500 abarth v swift sport v fiesta zetec s
Discussion
I'm considering downsizing to a small,fun,nimble car that's quite cheap to own/run. Of the three car's named has anyone owned/driven them? Abarth clearly quicker straight line with the turbo grunt but it's steering and ride seem to be slated. Fiesta zetec s is a warm hatch but having driven a hire 1.4 I was impressed with the ride/handling. It drove like a bigger car yet was fun and chuckable. 1.4 was too slow perhaps the S with the 1.6 would be quick enough on the road? Swift is a good compromise and all reviews are good. Six speed, fairly quick, nice engine, ride/handling seems good and loaded with kit (xenons,usb,cruise etc). Any thoughts?
The Fiesta is pretty gutless (10 seconds 0-60, if that kind of thing bothers you) but I got 45mpg from mine. I think they are more geared towards motorway driving as it seemed a lot more refined at higher speed. I had the previous gen Swift Sport and I haven't got a bad thing to say about it, nothing comes close for the money IMO. I still regret selling mine.
davey68 said:
Abarth clearly quicker straight line with the turbo grunt but it's steering and ride seem to be slated.
Had one for nearly 13,000 miles and the ride and steering feel are poor. Seating position is also not for everyone but I can cope fine.However it has lots of plus points, 50 MPG, Good equipment, Great engine, Positive reaction from others and better looking IMO than most other cars of its size.
Its flawed and I was initially disappointed but it is growing on me. With hindsight I would have waited and bought a cooper S just for the improved handling and steering feel.
Any questions feel free.
swift sport, it was the most fun car i have ever driven, the new one is alot better with the 6th gear, its not fast but its faster than a Zs, and you can rev the absolute tits of it,which is what a small fizzy hot hatch should be, properly nible too.the fez is really nice too but defo not fast.
for £13.5k and i nearly bought one until i looked at delivery miles focus STs for £2 - £3k less than a new swift, and ive decided to wait to get one of those when i can insure one, it will cost me 400x more to run but it be worth it
for £13.5k and i nearly bought one until i looked at delivery miles focus STs for £2 - £3k less than a new swift, and ive decided to wait to get one of those when i can insure one, it will cost me 400x more to run but it be worth it
Cheers guys. Twingo is a good car but not convinced I could live with the interior and always worried about french reliability (although that's probably without reason nowadays). Swift does seem to tick the boxes, like them in white and the new one is loaded with kit for the money. Seem's to be a good balance of fun to drive, good running costs and day to day ease of use. Decent comfort too when you're not red lining it! Will have to test drive a few models and see what grabs me.
davey68 said:
Cheers guys. Twingo is a good car but not convinced I could live with the interior and always worried about french reliability (although that's probably without reason nowadays). Swift does seem to tick the boxes, like them in white and the new one is loaded with kit for the money. Seem's to be a good balance of fun to drive, good running costs and day to day ease of use. Decent comfort too when you're not red lining it! Will have to test drive a few models and see what grabs me.
i also test drove the fabia vrs and seat ibiza bocca, which are both a polo gtithey are really quick being turboed and supercharged, they are quite nice to drive but you feel cacooned from the speed which is something i didnt like. you can pick up a 2 year old cupra/bocc for £9 - £12k with a decent spec so may be worth looking at too.
then you can win scene points with your friends by telling them its a diesel
The new Swift sport seems to be getting genuinely positive reviews in everything I've read. Shame it's not a tiny bit quicker in a straight line but it's cheap, well specced and has a good fun chassis.
I've only driven the older model swift but really liked it, very chuckable and fun and it's nicely different to the million abarths and minis that swarm around Bristol. They do seem to be getting more common though so it's losing it's alternative/cool edge a bit.
I've only driven the older model swift but really liked it, very chuckable and fun and it's nicely different to the million abarths and minis that swarm around Bristol. They do seem to be getting more common though so it's losing it's alternative/cool edge a bit.
I was thinking about downsizing as well, and have just given back an Abarth 500. I'd not downsize to that for a few reasons.
1. Very, very poor ride. Even on standard 16" wheels it's just bouncy and unsettled. Smooth roads are fine, but you'll be cursing every time you hit a pothole/bump/minor imperfection.
2. If you are tall, forget it. I'm 6'2" but by the time I had leg space I felt like I'd overreached to hold the (albeit rather nice and chunky wheel). It's typically Italian. Short legs, long arms needed.
Oh, finding somewhere to rest your clutch foot-good luck.
3. The steering, numb in normal mode but in sport it's like trying to land a fighting Marlin. Just silly amounts of bogus feedback that makes you work hard for little reward or feedback.
I really wanted to like this car, having had an original 500, Cinquecento and Lupo GTi. I'd really hoped that it would be a replacement for the Lupo but this is not the case.
It looks great, has a cracking engine and exhaust note, but was just too ergonomically flawed for me to consider buying.
I drove 160+ miles over the weekend and was glad to give it back.
My advice-get a long test drive before deciding. I'm very glad I did.
1. Very, very poor ride. Even on standard 16" wheels it's just bouncy and unsettled. Smooth roads are fine, but you'll be cursing every time you hit a pothole/bump/minor imperfection.
2. If you are tall, forget it. I'm 6'2" but by the time I had leg space I felt like I'd overreached to hold the (albeit rather nice and chunky wheel). It's typically Italian. Short legs, long arms needed.
Oh, finding somewhere to rest your clutch foot-good luck.
3. The steering, numb in normal mode but in sport it's like trying to land a fighting Marlin. Just silly amounts of bogus feedback that makes you work hard for little reward or feedback.
I really wanted to like this car, having had an original 500, Cinquecento and Lupo GTi. I'd really hoped that it would be a replacement for the Lupo but this is not the case.
It looks great, has a cracking engine and exhaust note, but was just too ergonomically flawed for me to consider buying.
I drove 160+ miles over the weekend and was glad to give it back.
My advice-get a long test drive before deciding. I'm very glad I did.
The new Swift Sport is a great car. It's got the fun factor of the old one combined with much better refinement and (IIRC) significantly better fuel economy. The Fiesta has a nicer interior, but otherwise I'd go for the Swift out of those two.
The 500 Abarth doesn't handle as well as the others - less composed over the bumps, less traction, inferior steering - but it would be my choice. I've only driven the Essesse admittedly, but that was a really frenetic little car, scrabbling away and producing all sorts of whooshes and burbles. It has more character than the other two put together IMHO.
The 500 Abarth doesn't handle as well as the others - less composed over the bumps, less traction, inferior steering - but it would be my choice. I've only driven the Essesse admittedly, but that was a really frenetic little car, scrabbling away and producing all sorts of whooshes and burbles. It has more character than the other two put together IMHO.
I have the new swift sport and it is a great all rounder. I had the last one in red and it was awesome. The 6th gear is a big bonus with the new one - getting just over 40mpg with mixed driving and ideal on the motorway when matched with the cruise control. The chassis is indeed a good one - everyone who has been in mine has commented how well it 'sticks' to the road. Now on 6500 miles and still love it to bits.
Teocali said:
However it has lots of plus points, 50 MPG, Good equipment, Great engine, Positive reaction from others and better looking IMO than most other cars of its size.
Wait, what. 50mpg? No chance at all.http://www.fuelly.com/driver/trooperlooper/500
My Abarth 500 tracked for the first 12,500 miles of its life.
34.3 average, best ever was 39.2.
trooperiziz said:
Wait, what. 50mpg? No chance at all.
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/trooperlooper/500
My Abarth 500 tracked for the first 12,500 miles of its life.
34.3 average, best ever was 39.2.
More than chance I have done it! http://www.fuelly.com/driver/trooperlooper/500
My Abarth 500 tracked for the first 12,500 miles of its life.
34.3 average, best ever was 39.2.
Not really too surprising as the extra urban MPG is 53....
People on the Abarthisti forum have claimed over 60 MPG on a run. This I struggle to believe wasn't done at 50 mph though.
I average 40 MPG commuting on A roads 10 miles each way without trying. Never got less than 30 even when pressing on following the wales rally last year.
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