No kidding. I am hot for an Abarth, no doubt. But it has to be priced sanely. I had assumed a bump comparable to a Mini vs Mini S, etc. $Like around 4-6K over standard car. At 30K there are WAY too many other neat cars, including many that are more or less done depreciating! At $30K I have just about got enough for that E-type Coupe I've always wanted.
I still think a 3 grand option for a sliding fabric roof on a car whose base price is around 16k was a big mistake. They could have sold a ton of the C's if it were a similar cost of a sunroof-- maybe $1200. I'm not sure what the bean counters were thinking on that one.
People are criticizing Fiat's pricing policy and although they aren't quite cheap, they're hardly overpriced like Mini's. A well optioned Cooper S retails for close to 40k in Canada, tax in. Nevermind the new AWD Countryman monstruosity. My friend laughed at the price and bought himself a new A4 2.0T instead. American prices for the sport start at roughly 18k, I can't personally see how a base Abarth will be priced at 30k. Hopefully they'll start at 24-25k for a base Abarth.
We should start a pool betting on the Abarth price. That information should be released at the LA Auto Show in November. The difference between the Mini Cooper and Cooper S is $3600 in base price. Fiat isn't following the Mini a-la-carte-for-everything pricing model so I'd expect the Abarth to come with a bit more content as well. I'm gonna say the Abarth will be priced $4500 above the Sport base price, or $22,000 + destination.
Close but I'm guessing 24K$.......and that's for the supposed 170hp 6spd model. Unless Fiat decides to split the Abarth range in two like they do in Europe.
Well armed with a short but sour sales record, hopefully Fiat will price the Abarth at the lower end of the range. Wonder how many who have bought these 500's here in N.A are non enthusiast types. Its hard for me to buy any car brand new. The Abarth might be it.
I don't usually buy cars brand new, as I tend to not keep cars long term enough to spread out the depreciation economically. I did almost lease a 500, which was potentially less cost than a maintenance of a used higher end Euro car. In fact, I took delivery and drove home a black one. After several days of use, I gave it back for various reasons. I'm glad I did. The electric power steering feedback was vague and artificially light. The deal killer was the overdamped suspension. It's one thing for a car to be built to a price point (especially convenience items), but I was hoping there would be more engineering spent on improving the actual driving feel experience. I'm hoping the Abarth would have improved suspension.
Just had Northwest Auto Salon add on some "Hot Rod" stripes for car. Came out really nice. They used a "Matte White" from 3M. Mike Image Unavailable, Please Login
In a little over a month, I'll be able to finalize the spec on my Abarth - the first allocated one to my dealer. I'm pumped! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Wait, its going to have THAT interior!?! With the CF like that? I thought that was only for the Tributo Ferrari ones?
Who knows? We'll know actual details when the car is introduced to the U.S. market at the L.A. Auto Show in mid-November. But a man can dream, ya know?
Here's what I don't understand. In January, I had $20K burning a hole in my pocket from the sale of my 911, and wanted to use it for a 500 Sport at the local dealer who had just been announced as a Fiat franchisee. I was frustrated by my inability to get definitive information about the release date and pricing, so I bought an e46 M3 for $20K. Many took me to task on this forum - How could I possibly compare the two? My argument of comparing by price, as I already have a daily driver, fell on deaf ears. Later, I put a deposit on an Abarth, figuring I'd drive the M3 in the intervening year. The M3 is a great ride, and I'm happy to experience it, but I'll be ready for a fast small car again, as I miss my '04 MINI Cooper S with heavy modifications. Now that Abarth information is imminent (but not released,) it seems that many others have $25K plus burning holes in their pockets, and are using the exact same logic (buying different, depreciated, fast, luxurious cars with the same cash,) to justify NOT buying an Abarth. So what's different now? (Of course, I know the answer here - it's different groups of people! But where were y'all to back me up when I was getting the "How can you say you're choosing between an M3 and a Fiat" flack?)
Well, if that's the case, and I have to wait for my "first allocated Abarth" (as my paperwork states,) then I can say I got one of the Prima Edizione Abarths!
Is that a for sure timeframe? I can't seem to get an answer out of my "local" dealer: Fiat of Salt Lake City. Best I can get is: "we are taking deposits now"
I was told order book opens up officially in November, car shown at LA in December, February deliveries.
I need to drive one. I don't care to be first. If the car doesn't have the guts and spirit, I'm not buying.
