Wednesday 5th October 2022

Abarth Punto Evo | Spotted

Rare, fast, Italian, and fun - all for £9,995

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We know it can be demoralising shopping for a used car right now. Everything is more expensive than you think it might be. Or it seems like nobody ever bought the really interesting cars. Or if they did, it’s in one of the boring specifications. There are still worthy cars out there, however - you just need to know where to find them. 

Given what Abarth still charges for a 695, and given how rare the Abarth Punto was - not to mention the apparently flawless condition of this one - it doesn’t feel like bargain territory. But this 2013 car, with a low mileage of just 60k, a great spec that includes a rare panoramic roof and a recent cambelt, is for sale at £9,995. (Or potentially £8,995, depending on which bit of the advert you read.) This used to be the price where Britain’s cheap new cars kicked off, but now even a Dacia Sandero is from £12,595. So the Punto might be even better value than it seems. After all, have you seen what people are asking for Clio 200s and supercharged Minis? 

Alright, so the Abarth Punto doesn’t have quite the cult reputation of those two which explains the relative affordability. But it was a decent little pocket rocket in its own way if overshadowed somewhat by the pitch-perfect 500 launched about the same time. The Punto didn’t try to reinvent the hot hatch, and therefore delivered some reassuringly old-school thrills: it was a faster, firmer, and friskier version of a popular Italian supermini. With scorpions daubed everywhere. Sometimes things don't need to be any more complicated than that.  

For the Punto Evo era, there was more power (up to 165hp), a new look and some chassis tweaks, which reports tended to prefer over the pre-Evo cars. It lacked the raw driver focus of something like a Clio 200, yes, but tended to be better received from an enthusiast perspective than the 500. But then it didn’t look so cute, so fewer sold.  

If you can find an Abarth Punto nowadays, it tends to be a lower mileage and cherished car like this one, discerning owners jumping on something special and keeping it well. It would be fair to say that not all 500s enjoyed the same treatment. This Evo was sold by the vendor to the previous owner five years ago, which is always nice to see, and there’s abundant Abarth service history alongside a recent independent inspection. The pics point to a loved car, too, with just a bit of seat bolster wear to give away its age. That and a manual gearbox in a hot hatch, of course. 

With the Punto badge no more in the UK and Abarth continuing to forge ahead with just the 595 and 695, it seems unlikely that the larger car will ever have quite such a fanatical following. Hopefully, that keeps it affordable at least, rather than a bun fight erupting for Rivale this or Competizione that. Because as a rare, interesting, fun and fast Italian hot hatch, you could do an awful lot worse than an Abarth Punto.

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 SPECIFICATION | ABARTH PUNTO EVO SCORPIONE 

Engine: 1,368cc, four-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 165@5,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 184@2,250rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 2013
Recorded mileage: 60,000
Price new: c. £16,000
Yours for: £9,995 

See the original advert here

[pycraft]

This could be cheap to run, or you might find you've taken Abarth.

(Sorry, always wanted to say that)

[Jon_S_Rally]

I've always rather liked these. Think they look pretty good, and a slightly left-field choice.

10k seems a bit strong to me though. The mileage isn't THAT low. It's below average, but not extreme. Maybe I'm just not clued up on the market, but I would have expected it to be a good chunk cheaper.

[Bill]

pycraft said:

This could be cheap to run, or you might find you've taken Abarth.

(Sorry, always wanted to say that)

That's awful! Well done!!

[Rojo]

With the greatest respect to the writer and the owner, £10k for a 60,000 mile 10 year old fiat….. pa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. I know the worlds gone mad but but that’s like putting your head in a lions mouth AND kicking it in the balls.

[ballans]

Had a look on autotrader and there are a few on there. This one is priced a little high but not outrageous.
Everything is expensive these days.

[Pommy]

pycraft said:

This could be cheap to run, or you might find you've taken Abarth.

(Sorry, always wanted to say that)

Maybe someone's will to take a punto nit

[Nick928]

Asking £10k for a nine year old Punto is brave.
What did the dealer pay for it, maybe £5k tops?

Makes me question the the margins on the rest of their stock.

[TGCOTF-dewey]

These weren't even particularly good when new when compared to their peers.

[Dombilano]

Maybe worth a punt(o) at half the price

[TREMAiNE]

I recently bought a car from this dealership.
I can definitely recommend, an excellent buying experience.

Although the car I bought was well priced for what it was, I'd argue that this seems quite expensive.

[Nickbrapp]

Looked at these in 2015, ended up with a fiesta ST instead, pcp on the fiesta came out cheaper and better interior, even back then this shape of punto was pretty long in the tooth

Good looking car though

[Mr Peel]

Feels pricey, but as others have said perhaps we're all just old and out of touch.

No, this won't be as good a package as a Fiesta ST, but at this stage that's hardly the point. It's unusual, quick, tidy and good looking. Never mind all that "10-year-old Fiat" stuff - these are solid. I would.

[mersontheperson]

I don’t get it. This ‘Spotted’ thing. There are so many interesting cars to highlight, but this is the one chosen?
I also notice that private sellers adverts are literally NEVER in the spotted.
These two facts make me think this ‘Spotted’ category is actually an advertorial benefit to dealers.

A quick scan of the private sellers cars and there are plenty of options, so it seems to be ‘stick two fingers up’ to Pistonhead members who are trying to sell their cars, in preference in supporting car dealers

[M1C]

World has gone truly mad. £9,995?

This is a £5k car at best on a really good day.

[Pereldh]

Honestly, who wants a cute car..?
I'd take this over a 500 any day.
I like the pre-facelift interior much better tho, pref. in full-leather spec.

[jbrisley]

I did look at these a little while ago when they were £3-4K for an ok one. The cheapest way into an Abarth for a while. Ended up with an Alfa Guilietta instead same engine, slightly nicer interior, more practical, etc. Wasn't very involving mind, but the Alfa is still £3k.

[humphra]

I've always liked the Grande Punto/ Punto Evo and between my daughter and I, we've had 3 (she's still got the 3rd) and I've watched Abarth prices keenly in the past...... admittedly less so recently, but they were regularly under £5k. £10k (or is it £9k?) for this one, even in today's inflated market, seems like dreaming.

Still, just takes one mug - I mean enthusiast - to pay the asking price and the price is justified.

EDIT: just checked the specs, and I don't think it's even an esseesse that might have gone some way to justify a premium.

Edited by humphra on Wednesday 5th October 09:43

[forzaminardi]

The original Abarth Punto was a ridiculously good-looking car, especially for being a humdrum Fiat runabout. Even the Evo facelift, which pretty much ruined the looks of the base Punto, leaves this as a very nice-looking car. It's different, it's got a bit of character and charm. I like it.

[Om]

The 'Spotted''s these days seem to comprise a list of which dealers are taking the piss the most with pricing...

I remember when these were the bargain bucket warm hatches (and good they are too). The first in the list on Autotrader when you sorted by price... Wow.

[Baileyk]

Rojo said:

With the greatest respect to the writer and the owner, £10k for a 60,000 mile 10 year old fiat….. pa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. I know the worlds gone mad but but that’s like putting your head in a lions mouth AND kicking it in the balls.

That genuinely made me chuckle out loud.