Hi everyone. Just joined this forum, as i am looking to buy a 500 Abarth, 99 model or there abouts. I currently have a 95 Impreza RA, heavily modified, running 350bhp, with just about every geo mod there is. Now, i use the car for about 2000 miles a year, and it isn't getting the use to justify the insurance etc, and also a smaller, more economical car would be a plus. I've always loved the little Fiat, but am worried i will get bored very quickly. So, i no doubt would tune it up some in the near future. I've seen the TMC kits etc, but that isn't enough. I know i'm never going to get 4 second 0-60 as i have now, but would maybe like it in the 5's. Is this possible? I've seen turbo dynamics do an uprated turbo, with 200bhp claims, what real life performance would this give with supporting mods? Will this state of tune require a forged rebuild? And will the gearbox cope? Having spent £4.5k on just the forged engine in the Impreza, i don't really fancy this again.
Your views much appreciated.

Tim

mitty said:

Hi everyone. Just joined this forum, as i am looking to buy a 500 Abarth, 99 model or there abouts. I currently have a 95 Impreza RA, heavily modified, running 350bhp, with just about every geo mod there is. Now, i use the car for about 2000 miles a year, and it isn't getting the use to justify the insurance etc, and also a smaller, more economical car would be a plus. I've always loved the little Fiat, but am worried i will get bored very quickly. So, i no doubt would tune it up some in the near future. I've seen the TMC kits etc, but that isn't enough. I know i'm never going to get 4 second 0-60 as i have now, but would maybe like it in the 5's. Is this possible? I've seen turbo dynamics do an uprated turbo, with 200bhp claims, what real life performance would this give with supporting mods? Will this state of tune require a forged rebuild? And will the gearbox cope? Having spent £4.5k on just the forged engine in the Impreza, i don't really fancy this again.
Your views much appreciated.

Tim

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Welcome to the FF Tim.
Would suggest posting your query in the Abarth 500 section.
In a nutshell the best you'll get from a A500 is 7 secs.
Anything less than that with current FWD setup would be pretty difficult to get.
One individual that I'm aware of increased the engine size to a 1.6 and fitted a Garrett turbo and manifold along with a sports CAT + exhaust, etc. but you would be getting into £££££.
You could just go with a 'standard' esseesse and that should 'tick the box' which some excellent in gear figures and a 40+ mpg if driven sensibly plus it should be relatively easy to insure.

Hi, thanks for the relpy. I've kind of accepted i'll never get close to what i have, but was expecting to get much lower than the 7s mark. I understand the limitations of fwd, and the small power plant. I think i need to get myself to Fiat and have a drive of one, and go from there. I'm not about to start down the same road i went down with the RA, but having owned it for 5 years now, with 1100kg/350bhp, i think i've been spoilt with performance i'm never goingn to see in a fwd car.

Thanks, Tim