Abarth 595 Competizione

[AlexJ12]

We are just awaiting delivery of our 595C Comp, can't bloody wait.....These are great little cars.

[ecsrobin]

AlexJ12 said:

We are just awaiting delivery of our 595C Comp, can't bloody wait.....These are great little cars.

Did you go for the performance pack?

[AlexJ12]

No I didn't, its my wife's daily so kept it simple Record Grey with the 7" Nav and obviously with the Sabelts.

We had a M135i prior to this which has now gone back to BMW and i have to say i am more excited about the Comp than getting the BMW a few years back.

[10speeduk]

Nice car OP, same colours as our one, we got the pre-facelift as they were doing a deal on the older stock. OP, make sure you lubricate the exhaust flap with copper grease regularly as they seize. Ours is being replaced under warranty as it seized half open.

But we love ours! Well, its the wife's but I drive it on occasion. It's not the best drivers car out there, but it is the most fun and characterful. In this car you can be cruising at 20mph and grinning as its so exuberant and faintly silly!

The sound sold it to me, my mate came around with his Caymen S and wanted me to rev it for him...

https://youtu.be/kBsQWkElGkw

Not bad for a run around

New toys by Paul Reid, on Flickr

Edited by 10speeduk on Wednesday 8th March 19:25

Edited by 10speeduk on Wednesday 8th March 19:29

Edited by 10speeduk on Wednesday 8th March 19:47

[Podie]

Love these little cars, so much character.

I see one regularly in London with an Akrapovic system on it (I've seen it parked up) and it gurgles, pops and crackles when the owner gives it some

[shayne66]

great fun little cars, misses always wanted a Fiat 500. So bought her a 59 plate Abarth 500 few years back so at least i can have a decent play about. Car is quality and only thing to let us down so far is faulty wire in the tailgate where the wires go from the boot lid back into the main body. they seem to wear out due to the bending etc.

[eddd1e]

shayne66 said:

great fun little cars, misses always wanted a Fiat 500. So bought her a 59 plate Abarth 500 few years back so at least i can have a decent play about. Car is quality and only thing to let us down so far is faulty wire in the tailgate where the wires go from the boot lid back into the main body. they seem to wear out due to the bending etc.

Yeah same happened to our last one. I had to replace the wiring. Annoyingly, it looks like they have not even changed the design in the new model either.

[ecsrobin]

So last night I had a play with my camera after spending the day cleaning the car (it's filthy again after today's weather)

Abarth 595 Competizione by -robinecs-

Abarth 595 Competizione by -robinecs-

These were both edited on my iPad so will try and do a proper edit later today on my computer.

I also have a short in car video of my last run of my first autosolo. Apologies for the quality it was a new camera (which has since been returned as not impressed)

https://youtu.be/zMPssG3Xd78

[whytheory]

Great looking / sounding car. Autosolo looks like fun!

Carbon dash is a £550 option from factory so surely should be retrofitable?

If I were buying a new motor it would be between this and a FST for sure.

[RC1807]

whytheory said:

....

If I were buying a new motor it would be between this and a FST for sure.

See, I went for the FST over a new 595C 3 years ago, and now I'm thinking I need to have a 595C as my next car....
my eldest is going to learn to drive next year, that'll be my justification - smaller car needed

[ecsrobin]

whytheory said:

Great looking / sounding car. Autosolo looks like fun!

Carbon dash is a £550 option from factory so surely should be retrofitable?

If I were buying a new motor it would be between this and a FST for sure.

I'll have to speak to the dealer and see if they are now available. I'm lead to believe it was meant to be a feature on the Competizione but got withdrawn and looking at the owners clubs those who ordered the carbon dash as an option had a few months delay before being told it was unavailable.

As for the ST the comparable model would be the ST200 which is similar in price (about £800 cheaper I think)

However the interior is not to my liking:





Also no LSD, Brembos and 100kg heavier (the extra power from the bigger ST engine means 0-62 are identical)

Edited by ecsrobin on Monday 13th March 14:37

[ecsrobin]

So an update:

Managed to make Aston Martin Sunday service which was a great drive through Wales, then onto Wilton wakeup with the south coast gents and a few outings for breakfast with the same guys.

At the beginning of may I hit 9,000 miles after a driving tour of Norfolk with the GRRC and some lovely classic Ferrari racing cars, Jag E types amongst more modern machinery and everyone seemed more interested in the Abarth which I think says a lot. And a Ferrari 488 owner was loving the sound!!

After that it was into the dealership for its 9,000 mile service no issues except a slight error with the stereo (which no longer crashes but won’t update) and a badge is on order to be replaced as it was bubbling.

A few days later it was off to Rockingham for the annual Abarth day where I had my first time in track, a passenger ride in a 695 biposto, an autosolo and a drive of the Abarth 124.

Rockingham on track by -robinecs-

Rockingham on track by -robinecs-

Rockingham on track by -robinecs-

Some of my session on track: https://youtu.be/JunW6do4jr0

And the 695 passenger lap: https://youtu.be/vc5Ma_BkC_o

And now at 10,000miles and still enjoying every commute and weekend blast it just gives you a permanent smile.

[sgtbash]

ecsrobin said:

I'll have to speak to the dealer and see if they are now available. I'm lead to believe it was meant to be a feature on the Competizione but got withdrawn and looking at the owners clubs those who ordered the carbon dash as an option had a few months delay before being told it was unavailable.

As for the ST the comparable model would be the ST200 which is similar in price (about £800 cheaper I think)

However the interior is not to my liking:


Also no LSD, Brembos and 100kg heavier (the extra power from the bigger ST engine means 0-62 are identical)

Edited by ecsrobin on Monday 13th March 14:37

Yeah but at least us ST owners arn't driving handbags

The Abarths are nice cars, my neighbours Competizione wakes me up droning every morning though - no reason for that noise out of a 180hp 1.4!

[ecsrobin]

sgtbash said:

Yeah but at least us ST owners arn't driving handbags

The Abarths are nice cars, my neighbours Competizione wakes me up droning every morning though - no reason for that noise out of a 180hp 1.4!

I match my handbag to the car.....

You sound like the Mrs she’s always saying whys it so loud

[sgtbash]

How has the paint held up in those miles by the way? The paint on the ST is rubbish.....

[ecsrobin]

sgtbash said:

How has the paint held up in those miles by the way? The paint on the ST is rubbish.....

Not bad at all, coming from an FN Civic where even looking at the paint made it chip! There’s a few chips I’ll fill in / get filled in when I get a chance but mainly from following Aly from the south coast forum in his C63 AMG which literally tears tarmac up as he drives along

[RC1807]

Lovely car, OP. Although I remain in love with the 595C, reading that you've already had warranty issues worries me a little - even if it's a stereo problem and a badge. My ST hasn't had any problems from new.

sgtbash said:

How has the paint held up in those miles by the way? The paint on the ST is rubbish.....

Really? My ST has no issues at all - 3 years old, 34k km on the clock

[ecsrobin]

RC1807 said:

Really? My ST has no issues at all - 3 years old, 34k km on the clock

Cheers.

I’m not concerned really with the “warranty” work. The badge I’m sure no one would notice but it’s me being very picky and it is very small and a very quick fix.

The stereo is no different to owning any bit of IT and the odd crash. It hasn’t crashed since bing reset so it’s clearly a software issue (and at this time it won’t install the latest update which is probably what was causing the crash)

Mechanically the car hasn’t missed a beat so far.

[M1C]

ecsrobin said:

So an update:

Managed to make Aston Martin Sunday service which was a great drive through Wales, then onto Wilton wakeup with the south coast gents and a few outings for breakfast with the same guys.

At the beginning of may I hit 9,000 miles after a driving tour of Norfolk with the GRRC and some lovely classic Ferrari racing cars, Jag E types amongst more modern machinery and everyone seemed more interested in the Abarth which I think says a lot. And a Ferrari 488 owner was loving the sound!!

After that it was into the dealership for its 9,000 mile service no issues except a slight error with the stereo (which no longer crashes but won’t update) and a badge is on order to be replaced as it was bubbling.

A few days later it was off to Rockingham for the annual Abarth day where I had my first time in track, a passenger ride in a 695 biposto, an autosolo and a drive of the Abarth 124.

Rockingham on track by -robinecs-

Rockingham on track by -robinecs-

Rockingham on track by -robinecs-

Some of my session on track: https://youtu.be/JunW6do4jr0

And the 695 passenger lap: https://youtu.be/vc5Ma_BkC_o

And now at 10,000miles and still enjoying every commute and weekend blast it just gives you a permanent smile.

This looks great.

I had a Panda 100HP for a year...(i know it's not the same, but)...and...when i see this...i'm missing it. These 595s might not be the most accomplished hot supermini around......but surely one of the best for character and fun?!

[Andy665]

Keep looking at these as a replacement for the M135i next year - sensible lease deals seem to be pretty much non existent on them though