been able, like VW group did, to create a placement for each of them, for instance: utilitarian -> Fiat / Sporty -> Alfa / Elegant and luxurious -> Lancia / Electric and esperimental -> Autobianchi. No. All dead.
- they have no idea of the product: they are just money movers. Fiat brand is producing 3 cars. THREE!!! 500, made in Poland, Tipo, made in Turkey, and Panda (which is nearly EoL too). And Alfa? Giulietta is EoL and there will be no replacement, Giulia (yes, that's good!) and one of those stupid big SUV, the Stelvio. They can't survive.
And now they're partnering with Peugeot, hoping to be able to survive by sharing chassis between way too many cars that will be all the same.
I have a 2018 TD04 turbo swapped Abarth trofeo with 240bhp and the usual supporting mods, and it's absolutely hilarious fun, reliable, unassuming, 45mpg regardless how you drive...and it handles amazingly well.
They don't take themselves seriously, yet are very capable.
There's nothing else on the market that can complete, tiny, lightweight, and genuinely focused.
They probably don't suit the roads in the USA, but in Europe they're brilliant.
I feel like Tyler is the anti Scotty Kilmer.
That's a good thing. Scotty is an idiot.
@Joaquin Fernandez Dodge,Chevy,Ford, Izusu NPR with a chevy engine. I'm not a brand loyal twit, I buy what works and lasts for personal use and my business. Not everybody wants to drive a 94 toyota like Scotty and honestly he is out of touch with modern cars.
@@jkholley1118 Is he?. He would never invest that much in a Fiat 500 and neither would I.
@@georgeburks3755 And yet, there are groups and clubs full of people who love them. I guess they didn't get the memo that you and Scotty don't like them.
Scotty can kiss my butt. If Toyota doesn't make it he will find issues. He is a mechanic who doesn't like cars.
You’ve summed up why we have reached the beginning of end for cars: homogenization.
Nathan Johnson 👌🏻👆🏻
Honey “we” really “need” an Abarth
Take out the quotes
Honey? Really? An Abarth?
Lol
Does his mail order bride speak English?
Yes you really need FIAT Abarth 500 500X or L or 124 Spider good cars
Maybe old Fiat is not reliable but coming and new Fiat products are way reliable
my Fiat Punto is 2008 model done 1,98,111 miles still runs as strong almost new never break down
Twice my vw polo break down first vw polo got ecu failure and electronic failure
Second in winter when we were in Ladakh battery dead of new vw polo car we jump start by cable that we connect to Our Fiat Punto Battery
Back in the day, late sixtys, I worked for a designer who had accumulated some early sixtys Abarths. Seven hundred fifty cc. with a single Weber carb. About one forth smaller than what they are now, and a kick to drive. About the same time he bought a 1958 Ferrari 250 Tour de France, for around seven thousand dollars. Those were the days when most exotic european cars were just not on the radar.
Cheers
Have a 2013 Abarth with 157,000 miles , except for needing a timing belt and a water pump ASAP - has been pretty reliable.
"rapid depreciation rapidly decreased the value of these things." ... thanks for that info hoovie.
Can you do a cheapest winter beater? If so, let it be Audi Quattro!
This was a great video with a lot of heart in it. Thanks for your openness and passion man!! Cheers
Thank you for explaining to people how nice this car actually is I got one and i love it thank you fiat for bringing this car to the usa
Hey, I own a 1963 Beetle that belonged to my grandfather, it has its original engine, never opened or refurbrished, original paint, everything, and it is immaculate! It has 45k original miles, and starts every time I go drive it which is every month or month and a half. Those engines are built to last!
You need to do a co-production with AMMO NYC on this !
Mr Ammo would probably repaint the wheels his details are so meticulous
@@CRAPO2011 He'd repaint them by hand with a brush while talking about it for 6 hours calling it a 'touch-up detail" and they'd end up looking like crap.
600 dollar CV shaft! 😳
In UK 🇬🇧 & Europe, Fiat 500 parts are plentiful & cheap (pattern or aftermarket parts)... it's a very popular car 🚗 in UK!
"reliable American cars" - that's the first time I've heard that phrase, without a 'not' attached somewhere.
Yeah it's kind of an oxymoron "reliable American" anything.
@Death trooper most American cars can't hold a candle to most European cars in terms of finish or reliability. Interiors in particular are something US manufacturers never get right, made of the cheapest plastics and faux leather they fall apart within 30k of driving, the switch gear fails just as quickly and while the engines may be reasonably reliable they are thirsty and underpowered. And with so basic running gear you would think it would be reliable and reasonably comfortable, but no, how can they mess up suspension so badly it handles like a brick on a rollerskate while wallowing like a 400lb person on a trampoline?
@Death trooper Our european cars in Europe are very reliable. vw bmw mercedes renault peugeot opel taxis, most have well over 400.000 kilometers. That is because our cars are manufactured in Europe where the quality control are high standards. Where the american market european cars are made in mexico and other 3th world country's where the quality control is very low.
@@ErraticPT Dude. My Mercedes has left me stranded WAY more than my Ford has... and my Ford has 60,000 more miles on its odometer.
Bashing the reliability of American cars just shows how ignorant people are.
Aside from Toyota vehicles a majority of America vehicles are as reliable or more so then their competition.
Asian cars are not as bullet proof as urban legend suggests.
When a American or European car has a issue it is a POS.
If a Asian car has a problem it is unavoidable because nothing is perfect.
Look how far you’ve come, in only 4 years,
Fan for life, keep up the amazing content
Thanks for the positive review on the abarth. They are great cars and extremely fast/fun when you modify them. Let me know if we can do anything for you with your Abarth.
I bought a 500e and it's pretty fun too!
Lives in Kansas, put Michelin Pilot sports on it. “Perfect winter beater.”
It's hard to imagine that a cheap city car needs summer and winter tires...
They’re A/S 3 tires. All season, not summer.
@@CapELarry 3 season tires hence the 3
Who spends $200 on a stock shift knob??
Hoovie does.
This show is really cathartic. Watching this reminds me of all the times I had huge expenses from a mechanic, except here it's even more money and it's not me.
I loved my Fiat Uno, it was the best car I ever had. Made so many road trips all over Europe with it. And it was realy reliable, no issues at all. I sold it for a bigger more luxury car when the Uno was 16 years old. It was still in a great shape. No tust no issues, it was just great.
My sister drives her Fiat 500 since 10 years without any issues neither.
My father drove a Fiat in the 70's as well and he was a car engineer. He always said it was the best car he ever had. He made a 6.000 miles trip in those days with it and had zero problems. The reputation of Fiat is out here in Germany not very good as well but most germans still think that Our cars are the best in the world. 😂 And so thinks the german motor press as well.
Hoovie: “The Chevy Volt was the best enthusiast electric car.”
*Tesla Fans Triggered*
“Enthusiast HYBRID car.”
He said best entusiest hybrid.
Triggered!
His English professor would have a heart attack....
jca998 He probably would. 🤔 Statistically speaking, everyone is at risk of a heart attack. It’s the #1 killer in American’s males.
Those Pilot Sports are perfect winter tires! lol
Get it detailed and you’ll have a great car.
Pablo Chappelli remove the seats, strip the floor down to the sticky sound deadener pads, pour in some Fabuloso and put a new carpet in it. Or drill drain holes and spray truck bedliner in it
nobody maybe bought it in the USA but here in Italy, it's a classic. This car, if you keep it for a few years, will never lose money, prices are already rising. Abarth cars from the 70's and 80's are fetching silly money now. buy you parts directly from Italy. They're undesctructable and a lot of fun...
I bought some Achilles all season tires for my 500 for $200 from Amazon. A complete set! 3000 miles into those tires and I can tell you that they are actually much better than the factory junk that Fiat put on this car. They perform better than the factory tires did when new. And at only $200 for a complete set, I don't care if they wear out at 20k miles.
I kind of get sick of hearing "It's our fault, we should have bought more of these". A lot of us still love sports cars, we still buy them. It's "their" fault. I always felt a car could be an extension of your personality, just like clothing for some. Back when I was a kid in the early 80s, sports cars were mainstream. Now they are not. Everyone I work with would rather have the same bland car over and over. Nothing makes one cross-over different from another. Cell phones used to be unique, but then they all became the same. Cars seemed to follow suit. I think maybe it's just the times we are in... I wonder what will become bland next...
@Joseph G You Sir Are a Statesman!
That's sad you don't care about it. I love those little cars
He only claims to not care... yet he puts new tires on it and a $200 shift knob. It's entertaining to watch him "not care" about any of his cars while spending thousands of dollars on each one.
Living near Italy it seems hilarious to consider Fiat parts expensive and hard to get. Here they're the cheap reliable ones
Lol reliable and fiat? like when fiat bought Chrysler. Quality went wayyy down
Yung Eagle 200.000 km in this car is no problem if you threat it right
@@davevanderham998 but 300.000km/h and its dead :D it cant go like a VW Golf MK2
@@Justice-qw7sj My Brothers (driving school) Abarth is about to hit 400,000km (250,000 miles), & is still mechanically great .. Head never been off, sump never been off, gearbox never been apart, original turbo/throttle body/exhaust/AC compressor etc, in fact the whole car is 97% original... Its broken down twice in its life, once with a broken hose clip on the thermostat, & once with a fuse.. And that's it.. And no, its not a Mk2 Golf, as in it makes you smile & feel joy every time you drive it, not boredom..
@@MrPabsUk Abarth cant go offroad like the Golf MK2 can..
A little white car in the snow? Perfect choice to blend in, when driving I would be more vigilant than usual if i were you. You do not want to find yourself stuck in the radiator grille of one of the SUVs, lol. Joking aside, I love the 500 abarth and I totally agree with you on all points made. Keep it up.
I had a 2015 500 Abarth, was a fun car, had some build quality issues but never broke down. I sold it (for 1/2 what I paid) because the dealers in my area all suck, it was so hard to get anything done, even scheduling an oil change was difficult.
Where do you live with these dealer problems?
@@stevenpollard5171 Denver suburbs
“Happy ending” well I guess that sorta depends on how this video ends after the filming stops! Ha! I Kid, love ya hoovie!
Jesus, your "Winter beater" is what I consider my only car to last like 8 years...sheesh
It will Make it.
Me too man! Haha 🤣🤣🤣
My leased 2014 Abarth made a great winter beater/daily driver/track toy. I never did an oil change myself, I took one look at the oil filter location and said naaaah! I kept a set of dedicated snow/steelies and swapped them each winter/spring. Poetic justice: it was leased turned in on a flat bed truck due to broken shift linkage which I had covered under warranty but I also had less than 30 days left in my lease and didn’t want to keep paying for the high insurance.
I narrowed it down to the Fiesta ST, or the Abarth. I threw caution to the wind and bought the Fiat. GREAT car, I made the right choice. Everytime it backfires and farts I get happy. Two years later, dead reliable. Even I was surprised by that.
Review your Pilot Sports in the snow.
I love these little cars, I would really appreciate a 2019 TT RS 5 Cylinder. However, as hoovie stated, No one can take my 2005 Chevy Tahoe from me; I just can't seem to let that go. Murica'!
Buy an Ionizer from amazon, throw it in overnight. (or a couple of days.) no more smell!
did you look at those floors? it looks like teenagers were in there barfing after a keger party
greg h the ionizer seems to do the trick no matter what.
Put a Polecat in There.
@@len-zeplin480 I haven't heard of that...
whats that?
@@TheXoomfarr Polecat = Skunk. (Also would work no matter what)
I like the advice about having a winter beater. My 269,500 mile BMW 328i is definitely going to be my winter duty car this season. Have to keep the nice cars out of the salt here in New England!!
Hoovie uping the production value with those following driving shots. Nice!
Same with the volvo c30, but was discontinued back in like 2014
The "problem" I see with cars like the Fiat 500, and the Beetle is that they tried to make a car like the old car that everyone loved, and then put modern front-wheel drive, front-engine into a car that was always, and should have stayed rear-engine, rear-wheel drive.
That fiat has more soul then anything in your garage
Amen
It's a Fiat Panda with different bodywork
I have a 2013 500C... my daughters car really. It is so much fun to drive. Never a single problem.
The smell is from the AC. Early models has issues with the drainage hose pouring into the cabin under the carpet. Mold is an issue.
It's only used to transport his child no worries it will ensure she has a strong immune system or he could come about a more unique one that stinks
"Hmmm I need good winter tires for my beater.... I know, Michelin Pilot Sport summer tires!"
Hey at least we have the 124! I love my fiata.
Lmao I'm buying one and calling it this. Because I've always love Miatas, have a 500 rn so it would only be perfect xD
"it's the perfect winter beater" *puts summer tires on*
Welcome to America!
*fixes A/C*
a/s 3 are all seasons
I live in the KC area and it's snowing now. I wish I had a winter beater. But instead I got a 19 Fiesta ST Line. They quit making Fiestas back in May and what dealers have is all they're going to have of them. My wife drives on 06 Expedition 2 WD with off road tires. I told her "good luck getting around in it."
I noticed several enthusiast channels use the Chevy Volt as a primary daily driver i.e. Watch JRGo....they are fun to drive.