500 abarth +/- essess kit

[sawman]

would anyone like to tell me about the relative benefits of the essess pack. I know more power is nice and better brakes are always worth having, but is the ride firmed up too much for comfort? and can the chassis deal with the extra oomph without torque steering into the nearest hedge?

Edited by sawman on Tuesday 15th May 13:49

[Fantuzzi]

From recollection, most mags said the ride in Esse esse kit is to stiff or UK roads, too bouncy.

Not an owner though.

[labrit]

I just picked one up - it's got an ecu remap, koni shocks, rims, exhaust and the all important essesse badge.

It's absolutely fine on the shocks - it's not set out to be a lexus.

[sawman]

labrit said:

I just picked one up - it's got an ecu remap, koni shocks, rims, exhaust and the all important essesse badge.

It's absolutely fine on the shocks - it's not set out to be a lexus.

Cheers, I like the look of your car, infact its identical to the one I just specced up with the lease company (I am being forced to take a lease car from my employer - otherwise they will chop my mileage allowance!)

Does the exhaust sound good?

I currently run a morgan and so I am used to firm suspension, but a pal of mine has a civic type R and it makes me feel a bit sick when I am a passenger in it - too joggly!

[johnycarrera]

I'm going to recommend the opposite.
I couldn't bare the overly stiff set up of the Essesse. I wanted the brakes and extra power but wasn't worth it to have to deal with the jarring ride.

I like stiff suspension and run a 911 with a full track set up, but there is zero damping in the Essesse, coupled with huge wheels and rubber band sidewalls (for a tiny car) it wasn't a good match for UK roads.

I've never felt I needed the extra power or brakes "on the road", however once the warranty is out I'll probably look at getting it chipped and maybe upgrading to a more efficient damper.

There's probably a middle ground somewhere but not where a warranty is concerned

[jason s4]

There is a Koni spec kit as well, which uses progressive springs and the ride is much, much better, in fact better than standard even.

[johnycarrera]

Wouldn't be hard to beat standard!

Interested in Koni, used them in late 90s, but they were inconsistent with quality. When they got it right though I loved the damping.

TBH if it wasn't for warranty, it would be easy to build an amazing 500.
Would be more interested in a better steering feel

[will-w]

The general consensus over on Abarthisti is that the standard suspension set up on the A500 is shocking in comparison to the Esseesse + Koni set up.

I'd tend to agree, having been a passenger in both the SS + Koni is a lot better on just about every kind of road and really transforms the car

Have you thought about a Punto EVO Abarth? Bit bigger, more power and arguably a better 'drivers car'..

[Stinkfoot]

will-w said:

The general consensus over on Abarthisti is that the standard suspension set up on the A500 is shocking in comparison to the Esseesse + Koni set up.


Have you thought about a Punto EVO Abarth? Bit bigger, more power and arguably a better 'drivers car'..

Thats exactly what I have just done. My A500 was a great car and with a TMC upgrade, the same power as the SS. How ever a recent visit to the dealers resulted in a drive of a New Abarth 500 SS and the much much rarer
Abarth Punto Evo SS.

The Punto in Evo SS spec just blew me away with the drive and handling being superb not mention the up graded interior including great standard seats which were better than the expensive Sabelt seats.
This resulted in me buying the demonstrator and I absolutely love it.

Edited by Stinkfoot on Wednesday 27th June 11:44