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Its because of the Dutch tax system, you will probably find that the net price is the same as elsewhere.

I know the feeling. We have very high registration taxes on cars here in Finland. When I imported my '03 147 GTA to Finland in 2006 I had to pay 8,000 euros registration taxes. When I import a 500 Abarth to Finland I will have to pay several thousand euros to get it registered in here.

I guess a slight concern with the esse esse kit is the need for more frequent oil changes. Is it that the esse esse kit puts so much additional strain on the engine to the extent that it requires more frequent oil changes?

Why would the oil break down more with the esse esse kit installed? Maybe purely because it gets more of a pounding? If this is the case then maybe a superior oil will negate the extra frequency of changes? My 911 993 only requires an oil change annually, or every 12,000 miles, and the engine is air cooled, which realistically means the oil does a lot of the cooling. I would think my 911's oil would be under more stress than the 500 esse esse Abarth?

The GP version does so would expect the 500 to be the same. There's far less to fit as well (no major engine mods) so it should be significantly cheaper than the GP kit. 

The 500 has the same engine, John, but in a lower state of tune (135 as standard).  The 500 esseesse kit doesn't include a replacement turbo, for starters, and no exhaust.  Take a look at the tech spec thread.

Out of interest, why doesn't the 500A have a 6-speed box? Won't it fit?

When we were at the factory they told us it only had 5 because with the turbo the 6 speed wouldn't fit. Chunkey do you remember that?

When we were at the factory they told us it only had 5 because with the turbo the 6 speed wouldn't fit. Chunkey do you remember that?

no sorry. ive slept since then though. 

im not sure why having a turbo would make a difference to what 'box it had though, as i wouldve thought it would be the space transversely rather than longitudinally that would make a difference as to a 5 or 6 speed?

...the turning circle is similar to that of a super tanker! Despite having driven it for almost a year now it still catches me out  and makes me look a complete idiot sometimes for not being able to park such a small car in a multi storey car park. I drive a Leon as a company car and never have any problems.
 

i found exactly the same driving the girlfriends mums old vectra and same for here new zafira... was a lot easier to park than my mjet and abarth lol