I've owned my Abarth 500 for 3 and a half years! Even now i still enjoy starting it up every day, the exhaust backfires just make me grin, even on a dull day! You cant beat the soul and character of an Italian Hot hatch, and believe me, these little cars are suprisingly quick! Buy one or regret life!
I purchased my Abarth two months ago. What a fun machine to drive. I have owned many big bore muscle american cars thru the years and enjoyed all of them.At age 76 this lil car suits me fine.
you sound mad. still stalking me too huh? if you care to look i post on focus st and fiesta st videos too. vw, honda, nissan vids too. the only car i see as a overpriced waste is the fiat. btw since you looked at my stuff i looked at yours. the comments on your uploaded guns video are hilarious. you stuck it to them COD boys! yeeeehaaawwwww
Zadiel Vazquez the interior is a bit tacky in the ford. though, it's way better then a FRS. i think the fiesta looks better compare to the focus. one problem that you have to fix, on the new fiesta is the motor mounts. they are bad from the start. VW's still have electrical problems. You would think they would had got that shit fixed, but no. I guess you got what you paid for.
A few weeks ago I got my hands on one of these little beauties (dont ask how, just trust me on these one) and believe me, its been a long time since I have had so much fun in a car. I actually reminded me of that evo 9 I drove a few years ago, shure, it does not have the same grunt as the evo and handling is a notch under, but it is as much fun to drive, and is 12k under the price....and has a loooot more charisma! This is a no brainer buy for any hot hatch enthusiast
The comparison is only mentioned because it's $100 more than the Abarth and everyone knows what you get with a Civic Si. Just added perspective on the value of the Abarth.
Nice job presenting this, natural tone, good writing. Editing and cinematography are good too, better than what Car and Driver and some other big names produce.
Civic weighs 300 lbs more than the Abarth. And, truth be told, the Abarth is more fun on the track - it's a more precise instrument than the Si. I've driven both. As for tuning, yes, Honda engines are great for tuning - however, most people do not modify their engines so for most people that point is moot.
Civic is 2 litre engine while Abarth 500 is 1.4 Abarth Grande Punto (200HP) has same engine Lack of HP is due to its tiny dimensions.Powerful engine would be dangerous (they said) So that's why in my country (Italy where Abarth are made) people considering 500 (because it is lighter than Civic) usually get the Abarth SS kit that will give you a 185hp engine with full warranty. If you want to go faster Abarth is selling the R kit too (210-250hp) i don't know if Abarth is selling them in US
Though you'll say "and that's so much better" gotta realize most of the work is all fiat, additional safety bracing made for the US. People wrap Ford f-150 around trees too. Single vehicle crashes are a big big problem. One could also make the case for avoiding an accident a truck would be in. With so many variables, if you desire it, why not get it? If it fits, go for it. Mack trucks hurt too ya know ;)
Thanks for the great review! I enjoyed the information and the video on the track was super! This car is going to sell like hotcakes. All the folks hating on it don't really understand what car enthusiasm is about. You won't buy the Abarth because its the least expensive or because it has the most horse power. You'll buy it because it is the most fun car to drive and has for its weight, quite a kick in the pants. Its about fun. Go with it.
Part due to Top Gear and part due to the rise of "lowest common denominator" programming that replaces information with face plants. (Not that we don't enjoy both of those - together preferably.) That said, we average about 8,000,000 views a month across the Interwebs (not just UA-cam, but also including iTunes, Blinkx, Mevio, Blip, etc.) Not too shabby.
Funny how the car kept changing from a grey with red stripe to a grey with flat black stripe as the driver is taking around the track...someone in editing miss that I take it?
I bought mine for under 10K used, 2012 40k miles. Thing is just blast! Even if your just going to the hardware store. Best bargain out there. Save your money and let someone else take the hit on depreciation. Not much difference between new model and older model here in the USA unless you want a slush box. If you do then your missing the point of this car!
Personally, I don't get all the vitriol towards this car. Haven't seen this much dislike for something since Subaru switched to plastic intake manifolds (oh, the horror!)
Honda Civic Si; Fiat 500 Abarth.... Great fucking cars. Let's be happy there are vehicles out there for almost anyone's liking. I owned a Subaru WRX, Subaru Forrester XT and WRX STi...... The Forrester gave me the biggest smile. I will buy the Abarth next year because the 500 Pop model gave me a BIG :) Adding more HP can't hurt.
Never thought I would see so many people attacking a car using a civic that got nothing but luke warm reviews. This car has personality. The new civic is just some econo clone with SI badges
you're forgetting that the Honda Civic SI is a full liter larger in engine displacement, and has the same torque but only 41 more hp. Not to mention that it weighs roughly 400 more lbs than the 500 Abarth. To say that the SI would "eat up this little pos" is stupid. It's going to be a great competitor against the SI and Im looking forward to seeing it. Not to mention, the Abarth gets much better gas mileage than the SI. In a race, my money is still on the SI, but it will be a good comparison.
Or maybe there are actual fiat enthusiast whom are interested in fiat performance because maybe fiat used to sell fiat chassi to a little man called enzo ferrari. Wild hypothisis, isn't it?
I think it's every man's dream to get slapped by Catrinel Menghia after the Fiat 500 commercial. It's her version of branding like Michael Buffer's "Let's get ready to rumble" pre fight moment. I might even pay her to swat me ? :-)
love the guys around here that can't even fit lumber in their trucks. Almost got hit by a flying board out of one when they hit a pothole. I keep my lumber, tools, and a mower dry in a minivan. Won't win style points I assume, but I won't be charged when a piece of lumber goes through a windshield.
These cars really are fun to drive after the suspension, and brakes are modified, and the ECU is remapped to remove speed governors and improve horse power, and the air intake system is modified. It's a shame the factory versions are so mundane. Its a wonder the factory is producing the biposto, another underwhelming low performing version at a crazy price. So much tuning potential, once again missed.
And you can get a mazdaspeed3 for 23k at dealers which is about 400 more than what you can get a civic si for. and the ms3 has 263 hp 280 something pounds of torque, a nice interior, and leather trimmed seats. Btw, ill take the abarth over a civic si , because a civic si, is simply a civic si.
Which would you rather have, a japanese ricer or an Italian work of art sports car? The Fiat has a better tradition and longer line of racing than honda. Id drive something with tradition, reputation, and the ability to just perform.
I have a 2012 mustang v6 with the performance package and I have to disagree, along with all of the people I work with that are telling me it sounds amazing for a v6...I got the a plan on my mustang also so I only paid about 800 dollars more for it than the abarth and I would never pick this car over my mustang
to the people here who are saying that you can use reg gasoline in Abarth- you are the reason why i don't want to even look at used cars anymore, because they are most likely ruined by the people like you. most any mass production vehicles with engines specifying the use of premium can and will accept reg by timing retardation, but it is a vile practice.
***** Agreed, I've owned one of these for just over a year here in the UK and I only put Octane rating 97+ or maybe Shell Optimax which is 98. I know it runs on lower grades of fuels but I prefer to pay a bit extra. Planning on keeping this and maybe passing down to my daughter when she passes her driving test in the next few years. One of the funnest cars i've ever owned
Mine states in the manual minimum octane required is 87 but 91 is preferred. So no you're not going to destroy the vehicle by running lower grade fuel, you'll just lose power and possibly economy.
+dipstik subaru different tunes for different countries, British cars are tuned for use of 95 or above as our cheapest fuel is 95 octane, had a friend who got an american import and had to have it retuned so it can run on a higher grade of fuel.
Sucks to be hit in anything. Could be mutual destruction as their axle clips the roof and they roll over, get ejected, and get snapped between their door and the rest of the suv/truck rolling over. Life is risky, Mack trucks kill F-150's, Nuclear arms kill Mack Trucks. Maybe drive an Abram's tank if that worried? Engine may not be "bullet proof" by the exterior is.
You must be so cool, seriously the only reason I watch car reviews is so I can hear people say "why would I pay x money when y car is only x more/less!" no one gives a shit
Forget civic si and abarth. you guys [ americans ] need a renaultsport clio and megane. then you can put things into perpective of what a good affordable track car can do.
Wonder what would happen to one of those little abarths if some soccer mom in her big ole ford suv or some construction worker in his 3/4 ton truck hit someone's son or daughter side impact in one of those . You see you don't have many ford trucks or suv on the road in Europe. Here they are no.1 seller. I'd hate to be in an abarth or mini or smart for2 :-/
yea, i understand. But since when did it become a necessity to add humor to car reviews? I think as long as it is informative, it should be alright. I think the main problem is the amount of competition out there.
This is false, I have the 500 twinair 0.9 turbo and is more powerful that my old 2005 focus.You dont need more power. Unless you want to spend your salary paying speed tickets.
Abarth is not really a 'trim level'. And thank what ever deity you like that it has no auto or conv. option...it's a car for driving. There is a turbo 500 coming, surely it will have your compliaints dealt with.
nice reporting, but when you're on the track and talking about the car's abilities (any car report, really), please lose the music. It interferes with hearing the aural nature of the car on the track, and is a distraction when I'm trying to concentrate on what you're saying. thank you.
Torque specs are 2012 civic SI 170 abarth 170 . They are the same . Civic has 201 horsepower and people are right now making450 horsepower reliably on stock block engines with a turbo upgrade . The k24 engine of the civic SI is outstanding and can not even be compared to this lousy little sewing machine...
lol sorry bro I call bull shit the fialt is a good 1200 lbs lighter than a civic and there reliability isn't what it used to be if anything its gone down hill they can barly manage 150k miles anymore
I've owned my Abarth 500 for 3 and a half years! Even now i still enjoy starting it up every day, the exhaust backfires just make me grin, even on a dull day! You cant beat the soul and character of an Italian Hot hatch, and believe me, these little cars are suprisingly quick! Buy one or regret life!
I purchased my Abarth two months ago. What a fun machine to drive. I have owned many big bore muscle american cars thru the years and enjoyed all of them.At age 76 this lil car suits me fine.
I bought a red abarth with black accents. What a driver...responds, handles, accelerates, and stops, with the precision of a scalpel. All fer $22k
shouldve bought a gti instead lol
Zadiel Vazquez gti is boring compare to an abarth.
ive been in both. its not. random yet honestly, id rather get a fiesta st than an abarth. the abarth has its unique factor yes...but that is it
you sound mad. still stalking me too huh? if you care to look i post on focus st and fiesta st videos too. vw, honda, nissan vids too. the only car i see as a overpriced waste is the fiat. btw since you looked at my stuff i looked at yours. the comments on your uploaded guns video are hilarious. you stuck it to them COD boys! yeeeehaaawwwww
Zadiel Vazquez the interior is a bit tacky in the ford. though, it's way better then a FRS. i think the fiesta looks better compare to the focus. one problem that you have to fix, on the new fiesta is the motor mounts. they are bad from the start. VW's still have electrical problems. You would think they would had got that shit fixed, but no. I guess you got what you paid for.
We have another video posted a couple weeks ago that features just the car and track sounds.
its nice to see how the show has grown better and better, in editing and presentation :D
It doesn't matter whether it pronounced ABART or ABARTH, what matter is what this little monster can do ! Great car!!
A few weeks ago I got my hands on one of these little beauties (dont ask how, just trust me on these one) and believe me, its been a long time since I have had so much fun in a car. I actually reminded me of that evo 9 I drove a few years ago, shure, it does not have the same grunt as the evo and handling is a notch under, but it is as much fun to drive, and is 12k under the price....and has a loooot more charisma! This is a no brainer buy for any hot hatch enthusiast
The comparison is only mentioned because it's $100 more than the Abarth and everyone knows what you get with a Civic Si. Just added perspective on the value of the Abarth.
Thanks. Ryan was considered for that position when Top Gear was being developed for NBC. Never got the call for History, tho.
Nice job presenting this, natural tone, good writing. Editing and cinematography are good too, better than what Car and Driver and some other big names produce.
While not my favorite Hot Hatch, it's still a good driver and a great value to boot. I'd be interested in driving one.
Civic weighs 300 lbs more than the Abarth. And, truth be told, the Abarth is more fun on the track - it's a more precise instrument than the Si. I've driven both. As for tuning, yes, Honda engines are great for tuning - however, most people do not modify their engines so for most people that point is moot.
We're based in the US, so can't comment on the relative value to Euro models. We don't get the Type R, either.
hell of fun car. happiest in the canyon or tearing up the city. also very easy to tune.
Did you get it? Did you get it? Did you get... it?
Civic is 2 litre engine while Abarth 500 is 1.4
Abarth Grande Punto (200HP) has same engine
Lack of HP is due to its tiny dimensions.Powerful engine would be dangerous (they said)
So that's why in my country (Italy where Abarth are made) people considering 500 (because it is lighter than Civic) usually get the Abarth SS kit that will give you a 185hp engine with full warranty.
If you want to go faster Abarth is selling the R kit too (210-250hp)
i don't know if Abarth is selling them in US
If you agree we should have more viewers, get your friends to watch us!
you mentioned driving a legacy gt that was tuned and asked myself, how come no one does a podcast with people`s tuned cars?
Though you'll say "and that's so much better" gotta realize most of the work is all fiat, additional safety bracing made for the US. People wrap Ford f-150 around trees too. Single vehicle crashes are a big big problem. One could also make the case for avoiding an accident a truck would be in. With so many variables, if you desire it, why not get it? If it fits, go for it. Mack trucks hurt too ya know ;)
Thanks for the great review! I enjoyed the information and the video on the track was super! This car is going to sell like hotcakes. All the folks hating on it don't really understand what car enthusiasm is about. You won't buy the Abarth because its the least expensive or because it has the most horse power. You'll buy it because it is the most fun car to drive and has for its weight, quite a kick in the pants. Its about fun. Go with it.
Dude on campus has one and complemented my first-gen Miata. This car is badass.
Haha I just bought that same exact trim package last week. This car has definitely earned the title of "Sleeper".
Thanks!
2012 Civic Si: 85hp/l; 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth: 117hp/l. For its size, the Civic is pretty soft.
Part due to Top Gear and part due to the rise of "lowest common denominator" programming that replaces information with face plants. (Not that we don't enjoy both of those - together preferably.) That said, we average about 8,000,000 views a month across the Interwebs (not just UA-cam, but also including iTunes, Blinkx, Mevio, Blip, etc.) Not too shabby.
Funny how the car kept changing from a grey with red stripe to a grey with flat black stripe as the driver is taking around the track...someone in editing miss that I take it?
Nothing changes in 20-30 years? Gotta love that Fu man cho and car phone!
I bought mine for under 10K used, 2012 40k miles. Thing is just blast! Even if your just going to the hardware store. Best bargain out there. Save your money and let someone else take the hit on depreciation. Not much difference between new model and older model here in the USA unless you want a slush box. If you do then your missing the point of this car!
Hey, you pronounced Abarth correctly! :-)
Cool vid. Keep them up!
Personally, I don't get all the vitriol towards this car. Haven't seen this much dislike for something since Subaru switched to plastic intake manifolds (oh, the horror!)
Honda Civic Si; Fiat 500 Abarth.... Great fucking cars. Let's be happy there are vehicles out there for almost anyone's liking.
I owned a Subaru WRX, Subaru Forrester XT and WRX STi...... The Forrester gave me the biggest smile.
I will buy the Abarth next year because the 500 Pop model gave me a BIG :)
Adding more HP can't hurt.
If you do a comparison with the Civic SI also include a Mazda MX-5 against the Fiat.
Abarth was a tuning garage in Milano in teh '60 and was entirely bought by FIAT in the '80s.
Thanks for the review, looks like a nice car, too bad no auto trans and cabrio in that trim level.
It’s me from the future, how dare you
Never thought I would see so many people attacking a car using a civic that got nothing but luke warm reviews.
This car has personality. The new civic is just some econo clone with SI badges
Nice video on a sporty car! Thank you!
Only the version with bigger cup holder.. I think.
you'll never forget the time you see one.
Sounds like a shootout is in order.
you're forgetting that the Honda Civic SI is a full liter larger in engine displacement, and has the same torque but only 41 more hp. Not to mention that it weighs roughly 400 more lbs than the 500 Abarth. To say that the SI would "eat up this little pos" is stupid. It's going to be a great competitor against the SI and Im looking forward to seeing it. Not to mention, the Abarth gets much better gas mileage than the SI. In a race, my money is still on the SI, but it will be a good comparison.
damn 76! go on man i wanna be like you when i get there
Or maybe there are actual fiat enthusiast whom are interested in fiat performance because maybe fiat used to sell fiat chassi to a little man called enzo ferrari. Wild hypothisis, isn't it?
Why does it say "P" instead of "R" as in Reverse? 2:09
I think it's every man's dream to get slapped by Catrinel Menghia after the Fiat 500 commercial. It's her version of branding like Michael Buffer's "Let's get ready to rumble" pre fight moment. I might even pay her to swat me ? :-)
What makes your think that a Honda civic Si is automatically a ricer? How can it be rice if it's only stock and nothing more.
I have the ferrari Tributo version beefed up 200 HP, My word its fast
love the guys around here that can't even fit lumber in their trucks. Almost got hit by a flying board out of one when they hit a pothole. I keep my lumber, tools, and a mower dry in a minivan. Won't win style points I assume, but I won't be charged when a piece of lumber goes through a windshield.
That said Id rather have the 500 then the star trek shuttle craft looking appliances that Civics have become.
These cars really are fun to drive after the suspension, and brakes are modified, and the ECU is remapped to remove speed governors and improve horse power, and the air intake system is modified. It's a shame the factory versions are so mundane. Its a wonder the factory is producing the biposto, another underwhelming low performing version at a crazy price. So much tuning potential, once again missed.
Spotted a white Abarth 500 the other day.
And you can get a mazdaspeed3 for 23k at dealers which is about 400 more than what you can get a civic si for. and the ms3 has 263 hp 280 something pounds of torque, a nice interior, and leather trimmed seats.
Btw, ill take the abarth over a civic si , because a civic si, is simply a civic si.
This will be my first car!
Oh I guess I went to far saying the new Si is soft lol...you can't argue with the numbers.
i sort of feel bad for this channel. they produce pretty decent reviews, but they just dont get any views!
Which would you rather have, a japanese ricer or an Italian work of art sports car? The Fiat has a better tradition and longer line of racing than honda. Id drive something with tradition, reputation, and the ability to just perform.
I have a 2012 mustang v6 with the performance package and I have to disagree, along with all of the people I work with that are telling me it sounds amazing for a v6...I got the a plan on my mustang also so I only paid about 800 dollars more for it than the abarth and I would never pick this car over my mustang
I personally have test drove both because im looking at getting a new car and the fiat hands down has better performance
have fun driving it in traffic and big highways
to the people here who are saying that you can use reg gasoline in Abarth- you are the reason why i don't want to even look at used cars anymore, because they are most likely ruined by the people like you. most any mass production vehicles with engines specifying the use of premium can and will accept reg by timing retardation, but it is a vile practice.
***** Agreed, I've owned one of these for just over a year here in the UK and I only put Octane rating 97+ or maybe Shell Optimax which is 98. I know it runs on lower grades of fuels but I prefer to pay a bit extra. Planning on keeping this and maybe passing down to my daughter when she passes her driving test in the next few years. One of the funnest cars i've ever owned
do you own an abarth?
dipstik subaru Yes 500 Abarth
Mine states in the manual minimum octane required is 87 but 91 is preferred. So no you're not going to destroy the vehicle by running lower grade fuel, you'll just lose power and possibly economy.
+dipstik subaru different tunes for different countries, British cars are tuned for use of 95 or above as our cheapest fuel is 95 octane, had a friend who got an american import and had to have it retuned so it can run on a higher grade of fuel.
Everyone knows how rust proof the old civics were too ;)
If I wanted a quirky fuel-efficient compact car, I'd get a mini
As someone who's driven both the Abarth and the Civic Si I can tell you the Si isn't that good. The Abarth is alot more fun to drive.
What a piece !
Hah! The slap alone makes this video a perfect 10! Thanks!
Sucks to be hit in anything. Could be mutual destruction as their axle clips the roof and they roll over, get ejected, and get snapped between their door and the rest of the suv/truck rolling over. Life is risky, Mack trucks kill F-150's, Nuclear arms kill Mack Trucks. Maybe drive an Abram's tank if that worried? Engine may not be "bullet proof" by the exterior is.
I've never heard fiat or abarth said that way, must be an American thing
You must be so cool, seriously the only reason I watch car reviews is so I can hear people say "why would I pay x money when y car is only x more/less!" no one gives a shit
Forget civic si and abarth. you guys [ americans ] need a renaultsport clio and megane. then you can put things into perpective of what a good affordable track car can do.
y in the world would you need a turbo at 18 psi on a 1.4liter to make what honda made in the 90's (160hp) with a 1.6?
This car has to be an auto-x god
The car is juist damn fun!
Wonder what would happen to one of those little abarths if some soccer mom in her big ole ford suv or some construction worker in his 3/4 ton truck hit someone's son or daughter side impact in one of those . You see you don't have many ford trucks or suv on the road in Europe. Here they are no.1 seller. I'd hate to be in an abarth or mini or smart for2 :-/
yea, i understand. But since when did it become a necessity to add humor to car reviews? I think as long as it is informative, it should be alright.
I think the main problem is the amount of competition out there.
Another guy with the camera on him? Focus on the car on the driving experience.
I'm American, and I only want it if it come in a convertible
dat sound....
Me too
I'll trade in my pocket bike for this Fiat : D
the most beautifull
This is false, I have the 500 twinair 0.9 turbo and is more powerful that my old 2005 focus.You dont need more power. Unless you want to spend your salary paying speed tickets.
I want this car. =D
because
Abarth is not really a 'trim level'. And thank what ever deity you like that it has no auto or conv. option...it's a car for driving. There is a turbo 500 coming, surely it will have your compliaints dealt with.
POWER TO WEIGHT RATIO
how can u compare it to an si quarter mile is 88mph apexing is almpst non existent
That model is actually Romanian...
this has more TQ than civic
nice reporting, but when you're on the track and talking about the car's abilities (any car report, really), please lose the music. It interferes with hearing the aural nature of the car on the track, and is a distraction when I'm trying to concentrate on what you're saying.
thank you.
Plz don't compare this to SI, its slower smaller and girly
good review but you spend the first minute and a half repeating the same thing over and over
Not like in the commercial !!!!
Want
the si eats fiat for breakfast
I like, its a nice !
Good job, now go back to the Alex Jones channel from which you came
Torque specs are 2012 civic SI 170 abarth 170 . They are the same . Civic has 201 horsepower and people are right now making450 horsepower reliably on stock block engines with a turbo upgrade . The k24 engine of the civic SI is outstanding and can not even be compared to this lousy little sewing machine...
anything with a v6 sounds terrible... lol its all about them v8's!!
lol sorry bro I call bull shit the fialt is a good 1200 lbs lighter than a civic and there reliability isn't what it used to be if anything its gone down hill they can barly manage 150k miles anymore
NVM
It sounds like an srt4 lol