Too many people get hung on things such as power ratings or their preconceived notions of the 500. Those people have obvious not driven one, and thus don't understand the pure, unadulterated joy that a good driving vehicle can provide. The car-driver connection the Fiat has is flippin' fantastic! All you haters need to go drive one before talking any more smack.
And there are some things that reviewers never mention, but are first things you notice when you go to the dealership: 1) It has a laughably huge 36.7 foot turning radius (not a typo) making U-Turns a challenge 2) To fold the back seats forward you have to push the front seats forward first, and even then can't push them back very far 3) Rear headrests are non-removable and jab you in the back, and anyone 5'11 or taller will hit their head and can't have legs if front passengers are 6'00+.
Glad you asked, Andrew…to be honest, I review lots’a things - one thing Roman didn’t include was Fiat’s optional (but unlisted) ‘Farsi una Canna™" kit - after a quick install by my errant brother-in-law, it really brings out the full driving experience and you even start to think, "Let’s get…small!" It’s currently available in CA, WA & CO…I encourage you to check it out…but I’ll leave the real reviews to the team here. Before I forget. Or something.
It's the exhaust note not the engine note! My old 2.2 NA Subie had a nice engine note and I know that because it had a bog standard replacement exhaust. Fiat went to great lengths to make this car sound like it does and it has very little to do with the engine and a lot with the fancy exhaust.
Roman, I am looking for a fun sporty car but I need to drive it everyday and I commute into NYC two days a week. Would you recommend a 500c Abarth? I know the front wheels are cambered so does that mean I will running through Pirellis every six months?
I'd have to drive both an Abarth and a Turbo to make sure the difference was enough to warrant the Abarth's additional 7' of turning radius. It seems to be common for small fwd cars with sport suspensions to turn in the space of a SUV. Unless I move from the city.
I believe they count the track width as the centerline of the tires relative to the height. So mirrors and the like sticking out don't do anything for stability under high G-forces made possible by slicks or ditching sideways off the track into the grass where the high drag can flip cars with a high COG. Otherwise the SCCA wouldn't have banned it from competition, just like the Dodge Caliber it was too tall and considered too high a roll risk on slicks.
Yogi, *it should* be an option, right? Especially when the ‘road-rage’ light goes on….or the ‘happy face’ lamp - glad to know you’re right there with me. I am your faithful co-pilot… :)
I Daily an Abarth and the Seating position is so upright and the suspension is so tight then the wheelbase is so short while the Turbo is so Torquey that this is a fun car to drive.
Check out the reviews for the 500C. Basically, you can hardly see anything out the back when the soft-top is lowered all the way down. In that situation you're effectively blind when it comes to rear vision, so you'd have to adjust your side mirrors to compensate.
The measurements I got are excluding the side mirrors. Google search 500 Abarth Height and you can get the PDF from Chrysler's corp site. The SCCA has allowed the Abarth into the G stock class, but the regular 500 is not allowed.
There's no competition. The Abarth is taller than it is wide, has a short wheelbase which makes attitude control tricky, its FWD so the front tires tend to get hot and overworked, the rotors have limited mass and will fade quickly, it has a lower power to weight ratio, its less aerodynamic, and the Abarth has a twist beam rear axle with limited front suspension travel and narrower tires. It wouldn't stand a chance, but Abarth shoppers don't compare to BRZs, they compare to Fiesta STs, etc.
The Abarth is actually wider than it is taller, by about 6", not much I know, but still. Everything else you said was on the nose and you're right about the low amount of people who would cross shop BUT these guys do "Mash ups" where they pit cars against each other that normally would be compared.
The fanbois too though need to step back and make a more critical comparison, and actually drive a Ford Focus and Mini Cooper S after driving the Abarth. Just as the Ford Focus ST handles FAR better than the Fiesta ST, it really is night and day compared to the Abarth. The reason is simple, more suspension travel with a multilink (instead of twistbeam rear), and longer wheelbase helps it feel far more planted, especially if the roads aren't perfect where the Abarth suspension tends to "crash"
Honestly, no one knows how to pronounce it. We've asked Fiat three different times and we've gotten three different answers. I know the guy was Austrian but the name gets mangled when it goes from Austria, to Italy to America.
0:26 Wait, what? $200,000? Have you never heard a Mustang GT or a Corvette when the electronic muffler bypass kicks in? This doesn't sound much different from my Dodge SRT-4, which also was designed without mufflers but is a bit deeper since its a 2.4 liter four banger.
Fiat marketing guys won't have a clue. Its pronounced aah-bart, because he's Austrian. I'm a German and a better source than an American asking some Italians how to pronounce a Germanic name. Now its confusing because he changed his first name from Karl to Carlo to help be accepted in Italy, but the last name is German and should be pronounced accordingly.
1:50 This is not a good car for tracking, because its currently banned by the SCCA from competition. I wish these reviewers would do a little more research. Any vehicle that has a roof height wider than its track has to have a roll rating tested below 1.3. Fiat still to this day won't provide that information, possibly because it fails, so you will never be able to mount track tires. Street tires get DESTROYED by real track racing which is pricey, and have poor performance when very hot.
Camaro, Mustang, Corvette V8's all have a MUCH better exhaust note than any 4-banger. Laughable that statement is made, i just lost a lot of respect for this channel
Best sounding car without paying over $200,000.....WTF are you kidding or on drugs. It sounds like shit. In fact is sounds like a 20yo corolla with a sick engine and a busted exhaust system. And it's not even a real convertible in fact by a hatch back with a fully length glass roof and then remove it along with the rear hatch and whack on a cheap and nasty cloth roof and bingo you have this.
Italian, not. Body maybe, but that's a fiat motor which equals= lots of shop time being fixed (Fix It Again Tony). Oh, and a 0.82 g skid pad. A 1980 Cadillac handles better.
Too many people get hung on things such as power ratings or their preconceived notions of the 500. Those people have obvious not driven one, and thus don't understand the pure, unadulterated joy that a good driving vehicle can provide. The car-driver connection the Fiat has is flippin' fantastic! All you haters need to go drive one before talking any more smack.
Drove the coupe version of this car, it's an absolute joy to drive around.
he said it wasnt a review because he already reviewed it. He's just having fun in a fun to drive car.
And there are some things that reviewers never mention, but are first things you notice when you go to the dealership:
1) It has a laughably huge 36.7 foot turning radius (not a typo) making U-Turns a challenge
2) To fold the back seats forward you have to push the front seats forward first, and even then can't push them back very far
3) Rear headrests are non-removable and jab you in the back, and anyone 5'11 or taller will hit their head and can't have legs if front passengers are 6'00+.
Even though the FLC calls it a convertible in the title and review, Fiat officially calls it a Cabriolet, which it embodies perfectly
Fiat should really make this their commercial for the arbath. It makes me want to buy one. Good review!
Favorite episode to date, great work Roman, keep it up!...
You should have no problems tires. We love the abarth. Go for it.
Glad you asked, Andrew…to be honest, I review lots’a things - one thing Roman didn’t include was Fiat’s optional (but unlisted) ‘Farsi una Canna™" kit - after a quick install by my errant brother-in-law, it really brings out the full driving experience and you even start to think, "Let’s get…small!" It’s currently available in CA, WA & CO…I encourage you to check it out…but I’ll leave the real reviews to the team here. Before I forget. Or something.
It's the exhaust note not the engine note! My old 2.2 NA Subie had a nice engine note and I know that because it had a bog standard replacement exhaust. Fiat went to great lengths to make this car sound like it does and it has very little to do with the engine and a lot with the fancy exhaust.
Great review. I rented one and drove all around northern Italy. The 595 model. What a fun car. I think I'm going to buy one. Smiles and sound.
I did the same thing and did buy a 2015 cabrio. Cheers.
this looks sooooo fun!!!!! its now one of my favorite videos!!!
Me too i wish there could be a RWD or AWD option! Nice video roman!
hey roman I live in southern California and was wondering if it were your money would you buy the hardtop or the cabrio as a daily driver
Amazing exhaust note from a 4banger. Love it
Roman, I am looking for a fun sporty car but I need to drive it everyday and I commute into NYC two days a week. Would you recommend a 500c Abarth? I know the front wheels are cambered so does that mean I will running through Pirellis every six months?
I'd have to drive both an Abarth and a Turbo to make sure the difference was enough to warrant the Abarth's additional 7' of turning radius. It seems to be common for small fwd cars with sport suspensions to turn in the space of a SUV. Unless I move from the city.
What an incredible sound track!
I believe they count the track width as the centerline of the tires relative to the height. So mirrors and the like sticking out don't do anything for stability under high G-forces made possible by slicks or ditching sideways off the track into the grass where the high drag can flip cars with a high COG.
Otherwise the SCCA wouldn't have banned it from competition, just like the Dodge Caliber it was too tall and considered too high a roll risk on slicks.
Yogi, *it should* be an option, right? Especially when the ‘road-rage’ light goes on….or the ‘happy face’ lamp - glad to know you’re right there with me. I am your faithful co-pilot… :)
I Daily an Abarth and the Seating position is so upright and the suspension is so tight then the wheelbase is so short while the Turbo is so Torquey that this is a fun car to drive.
Check out the reviews for the 500C. Basically, you can hardly see anything out the back when the soft-top is lowered all the way down. In that situation you're effectively blind when it comes to rear vision, so you'd have to adjust your side mirrors to compensate.
Any good driver only uses the side mirrors anyway right?
The measurements I got are excluding the side mirrors. Google search 500 Abarth Height and you can get the PDF from Chrysler's corp site.
The SCCA has allowed the Abarth into the G stock class, but the regular 500 is not allowed.
You have to get the stripper models for it to be good value. An Abarth 500 starts at $22k MSRP. His test car was full loaded and was a convertible.
There's no competition. The Abarth is taller than it is wide, has a short wheelbase which makes attitude control tricky, its FWD so the front tires tend to get hot and overworked, the rotors have limited mass and will fade quickly, it has a lower power to weight ratio, its less aerodynamic, and the Abarth has a twist beam rear axle with limited front suspension travel and narrower tires.
It wouldn't stand a chance, but Abarth shoppers don't compare to BRZs, they compare to Fiesta STs, etc.
The Abarth is actually wider than it is taller, by about 6", not much I know, but still. Everything else you said was on the nose and you're right about the low amount of people who would cross shop BUT these guys do "Mash ups" where they pit cars against each other that normally would be compared.
Is that Nathan sitting next to you? I miss him. Oh yeah, such a fun little car.
Still think you guys need to do a BRZ/FRS vs Abarth 500 mashup!!!! Who will win? FWD madness versus RWD sharpness!?
2:50 - 2:56 LOL!!! "yea woooo did u hear that backfire, Oh My God!!! OH NO stop sign"
i did 17k on my pirellis. but then i did some auto crossing also. now. i got federal evo 595, which performed as well, even a bit better.
Want this car so much...
The fanbois too though need to step back and make a more critical comparison, and actually drive a Ford Focus and Mini Cooper S after driving the Abarth.
Just as the Ford Focus ST handles FAR better than the Fiesta ST, it really is night and day compared to the Abarth. The reason is simple, more suspension travel with a multilink (instead of twistbeam rear), and longer wheelbase helps it feel far more planted, especially if the roads aren't perfect where the Abarth suspension tends to "crash"
Honestly, no one knows how to pronounce it. We've asked Fiat three different times and we've gotten three different answers. I know the guy was Austrian but the name gets mangled when it goes from Austria, to Italy to America.
since when is the aventador or veyron a race car?
Sorry typo, I meant 37.6 foot turning radius... I'm dyslexic!!!
This may be the only car I would correctly guess in a 6 second exhaust note video...
0:26 Wait, what? $200,000? Have you never heard a Mustang GT or a Corvette when the electronic muffler bypass kicks in?
This doesn't sound much different from my Dodge SRT-4, which also was designed without mufflers but is a bit deeper since its a 2.4 liter four banger.
oh really? What is it called?
Love my Abarth 595 Competizione. :D
oh my that engine sounds good!
Don't the dealerships charge you extra cause this car is so rare? I would wait a year or two if I brought one.
uhh have you ever driven a Smart ForTwo? I'd say that's a whole lot worse. This car is a solid value.
review 2013 MKZ pl0x
Another car I would like to have for a week or weekend but, would not buy. Roman is having too much fun.
Is reviewing cars your full time job?
Are you sure about that optional? Cause in italian, farsi una canna, means to smoke (or just roll) a joint, sounds pretty funny to me!!
Roman, your big hair fits with the top down! No wonder you like this one so kuch!
I would've rather seen the view out the front window instead of looking at the driver's face the whole time.
You guys tested a Jaguar XF Type-R V8 it is equally as good for way more money.
Where's Nathan?
sweet little car
I love this car!!!!!!!
I love it!!
Fiat marketing guys won't have a clue. Its pronounced aah-bart, because he's Austrian. I'm a German and a better source than an American asking some Italians how to pronounce a Germanic name.
Now its confusing because he changed his first name from Karl to Carlo to help be accepted in Italy, but the last name is German and should be pronounced accordingly.
I want one in Black
Did he just say the best sounding exhaust under 200k have you never heard an AMG or an M
6 years later the best sounding exhaust under 100k miles for 7k
$29.000.00 for a 500c? fiat is out of their minds with this one!! the dealerships are ghost towns here. lol
1:50 This is not a good car for tracking, because its currently banned by the SCCA from competition. I wish these reviewers would do a little more research.
Any vehicle that has a roof height wider than its track has to have a roll rating tested below 1.3. Fiat still to this day won't provide that information, possibly because it fails, so you will never be able to mount track tires.
Street tires get DESTROYED by real track racing which is pricey, and have poor performance when very hot.
poor Christian - by the way... is he with the Fiat division?
but i would still buy one.
ahahahahah i guess you're blazed right now
Nice
I would never buy one but i would drive one if I won it on that tv show with thebald black guy.
RWD or FWD? Or even AWD??? :D
hell of fun car. i love it. :-)
Dat exhaust 3
It's slowly becoming an advertisement channel of FIAT-Chrysler group.
That's great for Mr Bean! And who asked you for your opinion anyway?
0:23 under two hundred thousand dollars lol
im good dude, thanks tho...
I like the car but that thing sounds like a flipping diesel when it Idlles man that is bad
2013 car with like no lcd screen or anything like that.? lol
You mispronounced "Abarth". It's not "uh-BART", it's "AH-bart". ::sigh::
Camaro, Mustang, Corvette V8's all have a MUCH better exhaust note than any 4-banger. Laughable that statement is made, i just lost a lot of respect for this channel
Das Auto ist super geil, aber das Video und der Reporter kannst du in die Wüste schicken !
you forgot to mention cheap plastic feel.
Find one with a blown engine and replace it with a Suzuki hayabusa engine and then you have something to work with
***much
Lame! I wouldn't be caught in this Mr Bean car if you paid me!
half convertible
"Worst car ever", that does make you sound pretty biased. Because lets face it, it's not.
they made it less track worthy? bunch of pansies at fiat sell the company to vw already my jetta sounds better than that beato
Abarth ... convertible? My god, why not get the auto to you girl.
I don't know what people see in the Fiat 500 (even the Abarth), they are ugly as can be.
Come test drive my 92 VW GTI 16v with all Neuspeed suspension, KW coil overs, Techtonics Exhaust, Borla muffler..
All bark, no bite" sounds like the old SRT4's.
Best sounding car without paying over $200,000.....WTF are you kidding or on drugs. It sounds like shit. In fact is sounds like a 20yo corolla with a sick engine and a busted exhaust system. And it's not even a real convertible in fact by a hatch back with a fully length glass roof and then remove it along with the rear hatch and whack on a cheap and nasty cloth roof and bingo you have this.
wtf... do you even lift?
Its too small and not very good looking. I would never own personally
Italian, not. Body maybe, but that's a fiat motor which equals= lots of shop time being fixed (Fix It Again Tony). Oh, and a 0.82 g skid pad. A 1980 Cadillac handles better.
Awesome!...
But it still looks like a chick's car. :0/
R u seriouse??? It sounds like garbage