^I had basically the samething happen to me but the Abarth driver was not happy getting his Italian hairy bum beat.
I've not had the opportunity to "compare acceleration capability" with a Fiat Abarth. I've just seen one so far, out and about, I gave the guy a big "thumb's up" which was returned with a smile. I get why someone might want one, a lot like why I enjoy my MCS: quirky, small, interesting, iconic, fun, distinctive. I'll test drive one soon, just to see how it compares to the plain 500's I've had on a test drive, and as a rental car.
No accounting for taste, mine or yours. :wink: Life would be pretty boring if we all liked the same things.