So the past 6 months have been relatively trouble free, until now. There are minor things that have needed doing and because the dealer was so far away, i was going to let them pile up and get them all sorted during the 1st service. But if i do that, i may have to tow the car there. I am loosing faith and respect for Abarth/Fiat and it's dealers. I don't want to but i am. I am also a tad annoyed by people who seem to think my car is falling apart after just 10,000 miles because of the way i drive it. Abarth took a small cheap car and fitted a powerful turbocharged engine, not me, how do they expect it to be driven, and how do they expect young people to drive it, seeming as they make up the majority of the target audience. I have a small list of things that need doing now, the latest being the CV joints squeaking under 90% lock at low speed (analyzed by my mechanic friend)

So my choices are:

1. Sell the car, take a £2500 to £4500 hit, suck it up and get something more boring/reliable.
2. Be more patient, give the dealer a chance to fix everything (no that's not a joke)
3. Trade it in for a new one, risky but i love the car so much. I'd hate to say lightning never strikes twice, because i read of a man that did actually get struck by lightning twice!

I've been through all this before 1000 times in my head, i never get anywhere. I really love the car, i don't want to put anybody off from getting one, but every time i wash it or drive it, it reminds me of bad times or i find another thing wrong. It's very frustrating!

So what would you do?

Firstly have you heard of a term called 'mechanical sympathy' ?

I drive a 300+ BHP VXR and have to be very carefull how and where I apply the power (even at Santa Pod and the Nurburgring). If I abuse the car it wouldnt last until the end of the day I can promise you. 400 Lb/ft torque is very unforgiving to the drivetrain.

I learned how to drive powerful cars carefully, still very fast, but carefully as you will soon realise most road going sports cars are built cheaply and have no resistance to heavy useage. Why do you think high end sports cars and track cars cost so much !

Fiat are not your pit crew and your warranty isnt an open chequebook.

However, saying all that, if you are treating your car with care then your claims are solid. Stick with your dealer and be consistently assertive

Just to add...

If you are revving to the limiter, downshifting to the limiter, dumping the clutch on fast standing starts, braking excessively hard, handbrake turns, left foot braking etc etc...

Any of the above and you can expect to pay the bill yourself for broken or worn parts.

I'm being harsh, but you need to realise road going cars will break quickly and wear excessively under heavy useage. If you want to drive like that its your choice but dont try and claim off Fiat warranty or blame the car

DraigFlag87 said:

(analyzed by my mechanic friend)

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(Not being sarcastic) Can't your mechanic friend tell you how bad, how fixable these troubles are? From there you'd know a lot more methink.
From a distance and without knowing what the problems are, I'd advise you to give a chance to the dealer. In another 6 months then you can make another assessement and the car's value would not have lowered that much if you wish to sell.
You seem genuinely in love with that car and that is (almost) priceless. Give it another chance!

Surely these cars are actually built to withstand these types of powers? I got a new 2010 Nismo Skyline due in May and I sure as hell hope it can cope with the extra horsies and not develop any faults.
My current Skyline has 400 horsies and I haven't had any issues yet and I thrash the living hell out of it......mind you only had it 6 weeks.....so plenty of time to develop faults.

By the way... its a lovely car and I would keep it. Dont replace broken or worn parts, upgrade them

SmoothHound said:

I got a new 2010 Nismo Skyline due in May and I sure as hell hope it can cope with the extra horsies and not develop any faults.

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If thats the new GT-R have you seen the thread about the chap who cracked his front bumper !!!

Cost £11,000 to repair... from a cracked front bumper !

Story here http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/127250-accident-dont-do-what-i-did.html

Spoons said:

If thats the new GT-R have you seen the thread about the chap who cracked his front bumper !!!

Cost £11,000 to repair... from a cracked front bumper !

Story here http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/127250-accident-dont-do-what-i-did.html

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Jeez £11,000???!?......for a bumper? Flippin' heck? Really? Thats an obscene amount of cash for a bumper......how can they justify that amount for a bumper? Don't think i'll be driving mine unless I cover it in bubble wrap.

Spoons said:

Cost £11,000 to repair... from a cracked front bumper !

Story here http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/127250-accident-dont-do-what-i-did.html

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And if you hit a pedestrain, make sure you are reveresing

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11 grand poorer but he sure hasn't lost his sense of humour!

hehehe

But to answer your question, i'd give them a chance to fix it. Don't get a boring car! You would feel depressed and miserable.

SmoothHound said:

My current Skyline has 400 horsies and I haven't had any issues yet and I thrash the living hell out of it.......

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Yes but is your 400 BHP Skyline completely standard from the factory and under warranty... or has it been upgraded to cope with the extra power?

SmoothHound said:

Jeez £11,000???!?......for a bumper? Flippin' heck? Really? Thats an obscene amount of cash for a bumper......how can they justify that amount for a bumper? Don't think i'll be driving mine unless I cover it in bubble wrap.

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Did you actually read what I said.... £11,000 from a cracked bumper, not for a cracked bumper !

but what is exactly wrong with it???

my 500 Sport has now done 20k and I have ragged the arse off it every time I have driven it including about 10 trackdays

nothing has gone wrong with it apart from a lambda sensor and a microphone

most durable and abusable car i have ever owned :devil:

RobW said:

but what is exactly wrong with it???

my 500 Sport has now done 20k and I have ragged the arse off it every time I have driven it including about 10 trackdays

nothing has gone wrong with it apart from a lambda sensor and a microphone

most durable and abusable car i have ever owned :devil:

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lol...

Why is this even a question?

It's a new car. Take it back to the dealer. They'll fix it if it's under warranty.

Why the angst?

Do a Search on Draigflags Threads & Posts... I'm not being drawn in... not this time

Ah. No I didn't read your post properly. Its been upgraded to 400 horsies. 2nd hand R34. If your car is under warrenty.....then surely gertting it fixed it the best thing to do?

Ffoxy said:

Do a Search on Draigflags Threads & Posts... I'm not being drawn in... not this time

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Ha ha ha... I rest my case M'lud

I only did a quick scan of the threads and came across this

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/195723-abarth-500-action.html

God knows what else is in there :worship: :worship: :worship:

Take the car back to the dealer, and although it was your choice to buy the car I would make a point to Fiat Customer Service that the distances involved in getting the car cared for is not acceptable when (I am making an assumption here) you have to drive past Fiat Dealers who are not authorised to work on the car because they are not Abarth dealers.

This is ridiculous as the cars are built in same factory as standard 500's and the mechanicals are not that different from the sum of parts from the 500 and other Fiats ie T-Jet engined cars, therefore the knowledge base within Fiat dealers should be enough to work on the cars without question. Fair enough they want the whole buying experience to be made very pleasent in the Abarth kitted out showrooms (read that as the dealers who are willing to spend the money), but for warrenty work it's a bit much to expect.

I personally don't think you drive the car that much harder than many cars are subjected to new & old by drivers of all ages, and I know someone who has met you and said your driving was fine.

i know ive seen it on posts before but that video doesnt show anything that bad.
always makes me nervous watching cars going down little country roads but its wasnt caning

custard said:

i know ive seen it on posts before but that video doesnt show anything that bad.
always makes me nervous watching cars going down little country roads but its wasnt caning

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Aye did seem relatively reserved bar flying out of that give way and the retarded little handbrake turn lol.