500 Our 500SS

[DrRomano]

Chapter 1. The basics

We bought this originaly in Dec and I thought it was a good time to get a few pics and things going in my own thread

The 500 was bought for the missus as her everyday daily driver to replace her Brabus Smart. I must admit I have a bit of an agenda though as I want to start doing a few track events and plan on using the A500! I tried a trackday once with my old RS which was great, but the pricepoint should something go wrong kinda stopped me doing more.

Anyway the RS is now sold and the A500 will fill the void for the minute until my work situation is more UK focused at which point I'll get something for myself like a Pana Sport Turismo/C7 RS6 (I have wagon-fever!).

So I pounced on an ad I found just before Xmas for a 59 plate SS being sold fairly locally. Went down to see it the next day and settled on a price a few days after Xmas. It had everything we wanted in the Esseesse kit, Monza and Sabelt seats plus the previous owner had styled it quite uniquely with the italian flag on the roof & colour coordinated side stripes & mirrors to match.

The deadline is on as I'm using the car at the minute as her Smart's not sold as well as I'm heading out to SA again at the end of the month. So I'm 'free' to upgrade and mod to get it both a bit more comfortable as well as a bit more track focused. Nothing too wild as it needs to remain usable as a daily driver, but... I have a few things in mind

 

[The Twins]

That's a stunner! Really like the individuality of the colour combo and graphics. Enjoy!

 

[james44422]

What a stunner! Looks great

 

[The Twins]

I wonder if green wheel centre caps and callipers are available? ; )

 

[OrangeSport]

Very clever idea. Looks great.

 

[bgunn]

Nice original styling touch, looks very good. Not too over the top, which is just the way I like it.

 

[DrRomano]

Thanks everyone. I have a debate on my hands as Im not totally sold on the mirrors I love the odd stripes but the mirrors look a little weird to me when viewed from the front.

The missus loves the odd mirror thing though, she actually thinks it would be better if they were reversed (the green mirrors where the red is and vice versa) that way you can always see the flag colours green, white and red from each side of the car. She may have a point for once, lol

 

[Melanabb]

I recon she is right! Swapping the mirrors around should just do the trick! Looking great btw...

 

[RobinPJ]

Surely the mirrors are not swappable - they are "handed"?

 

[bgunn]

I'm guessing they meant colours!

 

[The Twins]

I recon she is right! Swapping the mirrors around should just do the trick! Looking great btw...

Agree : )

 

[james44422]

I disagree, mirrors look perfect to me. I would think it would look odd if you swapped them. Just my opinion though

 

[The Twins]

I disagree, mirrors look perfect to me. I would think it would look odd if you swapped them. Just my opinion though

Lol, it's a good thing we don't all agree on everything or else all our cars would look identical : )
Having the mirrors opposite would show Italian tri colours from both sides.

 

[james44422]

yes you're right but then it wouldn't be symmetrical. And I have abit of OCD when it comes to things being symmetrical.

But yeah good thing we are not all the same, who knows what car we would be driving if there was one perfect car that everyone liked

 

[The Twins]

yes you're right but then it wouldn't be symmetrical. And I have abit of OCD when it comes to things being symmetrical.

But yeah good thing we are not all the same, who knows what car we would be driving if there was one perfect car that everyone liked

Lol, OCD, I know what you mean. It bugs me that some cars have one reverse light and one fog light. Looks unbalanced. Strangely though it doesn't bother me only having an exhaust on one side (as long as its a twin pipe!)

 

[DrRomano]

Chapter 2. New Suspension & Stoppers (My Review)

So after a few weeks in the 500 certain things stand out about the ride. It's fun/cheeky drive that's for sure, but... there are certain characteristics that bug me. For instance, driving along a poorly surfaced road or elevated motorway/dual-carriageway sections there does seem to be a fair amount of vertical travel. On motorway/dual-carriageway decks particularly where there's a movement joint in the carriageway at uniform intervals, it's actually quite bizarre with all the up-down motion. The missus is also not to keen on how crashy the ride can be sometimes, its difficult to predict when it'll be a light thud and when it'll be an almight bang.

And as far as the brakes go, I guess you could easily label them adequate... they do the job. There's room for improvement though plainly. I actually had a scare the one time when someone 'attempted' to pull out in front of me and even with me mashing the brakes I'd have ploughed right into them if they hadn't seen me and stopped leaving just enough room for me to squeeze past. The close call kinda reaffirmed my commitment to get the 695 brakes.

So, after a loooong wait (apparently, ordering anything which has to come direct from Italy over the holiday period will be delayed... fact!) I received a few goodies through the post.

Brembos, Konis and Springs

Hoses, ATE Blue and Replacemet Bump Stops

I had the bits fitted by Motormech Italian Car Specialists in Birm (excellent service for anyone on the lookout for a good indi). Unfortunately I didn't really get an opportunity to test the suspension on the drive home but the brakes were immediately noticeable

. And after a late night Zeckhausen bed-in... the verdict:

Koni's
I was hoping mainly for a change to the ordinary, boring drive. I can't say this has happened in my experience

- That same depression in the carriageway which used to make the car bounce?, still produces the same up-down movement.
- That same pothole in the carriageway you made sure you straddled to avoid the thud?, you'll still be wanting to straddle even with the Konis.

So what has changed?!?, definitely the ride when you're pressing on. It certainly is flatter through the corners which encourages you to put the power down a fraction earlier. I must confess as well I've not had that almighty bang I mentioned earlier since the Konis were fitted. It happened once when I misjudged a dropped kerb and mounted the full height kerb at moderate speed instead. I tried this again post-install and the damping was much better, a thud this time and not the massive crash. It's just a shame there's not much change to the ordinary/boring drive rather you need to be doing something stupid/setting a lap time to notice the difference.

695 Brakes with Yellow stuff pads
I must admit, after the Zeckhausen I struggled for a day or two with the first 15mm of pedal travel; a bit spongy. Absolutely nothing would happen, then past this point good positive braking force at speed. In traffic though it meant that the car was a nightmare, very much on or off (like a switch) as that 15mm was what was needed to brake in those instances. So with my trusty Ezibleeder I bled the brakes again and with that the problem went away.

The results are amazing even on normal roads. Im very happy with them and have no complaints or regrets, a worthwhile mod if you're thinking about it.

Thanks everyone

 

[DrRomano]

Chapter 3. In detail

Not much to say really, the write-up says it all:

http://www.draykefields.co.uk/archive/21-whiteabarth500/

Chufffffffed to bits with the result

 

[RobinPJ]

They did a great job - what did it cost?

 

[nottsfiat07]

How thorough was that!!! :slayer:

 

[The Twins]

Amazing! If only they stayed that clean : )