Crazy!

Now, before I rant, I am a huge Ferrari fan and would defend till death, but this is just BS.

[URL="http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/motoring/4773466/100-000-Ferrari-races-in"]http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/motoring/4773466/100-000-Ferrari-races-in[/URL]

Basically, the guts of the story is that the Australia\NZ imports of Fiats are going to be selling the Fiat Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari thru the Ferrari Dealers, so CCS in Auckland here in NZ, and I suppose the Ferrari dealers in Australia too.

It will be to order only

The Fiat 500 Abarth Esseesse has just gone on sale here, and I saw one the other day for sale at around NZD 48-50K in Wellington.

So, if the Tributo makes it too NZ, current exchange rates have it at NZD $108,000.00. Seems a bit steep for a 500.

Now, having a look through my archives, I got some pics of this thing, and on the outside I count 3 Ferrari logos and 1 inside.

So a rough $15000 per Ferrari logo.

Who in there right mind would pay that for a Fiat?

Just because a small Fiat has 4 badges with the Ferrari name on them, not the badge, that commands a 50K price hike over the standard 500 Abarth Esseesse

Well, maybe it's super duper fast or something!! :D

[quote]The hot-hatch, which is available in the Ferrari colours of Scuderia Red or Modena Yellow, can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in seven seconds and reach a top speed of 225km/h. [/quote]

Sorry, no.

Yes the 695SS thingy is silly. No matter the country you are in.

A standard 500ASS will do, and you avoid the preposterous flappy paddle gearbox.

At first it wasn't supposed to be available for sale, just a courtesy car for Ferrari owners while their cars were serviced.
Then demand was quite high, and they decided to offer it through some selected dealers. I'm not sure on this, but possibly it's available only to Ferrari owners, just like the AM Cygnet.

No reason to be worried about the price then, we just can't have it. :)

EDIT: it's also available in Blue TDF and possibly some sort of gray or something.

I know someone who has (or maybe had) a Ferrari which was offered one through their Ferrari dealer and bought it.

I thought the Ferrari courtesy cars were standard 1.4 16v 500s with Ferrari red paint.

[quote=Ferrer;962148]I know someone who has (or maybe had) a Ferrari which was offered one through their Ferrari dealer and bought it.

I thought the Ferrari courtesy cars were standard 1.4 16v 500s with Ferrari red paint.[/quote]

Yes, that too. In Modena you can spot quite some Fiats with the Ferrari red paint (that horrible orange-ish color), the ugliest being probably the Cromas. They are all Ferrari's cars though.

[quote]nzd $108,000.00.[/quote]
bahahaha
well played ferrari, well played

also
[url="http://jalopnik.com/#!5760248/how-ferrari-spins"]Jalopnik: Obsessed With The Cult Of Cars[/url]

No different to the Aston Cygnet, I would never buy either of them but I have no doubt others will and they'll be extremely happy with them.

I guess beauty and practicality is in the eye of the beholder. The price of a Cygnet or glorified Fiat is ridiculous to my mind, but then again people will buy them for the same reason they buy C/E Classes or 3/5 Series instead of a Focus or Mondeo that costs half the price. To them the money is worth the badge, prestige and supposed quality.

I think it is different from a Cygnet. Unlike the Cygnet this is not badged as a Ferrari (or an Aston in the case of the Cygnet.

I also disagree with the Merc/Bimmer - Ford comparison. The Mercs/Bimmers can indeed do things differently from a Ford. The question if you can appreciate it. If you can't, then yes you are wasting your money. But if you can they are worth it.

with the Cygnet, you are at least entitled to put on the sticker:
"My other car is a....".
because you cannot buy one if you don't alreay own a big brother.
Is this the policy for the Tributo too, or will it be on general sale, or is it just a courtesy car when your Ferrari is in the workshop (50% of the time:D)

The thing is the other 50% it will be the Fiat that is in the workshop! :p

[quote=Ferrer;962167]I think it is different from a Cygnet. Unlike the Cygnet this is not badged as a Ferrari...[/quote]

It's not badged as a Ferrari, it just has Ferrari badges on it... :D

i bet the first arbath model buyers are feeling short changed too , considering the jump in performance of the SS

The ferrari badge on a car like this is comparable to the "inspired by true events" disclaimer at the beginning of some films.

About 2 years ago, we looked for a small and new car. Just out of curiosity, we stepped into the Fiat dealership and had a look at the most basic Fiat 500 (funnily enough that version is called 'Naked'). They still ask €11.500 for that.

You can get a bigger (well, that's relative) engine and literally load it with options. The price list for the regular 500 ends with a whopping €19.495. And no matter how you look at it, it will still remain a small car. A very small car.

So €50.000 is crazy? I would say YES, exception if you don't know what to do with your money anymore. By the way I found an even more expensive one... Now that's crazy!

[I]Fenice Milano Fiat 500c La Dolce Vita Gold and Diamonds 200hp

After the great interest achieved from the presentation on the market in September 2010, Fenice Milano receives a commission from a wealthy Chinese businessman to build a special version of its Fiat 500 La Dolce Vita. Dubbed La Dolce Vita Gold and Diamonds 200hp, the gilded car has 24K gold on everything, from the instrument panel to the dashboard and other trim parts.

The performance of this Fenice Fiat 500c has been increased to 200 hp through a partnerships with Romeo Ferraris. The gold and diamond 500c has a new ECU, an upgraded turbo, and a new exhaust system with 200-cells catalytic converter. The 200hp Fiat 500c also has Brembo brakes and adjustable dampers.


The interior of the Fenice Fiat 500 Convertible Abarth has been decked out with teak inserts, special leather and diamonds. The console is embellished with a gold framed instrument panel and teak and 24K gold inserts dashboard, whose profiles are hand-shaped by Fenice Milano’s artisans.

The wheel, redesigned starting from the original one, has the external crown in teak and the internal one in leather with commands in 24K gold, and also in the footboard the original carpeting has been substituted with teak. One of the most notable highlights is the Apple iPad Supreme Edition made in 24k gold and diamonds by Liverpool-based designer Stuart Hughes. The removable iPad is positioned on the upper section of the center console and provides a complete interaction of the device with the car. It is fitted with a GPS navigation system, an audio system and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The bespoke Fenice Milano La Dolce Vita Gold and Diamonds 200hp Fiat 500c will cost future owner a breathtaking €500,000 or about $667,000 at current exchange rates
[/I]

If you want to get good value for money in your 500 buy a Panda.

the OP in NZ, he should get a second gen Punto

If you got lots of money to throw around, I guess it's a pretty cute little racer to have?

[quote]At first it wasn't supposed to be available for sale, just a courtesy car for Ferrari owners while their cars were serviced.[/quote]

If I drop off my Ferrari 458 and get a 132kw courtesy box I would not be very happy.

[quote=Niko_Fx;962235]If I drop off my Ferrari 458 and get a 132kw courtesy box I would not be very happy.[/quote]

If you drop off your Ferrari you probably are not even interested to get a courtesy car as this is probably the right occasion to take your [I]other[/I] Ferrari out for a spin.

Your [I]other[/I] Ferrari is probably at the dealer too.

[quote=Ferrer;962297]Your [I]other[/I] Ferrari is probably at the dealer too.[/quote]

Not if you never drove it, which may be the case.

During my eternal journey of tracking all existing Zondas, I've found one which was delivered in Feb 2009, and registered only in summer 2010. A frigging Zonda. That guy owns 2/3 of them. He of course owns also a few other exotics, among which a 458. Must be a hell of a problem deciding which car to drive every day.

[quote=LeonOfTheDead;962299]Not if you never drove it, which may be the case.

During my eternal journey of tracking all existing Zondas, I've found one which was delivered in Feb 2009, and registered only in summer 2010. A frigging Zonda. That guy owns 2/3 of them. He of course owns also a few other exotics, among which a 458. Must be a hell of a problem deciding which car to drive every day.[/quote]
I've never understood those guys. I'd hate to buy a car [I]to not drive it[/I].

[quote=LeonOfTheDead;962273]If you drop off your Ferrari you probably are not even interested to get a courtesy car as this is probably the right occasion to take your [I]other[/I] Ferrari out for a spin.[/quote]

Either way, with another Ferrari or not, it's BS IMO that you get that little Fiat as a courtesy car.

Take your class C Mercedes to the dealer and you will walk out with a class E courtesy car, same at the BMW dealer.

[quote=Niko_Fx;962339]Either way, with another Ferrari or not, it's BS IMO that you get that little Fiat as a courtesy car.

Take your class C Mercedes to the dealer and you will walk out with a class E courtesy car, same at the BMW dealer.[/quote]

Maybe it's just over there, because over here you walk out with an A or B klasse, and it's the same for all of them. Except for Porsche, which could give you a Cayenne V6 instead of your 911 Turbo.

Courtesy cars are a disappearing... courtesy, so I wouldn't be surprised if you weren't getting a car at all at many dealerships.

Besides, the Abarth 500 SS is much better than what I think you think about it. :) Some reviews said it is a bi too stiff for everyday duties, even if I do see quite a few of them on the road, and drivers seem to enjoy that over-stiffness.

[quote=Niko_Fx;962339]Either way, with another Ferrari or not, it's BS IMO that you get that little Fiat as a courtesy car.

Take your class C Mercedes to the dealer and you will walk out with a class E courtesy car, same at the BMW dealer.[/quote]
You do?

I got a Fabia in an Audi dealer...

[quote=Niko_Fx;962235]If I drop off my Ferrari 458 and get a 132kw courtesy box I would not be very happy.[/quote]

[quote=Niko_Fx;962339]Either way, with another Ferrari or not, it's BS IMO that you get that little Fiat as a courtesy car.

Take your class C Mercedes to the dealer and you will walk out with a class E courtesy car, same at the BMW dealer.[/quote]

Agreed. At the very least give something of equal or higher value as a courtesy car. Why the hell do I want a Fiat 500 as a courtesy car?

A Maserati Quattroporte would do nicely.

Of course it's a stupid car to buy, that's not the point. In the roughly paraphrased words of Jeremy Clarkson, "Buying this car shows that you could have anything else, but you wanted this." He was talking about the Abarth, but the sentiment is the same.

I've filmed one of only 152 RHD Tributo's in the world:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua-0UvOiW6M&feature=channel_video_title"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua-0UvOiW6M&feature=channel_video_title[/ame]

Basically, it's an Abarth 500, decked out in Scuderia Red and has had a stiffer suspension set-up, 20Hp increase, new exhaust, higher turbo psi, carbon fibre accents, paddle shift gearbos and many other samll details. So it has had alot done to it, but it's not enough to justify a [B]£36,000[/B] price tag.

I think it should just be left as a Fiat and not drag ferrari into it