500 (Abarth) Draigflag's ABARTH 500 (new thread!).

[DraigFlag87]

Hoping to go for a drive on Wednesday with a fellow Abarth 500 owner. Two reasons,​

1. Snow has been preventing me from doing any decent driving recently, getting serious withdrawal symptoms!​

2. My friend has the AVO suspension setup on his A500 with dampening and height adjust ability.​

I've more or less decided against the Bilsteins as, despite the well known brand, they were designed for the F500 not the A500. My fear is that they will simply not be stiff enough. They are not adjustable for damping either, just height..​

The AVO setup was custom engineered for the car, it's a little bit more expensive, but that's always the way with custom things!​

 

[306maxi]

Hoping to go for a drive on Wednesday with a fellow Abarth 500 owner. Two reasons,​

1. Snow has been preventing me from doing any decent driving recently, getting serious withdrawal symptoms!​

2. My friend has the AVO suspension setup on his A500 with dampening and height adjust ability.​

I've more or less decided against the Bilsteins as, despite the well known brand, they were designed for the F500 not the A500. My fear is that they will simply not be stiff enough. They are not adjustable for damping either, just height..​

The AVO setup was custom engineered for the car, it's a little bit more expensive, but that's always the way with custom things!​

You will most likely never adjust the suspension so buying adjustable dampers is only really of use if you're going to do trackwork. Most people who buy adjustable dampers and use them purely on the road will never adjust them.

It's also a moot point as to whether they were designed for the Abarth as such. The suspension is the same whether it's a 1.2 or an Abarth. The Avo's are for the Fiat 500/Abarth as well. They are NOT custom made for the Abarth, sorry to burst your bubble there.

Seriously, get the Bilsteins! Save a packet and get the more reputable brand.

 

[DraigFlag87]

Not custom designed, perhaps that is the wrong phrase. They were custom tweaked for the A500. More info here:

http://www.abarthforum.co.uk/pulce-racing/avo-suspension-kit-fiat-500-abarth/

 

[306maxi]

Not custom designed, perhaps that is the wrong phrase. They were custom tweaked for the A500. More info here:

http://www.abarthforum.co.uk/pulce-racing/avo-suspension-kit-fiat-500-abarth/

and you don't think Bilstein have ever tested the dampers on an Abarth?

Seriously, Avo are going on about a Rover 25 winning it's class on the Cambrian rally ffs -> http://www.avouk.com/news.htm whereas Bilstein have supplied winners in the WRC, F1 and other high level motorsport.

Just because Avo have gone out and found someone on the Abarth forum and given them a test set of dampers and springs doesn't mean they're any better than Bilstein's.

Bilstein test their products on the ring with professional drivers, Avo tested their product on ONE users car :bang:

 

[DraigFlag87]

I'm still considering everything really, won't be making any decisions until the new year anyway. Knowing me, I'll probably not bother, i don't mind forking out 15 fat ones on a new car, but i hate the thought of spending yet more money on it!

 

[DraigFlag87]

Abarth 500 Welsh Ambulance!

 

[306maxi]

At the risk of being slagged off I think someone needs a girlfriend!

At the risk of being slagged off, I thought I'd dig this post up!

 

[DraigFlag87]

At the risk of being slagged off, I thought I'd dig this post up!

And on the risk of repeating myself again, please look how long you spend on the forum (forums?) before criticizing.

 

[TJ07]

:nono: Now now children!!... play nice!

 

[Venters]

Abarth 500 Welsh Ambulance!

Why have you done that?
Admittedly it's different if that's what you were going for.

 

[DraigFlag87]

Why have you done that?
Admittedly it's different if that's what you were going for.

You do know it's not real?

 

[bludvl_x19]

I believe his point may have been why put the effort in to achieve....um, that....???

 

[306maxi]

I believe his point may have been why put the effort in to achieve....um, that....???

To get attention I guess.

 

[Venters]

Or the terrifying realisation his thread was about to drop of the front page. So it needed a bump.

 

[NosherCento]

or because its different and just something he wanted to do.

same could be said for why people keep having a moan at him for showing us what he does on PS, you dont have to shoot him down becuase you dont know his reasons...

 

[Fordyl]

the Ambulance looks awesome, would be pretty cool to hear the sirens and a A500 fly's by. neee naaaa neeee naaa RAWWWWRRRRR!!!!

 

[DraigFlag87]

A couple of you need to get a grip and stop being so negative about others work. I don't know jack about how a car works, i know little about tyres, but to criticize someone for sharing their passion and hard work is very low indeed.

Anyway, went to the EVO Triangle today for a few laps. I was having a right blast until the steering wheel started to vibrate and wobble at speed! Pulled over, cleaned the snow from the drivers side wheel and checked the tightness of all 16 nuts (2 required a quarter turn) but whilst i was there i noticed one of my tyres was damaged. Had it looked at by the garage, they said it's safe as it's on the rim protector bit, but keep an eye out in case it bulges. Not sure if the wheel wobble has gone as i cruised home after seeing the tyre, but pretty sure it wasn't caused by the tyres damage. Sticky brake screeched for 30 miles of the 30 mile trip home. I kept stopping every 15 mins and used 2 litres of water to cool it off.

 

[TJ07]

A couple of you need to get a grip and stop being so negative about others work. I don't know jack about how a car works, i know little about tyres, but to criticize someone for sharing their passion and hard work is very low indeed.

Anyway, went to the EVO Triangle today for a few laps. I was having a right blast until the steering wheel started to vibrate and wobble at speed! Pulled over, cleaned the snow from the drivers side wheel and checked the tightness of all 16 nuts (2 required a quarter turn) but whilst i was there i noticed one of my tyres was damaged. Had it looked at by the garage, they said it's safe as it's on the rim protector bit, but keep an eye out in case it bulges. Not sure if the wheel wobble has gone as i cruised home after seeing the tyre, but pretty sure it wasn't caused by the tyres damage. Sticky brake screeched for 30 miles of the 30 mile trip home. I kept stopping every 15 mins and used 2 litres of water to cool it off.

I’d be buying a new tyre just to be on the safe side... but that’s maybe just me! Nice to see im not the only one that can't keep a clean car just now!

 

[DraigFlag87]

Looks like i'll be doing a 300 trip over new years with a bust tyres, dodgy brakes and a wheel wobble. Wish me luck

 

[udtrev]

Looks like i'll be doing a 300 trip over new years with a bust tyres, dodgy brakes and a wheel wobble. Wish me luck

Good luck, take care !!

But a bit of an extreme method to get a high MPG out of an abarth