RE: Fiat 500 Abarth: PH Used Buying Guide

[plenty]

Daniel1 said:

Is still go for the new one. The other one is nearly 9 years old compared to hassle free motoring for 3 years. Horses for courses.

If this were an Audi RS or ///M with the potential to throw up big bills then sure, but we’re talking about a simple Fiat with not much to go wrong and if something does, nothing difficult or expensive to fix. And 79k miles / 9 years is still pretty new imo...I would expect it to last at least as long again.

Horses for courses...comes down to how you value a newer car vs money

[egor110]

Looking at reviews these seem really reliable.

Only 1 recorded engine failure, they don’t eat clutches , don’t rust .

Looking at old vs new the interiors are pretty much the same apart from the touch screen radio and flat bottom steering wheel.

I think the engines the same , not sure if they’ve updated the suspension though?

[ecsrobin]

egor110 said:

Looking at reviews these seem really reliable.

Only 1 recorded engine failure, they don’t eat clutches , don’t rust .

Looking at old vs new the interiors are pretty much the same apart from the touch screen radio and flat bottom steering wheel.

I think the engines the same , not sure if they’ve updated the suspension though?

On the newer cars they get along FSD upfront and comps all round. You also get a glovebox on the new cars.

I found the old interior cheap feeling but the new cars feel better.

[hooblah]

I'd be looking to buy an old one for cheap. Spend 3k on on upgrades and you've got yourself something better than a competizione.

[Daniel1]

jamoor said:

I drove the very latest models of one of these on a rental in PT.

Super stiff suspension, average dynamics, poor build quality.

And terrible steering (in sport mode) and seating position. They are quirky though and can see why they're so popular.

[thewharftrader]

Seat wear....
Recently bought a cheap one with 80k miles. This is what the drivers seat looks like. Don’t know if indicative or just previous owner had a very abrasive arse!

Was quoted £150 to repair it which I have no interest in spending so looking into any DIY options (anyone with any good ideas?!)

[geeks]

There are some pretty good diy repair kits out there if you look, although £150 for the repair seems a good offer to be honest

[ecsrobin]

geeks said:

There are some pretty good diy repair kits out there if you look, although £150 for the repair seems a good offer to be honest

I thought £150 was pretty reasonable. It costs that just for the handles on the sabelts

[cayman-black]

Agree. Plus for 80k miles it looks as it should imo.
As someone mentioned bad build quality i would have to disagree i have had two i think they are not bad at all. Niether went or have been back to the dealers for warranty work.

Edited by cayman-black on Sunday 21st October 15:46

[thewharftrader]

geeks said:

There are some pretty good diy repair kits out there if you look, although £150 for the repair seems a good offer to be honest

I agree it is. It just that the car was bought to do a 1.8 mile daily round trip commute for wifey (and I sometimes use it at the weekend for a bit of fun). So don’t really want to spend much (any!) on it if possible. If I don’t do anything, then equally fine, hence happy to go down the DIY route if it is feesable.

[anonymous-user]

Is there an easy way externally to tell if an Abarth 500 has the later Garrett GT1446 turbo rather than the IHI.

Believe it is the 2016 mk4's onwards, and are Turismo's or Competizione's ?

[ukaskew]

Are the servicing prices in this article vaguely achievable? Seems very, very reasonable for a 'sport' model, cheaper than my Citigo in fact!

[ecsrobin]

guy_spyder550 said:

Is there an easy way externally to tell if an Abarth 500 has the later Garrett GT1446 turbo rather than the IHI.

Believe it is the 2016 mk4's onwards, and are Turismo's or Competizione's ?

The later S3 comp had a GT1446. The current models the 595 and Trofeo has an IHI turbo and the Turismo and Competizione has the Garrett. The easy way to tell is by looking at the badge on the back.....

[ecsrobin]

ukaskew said:

Are the servicing prices in this article vaguely achievable? Seems very, very reasonable for a 'sport' model, cheaper than my Citigo in fact!

Servicing on the newer models is every 9,000 and the older cars were 18,000. For the 695 Biposto the suspension requires servicing every 5,000miles. Performance pack car requires an additional service at 4,000miles (possibly 3k can’t remember off my head)

My car came with a service pack but your looking at £200 for minor service and £3-350 for major.

[geeks]

ecsrobin said:

Performance pack car requires an additional service at 4,000miles (possibly 3k can’t remember off my head)

Do they? I wasnt told about this and I have the PP...

[ecsrobin]

geeks said:

Do they? I wasnt told about this and I have the PP...

Check your manual.

[Squadrone Rosso]

I didn’t realise the PP cars need a diff / gearbox oil change at 6200 miles but just posted on the Abarth OC page on FB & got confirmation.

Dealer at service said nothing.

My car came with the FoC service pack so hope it’s covered.

[geeks]

ecsrobin said:

geeks said:

Do they? I wasnt told about this and I have the PP...

Check your manual.

I did just that, so it actually needs doing every 18,000 miles however the first one must be done at 10,000km on 6,200 miles

Squadrone Rosso said:

I didn’t realise the PP cars need a diff / gearbox oil change at 6200 miles but just posted on the Abarth OC page on FB & got confirmation.

Dealer at service said nothing.

My car came with the FoC service pack so hope it’s covered.

Same here, well other than the service pack, have fired off an email to my supplying dealer, lucky it was spotted here or I would have been pretty pissed off!

[Jay Kay 225]

For around £6-7k, has anyone had experience of these Vs civic type r Vs Clio 200? I'm after a daily that I could do the odd track day in

[A500leroy]

i used to track mine at Donington. If youve ever had an old mini its like that but with power.