Abarth 595 Competizione as a daily?
Discussion
Just posting so as to follow the thread.
So tempted by one of these. I prefer small cars and the 595 Comp seems the near perfect antidote for all that is dull about modern wagons. And I keep finding myself looking for something that will put the fun back into chore driving.
A small, 5 speed manual with good poke looks on paper to be near perfect for the country roads around here.
So tempted by one of these. I prefer small cars and the 595 Comp seems the near perfect antidote for all that is dull about modern wagons. And I keep finding myself looking for something that will put the fun back into chore driving.
A small, 5 speed manual with good poke looks on paper to be near perfect for the country roads around here.
Mines been sat outside - I haven’t driven it since October.
New battery in hand, service next week then need to get one wheel refinished and off to the ad’s it goes. It been a bloody great toy for the last 7 years but I don’t need it as a third car.
Shame as I’d love to keep it but it needs a new home.
New battery in hand, service next week then need to get one wheel refinished and off to the ad’s it goes. It been a bloody great toy for the last 7 years but I don’t need it as a third car.
Shame as I’d love to keep it but it needs a new home.
DonkeyApple said:
Just posting so as to follow the thread.
So tempted by one of these. I prefer small cars and the 595 Comp seems the near perfect antidote for all that is dull about modern wagons. And I keep finding myself looking for something that will put the fun back into chore driving.
A small, 5 speed manual with good poke looks on paper to be near perfect for the country roads around here.
Do it. So tempted by one of these. I prefer small cars and the 595 Comp seems the near perfect antidote for all that is dull about modern wagons. And I keep finding myself looking for something that will put the fun back into chore driving.
A small, 5 speed manual with good poke looks on paper to be near perfect for the country roads around here.
I'm absolutely in love with our one. Last hatchback I had (outside of work cars) was my MG ZR when I was 17/18. Have had MX5's, Silvia, a couple BMWs and a Lexus GS300 before the 595 and it's probably my favourite out of all of them apart from the Nissan.
Still getting to grips with a semi-spicy FWD but I've had far more fun in this than my 335i which had around 400bhp give or take. I genuinely can't recommend it high enough. We've put about 6 thousand miles on it in the past year and it's been trouble free so far bar the rear window spray not working which can wait until it's nicer outside.
Rod200SX said:
Do it.
I'm absolutely in love with our one. Last hatchback I had (outside of work cars) was my MG ZR when I was 17/18. Have had MX5's, Silvia, a couple BMWs and a Lexus GS300 before the 595 and it's probably my favourite out of all of them apart from the Nissan.
Still getting to grips with a semi-spicy FWD but I've had far more fun in this than my 335i which had around 400bhp give or take. I genuinely can't recommend it high enough. We've put about 6 thousand miles on it in the past year and it's been trouble free so far bar the rear window spray not working which can wait until it's nicer outside.
Certainly need to try one. On paper they look spot on but I've had a love hate relationship with European hatchbacks as you often need to be shaped like a gibbon with short legs and long arms to use one. I'm absolutely in love with our one. Last hatchback I had (outside of work cars) was my MG ZR when I was 17/18. Have had MX5's, Silvia, a couple BMWs and a Lexus GS300 before the 595 and it's probably my favourite out of all of them apart from the Nissan.
Still getting to grips with a semi-spicy FWD but I've had far more fun in this than my 335i which had around 400bhp give or take. I genuinely can't recommend it high enough. We've put about 6 thousand miles on it in the past year and it's been trouble free so far bar the rear window spray not working which can wait until it's nicer outside.
DonkeyApple said:
Just posting so as to follow the thread.
So tempted by one of these. I prefer small cars and the 595 Comp seems the near perfect antidote for all that is dull about modern wagons. And I keep finding myself looking for something that will put the fun back into chore driving.
A small, 5 speed manual with good poke looks on paper to be near perfect for the country roads around here.
Not just on the country roads they are great little cars. Perfect around town can park them anywhere I love it when there’s a small parking bay that these fat SUVs can’t get into and we can. So tempted by one of these. I prefer small cars and the 595 Comp seems the near perfect antidote for all that is dull about modern wagons. And I keep finding myself looking for something that will put the fun back into chore driving.
A small, 5 speed manual with good poke looks on paper to be near perfect for the country roads around here.
DonkeyApple said:
Just posting so as to follow the thread.
So tempted by one of these. I prefer small cars and the 595 Comp seems the near perfect antidote for all that is dull about modern wagons. And I keep finding myself looking for something that will put the fun back into chore driving.
A small, 5 speed manual with good poke looks on paper to be near perfect for the country roads around here.
So tempted by one of these. I prefer small cars and the 595 Comp seems the near perfect antidote for all that is dull about modern wagons. And I keep finding myself looking for something that will put the fun back into chore driving.
A small, 5 speed manual with good poke looks on paper to be near perfect for the country roads around here.
pidsy said:
Mines been sat outside - I haven t driven it since October.
New battery in hand, service next week then need to get one wheel refinished and off to the ad s it goes. It been a bloody great toy for the last 7 years but I don t need it as a third car.
Shame as I d love to keep it but it needs a new home.
Pidsy, meet Donkeyapple New battery in hand, service next week then need to get one wheel refinished and off to the ad s it goes. It been a bloody great toy for the last 7 years but I don t need it as a third car.
Shame as I d love to keep it but it needs a new home.
Another recommendation from me DA, the 595 Comp is the perfect antidote to the mundane drag of driving in Southern England.
It is certainly a car that won t suit everyone but if you like a compromised, slightly harsh, old school car that reminds you what you used to love about cars back in the 80 s and 90 s the 595 Comp is it.
For full effect you need the Sabelt seats too, lots of Comps don t have them so something to look out for in the ads.
My only regret, I didn’t buy one years ago.
It is certainly a car that won t suit everyone but if you like a compromised, slightly harsh, old school car that reminds you what you used to love about cars back in the 80 s and 90 s the 595 Comp is it.
For full effect you need the Sabelt seats too, lots of Comps don t have them so something to look out for in the ads.
My only regret, I didn’t buy one years ago.
Edited by wal 45 on Friday 30th January 21:41
wal 45 said:
Another recommendation from me DA, the 595 Comp is the perfect antidote to the mundane drag of driving in Southern England.
It is certainly a car that won t suit everyone but if you like a compromised, slightly harsh, old school car that reminds you what you used to love about cars back in the 80 s and 90 s the 595 Comp is it.
For full effect you need the Sabelt seats too, lots of Comps don t have them so something to look out for in the ads.
My only regret, I didn t buy one years ago.
Thanks Wal. It is certainly a car that won t suit everyone but if you like a compromised, slightly harsh, old school car that reminds you what you used to love about cars back in the 80 s and 90 s the 595 Comp is it.
For full effect you need the Sabelt seats too, lots of Comps don t have them so something to look out for in the ads.
My only regret, I didn t buy one years ago.
Edited by wal 45 on Friday 30th January 21:41
I've been having to do a wodge of chore driving over the last few months, which I've never enjoyed doing and it's to the same place all the time and it's brought home the need for something a bit stupid. I don't want mega performance, just something small, with 5 gears, bigger all tech but not half rotted out and it struck me that one of these could be perfect. Just need to go and test one to see if I can drive it comfortably. The last European hatchback I bought was a 306 which I dumped after a few weeks as I was doubled up trying to fold my legs somewhere. Bit on a recent return trip from London I bumped into someone several inches taller than me at a petrol station and upon asking him he reckoned it was ok but he did look about twenty years younger
DA go & test drive one, pretty sure you’ll love it, idiosyncrasies & all.
Just yesterday I was waiting for the wife & a chap knocked on the window asking what was under the bonnet as I sat there with the exhaust burbling away. Which was nice.
Just good honest old school fun. Just don’t tell everyone…..
Just yesterday I was waiting for the wife & a chap knocked on the window asking what was under the bonnet as I sat there with the exhaust burbling away. Which was nice.
Just good honest old school fun. Just don’t tell everyone…..
pidsy said:
DonkeyApple said:
pidsy said:
PM d - the offer is there to look over a fully spec d car.
More than welcome to see what you think.
Thanks. Replied. More than welcome to see what you think.
Clutch went on mine the other day. Always felt a bit rough since I had the car TBH. £1200 all in but will feel like a new car I’m sure.
In other news, there is an Abarth over the road from me & they’ve got on camera, a couple of guys with gloves on trying the doors at 1.30 in the morning. Also ignoring their other car in the drive so does seem Abarth specific. Mine obv in the garage being fixed so not outside the house.
To me doesn’t seem like pro thieves if just trying the doors, as pro’s would be off with it no trouble….. So just opportunistic maybe but odd how just Abarth specific. They have a steering lock on now so I’ll break out the Disklok when my car is back.
In other news, there is an Abarth over the road from me & they’ve got on camera, a couple of guys with gloves on trying the doors at 1.30 in the morning. Also ignoring their other car in the drive so does seem Abarth specific. Mine obv in the garage being fixed so not outside the house.
To me doesn’t seem like pro thieves if just trying the doors, as pro’s would be off with it no trouble….. So just opportunistic maybe but odd how just Abarth specific. They have a steering lock on now so I’ll break out the Disklok when my car is back.
Portofino said:
Clutch went on mine the other day. Always felt a bit rough since I had the car TBH. £1200 all in but will feel like a new car I m sure.
In other news, there is an Abarth over the road from me & they ve got on camera, a couple of guys with gloves on trying the doors at 1.30 in the morning. Also ignoring their other car in the drive so does seem Abarth specific. Mine obv in the garage being fixed so not outside the house.
To me doesn t seem like pro thieves if just trying the doors, as pro s would be off with it no trouble .. So just opportunistic maybe but odd how just Abarth specific. They have a steering lock on now so I ll break out the Disklok when my car is back.
Steering lock goes on mine religiously. Even if I am in a shop for 5 mins.In other news, there is an Abarth over the road from me & they ve got on camera, a couple of guys with gloves on trying the doors at 1.30 in the morning. Also ignoring their other car in the drive so does seem Abarth specific. Mine obv in the garage being fixed so not outside the house.
To me doesn t seem like pro thieves if just trying the doors, as pro s would be off with it no trouble .. So just opportunistic maybe but odd how just Abarth specific. They have a steering lock on now so I ll break out the Disklok when my car is back.
500 mile round trip next week so today will be doing all the usual prep for that kind of journey. I am actually looking forward to it as I regard the little hooligan as a companion on the drive. Yep, weird, I know.
sorry for nor wading through the previous tranche of pages. Just to add further positive comments on how much fun these are- reminds me of my R5GTt from wayyy back. and...
Quick question; timing belts? at which point do these need replacing? is it a ball ache to do at home? how much to get done at a garage? thanks in advance
PS;- DonkeyApple; JFDI! (do you still have your TVR?)
Quick question; timing belts? at which point do these need replacing? is it a ball ache to do at home? how much to get done at a garage? thanks in advance
PS;- DonkeyApple; JFDI! (do you still have your TVR?)
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