Have driven it and it handles great, especially compared with the choppy ride of my 500 Sport. Does anyone know why the boost/shift guage is stuck on the dash unlike the left-hand models, where it fits in neatly to the side of the instrument cowel?

Nearest answer was possibly because people complained it was obsucred, although there may well be something behind the dash on the right hand side which couldn't be moved. Don't know looks a little odd but not exactly the deal breaker I thought it would be.

Not sure if this is the reason or not but here goes.....

The instrument binnacle on Fiat 500's has the three buttons for the trip computer & headlight adjustment on the RHS of the speedo on BOTH left and right hand drive cars.

If we were to have a mirror image of the LHD Abarth the Turbo gauge would be over he top of these buttons meaning that the whole binnacle would have to be redesigned with buttons & associated wiring on the left of the binnacle.

Given that we only count for a couple of thousand A500's per annum, at most, perhaps it is too costly to make this change - hence the cheaper option of plonking it on top?

Yes that would make a lot of sense, but I would have expected them to have reversed the position so the BG was to the left of the binnacle, maybe it was cheaper just to make it a pod than a proper redesign of the UK 500 dash.

Perhaps it clashed with something else or was obscured, but more likely you are right more - it cost more.

I just wish they had fitted the pod with a leather cowl complete with red stitching like the main binnacle - that would have been cool and would have looked a bit less aftermarket.

Anyone fancy running up some mini leather cowl covers? 

AC Glasgow told me today that I can't get a test drive until 7th Feb per Abarth as that's the launch date.

Question is .... are they full of c**p or are other dealerships breaking the rules?

AC Glasgow told me today that I can't get a test drive until 7th Feb per Abarth as that's the launch date.

Question is .... are they full of c**p or are other dealerships breaking the rules?

Talking c**p as far as I am concerned. Isn't the 7th and 8th just a launch weekend for the car where some / all of the dealers are just going to put a bit of an extra effort in, with local press advertisements, etc. to pull in extra punters. Surely if the dealers have the cars ready, then they can use them.

The 7th is the earliest date you can get a drive if you aren't an early adopter/ preferencial customer (i.e. bought a G.P. or bought a Fiat 500 and expressed an interest). Its not long to wait now 

I had a test drive with tony at platts.

Was really generose of him to tell me i could go on a test drive on my own. that made me feel at ease,however i did ask him to tag along as i didnt know the area.

Love the noise how it purs when driving along, really made me smile.Lots of head room being high.i got used to it preety quickly as the last 2 cars have been fiat uno's and punto which are both high cars.

The pod guage..not overly keen on that but i got used to it quite quickly and id rather chop it off, it does look abit after market but i think it adds abit of querkyness to the inside that will make passengers ask "whats that?" and then you can tell them its turbo guage.

Ride was abit bouncy but that actualy made me laugh and il get used to it i think.

Love the interior especialy the steering wheel. The car shifted and i actualy felt comfortable driving it.I felt i could control it, i was abit worried jumping from a 60bhp punto to 135bhp  turbo in such a light car. The passengers was Tony, my dad and my brother in the back seats and me driving.Even with a full house of passengers i loved how the car pulled with ease.
SUMMARY =  1 on order
Im going to really enjoy it when the car arrives and its my own.i wanted to be abit careful on the test drive.