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Author Topic: Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit  (Read 887 times)

folgore

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Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit
« on: February 21, 2012, 07:19:53 AM »
 
   hi all

   i have been thinking of taking a look at an Grande Punto Abarth fitted with white wheels from the SS and assetto kit for sale at meridien portsmouth.

   How different is the ride from  the standard abarth to the assetto spec suspension and wheel combo ? 

   Also does anyone know the history of this car? what can i expect handling and ride wise. i am a bit worried about the eletric power steering , i had this on a 55 plate stilo and it was ok but poor feel to it. is it better in the GPA?

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will-w

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Re: Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2012, 07:29:03 AM »
That car has been the bain of my existence the last few weeks!

Every dealer that tries to give me a part exchange price on my proper SS thinks that is one so offers me less :(

Anyway, rant over... The Assetto Course kit looks good but honestly can be a little harsh for our lumpy British roads. I personally would go the whole hog and get a proper SS and benefit from the extra power + sound you get from the other modifications.

As for the electronic power steering; well it can feel a little 'dead' at times, best bet is to leave the car in Sport mode all the time as the steering gets heavier when it is on

On the plus side they've had that car for ages so you should be able to knock the price down quite a bit :thumb:

Will
« Last Edit: February 21, 2012, 07:30:56 AM by will-w »
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TMC

londonrichie

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Re: Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2012, 05:56:01 PM »
That Red Grande Punto with the Assetto Kit has been on for sale for AGES!

Agree with Will go for the full SS.
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JamesSS

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Re: Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2012, 06:45:14 PM »
Both posts above are spot on the money. It's been for sale since I started looking last September (and probably before that!). IIRC, it was originally listed at either £12500 or £12995, either way, overpriced as anything and now they're stuck with it by the looks of things. ::)

If it's what you want, lowball them on it at like £8,500. You'll probably be the only interest they have in it. Then get a power upgrade from Daron @TMC, probably better value for money than an SS kit. Personally, if you don't have to worry about trade-in prices or finance, I'd opt for Will's red AGP SS, looks the balls!

In regards to the handling, putting sports mode on makes it heavier and gives it more feeling and involvement to drive. Without it, it makes you feel a bit disengaged from the car; but I live with it off probably 80% of the time. I don't find it too bad over the roads, but it depends on what you have as a comparison. Coming from a ZR to an AGP SS with Sabelts... I think it's amazingly good. If you were coming from an executive saloon, you probably wouldn't be impressed. Test drive it and find out yourself, the best opinion is the one you form yourself. :thumb:
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londonrichie

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Re: Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2012, 10:20:50 PM »
Remember that it won't have the larger Garrett and with TMC it's likely to only get 180bhp. An SS on the other hand is going to be pushing 230bhp with TMC.

I think the main reason I'd opt for the SS is the resale value! You'd have to seriously undercut an SS to tempt anyone to buy it in the future.  :thumb:
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lloyd

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Re: Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2012, 10:29:26 PM »
this forum is not exactly overrun with happy AGP Assetto owners. i can only think of 2, ever. one moved up to an SS and the other moved on to a Leon after about 6 months.

it will be rare, that is for sure, but it won't be as good as a less rare SS

get an SS :thumb:
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will-w

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Re: Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2012, 10:55:01 PM »
I was going to say, I don't think I've ever seen a Assetto Course in the flesh..

I know the SS was registered as a different insurance group because of the modifications, was the AC?

Or do you have to declair it as a standard car with dealer.fit options?
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John501

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Re: Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit
« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2012, 11:15:35 PM »
The official kit was called the Assetto, didn't sell in large numbers but dealers had one each from launch (only 12 back then)
The Assetto Corse is the race car :wave:
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carolt

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Re: Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit
« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2012, 10:55:20 PM »
The AGP does not need at handling kit if you understand its handling.  Don't be fooled by dealers' talk and pay for what you don't want or need.  Drive an AGP for 500 miles and you understand the handling without any kit they want to charge you for.
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will-w

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Re: Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2012, 11:18:50 PM »
Have you ever driven an SS for 500 miles?  Exactly the same could be said in return :P

The way I look at it is this:

Assetto = looks with a stiffer ride
Esseesse = looks, stiffer ride and power (all round win-win)

I would never have paid the extra ~£3500 to have it fitted new,  but when there is a £1000 difference between NP and SS with a used car, well its a no-brainer IMO :thumb:
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lloyd

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Re: Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2012, 11:30:21 PM »
if the Asseiio kit could be followed by a further increase to SS it would have made sense, but as fitting the Assetto meant you couldn;t move up to SS  it just seemed a bit of a pointless exercise.

Apart from the demo cars did anyone actually buy an Assetto kit?
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jazzdevil

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Re: Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit
« Reply #11 on: February 23, 2012, 12:43:46 AM »
I nearly bought Rockingham's dealer Assetto before opting for my AGP  ::)
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ashley_r_84

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Re: Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit
« Reply #12 on: February 23, 2012, 09:42:53 AM »
Quote from: lloyd on February 22, 2012, 11:30:21 PM
if the Asseiio kit could be followed by a further increase to SS it would have made sense, but as fitting the Assetto meant you couldn;t move up to SS  it just seemed a bit of a pointless exercise.

Apart from the demo cars did anyone actually buy an Assetto kit?

Matthew Needham bought the Assetto kit :thumb:
And then sold it and bought an esseesse ::)
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folgore

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Re: Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit
« Reply #13 on: March 02, 2012, 11:26:02 PM »

  well looks like its now sold! ::)

  still popping over to look at one sunday . standard model though.
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Hozepipe

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Re: Abarth GPA fitted with assetto handling kit
« Reply #14 on: March 03, 2012, 09:17:31 AM »
Quote from: londonrichie on February 21, 2012, 10:20:50 PM
Remember that it won't have the larger Garrett and with TMC it's likely to only get 180bhp. An SS on the other hand is going to be pushing 230bhp with TMC.

From what I've witnessed, you'll need more than just fitting a TMC box to get 230bhp. To achieve that sort of figure, you'd probably need to take a trip to NI.
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