Curious on your Abarth commentary after you get a chance to drive one.

Interesting. Our speed 3 has a lot of that piano black trim and after 70k it doesn't have a scratch or scuff on it. By comparison, the plastics in our jetta were badly scratched at the same mileage. The speed3's interior doesn't look super high quality but has been extremely durable.

The RX-8 had the piano black stuff, too. While I didn't put that many miles on it in 3 years, I didn't exactly go out of my way to take care of or protect the interior. There was all kinds of stuff thrown in and dragged out all the time. No scratches or blemishes when I sold it. It looks like it should be easy to damage, but it's not.

Test drive on the Fiat 500 Abarth is scheduled for this afternoon at 3PM. :D

Drove it. Can't stop grinning. :)

FUN little car. Great exhaust sound, fun handling, nice acceleration. In sport mode saw the boost gauge hit 20 psi. :)

Nice 270 degree entrance ramp, not FWD feel. Nice rotation with throttle lift.

It feels like you are sitting a bit high. Driving position is a bit strange, but typical Fiat (I had an 850 Spider many years ago).

We drove the Mini Cooper S just before. The Mini just doesn't do it for us. It has no soul.

We stopped by and drove the GTI again. This car still impresses. Nice, solid. A bit of FWD heaviness/understeer as you approach the limit. Very solid feeling.

The brain says GTI, the heart says Abarth. :)

Camille states it as the GTI is a wife, the Abarth a mistress. :D

Still pondering, but it is between those two.

Sounds like fun, go abarth to be the first one with one

Cool.

Get the Fiat.

The tone/emotion and slant in your writing indicates an easy decision. Go for it, should be fun.

Ordered the Abarth. :)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8AlqO0mii3...nelMenghia.jpg
Good choice.