Well, I have Abarth images on my number plates but no badges as I don't like lots of stickers/badges etc personally.

IMO if you badge it as something better i.e. M3 clones etc the more knowledgeable car buff will easily spot the difference.

Liam

bloomfieldliam said:

Well, I have Abarth images on my number plates but no badges as I don't like lots of stickers/badges etc personally.

IMO if you badge it as something better i.e. M3 clones etc the more knowledgeable car buff will easily spot the difference.

Liam

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Diff is Liam, an M3 is a stand alone model with dif engine, running gear, body panels etc etc etc and is clearly marked as an M3 on the V5 document, is any current Abarth model? I don't know thats why I'm asking? I'm sure Abarth Cinq's/Sei are still listed as Sportings. You can of course order genuine M sport stuff, body kits interior parts etc when you order your new BMW and indeed can go and order stuff for your old BMW from any BMW dealer, its still got the M livery on it and in my eyes is no dif from any current Abarth badged models i.e. a normal model with extras. Any one worth their salt will know a real M over a clone anyway by the stance of the car.

I don't agree with the whole clone look thing, but when it sumounts to body parts that are freely available in the Fiat brochures, then whats the diff.

I really truely believe that Abarth should mean something again, and be complete stand alone models with a clear performance advantage over all other models in the range by having diff engines, suspension settings etc as BMW do with the M cars!

Aaron.

J333EVO said:

Diff is Liam, an M3 is a stand alone model with dif engine, running gear, body panels etc etc etc and is clearly marked as an M3 on the V5 document, is any current Abarth model? I don't know thats why I'm asking? I'm sure Abarth Cinq's/Sei are still listed as Sportings. You can of course order genuine M sport stuff, body kits interior parts etc when you order your new BMW and indeed can go and order stuff for your old BMW from any BMW dealer, its still got the M livery on it and in my eyes is no dif from any current Abarth badged models i.e. a normal model with extras. Any one worth their salt will know a real M over a clone anyway by the stance of the car.

I don't agree with the whole clone look thing, but when it sumounts to body parts that are freely available in the Fiat brochures, then whats the diff.

I really truely believe that Abarth should mean something again, and be complete stand alone models with a clear performance advantage over all other models in the range by having diff engines, suspension settings etc as BMW do with the M cars!

Aaron.

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Yes they are marked as Abarth on the V5 docs.

Mine says

"Stilo Abarth Selespeed"

I'd hardly say the Stilo Abarth selespeed was a "normal model with extras"

Normal compared to which other model ?

Apart from the styling though, what sets it apart? The engine is found in other models, the Prestigio and the Schumacher.

I'll confess to not knowing if the Stilo abarth has different suspension or brakes to the likes of the Prestigio, but the Schumacher has been off to prodrive for suspension tweaking - that sets that model apart.

I think it all boils down to Abarth no longer being a brand, it is a model - its just the sporty top spec version

The Prestigio is what FIAT used to call the 5 door Abarth - this name has only come about recently in the Stilo range [I know it is used on other FIAT models to mean the top spec].

And as for the Schumacher, that is a limited edition in any case. Along the lines of the Clio Williams, say?

BUT as you say, Abarth does mean 'sporty top spec version'

KoArAnG said:

Yes they are marked as Abarth on the V5 docs.

Mine says

"Stilo Abarth Selespeed"

I'd hardly say the Stilo Abarth selespeed was a "normal model with extras"

Normal compared to which other model ?

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Well here is the complete Fiat range as quoted by Fiat and even they say the names relate to "trim" levels.

"You can choose between the Stilo 3-door Active, Active Air Con, Active Sport, Dynamic and Abarth trim levels, but whichever you choose, you'll be driving on the cutting edge."

or "In a world that moves at the speed of thought you need a car that can keep up. A car that celebrates and streamlines technology for real life; with chaacter that can drive you out of the ordinary.

If your idea of driving involves ground breaking advances and fresh thinking, then the singular, sporting Fiat Stilo 3-door is for you.
First Impressions of the Stilo 5-door are of solidity and quality; of a safe house for family and friends.

The Stilo 5-door is a revolution in space. The cabin is also raised for maximum visibility."

Fiat Stilo Model Variants Cubic Capacity Brake Horse Power £ OTR Price
Fiat Stilo 1.4 16v Active 3dr 1368cc 95 bhp £10,095
Fiat Stilo 1.4 16v Active AirCon 3dr 1368cc 95 bhp £10,495
Fiat Stilo 1.4 16v Active 5dr 1368cc 95 bhp £10,695
Fiat Stilo 1.4 16v Active AirCon 5dr 1368cc 95 bhp £11,095
Fiat Stilo 1.6 16v Active Sport 3dr 1596cc 103 bhp £11,495
Fiat Stilo 1.6 16v Dynamic 3dr 1596cc 103 bhp £11,895
Fiat Stilo 1.9 JTD Active AirCon 5dr 1910cc 115 bhp £12,395
Fiat Stilo 1.6 16v Dynamic 5dr 1596cc 103 bhp £12,495
Fiat Stilo 1.8 16v Dynamic 3dr 1747cc 133 bhp £12,495
Fiat Stilo 1.9 JTD Dynamic 3dr 1910cc 115 bhp £12,895
Fiat Stilo 1.8 16v Dynamic 5dr 1747cc 133 bhp £13,095
Fiat Stilo 1.9 JTD Dynamic 5dr 1910cc 115 bhp £13,495
Fiat Stilo 2.4 20v Abarth 3dr 2446cc 170 bhp £14,345
Fiat Stilo 2.4 20v Prestigio 5dr 2446cc 170 bhp £14,495
Fiat Stilo 2.4 20v Prestigio Selespeed 5dr 2446cc 170 bhp £15,995
Fiat Stilo 2.4 20v Selespeed Abarth 3dr 2446cc 170 bhp £16,195

I would therefore say that the diff over the Prestigio cars is as Fiat say themsleves a trim level, you are not buying a stand alone performance model that is diff from all other cars in the range, I'm only quoting what Fiat themselves are saying. Therefore they can't be compared to the likes of the M range with BMW or even the new RS range from Ford which are substantially diff models from all others in the range, even being built on dedicated production lines with higher skilled workers. So its based on a normal model with extras which is what i said, ok it is the top performance model but still normal. The Schumaker as someone said has been worked on by Pro Drive and has suspension tweeks in response to feedback recieved from the general public and jurno's to give it more positive turn in and cornering ability on the road, with a lower meaner stance.

Aaron.

OK so now I don't actually own an Abarth God I've been totally ripped off..

What is it about this place lately, some people will make an argument out of anything and i'm getting completely p*ssed off with it. I don't think i'll bother anymore TBH.

KoArAnG said:

OK so now I don't actually own an Abarth God I've been totally ripped off..

What is it about this place lately, some people will make an argument out of anything and i'm getting completely p*ssed off with it. I don't think i'll bother anymore TBH.

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No your taking it to personal, the whole point is that when a pole is opened like this, there will be differences of opinion, I personally think that your car is one of the nicest and well looked after cars on this forum, and has been improved with taste and integrity, but it doesn't detract from what I believe to be a dilution of the Abarth brand which I think is why you opened up this pole because in your eyes, people who add the badges are diluting it further still. If only they had given the Abarth a few extra horses to set it apart from other models as 170bhp from a 2.4L engine is unstressed and at lest 200bhp could have been achieved without compromise to the reliabilty of the car.

No offence intended to any one on this forum/pole is meant by my comments on this subject.

Aaron.

I myself only got the Abarth images on the plate to keep it connected to the Italian thing as opposed to flag, motorsprt that kind of stuff.

What I meant to say earlier was that if you badge it different or otherwise, youronly fooling yourself and impressing maybe girls and folks who know fcuk all about cars when if impressing is your intention then impress the folks in the know.

Sorry OT but the M issue, I don't mind an M-tech badged BM with some nice extras, what I hate is a 318 with tints and aftermarket 18's with the M3 badge on it, blind man going past on a motorbike could tell it's a fake!

Liam

OT but, i see a brilliant BMW the other day. Was infront of me at the lights and i see the M3 badge and then it struggled to accelerate and pull away, which i thought was odd. Had a closer look at the back end at the next set of lights and you could see where the 316 badge used to be lol

I voted for voodoo, just 'cos it was there

I don't think the Abarth badge carries the status that it once did; Fiat themselves have stuck it to far too many rather mundane cars that have been little more than standard cars with a bodykit.

On the subject, though, I spotted some twerp in an old (P reg) Vectra with all the badges removed and a "VXR" one in it's place... looked a bit s***e, particularly as said Vectra was an estate... :nutter:

A controversial thread. Someone was bound to be offended. I'm of the opinion that Abarth is nothing more than a trim level these days, but isn't it a trim level we would all like to have?

there should be some sort of "lookalike" badge like the old XR2's used to have as you used to have the XR2 &XR2i then you'd have a fiesta with the same kit just not the same engine etc with a lookalike badge on, so i say BRING BACK THE LOOKALIKE badge and leave the model badges to the model they belong to as whats next a barchetta badge on a seicento?? or in the case of special edition models the shuey signature on a "S" model it just wouldnt look right, although theres nothing wrong with putting a badge on a car that is actually missing from it i.e. if your car is a 16v and the manufacturer chose not to put a 16v badge on it then in my opinion putting a 16v badge on it would be fine

Thats a very good point actually. It's something I thought about writing to Fiat with a while ago. Maybe they should release a badge that they strictly only send to Abarth owners. I mean how hard could it be.. Or maybe i'll write to Abarth badges and ask them to make one only for Abarths, seeing as I advertise them on my site.

JonnyBoy said:

On the subject, though, I spotted some twerp in an old (P reg) Vectra with all the badges removed and a "VXR" one in it's place... looked a bit s***e, particularly as said Vectra was an estate... :nutter:

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Unless of course, it had a VXR engine and suspension under the humble Vectra estate bodywork. In which case it would be a real wolf in sheeps clothing, a super cool stealth car and right up my street. Doubt if it was though...

Oh, and I have a friend who has a Honda Civic Estate in metalic Burgundy. It was optioned from new with the Type R engine and suspension. You should see the looks on peoples faces when he presses the loud pedal and leaves them eating exhaust fumes!

personaly i recon non-abarth owners should not use the badge. Think abarth owners whom go the extra mile and ££££ to buy a original abarth car. Then others are just adding replica cosmetic parts depriciates what actually owning a abarth by birth car actually means. So dont depricate and violate the pristigious tunning department of fiat!

They certainly aren't a prestigious tuning department. Those days are long gone.

arc said:

Apart from the styling though, what sets it apart? The engine is found in other models, the Prestigio and the Schumacher.

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The Shuey also has more torque and a faster 0-62 (in the sei model anyway)

rite on korang and you have to take ur car adn v5 to prove your can is a abarth and no photocopying other v5 non-abarth owners

i wacked an abarth badge on mine but only because i plan to get a carbon abarth spoiler and side skirts