The £8,500 Optional Gearbox

[@rare6499]

Just the fact that this car exists with this gearbox should be applauded. A lot of car companies are run by people who don't give a damn about cars, I can almost imagine the Abarth guys begging Fiat in the business case to let them put this gearbox in a 500! Superb!

[@rare6499]

Fozee Black it's not road legal either. The only comparable Mini would be the GP but the reality is that's another notch up on the power scale and is only ever the run out model.

[@rare6499]

Fozee Black everyone understands it's very expensive but that's almost acceptable because of its uniqueness and rarity. Personally I still think the performance is very good from what is ultimate a modified Fiat 500 chassis. 0-60 in 5.7 and over 140mph. Without compromising the usability and reliability of the vehicle there isn't much more you can get out of such a small FWD Fiat 500! Of course if you compare it price wise apples to apples then yeah it looks horribly expensive. But it's worth understanding that very few people who buy a 695 use it as their sole car. It's aimed at people who have multiple cars and can afford to spend out somewhat lavishly on a unique toy.

[@adamhawkes84]

Drive an Abarth... you might change your mind. Ultimately it's about the grin you have when you get out of the car and not comparing numbers on a spreadsheet.

[@2011Jayceon]

If you crash your car into a lake you can just tell the police you were trying to give it... abarth.

[@linus2877]

Jayceon of for fuck sake

[@WAYAWAYWithAsh]

upvote

[@lapamful]

Shortly after filming this a man came along and started hitting Sam. When Sam asked why he was hitting him, the man replied I don't like your altitude.

[@isaacwilliams1497]

*slow clap*

[@Paganizondaf650]

genius

[@thedownshiftchannel]

That isn't a crazy price for a dog box! It's amazing they even made it an option that's seriously cool!

[@thedownshiftchannel]

Blah Blah do you have anything less generic and unfunny to say?

[@sugarsaint]

what Im thinking !! for a real everyday car that can double as a genuine track tool can anything come close to a 695 for the money?

[@thedownshiftchannel]

sugarsaint as far as an off the forecourt buy it would be hard to beat in its price point. However there are other cars on the market a little older that can be modified to do both perfectly

[@JellySwiish]

ah dont listen to the bumder, loving the vids. can you make more on the r34?

[@thedownshiftchannel]

Bonglord thanks dude more to come soon on that! It's never worth worrying about idiots in the comments section, the whole idea in it is to discuss the content but unfunny people think they are really edgy with those replies

[@the-boring-car-guy]

£8500? That's bipostorous

[@supersonicmixes]

👏Wow.

[@ethanward4582]

SaLAD HAHAHAHAHAHA

[@Higginz-wk9rl]

SaLAD he's here all week...

[@WAYAWAYWithAsh]

upvote

[@ND-mq4dd]

get out!

[@HenrikAndreas1997]

"Guy ruins 8,500 pound gearbox"

[@madgtthree]

Lmao if the box can't handle a "getting to grips" session. It's a shit box. And i find it laughable that everyone in this comment section thinks they'd pick it up so easily. At least he's giving it a go.

[@sytricka3318]

These gearboxes are made to be thrashed about it can easily handle him having trouble putting it in to the right gear

[@SuperMito21]

that moment when your fiat is more track focused than your mclaren

[@drdj69]

not really. that moment when you write a pointless comment to get more likes. lol

[@WRXFREAKTUNER]

Sometimes with racing gearboxes they tend to be stubborn when you want to go from reverse back to first or vice versa. Some tricks to help that is pump the clutch a couple of times in neutral, or let the car slowly roll forward or backward and it should pop into gear.

[@dallatorretdu]

With motorcycles engaging from neutral to 1st there is the same problem, but it is solved by letting the clutch slightly grab while gently press the lever into 1st gear. This results in an instant engage, no need to pump, that's why you hear most motorcycles doing that KLANK sound.

[@WRXFREAKTUNER]

Ohh right fair enough.. But with my Skyline pumping used to work, never knew that letting it grab slightly would work too but thanks :)

[@goncalovasconcelos5651]

Just put it on 5 and after 1st

[@ThePower1037]

It's the fact that synchromesh will align gear teeth, this doesn't though, so by letting the clutch spin the input shaft of the gearbox, you are able to shove it into gear while the teeth are spinning.

[@j4k3yyy]

7:50 sam just bashing around an 8.5k option there

[@kendrickgoat]

University Jake lol

[@spazda_mx5]

7:50 It's like watching a cow try to operate a musket.

[@SpecialEDy]

Try letting the car roll a few centimeters to shift between first and reverse.

[@statesidesupercars]

That's way too much for an optional gearbox... £8,500 would buy you a VERY decent car.

[@ResaRestart]

if i had that id be set for a year

[@FlosnamStart]

statesidesupercars normal price for a gearbox

[@ts.exotics642]

statesidesupercars agreed btw I love your channel

[@Guuggel]

Some people pay even more for a paint

[@mudzibaba]

You can prolly find used car that is faster than Abarath for that money, not better tho.

[@jimmyb1460]

Can't figure out he needs to double declutch at 8:13 to get into 1st from reverse... lol

[@MegaMetinMetin]

James Baggaley not every one is a racer like u

[@matthewcarnell5678]

yeah, all he needed to do was lift up the clutch or let it roll back a bit

[@540iDavid]

It's the same for some normal manuals too that don't synch first.

[@ShadowScope240]

LEXUS-RX300 almost every manual car does that. It's because the gear teeth are lined up and selector fork can't push it in.

[@benson4u215]

Suprahhh completely agree with that, on a dirtbike or motorcycle sometimes you have to roll to shift into first at a stop. most people dont realise they park in neutral aswell so half of that double shifting is already done

[@itscroc_]

I don't know if it's only me, but in your videos there's always some sort of glitch (for example there's one at 2:51, at least for me) and it's kinda annoying to be honest. Update: I'm at 9 mins and it happend like 20 times.

[@bradscott2432]

Croc i noticed it too. I rewatched on my phone to check it wasnt my TV

[@Verybadbiker]

yes I have it too

[@thefightingplumber]

Croc Same here. Not really a problem with such a funny/positive dude though Thumbs up!

[@stressballer]

The first one is already at 0:22

[@uldisanimated]

Yep. Good thing to know other have it and it's not my graphics card going down.

[@jshepification]

try lifting the clutch pedal slightly when trying to select first gear

[@DangeRVyRRuS]

Hello. Can you please tell me why would you do that?

[@Benedocta]

If two gears are tooth on tooth, lifting the clutch a bit will make one gear turn a little bit, so you can get it in.

[@bernardomotard]

Same applies to motorcycles.

[@BrianCKC95]

I'm not an expert but I think that in case of an accident these racing harnesses would crush your internal with the way you are wearing them

[@993ts]

BrianCKC95 4 point harnesses are unsafe no matter what. And harnesses in general without a helmet and a full cage are unsafe as well.

[@MegaMetinMetin]

Joey Kissinger so i should not wear a helmet so my nose smashes against the windscreen?

[@republiccommando1234]

But harnesses are still safer than a normal seatbelt, aren't they?

[@993ts]

Bratwurst5000 not without a full cage and a helmet

[@LorenzoClara97]

Bratwurst5000 they are

[@mylvan]

You said in the beginning of the video that the gearbox is working the other way around and that first gear is down and right. But When you didn't get in first after reversing you where putting the stick in top left. So is it or is it not a reverse gearbox?

[@welshboyuk7651]

Eric van der Meer ikr I was thinking the same thing

[@jimmyb1460]

Eric van der Meer Yeah I thought the same at 7:20 😏

[@Guuggel]

Doesn't look like a reversed. The gated thing is just at the bottom under the hinge.

[@zeffffffff]

I reckon reverse as in he's sitting on the correct side of the car maybe? It's kinda hard to imagine, but I figured brits and aussies are used to having to push out to get the first, and on right hand drive it's obviously pull (which is the way it's supposed to be, because it's very logical to have the least used gears further away from you).

[@22Epic]

It's just the standard H-pattern. He's too much used to use paddle shifters to realize that there is nothing reversed in this gearbox :D

[@WAYAWAYWithAsh]

Great video Sam. FYI, when you weren't able to put it into first... it's because of how you described the gears, they literally mesh up without a syncro. So just let the clutch out a tiny bit as you are putting it into first to help align the gears. It's pretty common with these gear boxes.

[@Tiametmarduk]

Are those the roads on the swiss alps that are in forza motorsport? >.>

[@thomashuwiler2943]

Tiametmarduk it‘s the st.gothardo

[@12799MaDeuce]

should try a Caterham 620R - sequential box allows full-throttle no-lift no-clutch shifting

[@12799MaDeuce]

Jason Genova 0-60 mph in under 3 seconds

[@rbeaton16]

My Cobalt allows for full-throttle, no-lift shifting...

[@12799MaDeuce]

rbeaton16 cobalt still requires use of the clutch pedal, and isn't anywhere near as quick as a Caterham

[@Paganizondaf650]

And the Caterham actually offers stunning performance for it's price unlike this ball of crap. Imagine what cool track cars you could build yourself for the ca. 65k€ this thing costs in that spec on the basis of an M135i, GTI clubsport, Megane RS, Cupra 290, etc.

[@12799MaDeuce]

In Dubio Pro Porsche Thanks to import fees, assembly costs, and dealer markup, a 620R costs $100,000 here in the US

[@jhuh95]

I think you are doing the harness thing wrong. If you wear them like this you will just submarine out in the event of an accident. You have to have to tighten the sidebelts first and do it as tight as you can and afterwards you tighten the upper ones. The lock has to be further down.

[@rizwanalam7220]

sam your videos glitching

[@Apollo_s2k]

Rizwan Alam I thought i was crazy, guess im not the only one.

[@RD5500]

I think the camera wasn't working well due to the temperature being too cold

[@bennson13]

What's up with those ''glitches'' and flashes on the screen ?

[@casualonion]

Well at least is optional.

[@pipynolove1234]

The roads through the Swiss alps are amazing. Riding a bus through the alps is awesome. Looking down across a valley in the alps at the tunnel you will be driving through in 20 minutes in a bus is seriously more exciting than driving a fun car on a "fun" road. There is nothing like it. It is like driving through a painting created by angels who were car nuts. Just looking down at a zig zagging road that will in 10 turns take you down through the clouds....bliss. absolute bliss. I am a total loser so I will never get to experience it again but driving a lotus through the alps was one of the most intensely joyful experiences of my life and I was incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to enjoy it

[@themanissam1]

You can change gear without a clutch on any car. You just need to make sure the revs are going up. Pretty easy on the up shift, disconcerting when you need to rev for a downshift

[@blzt3206]

Rev matching the downshift is pretty easy though?

[@themanissam1]

@@blzt3206 It's not difficult. It's just odd to press the accelerator to shift down

[@THR33SIXX3MPYR]

Aren't harnesses unsafe without some sort of neck support and the 5th point between your legs to keep yourself from submarining in an accident?

[@crazyboy17867]

Sam is going to become an Abarth 695 Biposto collector

[@brannenlive]

Seems a bit of a headache, but it's still cool! I'm glad there's manufacturers out there that do things like this!

[@simonbuyens2209]

7:06 : is that you? Jeremy?

[@ARDEN440i]

When the box doesn't want to go into gear go into neutral, disengage the clutch re-engage the clutch and try again, then it should work. Happens to me at time and that solves the issue.

[@PHOBIAx57x]

Is your front camera glitching out in this video? Lots of black flashing going on throughout the video.

[@torquesteer2657]

Sam when you're unable to select the gear at standstill release the clutch and then depress again. Do that anytime you are unable to select. Also try revmatching between gears.

[@TGE]

Rah. Retrofit one pls

[@archier8v10plusshamilton2]

TGE TV new video this week?

[@althejazzman]

If it won't go into 1st at a standstill, this is because the dog teeth are not lined up. Neither the input or output shaft are spinning when the car is still and the clutch down. So, leave it in neutral, bring the clutch up, blip the throttle to spin the input shaft, and clutch back down again. Then it will go into gear! Also works for old cars with no synchro on reverse (and often 1st), and worn gearboxes.

[@Monty-Gue]

The dogring gearbox seems a bit like a motorcycle gear box. Don't really need the clutch other than starting out and maybe first to second for smoother transition, but other than that just let off the gas and into the next gear. Seems like you'd want the dogring to be sequential imo. Thanks for showing something different! Very interesting and hope that you get another chance with one to get the hang of(And maybe get to track) for the full experience.

[@BIGGlep]

Montygue that's because motorcycle gearboxes are dogboxes

[@peterlewis3540]

I like the fact that Fiat have given us the option of ordering such a gearbox. For some customers, £8500 is not a lot of money, and no doubt a certain Michael Schumacher would have ordered this lovely item, had he been in sufficient health to enjoy it. We are discussing the gearbox, as if its too pricey, its an unfortunate fact in today's society, that for certain owners, this kind of money, is spare change.

[@siegmut4486]

Is no heating in this car or why do you wear this ridiculous latex jacket? Is this your first time driving a hand shifted car? Its hard to watch...

[@vincentradziecki7470]

You are the Abarth 500 patriarch. As an Abarth owner, I love these vids! Keep up the great work.

[@richardevans8908]

Shmee should have joined the yellow crew with his gtr

[@the-boring-car-guy]

Richard Evans 100%

[@TheCarLovingSwede]

Jason Genova an Mercedes AMG GT-R

[@SimonBelgium]

Sam, don't use racing harnesses without a full roll cage. Basically, if you are strapped in in a racing harness, you cannot move your body sideways, and if you roll the car over, and the roof collapses, your head will be crushed as it cannot move out of the way of the roof coming down...

[@danhamjam]

You would have to completely insane to even spend £1 upgrading one of those cars.

[@Liam-xx7ho]

Maybe for a standard 500 but abarths are pretty sick

[@Jojohumf]

For that much money they should have put premium parts in the car, the AC controls, and dashboard just look way too basic all plastic parts. Disappointing

[@lucianomariacolucci4444]

Johnoè there’s a sequential gearbox and a racing harness in there. Who the hell would want a leather dashboard or heated seats? People who buy a 695 or even a 595 want performance and sporty handling.

[@TEAM_MODE_AVION]

Hello buddy, when you want to go on first gear after being on reverse. Go on Neutral, than clutch and go on second gear and let go on the clutch a little to make the gears connect and then go back on first and it will get to place. Keep up the videos and see you at Modball

[@callumpenman5992]

I wouldn't pay £8,500 for the whole car never mind the gearbox 😂😂

[@graemekinslow9789]

That's cos you probably drive an Audi or Skoda which is the same thing 😄

[@callumpenman5992]

Graeme Kinslow bmw, but nice try 😄

[@graemekinslow9789]

@@callumpenman5992 BMW are good had a few Mini's in the past been driving Alfa's for the last 9 years love em can't afford the Alfa that I want ...I've just put a deposit down on a 1series...Hate Audi's sooo overated n mainstream

[@fauxltystower]

I'm more used to seeing sequential dog boxes, but the H-pattern makes WAY more sense for a vehicle that will experience significant speed changes (pulling up to an intersection, and then finding out you can yield rather than full stop and you change the target gear for example) than running a sequential. When I pinged Quaife about one and talked to other companies over the years, it was quite common to tear down the unit several times in a season and have quick ratio swap options. So they get pricey. Also, that dog box probably has some sort of helical LSD (you know, Quaife) built into it which would also raise the price. You could probably get a clutch-type, 1-way LSD as well but the helical units are generally preferred in that FWD layout, along with some AWD combinations using it in the front and a clutch pack hybrid for the center and rear differentials.

[@Teamshmo]

Should of got it in yours. The hilariousness is worth it

[@WillemJH]

could have, not should have.

[@ray_collins]

As difficult as these gearboxes are to use, you feel like such a boss when you do it right. They don't ever show a good angle, and he doesn't explain it, but at the bottom of the shifter is a chrome gate with a 6-speed pattern. Look for the only chrome part, you'll see it. 1st is bottom right, 6th is top left. The shifter mechanism reverses your throw, so you still shift normally, but the visual reference is backwards.

[@CarSpotterUS]

That gearbox looks sick!

[@lexluthor1166]

A Sequential speed shift box would be awesome.

[@ryanp3649]

LOL,can pick up an e46 m3 for the cost of that...smh

[@ferritruck3355]

Omg those roads look like the Eiger Nordwand track in Gran turismo 5 and 6. I think that gearbox is obviously not worth that crazy money....

[@saferider1094]

You don't need an over $10K gear box to do that. clutch is only necessary for 1st and maybe 2nd gear. anything above you can shift without clutch as long as you match engine rpm to speed .

[@scottrobertson307]

Sweet ride! I have a 2015 Black Abarth with 230 hp but mods you must have. Go pedal, ECU, Pulley, Throttle body, intercooler, cool air intake

[@Crushonius]

8500 pounds for a dogbox that is not i repeat NOT SEQUENTIAL .are you serious mate abarth have lost their mind

[@bike_high]

Crushonius for good sequentials you need at least 15000€

[@Crushonius]

***** you can get good sequential dog boxes for around 11-12k € roughly 10k gbp . so its totally feasible as they remove the original gearbox which costs around 3k

[@bike_high]

Crushonius you're right didn't think about that..

[@SANDSCORCHER]

You can change gear on any manual without using the clutch, if you release the throttle and time your shifts correctly. You can blip to downshift too. You only really need the clutch for manoeuvring and pulling away.

[@whosAltoon]

hey want to hear a joke, fiat race car.

[@thecolourred6857]

whosAltoon look up the Fiat s76 I know it's only a 4 cylinder but...see for yourself

[@bones6978]

Not a fiat

[@TheJezzer84]

The Susten pass is an incredible road! I was lucky enough to drive it in some pretty special cars last summer. Can't imagine how deadly it must be in winter!

[@harrylad7381]

You don't like it because it's not a banana coloured car

[@gaz3097]

"I am not technically minded but I'll try to explain" Chucks phone in bin

[@1stGoRide]

Racing gearbox and racing harnesses on a car with less power than my motorcycle. How stupid.

[@Candisa]

Comparing cars with motorcycles, how stupid!

[@jorgecosta95]

@Seen Through Glass When the gearbox doesnt go into first, try to accelerate a bit while you try to engage. If that also doesnt work, put into second then into first.

[@DJWrigh7]

Anyone who knows anything about cars... know Fiats are polished crap. Same boat as Peugeot & Renault! No quality just sold for quantity. I only forgive you STG because you own a McLaren.

[@stevegoyak9494]

is that jacket Gore-Tex (George Costanzo style)

[@anzes]

Did you go to the St. Gottard pass? :D on 10:17 there is a roundabout.. on that roundabout i saw an FF.. and drove right to the st. Gottard tunnel which is 19km long -.-

[@1999danie]

If you rev match you can upshifts gears and if you get a standalone ecu system and get ignition cut you can change gear without lifting of the gas as it cuts engine power for a brief second

[@Turbologie]

Love this car and this gearbox !

[@nimjarider1990]

Sam, you can do clutchless shifts with a standard gear box. Apply a bit of pressure to the gear stick, decent revs, lift off and it'll shift.

[@sorinsim]

They charge a premium for these cars because they are terrific fun. Drove the reg 500 and I loved it can only imagine what a blast the biposto is!

[@mathewm56]

I love that track screen with the gears on it.. looks really cool

[@ErikKullgren]

STG+Michael Scott = instant thumbs up!

[@BuildThreadsNorway]

Man, just the look of it is worth £8,500. So cool they have it as an option.

[@michaeltrollope8048]

The reason why it wouldn't go into first is because you have no syncro gear on a dog ring and the teeth aren't lining up, so if you let your clutch out a tiny amount (like just before it bites) you can get your gears spinning and then they can align

[@lewisbourne6415]

Hey Sam, love ur vids and your my biggest inspiration and favourite KZbinr

[@phillipkerfoot2389]

that is a cool box. and its not that bad considering the cars start used at £38k and harnesses sam can be picked up fairly reasonably at demon tweeks or gpr.

[@Memory_ahole]

$11,771 US Dollars is insanely stupid. Just get a sexy CAE shifter for $1,000 then the other $10,000 spend on badass mods.

[@roskataqv]

That's awesome and from what I see worth every penny just for the fun factor!

[@pandino9377]

R.I.P. Gearbox

[@dan75dy]

Refreshingly honest video, both in the editing and narration.

[@justsomemonkeh3191]

So if I dont pay $8,500, I have to get in the transmission and change the gears and cogs my self?

[@ccolivardia]

If it doesn't go into first, have you tried slipping the clutch a little bit ? Lol. It gets the cogs to move a little lol

[@ymsmmnt]

If the car does not go into first gear when stopped in this type of non-synchromesh transmissions, you should put in neutral, release the clutch, press the clutch and try to put it in gear quickly again. This is because you need to have at least one axle of the gearbox turning to allow gears match on which each others, just like in a motorcycle gearbox.

[@BHALT0S]

you can pull your gearstick out of any gear and push it into any other gear in sequence whilst the vehicle is moving without the clutch anyway if your good at matching the revs.

[@stephencain3467]

now im mad as hell that we dont get these in the states id definitely order the dog ring gearbox

[@deweyvu820]

We drove on that same exact road last year! It was too scenic to care about going very fast.

[@gregmayled]

Put the metal gear knob on your Abarth, it will massively improve the experience

[@devisbetrisey5730]

I love the roads near Andermatt! The ski slopes are pretty nice there too.

[@altfortroll9337]

btw, fwd cars are the fastest to make 180° turn on slippy surfaces. put it in reverse, let it go for a bit (2-3km/h), start appling the hanbrake and give it a good thortle and angle at steering wheel. turning arround in 1.3 your cars lenght.

[@YAMR1M]

A cool little gear box. older technology now. If clutchless changes get confusing for you. Imagine a modern motorcycle gearbox which is still manual shift but sequential and now come with not only quick shifter to go up the box but a blipper to come back down without the clutch....

[@alfie1217]

5:14 That GTC4 Lusso though

[@dlux703]

Your description sounds like it's a sequential box, but I'm surprised they felt the need to format it in a modified H, as most of them follow the motorcycle, straight line layout. Perhaps, for safety, they felt the need to cross through neutral in the transition every shift, though that seems to defeat the quickness of the gearchange.

[@douglaspealing5608]

Sam... you do know you can change gear without the clutch in a normal manual box too right? It's not as easy, no, but you can do it. I once had to battle through a city full of stop-go traffic without using the clutch because the slave cylinder packed a sad. Not the easiest journey in the world and the starter motor took an absolute hammering, but I got through.

[@Doggepp]

Watched a lot of reviews of this car. Shmees for example, but havent seen one actually use the gearbox how its meant to be used. Shmee is too much of a coward and doesnt want to make a mistake. But you did it, I like it!

[@thomasfjeseth1628]

Tip for transmissions like that, if your having trouble getting it into gear, rev the engine and it WILL go into gear (works on motorcycles)

[@simivb]

I can't get over the fact that you are making a video about a sports car, based on driving around on roads with a 60 km/h limit.

[@TheHamish757]

double clutch and a small blip going in to first will help a lot

[@kevinho1922]

Man that gearstick is beautiful sigh...a dogbox + racing harnesses for street use though? Might be fun to drive to the track and back you'd need some serious patience to daily that.

[@bobbyg8653]

Maybe if you tried rev matching would of helped when driving at lower speeds, and with not going in to 1st, clutch out and back in (Y)

[@austin5806]

If your dog box wont go into a gear while parked, the dogs are bashing eachother, you need shaft speed to shift if the dogs are not lined up, slip the clutch when you put it in if your shifting to 1st while the car is not in motion.

[@joelsimpson7638]

You have to pump the clutch pedal in and out when the gearbox won't go into first

[@vkotis]

Though a good harness, the centre buckle should be positioned lower towards your lap. As it is, in a crash, there would be an unnecessary amount of force on your mid section and a chance of submarining.

[@tactiletinkerer]

Many of the same issues as on a motorcycle dog/slot gearbox... perhaps cold gearbox oil... perhaps a bit iffy adjustment from the factory or due to use (dogs/slot gearboxes are sensitive to clearance), not surprised it got balky. Maybe engage the clutch a bit to get the trans-side slot to move, or if on a slope roll a tiny bit, should slot in.