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[GMCnet] Anyone tow a Fiat Abarth? [message #311070]

Tue, 29 November 2016 10:40

glwgmc

Messages: 1014
Registered: June 2004

Karma: 10

Senior Member

Thanks for the good feedback, all. Keep it coming. The choices get a bit scarce when SHE demands a modern car (read crumple zones other than your knees, lots of air bags, capable of being driven in dense city traffic, etc.) and I want to keep it light, physically small, have room for an occasional third or fourth person, and a bit fun to drive. The Minis Cooper Ss we have seen all seem to be full of rattles, rode hard and put away wet. The Fiats with the base engine seem overly anemic. The turbo engined ones have plenty of pep and fun to drive and with the very rapid depreciation (half off for a couple of year old ones with less than 15,000 miles) could work as a tow car. We are no where near a Fiat dealer so service if needed would be probematic both at home and on the road. We don’t care about it for other uses. SHE wants an automatic which would render the Mini or the Fiat to tow dolly service (ugh - anyone found one of those that is not a pain in the butt to live with?). The Ford Fiesta and pre-2014 Honda Fit are only a bit heavier and both can be towed four down with an automatic trans but they duplicate function otherwise for cars we already have. So far it is a head vs heart issue. That is why I am looking for feedback from those of you who do tow something newer.

Jerry
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building in historic Kerby, OR

glwork@mac.com
http://jerrywork.com

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Jerry & Sharon Work
78 Royale
Kerby, OR

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Re: [GMCnet] Anyone tow a Fiat Abarth? [message #311075 is a reply to message #311070]

Tue, 29 November 2016 11:33

emerystora

Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004

Karma: 13

Senior Member

The Fiat 500 L is available with a Euro Twin Clutch Transmission which is an automatic. The Internet sites say it is 10% more fuel efficient than the manual transmission. This one can be towed 4 wheels down.
The L version is a four door so it is a little heavier but not that much. The Euro Twin Clutch is about $1300 more than the manual transmission. It is only available in the L model.

I am considering purchasing one of these this next year. My current toad is a Geo Tracker 4 door hardtop and I like the four doors.

I have driven both the Mini and the Fiat 500 and I like the drive of the Fiat better.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

> On Nov 29, 2016, at 9:40 AM, Gerald Work wrote:
>
> Thanks for the good feedback, all. Keep it coming. The choices get a bit scarce when SHE demands a modern car (read crumple zones other than your knees, lots of air bags, capable of being driven in dense city traffic, etc.) and I want to keep it light, physically small, have room for an occasional third or fourth person, and a bit fun to drive. The Minis Cooper Ss we have seen all seem to be full of rattles, rode hard and put away wet. The Fiats with the base engine seem overly anemic. The turbo engined ones have plenty of pep and fun to drive and with the very rapid depreciation (half off for a couple of year old ones with less than 15,000 miles) could work as a tow car. We are no where near a Fiat dealer so service if needed would be probematic both at home and on the road. We don’t care about it for other uses. SHE wants an automatic which would render the Mini or the Fiat to tow dolly service (ugh - anyone found one of those that is not a pain in the butt to live with?). The Ford Fiesta and pre-2014 Honda Fit are only a bit heavier and both can be towed four down with an automatic trans but they duplicate function otherwise for cars we already have. So far it is a head vs heart issue. That is why I am looking for feedback from those of you who do tow something newer.
>
> Jerry
> Jerry Work
> The Dovetail Joint
> Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building in historic Kerby, OR
>

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Re: [GMCnet] Anyone tow a Fiat Abarth? [message #311079 is a reply to message #311070]

Tue, 29 November 2016 12:12

k2gkk

Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009

Karma: -8

Senior Member

I just saw where Kia has introduced a Turbo Soul! Wife and I test drove one a couple of years ago. Turbo version might actually get me into the Soul stable!

You can't tow ANY Soul four wheels down. Front wheel drive versions need a tow dolly.

I think GMCer Bridges has a Soul and at last word, he really enjoys it. I think he had a rented one at the Branson rally a couple of years back.

Mac Macdonald in OKC

________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Gerald Work
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2016 10:40
To: GMC Motor Home Post
Subject: [GMCnet] Anyone tow a Fiat Abarth?

Thanks for the good feedback, all. Keep it coming. The choices get a bit scarce when SHE demands a modern car (read crumple zones other than your knees, lots of air bags, capable of being driven in dense city traffic, etc.) and I want to keep it light, physically small, have room for an occasional third or fourth person, and a bit fun to drive. The Minis Cooper Ss we have seen all seem to be full of rattles, rode hard and put away wet. The Fiats with the base engine seem overly anemic. The turbo engined ones have plenty of pep and fun to drive and with the very rapid depreciation (half off for a couple of year old ones with less than 15,000 miles) could work as a tow car. We are no where near a Fiat dealer so service if needed would be probematic both at home and on the road. We don't care about it for other uses. SHE wants an automatic which would render the Mini or the Fiat to tow dolly service (ugh - anyone found one of those that is not a pain in the butt to live with?). The Ford Fiesta and pre-2014 Honda Fit are only a bit heavier and both can be towed four down with an automatic trans but they duplicate function otherwise for cars we already have. So far it is a head vs heart issue. That is why I am looking for feedback from those of you who do tow something newer.

Jerry
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building in historic Kerby, OR

glwork@mac.com
http://jerrywork.com
Jerry Work - The Dovetail Joint
jerrywork.com
Fine furniture designed hand crafted by Jerry Work in the 1907 Masonic Temple building in historic Kerby, OR woodwork, burl, walnut, oak, maple, figured, highly ...

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Re: [GMCnet] Anyone tow a Fiat Abarth? [message #311083 is a reply to message #311079]

Tue, 29 November 2016 14:22

lqqkatjon

Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN

Karma: 5

Senior Member

Odd.

I have seen Kia Souls being towed 4 down. I thought Jim Bounds had some pictures as well of a tow bar soul. But I would guess them to be a bit heavier then a fiat. OK had to

had to edit.... missed the automatic part. hard to find a new car with automatic that you can tow 4 down anymore. They used to make cars lighter at the years go by, now they are back to making them heavier.

Jon Roche 75 palm beach EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now. St. Cloud, MN http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/

[Updated on: Tue, 29 November 2016 14:26]

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Re: [GMCnet] Anyone tow a Fiat Abarth? [message #311085 is a reply to message #311075]

Tue, 29 November 2016 15:06

Handyman

Messages: 229
Registered: April 2016
Location: The Netherlands

Karma: 2

Senior Member

Hello Emery,

We have the 500X with the double clutch automatic.
If this model is available in the USA/Canada I don't know.

It has three pre-installed drive modes, sport, normal and winter/wet roads.
We drive it in normal, since the sport mode is to nervous for us.
In our opinion it needs still some (software) tweaking, but that is up to Fiat.

Overall the we like the car very much.
Since Fiat is now involved with Chrysler and Jeep, the 500X was develloped and partial based on the Jeep. (Don't know what model exactly)

Daniel

Daniel Jacobs, NL-USA 1977 GMC Eleganza II, Rebuild 455 (2019) 3.55 FD. FiTech and (Modified) FCC, Electric Pump, insulated GasTanks, 100A Alternator, APC, McDash, Schräder Valves + extern Fills, Ceramic Film, TPMS, FlexSteel Seats

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Re: [GMCnet] Anyone tow a Fiat Abarth? [message #311088 is a reply to message #311070]

Tue, 29 November 2016 15:59

jhbridges

Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga

Karma: -74

Senior Member

My Soul just rolled over 95K miles, of which probably 15k is as a toad. I see no reason not to tow it four down. I >suspect< Kia is opposed for warranty purposes - I don't think mine updates the odometer when it's being towed, but I'll check this in a couple of weeks. I can't speak to the newer ones but unless the engine/trans package has changed there'd be no reason not to tow it. I can think of only two rides I'd tow in lieu of the Mousemobile - a Mini-Moke or a VW Thing.
Actually, I'd consider the Fiat 850 Spyder with the Bertone body, it's a beautiful little car. If Dunahugh ever wants something to flat tow, it handles surprisingly like his Corvair, albeit substantially slower.
A note for whomever thought I rented a Soul in Branson - didn't happen. I've no argument with those of you who like the place, but I have lost exactly nothing there, and have no intention of going there again, except for substantial amounts of money (which was why I ever went there in the first place)

--johnny

Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons. Braselton, Ga. I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell

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Re: [GMCnet] Anyone tow a Fiat Abarth? [message #311162 is a reply to message #311088]

Thu, 01 December 2016 15:54

tphipps

Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL

Karma: 9

Senior Member

Not exactly to point. However, I tow a Honda Fit and extremely happy with it. Hardly notice that it is behind the GMC except on acceleration. Mine is 2010, manual Transmission. Others tow the Fit with automatic. The main reason I have this one, p.o. had already installed everything needed to tow. Good saving on purchase.
It might be interesting to do a survey of which vehicles people are towing. Trackers, in various forms will be number one. Some rallies look like a Tracker convention.
Tom, MS II

2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552 KA4CSG

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Re: [GMCnet] Anyone tow a Fiat Abarth? [message #311185 is a reply to message #311070]

Fri, 02 December 2016 10:41

jhbridges

Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga

Karma: -74

Senior Member

Let me point out the Quick n Dirty way to set up the lights for a modern tow. Pretty much everything electric runs through the computer, powering a light externally might well give it heartburn. On the Mousemobile, and most modern stuff, the taillight assembly is large. I found a likely place, drilled a hole, and stuffed a stop and turn bulb in the assembly with separate wires to the tow harness. I'm going to swap the bulbs for LED ones because incandescent ones run a bit dim at the end of all that heathen chinee wire from WalMart.

--johnny

Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons. Braselton, Ga. I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell

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Re: [GMCnet] Anyone tow a Fiat Abarth? [message #311189 is a reply to message #311185]

Fri, 02 December 2016 11:14

jknezek

Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007

Karma: 5

Senior Member

Johnny Bridges wrote on Fri, 02 December 2016 11:41

Let me point out the Quick n Dirty way to set up the lights for a modern tow. Pretty much everything electric runs through the computer, powering a light externally might well give it heartburn. On the Mousemobile, and most modern stuff, the taillight assembly is large. I found a likely place, drilled a hole, and stuffed a stop and turn bulb in the assembly with separate wires to the tow harness. I'm going to swap the bulbs for LED ones because incandescent ones run a bit dim at the end of all that heathen chinee wire from WalMart.

--johnny

I did the same thing on my HHR. I didn't want to combine the electric and it was pretty easy to do. I love the HHR as a towd in concept, but I have 3 kids. So I'll trade the extra 500-600lbs for the ability to sit all 3, in boosters, across the back. It's not comfy, but it works for them, and we still have a ton of cargo capacity. That being said, I really hate when I have to tow. I can definitely feel it back there like a sea anchor. For our D.C. trip we decided to rent when we arrived. Best decision we made in a long time, especially since we got a free upgrade to a minivan. Made sitting in D.C. traffic much better not having the kids yelling at each other for having to sit so close for so long.

Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL

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Re: [GMCnet] Anyone tow a Fiat Abarth? [message #311191 is a reply to message #311189]

Fri, 02 December 2016 11:49

A Hamilto

Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011

Karma: 39

Senior Member

jknezek wrote on Fri, 02 December 2016 11:14

...the kids yelling at each other for having to sit so close for so long.

He's touching me! Make him stop staring at me! Are we there yet? I gotta go to the bathroom! I'm hungry! When are we gonna get there?

Enjoy those days. They come to an end way too soon.

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