Mini 1.5, Abarth 595 or Peugeot 208 GTI - Help!

[Mustoe]

Hi guys,

First post in quite a while here, but really need some advice.

I am just about to buy a new car, which is to be used 30% personal and 70% work, (I carry out property surveys).

Looking at a small but fun car and have short listed the below. All work out to be around the same price, but for the life of me I cannot decide which will be best. Any advice or ownership experiences or opinions would be massively appreciated.

1. Abarth 595 (Basic 140 bhp model) - Brand new with nav

Have just test driven the car, and seem a hoot to drive, however quite sparsely equipped, with no cruise, auto lights etc. But makes a great noise.

Also should be quite cheapish to run and insure (I am 34) plus looks quite a decent car to stick my company branding on.

2. Mini Cooper 1.5 Petrol (with John Cooper Works Kit) New slight more £, or 2 years old matches the Abarth price wise.

Surprisingly quick for a 3 cylinder, great build quality, drive and looks, but obviously built for economy rather than performance. Although similar figures to the Abarth


3. Wild card - Peugeot 208 GTI!

Matches the price of both above, however lots of kit, pano roof, sat nav, heated seats and 200bhp! Great to drive, However more to run etc etc, and not as unique and the Mini and Abarth.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers guys

[99dndd]

Every non-petrolhead is going to look at the Abarth and ask why you've bought a Fiat 500. That shouldn't put you off though.

I like the look of the 208.

[anonymous-user]

The Abarth is a great little car, lots of fun! Might also be worth having a look at the revised Alfa Mito

[Never you mind]

We have a 595 Abarth Competizone and I can confirm its a riot to drive. Its a bit more chunky than a normal 500 but yeah people will probably think its just a 500 however don't let it fool you. Its a quick little thing, even though the one we have is a auto, and it does take some people by surprise. Kind of handles like a old skool mini and you can really chuck it around if you want. And if you spec the Monza exhausts it sounds like a baby race car Gets about 40MPG, cheap to insure and cheap to tax. Seems to go through rear brakes quickly though. It's not the most comfortable of cars though as we have the Sabelt seats and on long journeys my back starts to hurt a bit.

[Mustoe]

Thanks guys, I am really tempted by the Arbath.. Just my budget can only really stretch to the 140 bhp model, which still seems to be great to drive!

Just got to weigh it up against the GTI and Mini!

[Nige_GTI]

I had a 208 Gti, good fun to drive, much more compliant suspension that the Arbarth, decently quick, roomy and I averaged 38mpg over 11k miles.

Only sold to trade up, out of the 3 choices its the biggest and probably the best day to day car - Arbarth a bit small, MINI not really in the same performance league.

[davamer23]

I'm currently leasing the 208gti. Grip is very good but not as fast as I expected. I've also averaged 37-38mpg over the last 15months. I have the prestige so it's got decent spec,however it does feel a bit fragile and I wouldn't want to own one.

[steve-5snwi]

How long are you going to spend in the car ? While the 500 might be a great car for the odd blast it could become tiring day in day out. The mini is a nice place to be but would need the chilli pack. The 208 is nice but the dashboard is a mess, it is comfortable though.

How about a fiesta Zetec s or Citroen ds3, but out of your current choice it would be a mini for me as its a little bit more grown up for everyday.

[anonymous-user]

You can lease a Fiesta ST-Line 140 bhp for less than £6,000 for two years.

Personal Lease Deal
£186.24
Per Month, INC VAT
Rental Profile 9+23
Annual Mileage 20k Miles p/a
Initial Rental £1,676.16
Additional Fees None

36 Months is just a bit more.

[ZX10R NIN]

Do you have to get a brand new car what about a nearly new? From your list I'd probably go for the 208.

Alfa Mito QV with 170bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Kia Pro_ceed GT 200bhp (they're a decent steer) plus you'll have 5 years warranty left on this car

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Fiesta ST-3

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Corsa VXR

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

From my list above the Corsa looks like the deal of the Month & I'd be sorely tempted at that price for what is a 2016 car but I think I'd take the Fiesta (a riot to drive but a bit harsh as an allrounder) or Kia (a more mature hatch still quick but a bit more civil plus the warranty until 2022) & from your list the 208

[Defconluke]

I find it interesting when you say the 208 GTI is "not as unique and the Mini and Abarth".

Is that just because the 500 and the Mini have normally been customised with some god-awful stickers from the options book when new?
I would reckon there are more 500s and Minis around than 208s - and when you think the new 500 looks largely the same as the one that was introduced in 2007 and the Mini has just been pumped up slightly for each evolution since it was introduced in 2001 then IMO the 208 is the freshest looking of the 3.

Not seen the VW Polo BlueGT/GTI mentioned yet in the thread either.

[Mustoe]

Thanks guys,

Totally agree with your comments and after some hard pondering, I think it's going to be the 208 GTI in white.

Close second is the Abarth, but I think the 208 would be the better daily.

Planning on fully branding the car with our company logos, so if all goes to plan I'll post some pics up soon.

Thanks for all your input and if anyway thinks it's not the best call, feel free to shout.

Ps am going to a 1 year old car rather than new, just to keep in budget.

Cheers

[Mustoe]

Hi Guys,

So have taken the plunge on the 208 gti prestige.

Picking up tomorrow, got quite a decent deal in the end..

Will post some more pics when I collect it..

[Mustoe]

Hi Guys,

So have taken the plunge on the 208 gti prestige.

Picking up tomorrow, got quite a decent deal in the end..

Will post some more pics when I collect it..

[ZX10R NIN]

Nice one OP glad you got sorted.

[nish81]

Mustoe said:

Will post some more pics when I collect it..

any update/more pics OP? what do you think of it so far? how's the ride?

[Ahbefive]

Definitely the 208 for me out of those cars. The other 2 are cutesy girly cars.

You made the right choice imo.