Everything I HATE About My Fiat 500 Abarth

[@huiba1]

3:48 This is exactly what I have in my Fiat 500C. I'm getting an Abarth 595 soon but I hate the driving position in the car. It's either comfortable legs or comfortable arms. No way in between.

[@nazcaplain]

The downsides of my '13 Abarth align with most of yours, though my Beats stereo is more primitive and my dash doesn't have the OLED screen yours does. Happily, I have the Fiat Madness ECM that's probably good for another 20hp and it's a night/day difference in the fun ratio. My list: The seats are stupidly scalloped with the top jutting forward so if you have stenosis in your neck like I do it hurts on long trips and makes wearing a helmet for track events difficult. I found some matching red seats from a plain Fiat 500 and swapped them in and love them. Unlike aftermarket seats they still have bolster airbags. The sitting position is either too far from the steering wheel or too far from the pedals. Why the F didn't they give the steering a telescoping option? The tachometer looks neat with its circles in circles styling but it’s nigh impossible to see day or night when you really need it. The Beats audio sorta, kinda does bluetooth - but just for calls. It won’t stream audio. The bass is good-ish, but flabby. Aftermarket head-unit options are very limited. The rocker panel pieces are notorious for coming unbonded from misplaced lifts and are a bear to reattach. I lurk over the guys at the tire shops to make sure they don't lift it incorrectly. I love/hate the exhaust. Great around town but drone-ish on the highway. My oil level goes down in spirited driving. The harder I drive it the faster the oil is consumed. If I drive it placidly then no oil is burned. Another Abarth guy asked me at the parking lot of a recent Concours d'Lemons about it as he has the same issue. I'm sure it's turbo seals. I'm no fan of the missing 6th gear. I read that there were space constraints that prevented them from using the transmission with more gears. Related to that: shifting up into 3rd feels vague, indistinct and is easy to F up when in a hurry. My Civic had a far better manual transmission. My "tripod" style CV axles have crapped out twice in 30k miles which results in an increasingly bad shudder when accelerating. The axles are extraordinarily expensive and most online venders will ship you the non-Abarth version by mistake as everyone thinks they interchange (they don't). Only the dealer gets it right by asking for the last 5 of your VIN then charging a staggering amount. You also must grease them with tripod grease, not CV grease. Consensus is to use GKN Tripod Joint Grease. DON'T install Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus tires like I did: the Tire Rack guy tried to talk me out of them but I insisted. Those are fantastic tires on your average Subaru but on the Abarth they make the car feel disconnected and twitchy. I really miss my Pilot Sports! Otherwise put this in your garage STAT. These are future collectibles just like the CRX now is.

[@JasonJoyrides]

All excellent points and I think any Abarth owner would agree. These cars have a multitude of quirks and grievances, but the fun factor is so high that we love them anyway. Thank you for sharing!!

[@andrewanderson9896]

You are wrong. The come from factory with an lsd, and they are 160 hp not 150.

[@JasonJoyrides]

Yes I misspoke they make 160hp, not 150. As for the LSD, the US spec Abarth did not come with a proper mechanical LSD. You can tell that just by driving it if you've ever driven a car with a true LSD. Look on forums with owners that are tracking these cars. They all recommend putting a true LSD in it, specifically the Quaife.

[@TheSVT03Cobra]

Love the content! Looking forward to the big news coming soon...👀

[@JasonJoyrides]

Thanks man! And I don’t know what you’re talking about… 😈

[@alwynsmit3546]

We really are pampered when we start complaining about cupholders & armrests.

[@JasonJoyrides]

Haha you got that right. First world problems…

[@archstanton3763]

We have the same colour. Granted they’re not perfect but they are a lot of fun !

[@JasonJoyrides]

So cool that you have Rhino Gray as well! My understanding is that it is a very rare color on these cars. I’ve never run into another one in traffic or in the groups I’m in.

[@MrSebby13]

Crazy, my normal 2013 Fiat 500 Lounge is different inside, with better cup holders, better steering wheel adjustment, and better seats, I don't understand

[@JasonJoyrides]

That actually makes sense because the lounge was intended to be the luxury version of the 500

[@JasonJoyrides]

I'd love to hear about any quirks you've experienced if you have owned a Fiat 500 Abarth!

[@carlrogers3505]

My 2013 has different cup holders. It will hold a 32oz drink just fine. And the seat will raise/lower some.

[@JasonJoyrides]

@@carlrogers3505 interesting!

[@pumpitlouder3117]

I have a 2012 sport and the seats also raise and lower. I’m 5’2 so the seat isn’t a problem for me at all. I also fit comfortably in the back seats no problem 😂

[@JasonJoyrides]

@@pumpitlouder3117 more power to you!! 💪🏼

[@MicroTurboComplex]

My theory on the seat height is that it might have to do with safety. The hood is extremely short and having your legs out straight will make your femur prone to being yeeted out through your butt in a severe collision.

[@JasonJoyrides]

I would say you are definitely right about that. Also a space thing too that with your legs stretched out the firewall would have to be moved. Good observation

[@samsonone6629]

I’m gonna have to disagree on what you’re saying about it’s not fast it’s a 15.1 in a 1/4mile so that means anything 15 seconds in a quarter miles fast but anyways I have one and my shit is fast bro everybody and my city says that thing is fast Sorry to hear that you’re not enjoying the car like that but that’s your own opinion you’re your title to that

[@JasonJoyrides]

That’s cool man. Is yours tuned? I raced my buddy in his RAV4 and lost lol

[@samsonone6629]

@@JasonJoyridesok cool no worries do you have the car stock or do you have upgrades on it? Meaning like Bolton on

[@JasonJoyrides]

It has a few mods but nothing crazy. I have a friend that completely built his full bolt on and e85 tune with more boost and it still didn’t feel that much quicker than mine. Is yours multi-air or T Jet?

[@samsonone6629]

@@JasonJoyrides ok cool man so no I got the US spec, so no, multi air

[@JasonJoyrides]

Oh okay awesome. So who did you have tune it? Maybe I’ll look into it if you feel like it actually made a difference. I just haven’t felt much of a difference in the tuned Abarths in the club I’m in so I kind of gave up on that idea. Curious to know more about your mods and tune