2012 Fiat 500 Abarth First Drive Review: The Everyman Ferrari
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- čas přidán 9. 09. 2024
- ( www.TFLcar.com ) There can be no doubt that the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth is the everyman Ferrari. Not only is it made by the company that owns Ferrari, but it perhaps more importantly it has that exotic super car exhaust note that will send a shiver down the spine of any sports car lover. Just as importantly it also has the horsepower from its 2X inter-cooled turbo engine to backup the magnificent exhaust note. With hardly any weight and 160 HP the diminutive Fiat 500 Abarth will tear up the race track or your local neighborhood street. In the process it will also out a huge smile on your face as you floor the gas and head for your favorite twisty road.
So far the only reviewer to be kind to this car is TFLC. Every other auto-reviewer compares it to cars out of it's EPA-Class size (like the Fiesta/Mini) and get disappointed with the results. Go figure... bigger cars with bigger engines will have more to offer.
Thank you for realizing the car is not focused on being the best car on paper. Instead Abarth 500 just offers good driver experience and fun. A great honest review!
The Fast Lane Car, could you PLEASE stop adding the extremely annoying background music that is playing in all of your videos! "Just listen to that exhaust...". Yes, I would like to but I cant hear it because of the silly music!
I've been driving my 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth since last May and I LOVE THIS CAR! Great mileage, great handling and it goes like a bat out of hell. People see my little "cute" car then I leave them slack jawed when it accelerates like nothing they've ever seen. When it's time to get on the freeway, I'm doing freeway speed halfway down the ramp.
I have never driven another car like it.
Accelerates like nothing I've seen? Never driven another car like it? Maybe for the price, but it doesn't sound like you've ever driven any other performance car. About the only thing I can say good about this car is the styling is not boring and the exhaust note is nice. Besides that there are plenty of cars that would blow the Abarth away for a little more money.
I've driven performance cars. And I've seen the premium price one would pay for them. Dollar for dollar, I'd put my money on the Abarth again, even if money were no object. In my case, however, money was a major concern.
Get this kind of performance for under $22K? Hardly. I got performance AND stayed within my budget.
I already said it's only impressive given the price, and you backed up my point, twice stating that cost was a major concern.
No one in their right mind would say "if money was no object" they would take a Fiat 500 over a Porsche or the like. Again, the only way someone would say that is if they haven't experienced a proper sports car.
The Abarth is fine for buzzing around town, but a serious sports car it is not. In the sub $25k price range, I'm sure it's a fun car that feels quick. But like I said for slightly more money there are plenty of cars that would make it look silly. You can say you're happy with it all you want, but stop fooling yourself saying you would take it over any car in the world.
I'm so sorry. I forget that I'm not allowed to like my car and that you are the end all and be all of automotive wisdom. I have erred in not conferring with you before making a purchasing decision. Clearly the weight of evidence is greatly against me.
I'll take it to the salvage yard and have it crushed into a small cube this afternoon.
Please forgive me.
Do you always whine like a baby and resort to hyperbole when you lose an argument? Maybe it's because your reading comprehension is so bad, but you completely ignored my point. Just what exactly does "money no object" mean to you? I've already stated, MULTIPLE times, that the Abarth is decent FOR THE PRICE. However, many cars for very little more money, I'm talking in the $25k range, would absolutely make this look like a clown car. You may now proceed to steer your clown car into the nearest lake, since you can't concede to a simple statement of fact.
Damn that chick was revving the shit outta that thing
@TheBumCrease Thanks for the kind words. We have a few more Fiat videos including one tomorrow where we race the Abarth against a MINI Cooper S. Next week we'll be reviewing the Mazda 3 and mashing up a AWD Caddy against a Infiniti.
That girl at the end is another great reason to buy this Abarth! ...YO!
That engine note is crazy!
I've had this car for 3 years and 40,000 miles! It's the best car in the World, trust me, you must buy one!
The exhaust sound on these 4 cylinders is really great, why doesn't Mazda have the Miata sounding this good? But the more important question is why the hell does every auto review have that generic guitar music in the background? We, auto enthusiasts, want to hear the cars, one would think the videos producer would recognize that fact!
Love the Abarth. I was lucky enough to rent one in Milan. Drive to St. tropez and venice then to como. THIS car will put a BIG smile on your face. Love it. The sound and handling is great. Super Fun. FUN Factor is way up. Will buy one pretty soon. A used steal. Enjoy
Did you get an Abarth?
It better be a everyman Ferrari considering they build them and Maserati. You know I test drove the lounge because I need to learn stick and this will be my first car.
Thanks, your kind words and nice comments are really appreciated!
does she come with the car?
If you'll act with style that matches her (and the car), you might have a chance…
you're too beta for her
No but every chicks love it
+ 1:49 Abarth is a racing car maker founded by Carlo Abarth of Turin in 1949 By Fiat
Best 500 Abarth video review thus far! The guy driving is really convincing! I'm getting this car when it arrives!
Wish this thing came with a triptronic like transmission for the traffic.
You sure spend a lot of time commenting and replying on the Abarth. I'm glad you like them so much.
I just got a job at a fiat dealership and will be picking up one of these in a couple paychecks they are just too fun
Did u get an Abarth?
Hard to say because it really depends if your logs or torso are the long bits. However I can tell you don't get the sunroof and don't even think about sitting in the passenger seat as it's higher than the driver's seat
wow super cute... only 160hp/170tq but @ 2500 lbs it's still sporty with amazing gas mileage. Still a lot better than the 101hp regular 500. It'd be sick to upgrade the turbo (if it would fit) and push around 200 to the wheels :D
this quickly became one of my favorite cars! wish list!
you guys make car reviews so much fun. thank youuuuu
I'm SOOOOO excited for the Abarth coming to the states. I honestly cannot wait to get my hands on this sweet ride and make it a mean sleeper!!! :)
would the Hyundai veloster turbo be a good competitor for the fiat abarth?
great video as always, you guys always make the test fun but also informative as well
god damn the exhaust note is amazing. i want my sonic to sound like that
Nice biography on Karl Alberto (Carlo) Abarth. 🚗
After seeing two grown men have so much fun in the car, I'm definitely considering one.
Great review... I like the personality and the humor of the hosts. But that reallllllly obnoxious guitar loop you have playing through the entire video is nothing short of painful to listen to. Especially when you're doing an otherwise great job of showing us the exhaust note and car sounds!!!
@diozent No, the Abarth model is $22k base.
Great video guys! You've come a long way with the editing. I know you touched on it, but how well does it compare to the Civic Si and Scion tC (both in a similar price range) as far as fun-to-drive dynamics go?
Great channel guys! I just bought a 2012 Kia Soul. Gonna test to see how fast i get to 60 mph. Ill keep you posted.138 hp, im averaging 30 miles to a gallon in town driving.
I'm a Mustang fan, but this Abarth is awesome.
For my money (and there's not much of it), the 500 Abarth is the best-sounding straight-four engine made. It's kinda derpy-looking, but with the right paint it can be pretty cool and looks like good fun to drive.
Thanks for your comment but please note that we don't sell Fiats....we only review them. You might want to check the Fiat web site.
@FrancineRA1970 Don't know about the sticker but I'm guessing you can get the car without it as they had some sticker-less cars at the intro.
@LZSchneider Please stay tuned. We have an entire video dedicated to ride and handling as we take the Abarth on the race track.
If I had nothing better to do than buy a bunch of cars, which is my dream. I would totally get one of these... they may look odd but they are different and I'm a fan of a car that is fun, different, and pretty silly too
As I thought reading your previous comment, you are mixing up some info that are otherwise correct. Ford do have a common product with Fiat, the Ka, launched one year after the 500 and based on the 500, built by Fiat in Tychy (Ford does not have plants in Poland). The 500 was style in Torino by Roberto Giolito, designed in Torino, developed in Torino and Tychy. Just like the Ford Ka, except for the styling.
that girl is dedicated, she got a scorpion tattoo on the back of her neck.
So what....the Toyota Tundra is built in Texas. Does that make it an American Truck? The Volkswagen Passat is built in Tennessee. Does that make it NOT German? The GM Impala is built in Canada. Does that make it Canadian?
I had many a good hour in an old 500. If I can see my way clear, I will have a new one, with the Abarth kit.
I love the sound of this car :)
My daughter's car for her 18th birthday was a Dodge Stealth, she was SO thankful to get out of the 'Shamewagon' and into real wheels!
Drivivng on the farm since age nine, she had the clue...
Do YOU have the clue? and are you as pretty as she, just older?
Lets go!
Nathan is lucky to get close to Catrinel. I'll take the model. :)
hey guys loved your video, I am just wondering though is it spacious enough for a 6'3 man with long legs, also would it be okay to drive it during the winter season?
Lol nine years later... I'm 6'3 and drive mine during the winter
tmc motorsports is a tuning company in Europe that can get you anything from straight exhaust to bigger turbos.
@TheBumCrease We have 435 video reviews on this channel. A grand total of four are Fiat reviews. You may want to watch the other 431 review...just saying!
very well... here in germany are a lot of 500abarths and grande punto with 210 up to 230hp. a friend of me drives his abarth since 40000km with the 230hp stage from gtech.
Don't know, but the Fiats I have owned, which include a 1300, two 500s (old ones),124 Sport Coupe' , a 128 and a Strada/Ritmo were the most reliable cars I have owned. The least reliable I owned was a 2000 C-Class Mercedes bought new. It was in the shop being repaired under warranty for months during my 3 year lease.
@Bellyflops2 Roman is almost 6'3" (with the hair) and I bet you would fit without the sunroof. The convertible would work too! Thanks for watching.
The FIAT model in Vegas is a smoke show! Damn!
Im getting one of these babies! Just hard to choose what colour. I was leaning towards white w/ red stripe. I want to hear other opinions of what looks best on this car.
It reminds me so much of the SRT-4
my window sticker must be lying to me:
Final Assembly Point: Toluca, Mexico
Country of Origin:
Engine: United States
Transmission: ITALY
Love it, love it, love it!!!
Thrilled to know Fiat and Abarth are now partly owned by Dongfeng of China 🇨🇳
@bchreng Please stay tuned until tomorrow when we have a another video were we directly compare the Abarth to the Fiat's closets competition.
NAJJ Wait for the Modern Performance guys they are already working on a base 500 to bring mperformance upgrades; so the Abarth aftermarket parts are just matter of time!!
I always said that when Fiat came back to the states I was gonna have one. NOW, they've made it almost impossible to resist, especially with the Abarth turbo-charged model! Talk about a pocket rocket! Ya know I've always had a fast 'WeeniE when I could get one cheap, but THIS WeeniE costs $27,000 and it's killing me...
Say, Darling Daughter, wanna go for a test ride in a Fiat?
Love, DaD ;-)
@drakeblood47274 Mopar (Chrysler) has an entire catalogue of aftermarket parts for the new Fiat Abarth ready for when the cars hits the dealerships
@marcofavav It's the normal Abarth. The one that we shot inside is the "Venom" concept with 200 + hp. Thanks for watching !
Love it! Love that car! Nathan sounds like he lost his voice. Too much Las Vegas for you? ;D Do you guys know if this Fiat has to have that big sticker on the side?
If the reviews are all the same and so boring...why in your other comment do you even care about the "beautiful model" in this video? Just saying.
@Bellyflops2 You would probably have issues with the optional sunroof. Without it, you may fit okay.
great car. keeps you smiling.
wtf dude... They run just fine.
Ill give the lil car props for what it is... a niche car really. Value?? Dunno. But I think for the smiles and looks you'd get from driving it, who cares how much it costs. :)
OK, you just got yourself blocked. We have zero interest in mean spirited comments like this. Note to self....Don't feed the trolls.
Do you know if the Abarth esseesse "ss" (180 hp, 225 trq) version will be available in the States?
Its the new Neon SRT-4, a fun little car for a little over 20 grand
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 painfully mundane.
How has ur Abarth been so far? Whats the avg mpg? Does it handle well?
I test drove one of these, 2 things I noticed, the stitching was already coming off the gear shift/boot and it seemed underpowered. Nice exhaust but I wonder how well this thing will hold up over time?
Imagine hosting a gathering and your guest start swearing and calling you names. Would you want these people in your home. Think of this CZcams Channel as the house the we built. You are a welcome and invited guest but while we value our guests and their "true opinions" we have zero interest in mean people who call us names, who swear, and who can't express an opinion without resorting to the lowest level of mean name calling.
How is it a sleeper if it has a sport kit, big white wheels and Abarth stickers all over it?
Thats because the car is awesome.....
I wish this thing came with 200hp stock from the factory and kept the same weight and or price.
Psst so am I .. but like i said different strokes for different folks I will be buying one.
You have your likes and others like this car so no harm done..
is it possible to buy an abarth 500 without the spoiler on the back ? please reply
@FrancineRA1970 According to a video Fiat posted the giant sticker is part of some appearance package. Worst case scenario is that you hire a car detailer to take it off for you.
do you prefer it over the fiat ? u was considering a sonic..
Do you know if there is anyone that will be doing aftermarket parts for the abarth? also are the wheels there owne option or is it part of a package?
Wow, that's the nicest sounding four cylinder I've heard in YEARS! It doesn't like a four-pot with a fart can attached to the exhaust.
Chrysler is own by FIAT group so even if it is made by Chrysler in mexico is still a FIAT. (just for the american market by the way because 500 is made in poland and Serbia for Europe)
I fell in love with the 500 Abarth when I saw one while vacationing in Europe
Now I can buy here in America!
It has all the specs for my own personal dream car!
Specs include:
economical without sacrificing sportiness, speed, and acceleration
gets 25-30MPG
fast
sexy
quick!
This car fits all my specs for my ultimate dream car!
i want one of these sooo bad... its wierd cause my friends called me crazy and said it was a "female" car.. but it sounds like a badass
Well done.
Her name is Catrinel Menghia guys...
alright thanks a lot you guys
Sorry, I didn't even see a car in this video. The model is sooooo hot!
hi i like your channel BUT why do you block people? people are expressing their true opinion and isnt that the point of the comments?
As much as I hate to say it..it's not much a good value.
I mean at 22,000 for a base one, you can get a WRX (here) for $25,000 and for that you're getting 265 horsepower instead of 160HP. With a WRX you also get AWD..and more space. Same could be said for a Speed 3 or a lot of other cars out there.
The Abarth is super cool, but I think it's only competitors are the GTI and Mini Cooper and I think it's a super niche market, don't expect it to out sell mini.
Just my opinion though.
I really wanted to love this car...i come from a family who always had healeys, alfas, mgs etc....and i own a lotus, m6, and e55...but i rented a base model on a business trip and it was pretty lame. Exterior was nice, but performance was non existent and the car felt top heavy....maybe the abarth is much better! My hopes are on the new alfa 4c....i want to feel the fun factor again like i dowith the lotus
OMG is that Emme Hall from roadfly @ 5:45-5:50?
good job guys.. but this thing is 27 grand .. if your going to buy something this expensive you could get a mitu evo for another 4 grand .... the evo mpg is like 20-24 with no boost.. just my 2 cents..
@FrancineRA1970 Uh... yes. Too much Vegas. Actually, I was screaming with elation while driving the Abarth - so that's how the voice went. I was told that the sticker should be an option by a FIAT expert; if not, Roman and I will help you peel it off. Thanks for watching!
This isn't really a review, more like list of things you find 'awesome' about the car...
@tam705618 Different worlds. The Mustang is a hell of a bargain, but it's a much more mature ride and it's a lot bigger. The FIAT 500 Abarth is immature, almost a punk compared to the Mustang and the Hyundai Veloster. With the Abarth, it's about the experience rather than the performance numbers... but it is rather quick. Thanks for watching!
By his logic if i go on vacation to Italy, Im Italian.
The exhaust sounds like the one on my atv. That's not a bad thing either.
Bro I would make it look like one but keep the performance of course. I know that would probably ruin the original look but to each their own.
How many seats are there in the car?