Obsession with the Fiat 500 Abarth

[Gizmo42]

I really like the black and red Abarth, but will never buy one. The 500 began as a cheap small car for the working class. Now its a cheap (built) small car with a large much better car price tag.

[MustangO4]

Yea, it has been a couple of days and I am over it. It is just too limited in it's usefulness and will depreciate like crazy. Maybe I'll get a used one someday, but not today.....

[antdag22]

I like the Fiat. Only car in that range that has some style. But, you need both.

[blacksambo]

Carl Abarth was old man Porsche's brother in law. Now really what does that have to do with an Italian smart car?

[Gizmo42]

Carl Abarth was old man Porsche's brother in law. Now really what does that have to do with an Italian smart car?

Close, but no. He was married to Ferdinand Porches son in laws secretary. Abarth (originally Karl but changed to Carlo after becoming a naturalized Itallian citizen) got his start in race cars and performance parts with Fiats. His company was later bought by Fiat in the early 70s.

[blacksambo]

Close, but no. He was married to Ferdinand Porches son in laws secretary. Abarth (originally Karl but changed to Carlo after becoming a naturalized Itallian citizen) got his start in race cars and performance parts with Fiats. His company was later bought by Fiat in the early 70s.

I think he got his start with 356 era Porsches?

[blacksambo]

Correction---Carlo, not Carl.

[RickOKC]

Keep the VX, and buy Gran Turismo 5 (and a PS3 & steering wheel/pedals set if necessary) and enjoy both!

[PK]

When I first saw your post, I was going to jump in with a comment, but then thought I should check my facts first.
I have a friend with a Fiat Abarth, so I email him to ask how it was going.

His response -
"I have now owned it for 8 months, and it has less than 7k on the clock. (That is kilometres, so about 4K miles.)
I have put more miles on loaner cars than my own, because the POS sits in the dealers waiting for parts to replace what ever the latest failure is.
It is plain crap, and I am trying to get the Fiat Dealer to buy it back off me.
It is fun to drive when it is going, but I just can't put up with the reliability problems.
It has been towed from the roadside twice in that time.
Hey, would you like to buy a good used car - low mileage??"

I guess it is buyer beware.

PK