Abarth 595 Competizione as a daily?

[geeks]

Just had an email from the dealer, it sold last night to another dealer, I am pretty cross to be honest, appreciate I hadn't chucked a deposit down but they knew I was dead keen (I had told them as much) and could have called me to say we have another dealer interested do you want it before we send it out the door!!!

[undred orse]

Gutted for you.

But I suppose it gives you a chance to test the JCW without any pressure and if you go for the Abarth to get one in your own spec. Have a look at carwow as some of the deals I was offered were very good.

Let us know how you get on. I'm interested to know how you think the JCW compares.

[Gio G]

OP - are you buying new? as they generally offer great deals for new or newly Abarth's. I think you are very brave using one as a daily, as our 595 Turismo is hard enough.. maybe I am getting old

I think you will find Mini will have better quality construction, but the Abarth has bucket loads of charm!! Engine always needs a little fettle to bring out the true performance

When driven when sports mode, can be quite economical, however a real hoot when pushing on. Seating position can be quite challenging. however easy to get in and out of..

Good luck..

G

Edited by Gio G on Friday 25th May 08:05

[geeks]

Well I wasn't really looking but the one I saw just grabbed my attention then I wanted it, it was a few months old, 1600 on the clock and up for £18k with every available option including the performance pack ticked! I am actually pretty pissed with the dealer for not calling me, I know I hadn't placed a deposit but I had just driven it and got them to price mine up in PX etc so they knew I was keen, then to just sell it to another dealer a couple of hours later stinks! I doubt they will get a new one down to anywhere near £18k so they have lost a sale, well or not as the case may be, I have lost a purchase! The wife will be going ahead with one (her new Motability car) but its a base 595 and not the same, also hers and not mine!

The JCW I was looking at has sold as well!

Seems I am no good at this car buying stuff!

Will have to put it on hold as there is no decent JCW or 595 Comp nearby that do it for me

[Gio G]

geeks said:

Well I wasn't really looking but the one I saw just grabbed my attention then I wanted it, it was a few months old, 1600 on the clock and up for £18k with every available option including the performance pack ticked! I am actually pretty pissed with the dealer for not calling me, I know I hadn't placed a deposit but I had just driven it and got them to price mine up in PX etc so they knew I was keen, then to just sell it to another dealer a couple of hours later stinks! I doubt they will get a new one down to anywhere near £18k so they have lost a sale, well or not as the case may be, I have lost a purchase! The wife will be going ahead with one (her new Motability car) but its a base 595 and not the same, also hers and not mine!

The JCW I was looking at has sold as well!

Seems I am no good at this car buying stuff!

Will have to put it on hold as there is no decent JCW or 595 Comp nearby that do it for me

£18k sounded pretty good with 1600 on the clock. Real shame..

I was taking mine in this morning for some warranty work and noticed a grey Comp for £18k I think that had over 7k miles...It was an auto, which is a premium..

Good luck G

[ecsrobin]

Gio G said:

OP - are you buying new? as they generally offer great deals for new or newly Abarth's. I think you are very brave using one as a daily, as our 595 Turismo is hard enough.. maybe I am getting old

I think you will find Mini will have better quality construction, but the Abarth has bucket loads of charm!! Engine always needs a little fettle to bring out the true performance

When driven when sports mode, can be quite economical, however a real hoot when pushing on. Seating position can be quite challenging. however easy to get in and out of..

Good luck..

G

Edited by Gio G on Friday 25th May 08:05

You take yours out of sport mode???

[Gio G]

ecsrobin said:

You take yours out of sport mode???

Whoops, noticed the typo... was of course meant to say when not in sports mode it can be economical. The wife leaves it off when driving, I instantly hit button when driving

[595Heaven]

I got home yesterday after a 4 day, 1,800 mile road trip to Spa, Nurburgring, Black Forest, Swiss Alps and Reims in my Competizione. Pretty much doubled its mileage since I picked it up in October. In all, just under 37 hours of driving!

I must admit I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to walk afterwards, but the car was absolutely brilliant fun! I was with friends with a pretty wide selection of cars - everything from an F-PACE diesel, couple of F-TYPEs, Golf GTi, M3 and a Lotus Esprit.

Honestly, I can’t think of a car I’d have had more fun in. It did everything well, from sitting at 125mph on the Autobahn, to scrabbling it’s way up the San Bernardino pass in the alps. First day I did 673 miles in it!

The Sabelts are very comfortable for my 5’ 7” body, the audio is fine, the nav is great, plenty of room. Air con works well in 30° heat. And then there’s the noise from the exhaust! I absolutely love it!!

The 595 has so much character. The Mini I suspect will be a little lacking in that area. It’s reasonably quick too, brilliant for overtaking, and constantly surprises people who see it as a Fiat 500.

Only a couple of things would have improved it - a larger fuel tank and cruise control for the autoroute slog. I was filling up more often than anyone else other than the Esprit, which seemed to chuck more unburnt fuel down its exhausts than it actually used for forward motion ;-)

Edited by 595Heaven on Monday 28th May 09:32

Edited by 595Heaven on Monday 28th May 09:34

[ArnageWRC]

Still miss mine almost a year after getting rid; they are quite infectious, even though they have minor issues.....My brother gave me a right telling off for getting rid.

[Mafffew]

Minor thread hijack!

I am looking at these as an option for my next car, budget around £15k. It looks like I can scrape into a 16/66 Comp or go for the earlier 2015 models. Other than obvious infotainment changes, is there a significant difference in performance?

My other main concern is fitting in one, I am slim but also over 6ft tall, lanky bugger basically. Is there good amount of adjustability in the seats on either model year?

I've also noticed the latest Trofeo are well in price range (used obviously), which is down on power, but has the better infotainment and monza exhaust. This has the standard seats, would I be worse off in those than in the sabelts?

Obviously I need to go and sit in one, but curious to know if I am wasting time even thinking about it.

Edit

For reference, 66 model (love the look of this) - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

15/early 16 - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Trofeo - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edited by Mafffew on Thursday 31st May 14:50

[ecsrobin]

Sabelts there is no height adjustment on the seats. I’m 6’3” and have no issues and I’m sure there’s a taller owner on here that has no concerns. I find the standard seats too unsuporting.

With regards to old vs new comp I believe there was a change from 160bhp IHI turbo to 180bhp Garrett turbo that was around 2015 I believe.

[Mafffew]

ecsrobin said:

Sabelts there is no height adjustment on the seats. I’m 6’3” and have no issues and I’m sure there’s a taller owner on here that has no concerns. I find the standard seats too unsuporting.

With regards to old vs new comp I believe there was a change from 160bhp IHI turbo to 180bhp Garrett turbo that was around 2015 I believe.

We're roughly the same height, so that's promising. How adjustable is the steering wheel?

Thanks for the info on old vs new, so really I ought to be looking at 2015 on wards for the 180hp model.

[ecsrobin]

Mafffew said:

We're roughly the same height, so that's promising. How adjustable is the steering wheel?

Thanks for the info on old vs new, so really I ought to be looking at 2015 on wards for the 180hp model.

It has adjustable height only. No reach. Many complain of the seat height being high but adjustment brackets can be purchased (£150) which lowers an inchc or 2 I haven’t gone down this route but it has crossed my mind.

Yes 2015 onward is 180bhp.

[geeks]

There is a white one with red graphics on Auto Trader with a PH smiley on so previous owner is around somewhere on here any idea on whom?

[sng45]

ecsrobin said:

It has adjustable height only. No reach. Many complain of the seat height being high but adjustment brackets can be purchased (£150) which lowers an inchc or 2 I haven’t gone down this route but it has crossed my mind.

Yes 2015 onward is 180bhp.

Please can you tell me where I can buy the seat height adjustment brackets that you mention. Thanks

[ecsrobin]

sng45 said:

Please can you tell me where I can buy the seat height adjustment brackets that you mention. Thanks

https://www.tmcmotorsport.com/product/1431

[sng45]

ecsrobin said:

sng45 said:

Please can you tell me where I can buy the seat height adjustment brackets that you mention. Thanks

https://www.tmcmotorsport.com/product/1431

Thanks very much - I'll order a set. Has anyone tried these, if so are you still able to adjust the seats backwards and forwards ? I really like my 595 Competizione but after driving my Elise and then getting into the 595 it feels like I'm sitting on the roof !

[Mafffew]

geeks said:

There is a white one with red graphics on Auto Trader with a PH smiley on so previous owner is around somewhere on here any idea on whom?

Indeed, that one has caught my eye. Not sure if it will be around when I am planning on swapping (August ish). But who knows!

swerni said:

I picked up a 595c turisimo for my wife in the week.
I’m 6’5” and have plenty of room ( yes with the roof closed before you ask )
I don’t even have the seat all the way back.

It’s a cracking little car.

I have considered the Turismo but I ideally want a monza exhaust. For maximum silliness!
The Turismo does use the standard seats, rather than the sabelts though. Do they have height adjustment, or is it just forward/back like the sabelts?

Thanks for the feedback so far chaps I plan on swinging by a dealership this weekend, so will know if it's on...

[geeks]

Feels like I am hunting a Unicorn here, I want a comp with the performance pack, everytime I find one and call up it is sold, dealer did offer me one they found but it had the tan leather (YUK!)

The search continues and I will be fussy about the spec because I compromised on my previous car and regretted it, am determined not to this time around, not fussed about colour just PP and not a hideous interior!

[ecsrobin]

geeks said:

Feels like I am hunting a Unicorn here, I want a comp with the performance pack, everytime I find one and call up it is sold, dealer did offer me one they found but it had the tan leather (YUK!)

The search continues and I will be fussy about the spec because I compromised on my previous car and regretted it, am determined not to this time around, not fussed about colour just PP and not a hideous interior!

Get the tan leather one and I’ll swap. Although would have to be a blue car with tan interior.