Abarth 595 Competizione 180
Discussion
When it comes to spending around 20k (on finance) on a hot hatch, there are many choices - Polo GTi, Mini Cooper S, Clio RS, 208 GTi, Juke Nismo, Swift Sport (with a lot left over) Ibiza Cupra, and the elephant in the room, the Fiesta ST. For the second time in as many years, I haven't bought one when face with this choice. What I've just done is order a Fiat 500 with a bodykit and a loud exhaust. I totally accept this isn't sensible and my car is in inferior in many ways but in a few crucial areas, and for a relatively small audience, Id rate the Abarth 595 Competizione 180 (to give it its full name) as one of the best small hot itches out there.
My current car is a 208 GTi Prestige, very much in the shadow of the Fiesta ST but nevertheless a very well rounded high performing car. Very quick, composed, economical, comfortable, immensely well kitted out and a real return to form for Peugeot. The ST is cheaper, from some angles better looking and on a track/driving environment the better car, but i found the 208 more comfy with a better interior and my love of peugeots from the 90's (my youth) sealed the deal. Having had it 18 months, and having saved a good deal up, I decided to change it for another car in the small hot hatch part of the world.
The first hurdle was with cars like the Mini JCW or Polo GTi, both great cars, but both that needed 4 figure amounts spent on options to match the mightily well equipped GTi. Sat Nav, Sunroof, DAB, Leather, Touch Screen all adding around 30% to the car, the MINI especially becoming a Golf R rivalling car in terms of price. Another big issue i faced at all but one garage was poor service - shocking how bad this still is (and was in 2011 and 2014 when I last bought a car)
By chance, I sent an email to Abarth enquiring about the 595 Competizione. Fiats/Abarths are well known like the MINI as a car you can price out of contention but the Competizione had all major options included - Bodykit, xenons, Sabelt seats, Monza Exhaust, Koni suspension, brembos, TTC (inside wheel breaking in lieu of a proper diff) as well as auto air con. For 20 grand however, its a 7 year old design based on a 500 (which is based on a panda) and puts it around 2-3k more than an ST. its simply not a good deal and not worth the cash.
However, despite this, the dealer (who seemed to actually want to sell a car, unusual in the car trade so it seems) was most insistent i come down and try one. they even gave me a fantastic deal down the phone on a Campovolo grey one that a customer had ordered yet decided to not purchase, fully loaded top spec. I went down even if it was to remind myself I'm 6ft 5 and shouldn't drive around in such a little car.
Started it up on the test drive and it sounded like this, although these videos, as good as they are, doesn't do this car justice.
https://youtu.be/iZvI7wfT4kM - 1st car is the 370z
https://youtu.be/yx5Ew8aY60U
it sounds phenomenal, never had i heard a 1.4 make not only a loud, bold sound but also surprisingly characterful too. My 208 for all its positives, does have a dull exhaust. slightly base, but nothing more.
The test drive itself went well, driving much like my 208, as is to say more than quick through the gears, quick handling, relatively firm but comfy, and even though it is down 20bhp and lacks a 6th gear, felt like it can cut it in the company of the ST, GTi's etc of the world. Where it felt better was in its noticeable smaller proportions, which i find as a major plus point. I grew up in the likes of the original mini and 205/106 GTi's, and loved them. My 208 is the almost the same size as the 90's 306, except height where it is much taller. The 500/Abarths are actually 10cm shorter than the original Ka.
However, the downsides - this car interior is definitely a generation behind the 208's - DAB, Touch screens, sat navs are available lower down in the regular 500's but mine looks very much circa 2007 in terms of tech. Still, turbo gauge, sport button, good clear speedo and the obligatory body colour panel on the dash do lift the cabin. So do the seats, proper sable items that feel very supportive and definitely worth it over the standard abarth seats which i found to be a bit flat. They're set high and can't be lowered, apparently so the driver is on the same height as other cars. not a deal breaker, but the seating position isn't as good as an ST's - bent knees, straight arms in that classic italian/french way (all my cars have been from these two countries and all like this
)After the test drive, despite the flaws, and well in the knowledge this car isn't as comfortable, spacious, quick, talented, cheap or likely to get the same respect from others as an ST, i placed my deposit. The Abarth feels much more special than any of its rivals. partially down to the seats, styling and exclusivity, but for me the exhaust note, in an era when cars seem to becoming faster, better but losing their fantastic engine notes, the 595 Competizione makes a very soulful sound available for a very good price (Fiat do some fantastic deals on finance). It just happens to look like a Fiat 500.
When i pick it up, i'll post more photos and what its like to live with. and probably end up recommending you do in fact ignore this article and buy that Ford
[url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/67m1LBk4[/url][url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/GiBuTMuW[/url]Those seats look good! Your article sums up why Italian cars are still selling when rationally, they shouldn't
Also the reason why after owning six Italian cars previously, I am likely next weekend to get sucked back into owning another when I should be sticking with the VAG group product I've been knocking around in for six (boring, yet reliable) years.
Hope you enjoy it. When our little one gets big enough to get in the back himself, I hope to upgrade my wife's Panda 100HP to an Abarth.
Also the reason why after owning six Italian cars previously, I am likely next weekend to get sucked back into owning another when I should be sticking with the VAG group product I've been knocking around in for six (boring, yet reliable) years.
Hope you enjoy it. When our little one gets big enough to get in the back himself, I hope to upgrade my wife's Panda 100HP to an Abarth.
Highway Star said:
Those seats look good! Your article sums up why Italian cars are still selling when rationally, they shouldn't
Also the reason why after owning six Italian cars previously, I am likely next weekend to get sucked back into owning another when I should be sticking with the VAG group product I've been knocking around in for six (boring, yet reliable) years.
Hope you enjoy it. When our little one gets big enough to get in the back himself, I hope to upgrade my wife's Panda 100HP to an Abarth.
In terms of rational thought, my car is a rank amateur - the optioned up £53,000 Abarth Biposto makes mine look as sensible as a second hand Golf Diesel Also the reason why after owning six Italian cars previously, I am likely next weekend to get sucked back into owning another when I should be sticking with the VAG group product I've been knocking around in for six (boring, yet reliable) years.
Hope you enjoy it. When our little one gets big enough to get in the back himself, I hope to upgrade my wife's Panda 100HP to an Abarth.
Talking about the Panda, shame they haven't done a 100HP version of the current one. Remember the last one been a bit of a cult classic.
Edited by 1598Craig on Sunday 15th November 22:15
Butter Face said:
Cool car. I love the seats, I drove a Mito Cloverleaf earlier in the year and the Sabelt seats in that were brilliant, I'd buy a car just for those seats!!
I'm very impressed with them, especially as recaro-style seats are very hit and miss for me, loved a set I tried in a Megane RS yet hated my mate's in a Corsa VXR. It'll be good to see how they feel on a longer run than I did on my test drive.TheFungle said:
Very, very nice.
Love the flat grey, striking yet 'boring' at the same time.
Daren't ask what level of discount the dealer offered as that would put some very naughty thoughts in my head
I've managed to trade in a 208 in 6k of negative equity with a dented door (clumsy transit in a mcdonalds car park, not my fault) and walk away with the same monthly payments... not trying to encourage you but Abarth/Fiat are advertising a 199 down/ 199 month for an Abarth 595 at my local dealer, and the range is surprisingly well equipped these days, so you don't need any options on the car Love the flat grey, striking yet 'boring' at the same time.
Daren't ask what level of discount the dealer offered as that would put some very naughty thoughts in my head
in terms of colour, i really wanted a "rally beige" colour (think Latte/coffee colour and your not far wrong) but the grey has really won me over. seems to be a popular colour at the moment not just on "fashion" cars like the MINI/500 etc. and like the contrast of a plain looking car having the engine note/speed to catch a few people of guard at the lights.
some of the colour schemes are of an acquired taste, such as ~Trofeo Grey/Rally Beige. which I find an unhealthy lust for in a 70's bad taste kind of way....
They do sound great and I do actually rather like the look of them.. I test drove one before I got an R56 Cooper S - it just felt too cheap inside and the particular model I drove was way too crashy and rattley. The engine in the Cooper S turned out to be a nightmare - so many issues. It was great fun to drive though. Was in the same position as you, looking for a new small hot hatch and ended up picking up a new Polo GTI 6C last month. Not as much fun to drive as another Cooper S or an ST but, funnily enough, was much cheaper on finance..
Deejbb said:
They do sound great and I do actually rather like the look of them.. I test drove one before I got an R56 Cooper S - it just felt too cheap inside and the particular model I drove was way too crashy and rattley. The engine in the Cooper S turned out to be a nightmare - so many issues. It was great fun to drive though. Was in the same position as you, looking for a new small hot hatch and ended up picking up a new Polo GTI 6C last month. Not as much fun to drive as another Cooper S or an ST but, funnily enough, was much cheaper on finance..
The carbuyer review on YouTube says the same on the Abarth's interior and ride - this is an 8-10k city car dressed up to nearly double so things like the interior do show up. When I bought my 208 GTi, was rented by the previous gen Mini JCW, but finance deals mean the 208 got it. Was much cheaper a month, with the same basic engine (slightly less powerful and not as good exhaust note however) and full of kit that was optional on the MINI. Ironically enough, the Polo GTi was in the running for me, really loved the small Golf feel of the car, but the Abarth was the better choice finance wise by a considerable amount.
1598Craig said:
Butter Face said:
Cool car. I love the seats, I drove a Mito Cloverleaf earlier in the year and the Sabelt seats in that were brilliant, I'd buy a car just for those seats!!
I'm very impressed with them, especially as recaro-style seats are very hit and miss for me, loved a set I tried in a Megane RS yet hated my mate's in a Corsa VXR. It'll be good to see how they feel on a longer run than I did on my test drive.
-- Abarth Collection Day --
Collected CK65 PUE today. Heres my first impressions of the car, with a caveat that it was ;
- Night Time
-Incredibly Stormy
However, driving about 40 miles on mixed roads has given me a pretty good initial insight into the car.
Firstly, the exhaust. Its the first thing i noticed on the test drive and when the dealer bought the car out the showroom (having revealed it from under a cover - a very nice touch Abarth Cardiff) and feels massively juxtaposed on the silhouette of a Fiat. The sound itself is loud, but unlike a de-silenced 10 year old Corsa or Fiesta (a cliche but pretty accurate) theres depth and differences to the noise. the youtube Videos i put on my first post show it well, this has to be one of the best sounding exhausts on a "normal" car on the market today. Don't just take my words for it - my good mate currently runs a 2.7 Porsche Boxster and was fairly indifferent to my old 208 GTi. when i pulled up at his flat today he ran out to see what all the noise was about and demanded a test drive. (He was impressed and began speccing an Abarth online as soon as we got back)
Next is the engine. 1.4 TURBO. And i do mean TURBO. Compared to the likes of a 208 and ST, which are turbocharged yet have smoothed power delivery, this feels like a small engine attached to an enormous turbo straight from the 1980's. Im not exaggerating the difference between this and the 1.6 i had from the 208. Theres turbo lag, and not much happens below 3500 rpm. its not slow, but you can be caught out in the wrong gear at the wrong time.
When your on the power band however, this car would most likely show my old GTi a thing or two. The GTi felt flat after 4000 rpm, the abarth is pulling hard, shouting and squirming beneath you. it will be good to see how the engine loosens up and how i get used to getting the best out of it, but one first impressions it seems like the rest of the car - very characterful and capable.
Moving on, the interior feels like a good place to be. the high seating position does feel slightly odd, as it sits slightly high than my 208 but after a few miles it felt fine. I do think a few potential buyers might be put off by this in a showroom, but it isn't an issue and i haven't felt like i was sat on the car rather than in. The seats however, are sublime. Im 6ft 5, and although the Sabelt seats are "snug" they fit like a glove. will be good to test them on a longer run but would defiantly recommend to be specced on any abarth purchase. they look good to and don't eat up all the rear legroom.
In terms of practicality, on the run back from the dealer (8 miles on the clock, mixed urban a roads, country roads, stop start traffic sport mode ON) i got 38.9 mpg, which isn't bad at all. its also a fantastically easy car to park, with great visibility out the back - its amazing how bad cars are getting with this. and in the rear seats, i can sit behind myself, not lounge about, but for a journey i can fit and sit in a safe position. much like the seating position, i think rear space will put some people off in this car, but it does pass as a 4 seater. The Boot too is surprisingly good, not massive (you don't say...) but its a useful shape unlike the unusable on that 1st gen Citroen C1's etc had.
The biggest surprise? the ride. I do enjoy Carbuyer's youtube channel and seeing their review on the 595 said that the ride was pretty much unexceptable - bouncy, firm and a major downside to the car. And to a point, this car is firm, but no more than other hatches on the market. the ride is controlled and broken surfaces didn't seem to upset the car at all. its not as compliant as my old GTi, but from the 2 passengers I've had in my car, there were no complaints.
Bad points? the radio doesn't sound good, the iPhone capability isn't smooth. the cupholders don't seem that deep, and its not useful if your trying to sneak out late at night - people will hear and know your going. These however are frankly not that important.
Thats my first impressions on the car, hopefully during the week ill add some more points and get a bit more into unravelling the car. But on my first impressions, it seems like the next few years of motoring are going to be fantastic.
P.S - Abarth Cardiff where i bought my car from are fantastic. definitely recommended.
[url]
|http://thumbsnap.com/yLQIjjhH[/url]
Collected CK65 PUE today. Heres my first impressions of the car, with a caveat that it was ;
- Night Time
-Incredibly Stormy
However, driving about 40 miles on mixed roads has given me a pretty good initial insight into the car.
Firstly, the exhaust. Its the first thing i noticed on the test drive and when the dealer bought the car out the showroom (having revealed it from under a cover - a very nice touch Abarth Cardiff) and feels massively juxtaposed on the silhouette of a Fiat. The sound itself is loud, but unlike a de-silenced 10 year old Corsa or Fiesta (a cliche but pretty accurate) theres depth and differences to the noise. the youtube Videos i put on my first post show it well, this has to be one of the best sounding exhausts on a "normal" car on the market today. Don't just take my words for it - my good mate currently runs a 2.7 Porsche Boxster and was fairly indifferent to my old 208 GTi. when i pulled up at his flat today he ran out to see what all the noise was about and demanded a test drive. (He was impressed and began speccing an Abarth online as soon as we got back)
Next is the engine. 1.4 TURBO. And i do mean TURBO. Compared to the likes of a 208 and ST, which are turbocharged yet have smoothed power delivery, this feels like a small engine attached to an enormous turbo straight from the 1980's. Im not exaggerating the difference between this and the 1.6 i had from the 208. Theres turbo lag, and not much happens below 3500 rpm. its not slow, but you can be caught out in the wrong gear at the wrong time.
When your on the power band however, this car would most likely show my old GTi a thing or two. The GTi felt flat after 4000 rpm, the abarth is pulling hard, shouting and squirming beneath you. it will be good to see how the engine loosens up and how i get used to getting the best out of it, but one first impressions it seems like the rest of the car - very characterful and capable.
Moving on, the interior feels like a good place to be. the high seating position does feel slightly odd, as it sits slightly high than my 208 but after a few miles it felt fine. I do think a few potential buyers might be put off by this in a showroom, but it isn't an issue and i haven't felt like i was sat on the car rather than in. The seats however, are sublime. Im 6ft 5, and although the Sabelt seats are "snug" they fit like a glove. will be good to test them on a longer run but would defiantly recommend to be specced on any abarth purchase. they look good to and don't eat up all the rear legroom.
In terms of practicality, on the run back from the dealer (8 miles on the clock, mixed urban a roads, country roads, stop start traffic sport mode ON) i got 38.9 mpg, which isn't bad at all. its also a fantastically easy car to park, with great visibility out the back - its amazing how bad cars are getting with this. and in the rear seats, i can sit behind myself, not lounge about, but for a journey i can fit and sit in a safe position. much like the seating position, i think rear space will put some people off in this car, but it does pass as a 4 seater. The Boot too is surprisingly good, not massive (you don't say...) but its a useful shape unlike the unusable on that 1st gen Citroen C1's etc had.
The biggest surprise? the ride. I do enjoy Carbuyer's youtube channel and seeing their review on the 595 said that the ride was pretty much unexceptable - bouncy, firm and a major downside to the car. And to a point, this car is firm, but no more than other hatches on the market. the ride is controlled and broken surfaces didn't seem to upset the car at all. its not as compliant as my old GTi, but from the 2 passengers I've had in my car, there were no complaints.
Bad points? the radio doesn't sound good, the iPhone capability isn't smooth. the cupholders don't seem that deep, and its not useful if your trying to sneak out late at night - people will hear and know your going. These however are frankly not that important.
Thats my first impressions on the car, hopefully during the week ill add some more points and get a bit more into unravelling the car. But on my first impressions, it seems like the next few years of motoring are going to be fantastic.
P.S - Abarth Cardiff where i bought my car from are fantastic. definitely recommended.
[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/yLQIjjhH[/url]AngryPartsBloke said:
1598Craig said:
Butter Face said:
Cool car. I love the seats, I drove a Mito Cloverleaf earlier in the year and the Sabelt seats in that were brilliant, I'd buy a car just for those seats!!
I'm very impressed with them, especially as recaro-style seats are very hit and miss for me, loved a set I tried in a Megane RS yet hated my mate's in a Corsa VXR. It'll be good to see how they feel on a longer run than I did on my test drive.Butter Face said:
Depends on which Megane RS. The 230/R26 had Recaro Trendlines. Jus' sayin.
The worse part on the VXR was the headrest - it had a stupid line down the middle meaning your head either went to rest slightly to the left or right. And the rear seats were massively impacted by then. Great car otherwise
This is a car that you buy with your heart and not your head, its the style, looks and overall package that does this for you, its not as good as the competition, its cramped, its crashy over similar surfaces to the other cars in its class but its also special in its own way, thats why people buy it, not because its a class leader but because its different, its also one of the reasons I wouldnt buy one,I have bought with the heart before and been bitten badly, now I buy with both my heart and my head otherwise I would have probably ended up with one of these instead of my Peugeot RCZR 
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