The base Sport is 17.5K. Base Abarth will be 22K. The black wheels will make it 23K.

The Jlo ads are hideous. I won't buy a 500 unless they stop showing them and even then it will probably take 6 months for the nausea to subside. I like this ad muuuch better:

http://www.fiatusa.com/abarth/

The 500L sure looks like a Panda, which is a nice car. I rented a diesel in Italy and was impressed with the performance relative to kilometrage. But it's not the hot hatch I'm looking for.

The thing that kills the Speed3 for me is the mileage. I am looking for at least 30 mpg highway at the minimum, and 35 would be better. The only car that meets my criteria right now is the Cooper S, but there are lots more choices on the way. I'm running out of time on the Speed2 though

 

The panda is the living proof that you don't need a 3-plus litre engine in a 2.5ton car to be "practical"

 

WTH? On page 2 and not even one "fail wheel drive" comment? I expected better!

 

Since driving a fail wheel drive vehicle on the track, I've started to rethink my own previous bias.

 

My B16A powered CRX HF was Fail Wheel Drive and was one fast bugger I miss that little car.

 

I haven't driven a properly designed "fail wheel drive" vehicle. I know I don't like the feel of FWD, but it's not fair to compare economy/commuter cars to a performance oriented car. Maybe a well designed FWD system would change my mind.

I still would choose RWD or AWD over FWD in most instances.

 

Here in the states, they have to meet crash standards. You would have less of a problem with that here.

 

My gf owns a Fiat 500 sport, and it gets the garage while my RX-8 is out in the cold and snow right now.

Its a great little car.
The Abarth will be interesting when it arrives in March, and the Sport Turbo will be just as interesting when it arrives in August with ~135hp.

BC.

 

hmm, all I can suggest is its all about priority.

the 8 is not.

 

I JC likes 'em... I'm IN!

 

any comment?

BTW: she don't speak "native" italian


http://youtu.be/ofECPnmGVBg

 

Yes, we know. She's Romanian and she's married to a soccer player. We've known it for a very long time now. JLo wishes she could be her.

 

That's fantastic! My husband thought so too. ;/

 

i've checked. Yes she's married with Massimo Brambati, a mediocre soccer player of late 80's and 90's...now is an agent of ohter players..
Both lives in Milan.