Used 2012 FIAT 500 Abarth Consumer Reviews
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Turn the ignition, nothing happens!
Sherry Pierce, 11/25/2015
2012 FIAT 500 Abarth 2dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
40 of 40 people found this review helpful
My 2012 Fiat L was purchased new from dealer in late 2012. Very glad it came with a 50,000 4 yr warranty as it spends a lot of time at the dealer getting "fixed." After 3 attempts to correct issue with tire pressure light staying on, gave up on it and just disregard the light. My car shut off while I was on the highway doing 55 so I felt blessed to have been able to get it to the shoulder. I was an hour from home in Feb on a freezing day with an infant in the car, but when I my husband arrived the car started and he drove it home like nothing had happened. Sixteen months later, the car died dead again while driving near the beach, this time I had AAA and had it towed to the dealer. Gone nearly 2 weeks and they just replaced the alternator & battery. After that the car would no longer start on first turn of ignition but roared to life on second try... but six weeks later would not start at all. Almost 2 weeks at dealer as they replaced the starter. Two months later, it still won't start on first turn of ignition and it has randomly refused to start at all 3 times in the past month. If I move the shift, open/close door, step on brake and go thru antics it starts, usually after I have called AAA to come get me and have to call them back to cancel the tow. I have had it. Hope to have enough equity to trade by this coming Fall as the negatives are outdoing the positives at this point. I do love the look, the size and the gas mileage but once my warranty is over, this is NOT a car I want to keep due to scary maintenance costs.
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There are no boring trips in an Abarth!
Seth Simon, 03/14/2016
updated 09/27/2022
2012 FIAT 500 Abarth 2dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
33 of 35 people found this review helpful
This is a niche car and not for everyone, and that's why it's special. A Camry or an Accord are for everyone, and when you make something to please as many people as possible you end up with middle of the road blandness. That's great for some, not for Abarth owners. This is a performance car based on a relatively humble small European city car, originally designed for dense urban areas. So, yeah, if you have 5 kids and two dogs, guess what? It's not a car for you. If you appreciate efficiency of space, fuel and technology, are concerned about your footprint on the planet but really like to drive, then an Abarth may be for you. It oozes character, it sounds fantastic and I love that it doesn't look like it's angry and wants to kill you, like so many other cars on the market. It's actually pretty comfortable for long trips, and despite its compact exterior dimensions, it has a lot of space, more than a Mini. I'm 5'-10" and 190lbs and I can sit comfortably in the rear seat behind myself. It's easy to park and cheap to fill the tank, and no one gets annoyed at you when you pass them. Try doing that in a BMW or Mercedes. I considered a Ford Fiesta ST, but was turned off by the four door-only body style, and although objectively it was a tad more refined than the Abarth in some areas, it just didn't feel special, and certainly wasn't as much fun to drive. The quality of materials is not on par with say, a Lexus, but then it doesn't cost Lexus money. I've had mine for two years and the only issues I've had were a burned out light bulb in the cruise control switch and a faulty tire pressure monitoring sensor. Nothing squeaks or rattles. Overall, I've been very very happy with this car. *Update 5 years into ownership: Still have it; was thinking about getting something else but it's paid for and it's been very dependable, so keeping it and tuning it. Love this car! Update: 6 years into ownership: A couple of minor squeaks developed. One is in the rear suspension, and my mechanic took care of it by loosening the bolts securing the rear anti-roll bar, spraying them w silicone and re tightening them to the correct specs. The door panels also squeak, not loudly, but noticeable enough to be slightly annoying. I've solved it by spraying silicone grease behind the door panels. It lasts for a three months or so. I've had to replace the original Pirelli P Zeros, which we just OK, so I went w bigger diameter wheels and wider tires, which made a huge difference in grip and stability in high speed corners. I recommend 205 /17s. I've had to replace tires, brake pads, spark-plugs and the usual filters, but nothing else. Looking at a bigger sport sedan, but keeping the Abarth regardless. Still gives me joy every time the rorty exhaust comes to life.
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The Manny Pacquiao of the car world
shabba2, 10/02/2012
2012 FIAT 500 Abarth 2dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
14 of 16 people found this review helpful
Easily the best decision I've ever made on an impulse. While looking at the Sport model, this Abarth was left behind by the original buyer. I snapped it up as I overheard him declining to buy it after ordering it. Let's see, this car goes like stink, gets phenomenal gas mileage (I'm averaging 38 on the highway at 75 mph), looks like nothing else, is built well, is very uncommon, is surprisingly comfortable on any sort of trip, has standard options that most cars would not in this price range, has an exhaust that makes a Ferrari jealous, and it's priced perfectly. Abarth is like the Carroll Shelby of the 500 world. They took something that was nearly perfect and made it perfect.
Getting Costly to Own.
Michael Willsey, 07/25/2015
2012 FIAT 500 Abarth 2dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
3 Vent knobs came off under warranty. Driver arm rest came apart under warranty but the first repair disabled the seats ability to move forward by pulling on seat back release handle and it took them several months and 4 returns for repair until they figured it out. The original battery suddenly went dead with no warning just past warranty leaving us stranded and in need of a road side service call and new battery. Most costly was main computer malfunction at 62,000 miles out of warranty at a cost of over $700.00 and still making payments on original car loan and this major problem, the problems was the headlights would not turn off, not even with switched to off nor by shutting off car, had to unplug headlights. The new computer is warrantied for just one year. At the same time as the computer going out the service department stated the steering was in need of repair at a cost of nearly $300, at this time I have yet to repair the steering and am driving it as is since the service person said it wouldn't keep me from safe driving.
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Customer service # 1 Priority??????/
Susan Riley, 03/17/2016
2012 FIAT 500 Abarth 2dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
24 of 30 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car from a dealer within 5 miles of my home. Within one year of purchasing this car the dealer went out of business. I then started to take the car to a dealer near to where I work but they are no longer providing any service that is under warranty for Fiat as they have a dispute with Fiat. My check engine light is on and I am now told that I can have the car towed to a dealer that is a 90 minute drive from my home but it is my responsibility to pick it up. Calls to and emails to Fiat go unanswered. It is a great car and I loved it but don't buy a Fiat. You cannot count on their relationships with their dealers.
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GORGEOUS
limee, 11/06/2012
2012 FIAT 500 Abarth 2dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Traded my Prima for the Abarth. So glad I did. It drives and handles so much better with more than enough power and much more connected. The soundtrack from the exhaust is phenomenal, has to be the best stock soundtrack out there. Fuel mileage is consistently 33-34mpg. I use premium seeing as it's turbo charged. My Prima averaged 36-38 mpg. Love driving this car. It's a blast. Looking forward to the Abarth convertible!
Still a Wonderful little car.
George, 10/24/2015
updated 10/31/2016
2012 FIAT 500 Abarth 2dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Look if you want a big roomy car buy somethin else! If you want a fun, decent handling & very quick car get the Abarth. Took mine from Idaho to California & back. Lots of freeway travel. It was great. If your between 5' 9" & 6' and of normal weight then its quite comfortable. Had minor issue with fuel vacuum line. Check engine light comes on. Took to dealership enroute. Was diagnosed, reset. Was warned might come on again. It did. Took to home dealership. Was taken care of. You cannot compare this car to other outside its segment. So, for all the people that complain about how small it is and that its not safe on the freeway, then why did you buy one. Means that you didn't check it out to see if it met your needs. DUH. As for me I love this little Abarth. By the way I suggest buying into MOpar's extended warrenty IS A GOOD INVESTMENT. If your concern is everything falls apart after factory warrenty expires. Most car's do have issues here or there. Why do u think the manufactured brands only go so far with their warranties. side skirts detachment had become an issue. Fiat took care of problem. Still think it is more fun & better than Cooper S Clubman I had. Seats way more comfortable. Handles better. Sounds great. Everything remains the same as it maintains the fun factor. Performance has actually increased ! No additional issues with side skirts. Looking at the 500X to replace my old ML55 AMG
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Whirrrrrrr whistle growl pop burble
Arthur Abarth, 07/27/2016
2012 FIAT 500 Abarth 2dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Overall this thing is good for basic transportation for someone who likes to drive. Set your expectations low, the interior is not primo, but if that's what you want then save up for something more upscale. The interior has some character but is definitely basic. The seats are sporty and the fabric feels robust. Racing Stripes, Racing stripes! How did they get inside my car again? The seats have a single red stripe going longways, I'll keep em. I use this car to commute through city streets and park it on the curb. Those big rims will get scratched, hail will damage the steel roof and eventually someone will drive their car into my car followed by driving their car away. Such is life. This is a more fragile car than anything I've had, the intercoolers are in the edges of the front bumper, meaning a fender bender will cost f$ht dollars. The brake calipers are within fingers reach of any passerby. Putting new tires on will scratch the rims very badly if you don't go out of your way to find a specialty shop. All that aside, this car rocks. It makes a unique exhaust sound, seems like it has never made the same sound twice. whirrrrr, whistle, growl, pop burble. Rippin through the corners and being a tiny car, 5 speed rowing and being such an unconventional car. Plenty of room for the average person and whatever junk the tote around with them, maybe even room for a friend.
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great car
larry kritzell, 10/11/2016
updated 10/12/2017
2012 FIAT 500 Abarth 2dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
5 of 8 people found this review helpful
its very small , so if you are not crazy about small cars and if you are 6ft 3 in and 240 lbs with a lard bucket rear end you should look elsewhere . its the most fun on 4 wheels that I have ever had !
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