We did a long trip in Belgium last week and while I wasn't to happy that an Abarth 500 "raced"* against me and my VRS TDI and won (though I had to laugh when he passed me as I could easily fit the car into my boot.) I have to say that only 5 km later I was mightily impressed with the brakes:

 

On a dual carriage way I was doing the legal 120km (75mph) speed when a car that was stopped at the side of the road decided to pull in...

no biggy since it's a dual carriage way so he can have the outer lane to accelerate (even though he should use the hard shoulder to accelerate up do speed in the first place)...only he wanted to u-turn and get on the other side. Full brakes on and it felt like dropping an anchor. It was only after pressing the horn continually that the guy even looked my way.

 

So brilliant brakes helped save a careless drivers life. And maybe even mine and my kids.

 

And best of all, no new pants required :-)

 

 

*Just be be clear: It wasn't a drag race on a legal road, we got out of a dual-lane roundabout and he pulled up next to me and I couldn't keep up. After reaching the speed limit we both stopped accelerating.

Yes the Abarth's particularly the SS tuned cars are pretty rapid..they dont weight loads (between 1 and 1.1 ton) so have a pretty healthy power to weight.

Also agreed the vRS brakes ought to be excellent given their size....considerably better performing than the car really needs (even the petrol) in standard form.

Yeah my vrs tsi brakes are excellent. I have to agree.

Having had an abarth 500 tuned to in the region of 190bhp, yes it's pretty hilarious how quick it is!

and scary as hell I'd imagine. I used to drive a Nissan Micra. Get it up to speed on a slightly wobbly road, brake and the backend wants to overtake the car as it weighs less then the fly you just hit.

 

The Abarth makes a lovely sound though.

Edited 10 March, 201511 yr by TomLux