595C or 500C

[Sim75]

Thinking of buying a used one for the misses, however i know very little about them.
They seem to get a good rep on here.
She wants a convertible - i'm happy with either.

So, a few stupid(ish) questions

What's the difference between the 595 and 500?
Does the C indicate Convertible or Competizione?
Any must have extras?
What year did they facelift? Some have the screen/speedo...

[Phunk]

What's the difference between the 595 and 500? - The 595 is typically 160 or 180 hp, the 500 is 135/140 hp
Does the C indicate Convertible or Competizione? Convertible
Any must have extras? - As standard it's pretty well specced, I had the base model 500c and didn't miss anything.
What year did they facelift? Some have the screen/speedo... Late 2016, different front and rear lights, LCD speedo and different radio are the main changes.

[66Grey]

The base model 595 has been 145bhp since 2015/6.

Not sure when they changed it over from Abarth 500 to Abarth 595 to be honest, but the styling and engines? were updated in 2015/16 from what I remember.

The Abarth site has some useful info/comparisons on all current models

https://www.abarthcars.co.uk/abarth-595

Didn't really look in to them myself until picking up one at the start of this year.

Edited by 66Grey on Monday 9th July 13:32

[Sim75]

Is the Auto best avoided?

The Aisin in my Mini JCW is increible, very fast.

Slow gearbox kills any driving pleasure IMO

[Gmlgml]

Auto in Auto mode is pretty rubbish. Slow and jerky.

Million times better in manual mode with the paddles. Night and day difference.

I tend to use the paddles to go up (no matter where I’m driving- motorway, B road, stuck in traffic) but let the box come down the gears itself (unless on a B road.)

Letting the box do the down removes the only really annoying thing about it. Go to change down from 3rd to 2nd at the same time as the box wants to do it and you end up revving the nuts off it in 1st and looking like a learner.

I had a chip fitted to speed up the changes (recommended) and would heartily give the car in general, and the box the thumbs up.

Had very few issues with it (usual door handle debacle, and the equally usual hill holder sensor- both fixed for less than 100 quid combined)

I have an essesse version with a Monza exhaust. Roof down and the popping and farting never fails to raise a smile!

[Sim75]

Gmlgml said:

Auto in Auto mode is pretty rubbish. Slow and jerky.

Million times better in manual mode with the paddles. Night and day difference.

I tend to use the paddles to go up (no matter where I’m driving- motorway, B road, stuck in traffic) but let the box come down the gears itself (unless on a B road.)

Letting the box do the down removes the only really annoying thing about it. Go to change down from 3rd to 2nd at the same time as the box wants to do it and you end up revving the nuts off it in 1st and looking like a learner.

I had a chip fitted to speed up the changes (recommended) and would heartily give the car in general, and the box the thumbs up.

Had very few issues with it (usual door handle debacle, and the equally usual hill holder sensor- both fixed for less than 100 quid combined)

I have an essesse version with a Monza exhaust. Roof down and the popping and farting never fails to raise a smile!

What year is yours fella?

[Gmlgml]

2010. Had a full essesse kit taking it to 160bhp originally (plus the bone hard Koni suspension front and rear- not recommended) but has since been chipped again to 180bhp plus more torque.

Only other thing to point out (and it’s only a minor thing) the older ones (pre 2016) don’t have built in sat nav. Tom Tom on a sucker mount on the windscreen is utterly useless due to the scuttle shake ( you can’t actually see the screen it’s that bad!) so if you want Nav I guess a phone in an air vent clip would be the way forward.

[DELTAHPE]

Turismo is a good compromise, a comp will probably be too aggressive turismo was 160 then 165 in latest series.

[Phunk]

swerni said:

Phunk said:

What's the difference between the 595 and 500? - The 595 is typically 160 or 180 hp, the 500 is 135/140 hp

Please ignore this.
The 500 is between 69 and 104bhp
The 595 is 140, 160 or 180 depending on model.

I picked up a 595c turisimo a few weeks ago for my wife ( it’s the middle 160bhp)
We both drove the 500c and hated it, it was utterly gutless

Test drive a few

Edited by swerni on Monday 16th July 03:00

We're talking about the Abarth 500, not the Fiat 500

So the Abarth 500 is 135 or 140 BHP

Here's mine

[Vitorio]

Phunk said:

We're talking about the Abarth 500, not the Fiat 500

So the Abarth 500 is 135 or 140 BHP

Here's mine

Abarth doesnt call them 500 anymore though, its either 595 or 695 now, although they are obviously based on the fiat 500

Used there will be some abarth 500s about, new it is the 595

[Vitorio]

swerni said:

So back for my orgional point, the 595c (mentioned in the original post) was either 140, 160 or 180bhp.

Agreed, but we still dont know what 500c we are talking about, OP might mean the Fiat 500c, a used abarth 500c or just been althogether confused.

[Sim75]

Vitorio said:

Agreed, but we still dont know what 500c we are talking about, OP might mean the Fiat 500c, a used abarth 500c or just been althogether confused.

Used Abarth 500c or 595c... seems like it’s just a model number change and power hike.