By Jeff Glucker
The Fiat 500 Abarth is a fun car but not a great car. It produces a rather addicting exhaust note, is fun to squeeze through traffic, and it returns a white-knuckle experience should you venture out on to a race track in one. The Abarth isn’t about the track though, despite the engineers stressing that they track test the car over and over. Instead, it’s about enjoying a drive at any speed be it slow or fast because the car produces instant smiles on your face and on those around you. Okay, so maybe your neighbors will eventually tire of hearing the 500 Abarth being fired up… but who cares about your neighbors.
There’s a new version of the Fiat 500 Abarth that should prove to be even more fun. Why? Because it likes to go topless. It’s the all-new Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio, and I got a chance to spend some time with one.
A note before you watch: There would be lots of great GoPro footage in the video posted after the break but my suction mount decided to take a vacation and remove itself from the car. I got the camera and mount back, but the GoPro freed itself from the plastic housing and I didn’t notice that the microSD car was somehow ejected in the accident. Otherwise we would’ve totally used the falling footage in the video. Regardless, enjoy the clip posted after the jump.
[youtube width=”720″ height=”405″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDqZR-l0YhA[/youtube]
[Disclaimer: Chrysler invited, well they invited Autobytel to attend and Autobytel sent me. I’m writing a review of the car for them, and I also shot two videos as well. Since we were up there we shot one for Hooniverse too. I was put up in a swank hotel in Beverly Hills but I only stayed one night and let my camera man have the room for the second night. I was given food during the day and drinks at night, and it was all delicious until I spilled a Guinness on a previously clean white tablecloth.Wow, that turned out to be a long disclaimer…]
Kamil Kaluski
re: losing a gopro
This is why I ALWAYS use a safety tether when using my suction mount on a moving vehicle. Pretty impressive it survived tho!
[youtube K5GRahD6EmQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5GRahD6EmQ youtube]
There's not enough Catrinel Menghia in here.
I like that you mentioned that you were listening to Pearl Jam. Not enough reviewers listen to good music while reviewing, at least they don't mention it. Also glad you mentioned the lack of rear visibility. I was kind of surprised by that when my wife test drove one of these. The one she drove was a non-Abarth version though. She said the engine felt quick up to about 30mph and then it fell on it's face. Is the Abarth like that or does the more Abarth-tastic engine keep pulling? Also, shocking to say but my 220+lb butt fit into the back seat, because ours was part of an auto show promotion, so they had chaperones that stayed in the front passenger seat. I straddled the front seat but it was actually not that bad. With a taller driver, it probably wouldn't have been as comfortable.
I haven't gotten a chance to drive an Abarth yet, though I hope I can make it to a dealership at some point and test drive one. I know that I'll probably love driving it and I think it's a great little car from what I know already but I've never dug the retro styling. It looks a little mousey doesn't it? I would've preferred the Punto Abarth but of course that's not even very popular in Europe.
All that being said, I still very much wan't to put the mechanicals from the 500 Abarth into my Fiat Spider, someday.
The Abarth Punto Evo is a fun little car, but it's too expensive for what is still a Fiat Punto. And even the demo car had some broken interior bits..
You monster…
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/w4rAAuQ.jpg" width="550">
It's what he considers "fun".
Well, I had a lot of fun making this. It's not about quality of the 'shop, it's about having fun, and I did have fun.
If you wanted to 'shop quickly, you would have gotten a Wacom, but for fun on a website, the mouse is where its at. It's just all about fun.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/3bLGzzz.gif">
…
…I'm sorry…
Now photoshop Jeff's head in place of her's. I don't care if he speaks like a Canadian from south park, it will be most enjoyable.
… I get the feeling that the car was "fun" to drive. However, my gut tells me I'm stretching to reach that conclusion.
Also, I posted this a little bit before I saw this, help me out with what I missed.
http://forum.hooniverse.info/viewtopic.php?f=6&…
I added one that is most definitely driving related. Though perhaps it's not something you listen to while having fun driving a car.
Cheers, he said unenthusiastically.
Yeah, that normally makes me slow down a bit. Especially if I have passengers.
woo Pearl Jam!