Fiat 500 Abarth

[TheAdvocate]

Europeans drive twisty roads. Americans drive lots of highway miles. 500 makes sense as a city car in America, but not as a highway cruiser.

And no way in hell I'd drive a crap handling POS gas guzzling RWD American muscle car.

I'd rather get a Japanese or German RWD monster.

 

[Doppel]

And no way in hell I'd drive a crap handling POS gas guzzling RWD American muscle car.

Have you ever actually driven one? I've spent only highly limited time in them and they are extremely fun, especially for the money. There is nothing from Europe that can even clean the dirt off a Mustang GT's feet for anywhere close to the same amount of money in anything but the most ridiculous of circumstances (maybe around a parking lot autoX for example).

 

[JulesMaximus]

Have you ever actually driven one? I've spent only highly limited time in them and they are extremely fun, especially for the money. There is nothing from Europe that can even clean the dirt off a Mustang GT's feet for anywhere close to the same amount of money in anything but the most ridiculous of circumstances (maybe around a parking lot autoX for example).

What a dumb argument. As if anyone is going to cross shop a Fiat Abarth and a Mustang GT. Christ, they are $10,000 apart in cost. 🙄

No idea why. I am sure even prius drivers think a guy in a 500 is a pussy. Would drive a scion iq way before one. Remember the jlo ad?

Another dumb statement. 🙄🙄🙄

I'm curious why you guys feel so threatened by this car? Compensating for something perhaps? :sneaky:

 

[Throckmorton]

Europeans drive twisty roads. Americans drive lots of highway miles. 500 makes sense as a city car in America, but not as a highway cruiser.

And no way in hell I'd drive a crap handling POS gas guzzling RWD American muscle car.

I'd rather get a Japanese or German RWD monster.

I bet that in a $23k V6 Camaro I could beat a similarly unskilled 500 Abarth driver on a road course

 

[JulesMaximus]

I bet that in a $23k V6 Camaro I could beat a similarly unskilled 500 Abarth driver on a road course

But could you park it at the local hipster hangout and look cool getting out of it? I think NOT! :sneaky: 😎

 

[Throckmorton]

But could you park it at the local hipster hangout and look cool getting out of it? I think NOT! :sneaky: 😎

You're implying that hipsters think the Abarth is cool... I doubt that. The only cars they think are cool are subway cars.

Well, maybe they like "vintage" Beetles etc.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Someone who wants to get more than 18mpg? V6 Camaro starts at the price of an optioned Abarth. I would argue that the Fiat probably has more useful room inside it too.

Talk about a guido car. I think the Camaro has always cornered that market.

The V6 Mustang gets 30mpg which is much more impressive seeing it has close to double the horsepower of the Abarth and is a much larger vehicle.

 

[JulesMaximus]

You're implying that hipsters think the Abarth is cool... I doubt that. The only cars they think are cool are subway cars.

Well, maybe they like "vintage" Beetles etc.

As if you would know what hipsters like... 😎

 

[JulesMaximus]

The V6 Mustang gets 30mpg which is much more impressive seeing it has close to double the horsepower of the Abarth and is a much larger vehicle.

😀 LOL!!! I love how everyone posts the best mileage a car gets when they post these stats.

Ford Mustang Coupe (V6 engine) gets 19mpg city.

I suppose if you leave your house in a rural area of a flyover state and you drive 50mph along a flat country road to your job milking cows 30 miles away, never slowing or stopping once along the way, you might get 30mpg but in the city you'll never see mileage anywhere close to that.

You are right about one thing though, the Mustang is a much larger vehicle... 1000lbs larger.

 

[Doppel]

What a dumb argument. As if anyone is going to cross shop a Fiat Abarth and a Mustang GT. Christ, they are $10,000 apart in cost. 🙄

You're better than this; I never said, nor implied anybody would cross-shop a Mustang GT with an Abarth., nor do I think many would cross-shop a V6 Mustang or Camaro with one.

Another dumb statement. 🙄🙄🙄

I'm curious why you guys feel so threatened by this car? Compensating for something perhaps? :sneaky:

You're better than this; the "compensating" argument is so, so tired. The 500 is a chick car, don't like it, too bad. Just as the Camaro is "Talk about a guido car." this is "Talk about a chick car.". Just like the Miata (though a good driving car) and the Beetle are chick cars so is this. To pretend otherwise is intentional ignorance and you spend too long at the garage to pretend certain cars don't portray a persona. the 500's is a chick car. Hell, even existence of this thread discussing the matter makes it so. The Mini is another chick car. I can't tell you how many people at work made fun of a guy who bought one.

Time to get some owning down and shut this nonsense down:
http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2011/05/2012-fiat-500-sport-is-it-just-for-girls.html

Judging from your comments in the intro post of our 2012 Fiat 500, a lot of you believe it's a "girl's car." Well, considering they came out with this pink "ode to Barbie" version in January and the Fiat 500 by Gucci this week, you may be on to something. Squeee! It's so cute and stylish!

http://www.autospies.com/news/Has-F...500-And-Made-It-The-Ultimate-Chick-Car-51247/

Americans have always bestowed little cars with the infamous "chick car" status.

Cars like Volkswagen's Eos, the MINI Cooper and the Smart ForTwo have all come under such heat. But, the Fiat 500 has taken it to another level.

It doesn't even matter if the Abarth is a strong performing car for its price (I don't really know if it is, nor car, as it's a chick car and I wouldn't buy it anyway, and neither will almost everybody in this thread ever buy one). Chick car status rises above that, just as the Miata, renowned as the best handling car in its price range and fun, also is a chick car (I'd still drive one, but I'd know it's a chick car).

 

[JulesMaximus]

You're better than this; I never said, nor implied anybody would cross-shop a Mustang GT with an Abarth., nor do I think many would cross-shop a V6 Mustang or Camaro with one.You're better than this; the "compensating" argument is so, so tired. The 500 is a chick car, don't like it, too bad. Just as the Camaro is "Talk about a guido car." this is "Talk about a chick car.". Just like the Miata (though a good driving car) and the Beetle are chick cars so is this. To pretend otherwise is intentional ignorance and you spend too long at the garage to pretend certain cars don't portray a persona. the 500's is a chick car. Hell, even existence of this thread discussing the matter makes it so. The Mini is another chick car. I can't tell you how many people at work made fun of a guy who bought one.

Time to get some owning down and shut this nonsense down:
http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2011/05/2012-fiat-500-sport-is-it-just-for-girls.html


http://www.autospies.com/news/Has-F...500-And-Made-It-The-Ultimate-Chick-Car-51247/


It doesn't even matter if the Abarth is a strong performing car for its price (I don't really know if it is, nor car, as it's a chick car and I wouldn't buy it anyway, and neither will almost everybody in this thread ever buy one). Chick car status rises above that, just as the Miata, renowned as the best handling car in its price range and fun, also is a chick car (I'd still drive one, but I'd know it's a chick car).

To pretend it matters is what I object to.

Like I said earlier, my manliness is not defined by the car I drive. You know what a real man is? Someone who provides for his family, spends time with his kids, and is a good father. He probably drives a mini-van. How's that for manly?

 

[manimal]

To pretend it matters is what I object to.

Like I said earlier, my manliness is not defined by the car I drive. You know what a real man is? Someone who provides for his family, spends time with his kids, and is a good father. He probably drives a mini-van. How's that for manly?

I approve this message!

 

[Insomniator]

I approve this message!

That message works for adult men with families. You drive one of those cars when you are 20 and its quite a different situation. None of my friends (age 25) understand why I bought a mini instead of... ANY other car. Now I'm comfortable knowing that I love the car (and loved my weird old Turbo Volvo before it) and bought it for the driving experience.

The mini and the abarth are certainly not 'chick magnets' as they say. I'm not really going for the girls that put a high amount of importance on the car a guy drives so it doesn't matter.

 

[AMDZen]

To pretend it matters is what I object to.

Like I said earlier, my manliness is not defined by the car I drive. You know what a real man is? Someone who provides for his family, spends time with his kids, and is a good father. He probably drives a mini-van. How's that for manly?

I agree with this, but a real man should have a weekend toy too 😛

Plus, not everyone wants a family or kids. I will never have kids because I don't want them, and society along with this generation is moving toward a lot of people not having kids. So what about them?

As I've already laid out, this car is being marketed not only just to men as I've given all the evidence you need to see, but obviously to the young male. Young men in this day and age are mostly single, people aren't marrying in their young 20's anymore. Meaning this car is being marketed heavily to bachelor's and single men even more then just men as a whole.

And frankly, this car is simply marketing to the wrong demographic. I'm sure I'll be proven right when Fiat's sales blow and they move out of the American market once again.

 

[AMDZen]

That message works for adult men with families. You drive one of those cars when you are 20 and its quite a different situation. None of my friends (age 25) understand why I bought a mini instead of... ANY other car. Now I'm comfortable knowing that I love the car (and loved my weird old Turbo Volvo before it) and bought it for the driving experience.

The mini and the abarth are certainly not 'chick magnets' as they say. I'm not really going for the girls that put a high amount of importance on the car a guy drives so it doesn't matter.

You kind of beat me to the first point of yours, and the mini is a different story. The mini had a good marketing strategy which contributed to its success. This car does not.

Its fine if there are a few single younger guys in America that are into this car, but if they aren't the absolute minority of people who would want this car then I would be blown away. So why are they marketing it so absolute to this small demographic?

Because they're stupid

 

[TheAdvocate]

Short answers:

1. I drove an early 2000's Mustang GT for about 3 mos. It wasnt mine so I'd have to see exactly what year. Never "took".

2. I would never cross shop a 500 Abarth against an American muscle car. If I want a RWD coupe, I'd buy a GTR or an M3, etc. And yes, I know they are way more expensive. I also kinda like the Challenger styling and wouldnt mind driving one.

3. The Fiat 500 should be marketed as a city car in America. Only chance it has to catch on. I do agree that their marketing is wrong - a clear example of a foreign company not understanding a market outside their own.

PS - maybe too much Top Gear, but I am under the impression that the 500 is far more popular as a city car in the UK as well.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I like small cars, this one is neat, but i'd never own one.

 

[JulesMaximus]

That message works for adult men with families. You drive one of those cars when you are 20 and its quite a different situation. None of my friends (age 25) understand why I bought a mini instead of... ANY other car. Now I'm comfortable knowing that I love the car (and loved my weird old Turbo Volvo before it) and bought it for the driving experience.

The mini and the abarth are certainly not 'chick magnets' as they say. I'm not really going for the girls that put a high amount of importance on the car a guy drives so it doesn't matter.

Well, your friends are idiots. 😀

 

[JulesMaximus]

I agree with this, but a real man should have a weekend toy too 😛

Plus, not everyone wants a family or kids. I will never have kids because I don't want them, and society along with this generation is moving toward a lot of people not having kids. So what about them?

As I've already laid out, this car is being marketed not only just to men as I've given all the evidence you need to see, but obviously to the young male. Young men in this day and age are mostly single, people aren't marrying in their young 20's anymore. Meaning this car is being marketed heavily to bachelor's and single men even more then just men as a whole.

And frankly, this car is simply marketing to the wrong demographic. I'm sure I'll be proven right when Fiat's sales blow and they move out of the American market once again.

I do. It is Italian and red and will cover the 1/4 mile in 11 seconds flat at 120mph. 😎

This car would be a great little commuter car ***if it proves to be reliable***

I see guys commuting in small economical cars all the time. That's where the smart money is at IMO.

Edit-Maybe Fiat is missing the target on their marketing. I will give you that. We'll see how they sell and if they change that strategy. I like the fact that Fiat is marketing cars in the U.S. again though. Maybe we'll see some of the other cool cars they have in Europe eventually.

 

[ss284]

Wouldn't the average young male car enthusiast pick a Subaru BRZ/Scion FRS over this?

 

[RiDE]

C&D Comparo

I'd rock an Abarth. 😎

 

[TheAdvocate]

I asked a friend about this, and why the Abarth wont work here...

his response:

 

[HybridSquirrel]

C&D Comparo

I'd rock an Abarth. 😎

the difference, right now, is that the mini has a way better aftermarket support. I test drove an abarth the other day and it was actually a blast, it just didn't feel like my style car. it understeered a lot at speed and the power out of corners wasn't great. something about the gearing seemed off to me.

granted, the corners I took were mostly highway on and off ramps, but you could feel it was just not up to the task in some cases.

 

[Insomniator]

C&D Comparo

I'd rock an Abarth. 😎

Some day, my mini will have the JCW kit installed, some day.

 

[nicolaskl]

If the Abarth could do 40 MPG at 75 on the highway, I'd be buying one right now, but from looking at fuelly.com, that doesn't look possible.