How about those Kei cars..., Look familiar? |
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How about those Kei cars..., Look familiar? |
JeffBowlsby |
Jul 28 2018, 12:49 PM
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#1
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914 Wiring Harnesses Group: Members Posts: 8,510 Joined: 7-January 03 From: San Ramon CA Member No.: 104 Region Association: None |
Just an engine swap away from a cone killer.
Attached thumbnail(s) Attached image(s) |
Dave_Darling |
Jul 28 2018, 04:52 PM
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#2
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914 Idiot Group: Members Posts: 14,986 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona Member No.: 121 Region Association: Northern California |
A new version of the 90s' Honda Beat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Beat Which also reminded me of a certain German car that we all like.... --DD |
chrisg |
Jul 28 2018, 08:20 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 63 Joined: 20-December 03 From: Paso Robles, CA Member No.: 1,455 Region Association: None |
It’s too bad we’ll never see anything like this sold here. I’ve been checking these out for a while now and would love to have one as daily driver. It would fit my commute perfect and I’m getting tired of freezing my butt off on a motorcycle in the winter.
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horizontally-opposed |
Jul 28 2018, 09:40 PM
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#4
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,432 Joined: 12-May 04 From: San Francisco Member No.: 2,058 Region Association: None |
It’s too bad we’ll never see anything like this sold here. I’ve been checking these out for a while now and would love to have one as daily driver. It would fit my commute perfect and I’m getting tired of freezing my butt off on a motorcycle in the winter. You probably won't believe me—as I didn't believe those who told me, even though I knew they knew their stuff and had great taste in cars to boot—but a Fiat 500 Abarth is one of the best kept small-car secrets of them all in the US. Flawed, but fantastic. I also hear the latest Miata is quite good.... No, not Kei cars, but there really isn't much else close to these two for 2500~ pounds cars. The Abarth was more fun, in many ways, than my GT4. |
horizontally-opposed |
Jul 28 2018, 09:40 PM
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#5
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,432 Joined: 12-May 04 From: San Francisco Member No.: 2,058 Region Association: None |
A new version of the 90s' Honda Beat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Beat Which also reminded me of a certain German car that we all like.... --DD It really is a bummer we won't get these... |
Andyrew |
Jul 28 2018, 11:49 PM
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#6
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Spooling.... Please wait Group: Members Posts: 13,376 Joined: 20-January 03 From: Riverbank, Ca Member No.: 172 Region Association: Northern California |
It’s too bad we’ll never see anything like this sold here. I’ve been checking these out for a while now and would love to have one as daily driver. It would fit my commute perfect and I’m getting tired of freezing my butt off on a motorcycle in the winter. You probably won't believe me—as I didn't believe those who told me, even though I knew they knew their stuff and had great taste in cars to boot—but a Fiat 500 Abarth is one of the best kept small-car secrets of them all in the US. Flawed, but fantastic. I also hear the latest Miata is quite good.... No, not Kei cars, but there really isn't much else close to these two for 2500~ pounds cars. The Abarth was more fun, in many ways, than my GT4. That's how I felt about my Fiesta ST. Way to fun of a car. I was really sad to see it go, but we needed a family hauler and I needed a more comfortable commuter. (Enter Honda pilot for her and Q50 for me...) There is not much out there that has the turn in of these tiny FWD hatches. |
bdstone914 |
Jul 29 2018, 08:33 AM
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#7
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bdstone914 Group: Members Posts: 4,522 Joined: 8-November 03 From: Riverside CA Member No.: 1,319 |
A new version of the 90s' Honda Beat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Beat Which also reminded me of a certain German car that we all like.... --DD A 656cc engine in a car? How slow can that be? OK for crowded Japanese city traffic? Top speed equal to even the speed limit? |
Tom_T |
Jul 29 2018, 02:27 PM
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#8
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TMI.... Group: Members Posts: 8,318 Joined: 19-March 09 From: Orange, CA Member No.: 10,181 Region Association: Southern California |
A new version of the 90s' Honda Beat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Beat Which also reminded me of a certain German car that we all like.... --DD More like the Redux of the 1960's Honda 660 .... http://www.backroads.ie/forums/showthread....onda-S660/page2 (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.performance-car-guide.co.uk-10181-1532896056.1.jpg) IIRC it was based on Honda's 1960's Formula race engine! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif) . It’s too bad we’ll never see anything like this sold here. I’ve been checking these out for a while now and would love to have one as daily driver. It would fit my commute perfect and I’m getting tired of freezing my butt off on a motorcycle in the winter. Just wait 25 years, after that you can import anything as is/was, without doing any of the US-DOT geay market mods. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Tom /////// |
Dave_Darling |
Jul 29 2018, 10:21 PM
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#9
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914 Idiot Group: Members Posts: 14,986 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona Member No.: 121 Region Association: Northern California |
The old S600 used some technology from their F1 engine, but was not based on it. It had only 1/3 of the number of cylinders, I believe. It was also front-engine, with an odd chain-driven independent rear suspension.
The Kei car is a mid-engine transverse three-banger (I believe). The name is a call-back to the S600, but that's about it. As for "can it even go highway speeds", ask that of a Bug owner. The Beat and S660 both make on the order of 65 HP, which is a maximum for the tax class--it may be more in fact. And if old Bugs can get up to freeway speeds with 25-50 HP, something like this can easily do so. --DD |
era vulgaris |
Jul 30 2018, 07:00 AM
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#10
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J is for Genius Group: Members Posts: 982 Joined: 10-November 13 From: Raleigh, NC Member No.: 16,629 Region Association: South East States |
You probably won't believe me—as I didn't believe those who told me, even though I knew they knew their stuff and had great taste in cars to boot—but a Fiat 500 Abarth is one of the best kept small-car secrets of them all in the US. Flawed, but fantastic. The Abarth was more fun, in many ways, than my GT4. I've had my eye on a 500 Abarth. I think they look really good, especially with the factory 17" wheels. And the sound seems to be fantastic with that muffler-less exhaust. How do you feel about the seating position though? I keep reading that it's too upright and uncomfortable, like sitting on a toilet. And it causes right foot fatigue from the angle the gas pedal is at. That's kind of steered me away from trying one out. |
Dave_Darling |
Aug 7 2018, 08:51 AM
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#11
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914 Idiot Group: Members Posts: 14,986 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona Member No.: 121 Region Association: Northern California |
The Beat is now past the 25-year limit, so you can legally import them. At least, in some states. Not sure about California.
Here's one being auctioned off in Washington State. --DD |
domer914 |
Aug 7 2018, 09:54 AM
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#12
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 41 Joined: 19-December 09 From: Oklahoma Member No.: 11,149 Region Association: None |
It’s too bad we’ll never see anything like this sold here. I’ve been checking these out for a while now and would love to have one as daily driver. It would fit my commute perfect and I’m getting tired of freezing my butt off on a motorcycle in the winter. "freezing your butt off" is all relative |
horizontally-opposed |
Aug 7 2018, 11:02 AM
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#13
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,432 Joined: 12-May 04 From: San Francisco Member No.: 2,058 Region Association: None |
I've had my eye on a 500 Abarth. I think they look really good, especially with the factory 17" wheels. And the sound seems to be fantastic with that muffler-less exhaust. How do you feel about the seating position though? I keep reading that it's too upright and uncomfortable, like sitting on a toilet. And it causes right foot fatigue from the angle the gas pedal is at. That's kind of steered me away from trying one out. Sorry I missed this—to your question, the seating position is[u] really weird when you drive away. It reminded me of the first time I drove a 993, and how it felt like everything was in the wrong relationship. And then it got better..."normal," even. And then other cars felt weird. In the case of the Abarth, that only sorta happened. It always felt different, but I grew to like it. You sit high and can see everything. The steering wheel's "bus" position is awkward initially but "goes away" with time. I grew to like it...sports car pace and agility on back roads, but you look eye to eye with drivers in small pickup trucks, motorcyclists, etc. SUPER easy to get into and out of around town, and I actually found that it was one of the most comfortable cars for long trips I have ever owned (better than my subsequent GT4 and better than my current 911). Turns out, the Italians know a thing or two about seat design + the human body. My two fastest same-day runs from Marin to Monterey and back were in that car, and I felt fresh and refreshed when I got home. Couldn't say that after the same trip in the GT4. The only reason I am not driving an Abarth now is its lack of back-seat crumple zone for my daughter. pete |
VaccaRabite |
Aug 7 2018, 11:12 AM
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#14
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En Garde! Group: Admin Posts: 13,444 Joined: 15-December 03 From: Dallastown, PA Member No.: 1,435 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
I've had my eye on a 500 Abarth. I think they look really good, especially with the factory 17" wheels. And the sound seems to be fantastic with that muffler-less exhaust. How do you feel about the seating position though? I keep reading that it's too upright and uncomfortable, like sitting on a toilet. And it causes right foot fatigue from the angle the gas pedal is at. That's kind of steered me away from trying one out. Sorry I missed this—to your question, the seating position is[u] really weird when you drive away. It reminded me of the first time I drove a 993, and how it felt like everything was in the wrong relationship. And then it got better..."normal," even. And then other cars felt weird. In the case of the Abarth, that only sorta happened. It always felt different, but I grew to like it. You sit high and can see everything. The steering wheel's "bus" position is awkward initially but "goes away" with time. I grew to like it...sports car pace and agility on back roads, but you look eye to eye with drivers in small pickup trucks, motorcyclists, etc. SUPER easy to get into and out of around town, and I actually found that it was one of the most comfortable cars for long trips I have ever owned (better than my subsequent GT4 and better than my current 911). Turns out, the Italians know a thing or two about seat design + the human body. My two fastest same-day runs from Marin to Monterey and back were in that car, and I felt fresh and refreshed when I got home. Couldn't say that after the same trip in the GT4. The only reason I am not driving an Abarth now is its lack of back-seat crumple zone for my daughter. pete The Abarths have a rep for being top heavy though. There has been at least one that has rolled at my local AX, and I believe that they are banned or are getting banned for use in SCCA Solo. Zach |
Alphaogre |
Aug 7 2018, 03:47 PM
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#15
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Member Group: Members Posts: 460 Joined: 28-May 12 From: San Diego Member No.: 14,487 Region Association: Southern California |
They covered a JDM imported one recently on Jay Lenos Garage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4RcyRYVa6U&t=1759s |
horizontally-opposed |
Aug 7 2018, 05:30 PM
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#16
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,432 Joined: 12-May 04 From: San Francisco Member No.: 2,058 Region Association: None |
The Abarths have a rep for being top heavy though. There has been at least one that has rolled at my local AX, and I believe that they are banned or are getting banned for use in SCCA Solo. Zach I could be wrong, but I think the SCCA banned the regular Fiat 500—but allowed the Abarth. Anyone? In any event, it was never an issue for me...even when keeping pace with a very well driven 997 Carrera S or being held up by (fast) sport bikes on back roads. The Abarth starts to fall apart past, say, 6 or 7 tenths, for a variety of reasons, but how often do you drive harder on the street? For a daily, it's a HOOT. |
VaccaRabite |
Aug 9 2018, 09:41 AM
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#17
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En Garde! Group: Admin Posts: 13,444 Joined: 15-December 03 From: Dallastown, PA Member No.: 1,435 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
The Abarths have a rep for being top heavy though. There has been at least one that has rolled at my local AX, and I believe that they are banned or are getting banned for use in SCCA Solo. Zach I could be wrong, but I think the SCCA banned the regular Fiat 500—but allowed the Abarth. Anyone? In any event, it was never an issue for me...even when keeping pace with a very well driven 997 Carrera S or being held up by (fast) sport bikes on back roads. The Abarth starts to fall apart past, say, 6 or 7 tenths, for a variety of reasons, but how often do you drive harder on the street? For a daily, it's a HOOT. I went and looked. They are banned in all the stock car classes, but there is a class which restricts tire choices that they are allowed in. The Abarths, especially with sticky tires, were rolling over. It was less of an issue fore the regular 500, but who wants to AX a regular (modern) 500?! Zach |
horizontally-opposed |
Aug 9 2018, 12:50 PM
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#18
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,432 Joined: 12-May 04 From: San Francisco Member No.: 2,058 Region Association: None |
I went and looked. They are banned in all the stock car classes, but there is a class which restricts tire choices that they are allowed in. The Abarths, especially with sticky tires, were rolling over. It was less of an issue fore the regular 500, but who wants to AX a regular (modern) 500?! Zach Interesting. Never once did it give me indication that it was gonna roll over—but I ran Michelin A/S 3 tires and rarely pushed past 6 or 7 tenths. Good to know: Don't put Falkens or similar on an Abarth...and don't race one. The Assetto Corse cup racers do appear upside down in pics and videos, so there you go. I don't think the Abarth is the safest choice in modern cars, but then neither is the 914. And both are among the all-time funnest cars I've driven. pete |
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