General Abarth 500 - What Am I Missing?

[SamPanda]

Hi All,

After owning the car for 6 months and 8k miles I feel a bit disappointed...

Technically the car is perfect and ticks all my boxes being quick, economical, nice place to sit, etc - yet somehow I'm left feeling a bit disappointed with the car, and I'm not 100% sure why.

The only faults I can identify are the lack of feedback in the steering, slightly crashy ride and TC/ESP which interferes too soon.

Somehow it just doesn't feel as fun as previous cars or as much as hot hatch should to me.

I test drove the car but assumed it was just different to my current car and when pressing on harder I expected the car to come alive and it just doesn't.

Is it just me? I really want to like the car but it just isn't happening at present.

Anyone else feel the same - and can the EPAS be removed?

Cheers,

Sam

 

[grimwau]

HI Sam, unfortunately, as you have discovered, the electric PAS does not give good feedback and when you are pressing on the lack of response is quite noticeable. You can certainly overcome a lot of the above misgivings by upgrading the normal components without it costing esseesse money.

Koni FSD shock absorbers with esseesse springs and modified rear bump stops will improve the crashy ride and with a 4 wheel alignment done at a specialist should also improve the steering feel. Bung on a TMC tuning box to gain an extra 20+ BHP and the car should "come alive" for very little money.

 

[jimbro1000]

There is definitely an issue with the wheel alignment - some people I know have had absolutely terrible cars until this is resolved and it does make a huge difference, as does little things like tyre pressure.

The Koni suspension option is possibly the single biggest, worthwhile addition to the car and I've not had negative feedback from anyone on that (except possibly the cost).

My car was absolutely brilliant when I first got it but the roads around Manchester are monumentally bad and it has had a definite detrimental effect on how the car feels. I'm also not happy with the latest brake pads I've had fitted - they don't work from cold and after several attempts at bedding them in I am on the verge of throwing them back at the dealer. The original pads were quite aggressive and always bit hard from cold...

I've planned a suspension and brakes refresh for the early summer and if I have the money at the time I will be going for the Koni package.

There is very little you can do about the ePAS - I have hopes that someone will provide a tweak for that one. The deadzone is too big and the forced centering on either side is too strong when it kicks in. I can forgive the car this though - everything else is sooo good.