General If ever there was any doubt....

[DraigFlag87]

Because there isn't going to be one.

Answer a few of these questions.

What's the point of the 500 Abarth and how many of them will sell

What's the point of the 500c and how many of them will sell

I made a poll on the Abarth forum (see link) and considering most of the members are happy with their GPA and A500, and the majority are male, and there were only 34 voters, 20.6% still said they would buy one. Now if i created a poll on here asking the same question, i'm sure there would be more interest.

http://www.abarthforum.co.uk/500-abarth/would-you-buy-one/

 

[306maxi]

I made a poll on the Abarth forum (see link) and considering most of the members are happy with their GPA and A500, and the majority are male, and there were only 34 voters, 20.6% still said they would buy one. Now if i created a poll on here asking the same question, i'm sure there would be more interest.

http://www.abarthforum.co.uk/500-abarth/would-you-buy-one/

The reaction from that thread seems to be a resounding no. The Abarth is a drivers car and as such shouldn't be compromised by missing a big bit of metal from the top.

The thing is that most 500c owners probably wouldn't care if there was a hamster powering the car and it had leafsprings under the back. A 500c Abarth would sell to some people but it would be an extremely niche product and most 500c owners wouldn't see the point in adding a couple of thousand pounds to the price of their car for the benefit of handling and power which are two things most of them won't be bothered about.

 

[keeforelli]

Because there isn't going to be one.

Answer a few of these questions.

What's the point of the 500 Abarth and how many of them will sell

What's the point of the 500c and how many of them will sell

these days, every possible niche gets filled- this is one.

and an excellent reply to my question -how do you know there isnt going to be one?

'because there isnt'

not really an answer is it!

a statement of your views, nothing more.

 

[306maxi]

these days, every possible niche gets filled- this is one.

and an excellent reply to my question -how do you know there isnt going to be one?

'because there isnt'

not really an answer is it!

a statement of your views, nothing more.

Niches only get filled when there is money to be made or sufficient marketing benefit to be gained.

Your unwillingness to answer my questions properly suggests that you feel a 500c isn't the best of ideas yourself....

 

[Lloyd71]

Just take a shortcut and get a sign made up which says "Punch me, please"

Riight...

 

[306maxi]

Riight...

Well what do you think people in a big car are going to do when you pretty much say they've got small wedding tackle?

 

[omaragra]

You guys have no Idea how much attention I get LOL !! Sometimes it's a bit annoying !!

The thing is Fiat in India are not planning to sell this car to the masses and it is too expensive according to Indian standards (almost £20,000 here !!). Also 2 door cars are not there, so they all get excited seeing my car .

The best part is it brings a smile to people's faces.

Omar

 

[Lloyd71]

Well what do you think people in a big car are going to do when you pretty much say they've got small wedding tackle?

Think "Damn, he's right!" Then go home and kill themselves.

 

[jimsmac]

The video in this review mentions convertible and estate versions of the 500. We've had the convertible. Anyone heard anything about the estate??

 

[keeforelli]

the estate is being readied for the american market-

not sure what that would look like!

- tho i dont want to believe everything i read!!!

 

[306maxi]

the estate is being readied for the american market-

not sure what that would look like!

- tho i dont want to believe everything i read!!!

Whilst there is no evidence in terms of spy pics of a Giardiniera yet I do believe that there will be one but it's not being built for the American market, it's being built for Europe because the Giardiniera is a well loved 500 variant and also because one of the criticisms of the 500 is the fact that it's not hugely practical and the giardiniera would fix this.

Fiat are also currently planning an Uno which will fit inbetween the current Panda and the Grande Punto as well as a Topolino which will fit in below the 500 so they've got too much their plates with volume models to be faffing around with a 500c Abarth just so they can sell a few thousand of them a year perhaps.

You may think I'm horrible but all I'm trying to say is that for a model like a 500c Abarth there would need to be a business case for it in terms of selling big amounts or raising the profile of the range like all the Abarth 500 versions.

 

[keeforelli]

Whilst there is no evidence in terms of spy pics of a Giardiniera yet I do believe that there will be one but it's not being built for the American market, it's being built for Europe because the Giardiniera is a well loved 500 variant and also because one of the criticisms of the 500 is the fact that it's not hugely practical and the giardiniera would fix this.

Fiat are also currently planning an Uno which will fit inbetween the current Panda and the Grande Punto as well as a Topolino which will fit in below the 500 so they've got too much their plates with volume models to be faffing around with a 500c Abarth just so they can sell a few thousand of them a year perhaps.

You may think I'm horrible but all I'm trying to say is that for a model like a 500c Abarth there would need to be a business case for it in terms of selling big amounts or raising the profile of the range like all the Abarth 500 versions.

excellent!

 

[DraigFlag87]

You have to ask those thinking of buying a 500C not an A500. For example, if the A500C were to exist, do you think most people would rather buy a 500C, or an A500C? See what i mean, it was bought up on Top Gear, it's not making the Abarth worse, it's making the convertible better? Agree anybody?

 

[306maxi]

You have to ask those thinking of buying a 500C not an A500. For example, if the A500C were to exist, do you think most people would rather buy a 500C, or an A500C? See what i mean, it was bought up on Top Gear, it's not making the Abarth worse, it's making the convertible better? Agree anybody?

But you don't get it.

The 500c is the sort of car that will generally be driven by people who aren't really all that bothered about driving pleasure in the way an Abarth would drive, 500c people are the sort of people who want a car with a dirty great big hole in the roof and as long as it's not horrible to drive, will be happy.

Most people would STILL buy a 500c because the point of the car is its lack of roof.