RA's abarth 595 turismo
Discussion
Having tried my hand at shedding with a corolla t-sport I decided it just wasn't for me, I'd convinced myself I could live with the list of minor faults the average shed will have, but I couldn't.
So, with 40 fast approaching I wanted some fun, but I'm on a budget and I wanted something new and which wouldn't kill me on running costs.
I heard the VW up GTi was getting re-released this month, and it did. Sadly it was £2.5k higher price than before, with no dealer incentive and the PCP Apr offered last time had gone up considerably... At £14k the other comprises made sense, at the higher price they no longer did... Not for me anyway.
So, with an aim of using only the corolla as a down payment and limiting to £200 a month on PCP what could I get ?
I have a wife, 2 kids and a spaniel so it needed to be practical and preferably 5 door.
Back in 2014 I got myself a brand new abarth 500, they were running and offer £2k down, £199 a month, i thought I'd take a look but expected the prices to have risen and I didn't have enough for the deposit either. Quick check on their website showed £229 per month... Out of my range.
But... Carwow, worth a try right (if anyone hasnt seen of used carwow I thoroughly recommend it) quotes started coming back around my price range but with a deposit I couldn't afford and only offering £500 for my trusty corolla.
Oh well... I'll have to wait, or sell the corolla so I had more money towards the deposit... But the hassle of selling wasn't something I wanted... Can't be bothered with the "what's it best price m8" or "will you take £200 and a scooter" lot.
5:30 last Friday I get a call from a number outside my area code, "hello I'm x from y dealership. Just responding to your request on carwow, could a pre registered car be acceptable ?"
"Yes, assuming it's brand new"
"Less than 20 miles on the clock"
Turned out they had 4 pre reg 595's,1 white, 1 black 2 red.
Someone is coming to look at the white on tomorrow lunch time though, oh and these are the turismo models, bigger wheels, bigger turbo (165bhp Vs 145 for the entry level model) full leather and a few other bits.... So a better spec car for less than the stock one, only difference being another owner on the v5... Doesn't bother me
After a bit of negotiation we reached a deal under my target with the corolla and a bit of cash for the down payment
Me and my eldest lad were in the car at 9:30 the following day to get to the dealer by 10:30 (ahead of the other customer, who may or may not have existed) to get the white one.
Quick test drive, quick valet and a bit of paperwork and me and he lad drove home in it.
So there we have it, practical family motoring.
Honestly though, it's been ages since I've just wanted to go for a drive for no reason but I've done it twice this week. It's good on the motorway, sounds ace, is fun to drive even got a weekly shop it in this morning.
Okay so it's a fiat 500 with more power and a harsh suspension but it's loveable, all it's faults and compromises add it to something fun and interesting which most modern cars seem to lack... Drove an Audi A1 a few weeks ago it was dull...this is totally different animal
Anyway...I love it ! Plan to drive it and keep it forever.
Oh, and it has a friend on the driveway.... My wife's 2012 fiat 500 which she's owned from new... 2 practical family cars lol
So, with 40 fast approaching I wanted some fun, but I'm on a budget and I wanted something new and which wouldn't kill me on running costs.
I heard the VW up GTi was getting re-released this month, and it did. Sadly it was £2.5k higher price than before, with no dealer incentive and the PCP Apr offered last time had gone up considerably... At £14k the other comprises made sense, at the higher price they no longer did... Not for me anyway.
So, with an aim of using only the corolla as a down payment and limiting to £200 a month on PCP what could I get ?
I have a wife, 2 kids and a spaniel so it needed to be practical and preferably 5 door.
Back in 2014 I got myself a brand new abarth 500, they were running and offer £2k down, £199 a month, i thought I'd take a look but expected the prices to have risen and I didn't have enough for the deposit either. Quick check on their website showed £229 per month... Out of my range.
But... Carwow, worth a try right (if anyone hasnt seen of used carwow I thoroughly recommend it) quotes started coming back around my price range but with a deposit I couldn't afford and only offering £500 for my trusty corolla.
Oh well... I'll have to wait, or sell the corolla so I had more money towards the deposit... But the hassle of selling wasn't something I wanted... Can't be bothered with the "what's it best price m8" or "will you take £200 and a scooter" lot.
5:30 last Friday I get a call from a number outside my area code, "hello I'm x from y dealership. Just responding to your request on carwow, could a pre registered car be acceptable ?"
"Yes, assuming it's brand new"
"Less than 20 miles on the clock"
Turned out they had 4 pre reg 595's,1 white, 1 black 2 red.
Someone is coming to look at the white on tomorrow lunch time though, oh and these are the turismo models, bigger wheels, bigger turbo (165bhp Vs 145 for the entry level model) full leather and a few other bits.... So a better spec car for less than the stock one, only difference being another owner on the v5... Doesn't bother me
After a bit of negotiation we reached a deal under my target with the corolla and a bit of cash for the down payment
Me and my eldest lad were in the car at 9:30 the following day to get to the dealer by 10:30 (ahead of the other customer, who may or may not have existed) to get the white one.
Quick test drive, quick valet and a bit of paperwork and me and he lad drove home in it.
So there we have it, practical family motoring.
Honestly though, it's been ages since I've just wanted to go for a drive for no reason but I've done it twice this week. It's good on the motorway, sounds ace, is fun to drive even got a weekly shop it in this morning.
Okay so it's a fiat 500 with more power and a harsh suspension but it's loveable, all it's faults and compromises add it to something fun and interesting which most modern cars seem to lack... Drove an Audi A1 a few weeks ago it was dull...this is totally different animal
Anyway...I love it ! Plan to drive it and keep it forever.
Oh, and it has a friend on the driveway.... My wife's 2012 fiat 500 which she's owned from new... 2 practical family cars lol
Edited by Roboticarm on Saturday 18th January 11:45
Thanks guys.
My old one averaged 35mpg, this one is meant to achieve closer to 40 and so far the indications are good. Cruising at 70 on the way to work saw 50 mpg.
I've only used sport mode once so far, details are sketchy on the exact performance difference but general theory seems to be that only 2/3rd of the torque is available in "normal mode" which did make me wonder whether the mpg might actually be better in sport mode.. I'll run in normal for a month, then switch and see the difference.
My old one seemed to get better mpg after it passed the 1k miles mark too.
My old one averaged 35mpg, this one is meant to achieve closer to 40 and so far the indications are good. Cruising at 70 on the way to work saw 50 mpg.
I've only used sport mode once so far, details are sketchy on the exact performance difference but general theory seems to be that only 2/3rd of the torque is available in "normal mode" which did make me wonder whether the mpg might actually be better in sport mode.. I'll run in normal for a month, then switch and see the difference.
My old one seemed to get better mpg after it passed the 1k miles mark too.
Looks like the dealer still has the 2 red ones, which isn't a major surprise because the prices on their website are way more than they actually offer when you speak to them.
If anyone is interested drop me a message and I'll share the details.
Just got back from a quick drive out with my 2 lads, we kept pulling over and stopping so we could set off from a standing start, all 3 of us grinning ear to ear.
If anyone is interested drop me a message and I'll share the details.
Just got back from a quick drive out with my 2 lads, we kept pulling over and stopping so we could set off from a standing start, all 3 of us grinning ear to ear.
Great car. And what a result getting that phonecall. How does the PCP work though. You say you will keep it forever, do you just keep paying the £200 a month until the cars paid for. Or is there a cut off point where you have to buy the cars remaining balance. Interested to get a grasp of the different methods of finance. From someone also getting slightly tired of shedding.
rufusgti said:
Great car. And what a result getting that phonecall. How does the PCP work though. You say you will keep it forever, do you just keep paying the £200 a month until the cars paid for. Or is there a cut off point where you have to buy the cars remaining balance. Interested to get a grasp of the different methods of finance. From someone also getting slightly tired of shedding.
Yes, the call was ideal, I'd half given up before he called.It's slightly less than £200 a month, at the end of the deal I can either hand it back (there is a guaranteed future value which is the same amount as the balance at that point in time) or buy it.
I worked out that I can carry on at the same rate (using a personal loan) for another 3 years after the main deal and get the balance to zero but I'm actually hoping to save up for the final payment.
The good news on buying a pre reg with a discount is that the initial depresiation isn't as much as it would be if I had paid RRP so it won't take the same the amount of time to get to a position where I'm not negative equity.
I handed my last one back after 2 years when the finance balance broke even with the cars current value, but I did lose the value of of my part exchange doing that.
Looks really nice OP. How have you found the car and the spaniel?
I looked at these before I bought my C30, and with 2 spaniels I didn’t think the space was adequate? The company I work for is moving office and my commute will go to a 10mile round trip so will need to chop in the diesel C30 and look for a small petrol.
I looked at these before I bought my C30, and with 2 spaniels I didn’t think the space was adequate? The company I work for is moving office and my commute will go to a 10mile round trip so will need to chop in the diesel C30 and look for a small petrol.
Challo said:
Looks really nice OP. How have you found the car and the spaniel?
I looked at these before I bought my C30, and with 2 spaniels I didn’t think the space was adequate? The company I work for is moving office and my commute will go to a 10mile round trip so will need to chop in the diesel C30 and look for a small petrol.
Thanks. Mines a Cocker spaniel so she's pretty small but I take the parcel shelf out and put a soft dog bed in the boot (we bought a rectangle dog bed to fit) and she's fine. She's been travelling in my wife's 500 for years.I looked at these before I bought my C30, and with 2 spaniels I didn’t think the space was adequate? The company I work for is moving office and my commute will go to a 10mile round trip so will need to chop in the diesel C30 and look for a small petrol.
The dog bad takes up half the width so you'd get 2 in easily enough.
Quick pic since she's sat next to me as I type
Lovely car and good price. 
My wife is on to her second one now a ‘19 plate Comp, after a ‘17 plate Trofeo. We bought the second one using CarWow. Some genuinely good deals to be had on there, as you found out.
We’ve seen 40-odd on long runs but usually it’s high 30’s. That’s with my wife driving though who doesn’t drive like an idiot. It would be easy to get much less.
Great little cars. There’s no small car we’d prefer. Up’s can’t compare for sound, styling or character.
The new Fiesta ST is good but after an Abarth every other car just seems so damn sensible.
Enjoy!
PS. My main gripe with Abarth are the seats are absolutely fluff magnets and the black wheels are a pig to keep clean. The backs dry brown, no matter how well you wash them.
My wife is on to her second one now a ‘19 plate Comp, after a ‘17 plate Trofeo. We bought the second one using CarWow. Some genuinely good deals to be had on there, as you found out.
We’ve seen 40-odd on long runs but usually it’s high 30’s. That’s with my wife driving though who doesn’t drive like an idiot. It would be easy to get much less.
Great little cars. There’s no small car we’d prefer. Up’s can’t compare for sound, styling or character.
The new Fiesta ST is good but after an Abarth every other car just seems so damn sensible.
Enjoy!
PS. My main gripe with Abarth are the seats are absolutely fluff magnets and the black wheels are a pig to keep clean. The backs dry brown, no matter how well you wash them.
Roboticarm said:
Challo said:
Looks really nice OP. How have you found the car and the spaniel?
I looked at these before I bought my C30, and with 2 spaniels I didn’t think the space was adequate? The company I work for is moving office and my commute will go to a 10mile round trip so will need to chop in the diesel C30 and look for a small petrol.
Thanks. Mines a Cocker spaniel so she's pretty small but I take the parcel shelf out and put a soft dog bed in the boot (we bought a rectangle dog bed to fit) and she's fine. She's been travelling in my wife's 500 for years.I looked at these before I bought my C30, and with 2 spaniels I didn’t think the space was adequate? The company I work for is moving office and my commute will go to a 10mile round trip so will need to chop in the diesel C30 and look for a small petrol.
The dog bad takes up half the width so you'd get 2 in easily enough.
Quick pic since she's sat next to me as I type
She looks a cutie.
Cracking little cars. Spent a coupe of hours in our local Abarth dealership (Hereford) back in June 19 looking and negotiating a replacement for the wife's outgoing 1.2 Popstar.
Settled on a Turismo and although fairly reluctant at first (not interested in cars really) she loves it.
Ideal for ferrying two young children to and from school, with the odd shopping run and I get to hoon around in it at the weekends.
Great choice!
Settled on a Turismo and although fairly reluctant at first (not interested in cars really) she loves it.
Ideal for ferrying two young children to and from school, with the odd shopping run and I get to hoon around in it at the weekends.
Great choice!
RVVUNM said:
Thought you were keeping it forever, What changed?
That was certainly my initial intention, however the kids and dogs have grown and as much as I love the car it's just too small for my needs, wife has a 500 too which she's owned from new so one of them needs to be replaced with a larger car, I ran the numbers on keeping this and having a family she'd but can't really afford to have 3 carsIt's my 2nd abarth and I love them, if I get to the stage where 3 cars is affordable or the kids move out I would definitely get another one
Edited by Roboticarm on Thursday 7th January 14:11
Roboticarm said:
RVVUNM said:
Thought you were keeping it forever, What changed?
That was certainly my initial intention, however the kids and dogs have grown and as much as I love the car it's just too small for my needs, wife has a 500 too which she's owned from new so one of them needs to be replaced with a larger car, I ran the numbers on keeping this and having a family she'd but can't really afford to have 3 carsIt's my 2nd abarth and I love them, if I get to the stage where 3 cars is affordable or the kids move out I would definitely get another one
Edited by Roboticarm on Thursday 7th January 14:11
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