Abarth specialness...

[Karl Asseily]

This size difference is pretty telling ....

[Bill Schenker]

Why are there trees there? Did you build an oasis?









(Nice addition to the family, Bunker Monkey! )

[Toby Larsson]

Impressive parking skills Karl!

[Karl Asseily]

@Toby you know, just think of the GTR as a cone ;)

@Bill, congrats on your Motul deal. I thought you were coming to visit me at some point?

[John Coffey]

I can't believe someone mentioned a Citation X-11. I bought one brand new in late 1981. Biggest POS I ever owned and I paid 21% interest for 5 years for that turd. But, it was very quick and handled very well in a GM stiff-kneed kinda way. I called it "The Red Armadillo" and just beat the hell out of it racing motorcycles up and down Glendora Mountain Rd. and Turnbull Canyon Rd. Put it into the side of a hill on Turnbull and insurance company didn't total it! I was pissed. The cars used a cheap clip to hold the cable shift linkage on the trans and a fast 2 - 3 shift would pop the clip off and you would be stuck in 2nd. The clips were on perpetual backorder at Chevy so I carried large paper clips in he glove box just in case. The best description of the shift feel was: "A plunger in a bucket of rocks."

IIRC the following items were replaced under the 12 month/12,000 mile warranty:

1. Three front wheel hubs.
2. Two driver's side window regulators.
3. Dozens of shifter calbe clips.
4. Two carburetors.
5. One transmission.
6. Two rear brake recalls.
7. One rear main seal.
8. One AC compressor.
9. One HVAC control unit.
10. Two engine ECUs.

But, I had a lot of fun with the car. Paid $8,100.00 for it and Brea Nissan gave me $800 in trade.

[Greg Peng]

Nice looking cars, Karl! I wanted two silver/gray cars, but ended up with two blue cars.

[Tom Denham]

Karl which ones more fun in traffic???? }:)

[Dan Shaw]

Wow...nice! Me likey! Kina an observation but it looks like the mini took styling cues from it (rear view) or vice versa...awesome car!

[Karl Asseily]

Karl which ones more fun in traffic???? }:)

The Abarth hands down. The GTR belongs more on the track, whereas the Abarth belongs in lane changes, slicing and dicing, cutting people off (did I just say that ???) etc ... The Abarth is a pure city car, whereas the GTR is, well, a real GT (Gran Turismo) car that belongs on open streches, sweepy curves, etc...

[Steve Ekstrand]

Is that an RPG launcher sticking out the window of the Jeep you just cutoff?