Abarth Ferrari Dealers Edition; some differences in setup to normal Esseesse?
I just had an opportunity to drive back-to-back the Abarth that Ferrari Dealers are receiving at the moment. I noted some interesting comparisons between the setup of the F-Edition and my SS, always allowing for the fact that the red one had circa 20 kms under its wheels as opposed to 2500 kms of my Grigio Campovolo SS.
First of all, a confirmation. Michelins are streets ahead for everyday use compared to Pirellis. Steering feel is entirely different with the Pirellis. We are experimenting a bit with minutely lower tyre pressures at the moment and a thorough check of the exact alignment and balance of the front tyres to ascertain the exact differences that give a Michelin-shod car a more comfortable feeling with more stability at high speed. I suspect that Abarth Pazaropoulos who did the SS installation work on my Abarth have hit on an imperceptibly finer setup that is more forgiving over what we call Greek roads...
The ride height is also slightly different. We are looking at whether the Ferrari Edition is equipped with a (sort-of) second generation of the Esseesse setup, possibly including different brake pads as well.
The Sabelt seats are superb. A bit uncompromising in lumbar support terms but not ultra-hard as one would expect from a sports seat. I believe that they will be offered as an option on the normal Abarth; I would specify them on an order form only after trying them at a dealer and judging their everyday comfort after getting in and out of a car that has them a few times.
The exhaust note is different and more evident at high speed, without being intrusive or boomy.
On the colour; the specially-coded red paint is Rosso Corsa under a slightly different name. I was not that keen on the stick-on stripes ( I am sure that Marco Zanasi at Maranello can paint them like on a Scuderia :fischio: ) I felt that the standard Abarth bonnet scorpion, etc is of a slightly higher quality that the ones on the Ferrari Edition but, again, this is a personal judgement.
Overall, and given the yet-unconfirmed indication that there might be an improved or at least different setup spec to the normal Esseesse setup, a very nice package.
Apologies for the repetition if some of these comments have already been mentioned in the Italian section of the Forum.
Greetings from Athens.
