Abarth 124 Spider
Discussion
Trevor555 said:
Most dealers simply wouldn't buy a car with no service history, or one that looks made up.
Take your time, the right car will come along.
Not one of my strong points, patience especially when it comes to buying cars.Take your time, the right car will come along.
Yes I am sure more will come to the market place as we approach the new registration date on the 1st March.
I have put in what I consider to be reasonable offers on two cars but dealers don't seem to want to offer hardly any discount at all.
JohnG123 said:
Trevor555 said:
Most dealers simply wouldn't buy a car with no service history, or one that looks made up.
Take your time, the right car will come along.
Not one of my strong points, patience especially when it comes to buying cars.Take your time, the right car will come along.
Yes I am sure more will come to the market place as we approach the new registration date on the 1st March.
I have put in what I consider to be reasonable offers on two cars but dealers don't seem to want to offer hardly any discount at all.
So yes, more will come to the market, just wait at least a week for them to get sold, and make their way to dealers.
Please don't buy a car with no service history, dealers should not be buying these cars, let them keep them to decorate their forecourts.
Edited by Trevor555 on Wednesday 3rd February 07:52
Edited by Trevor555 on Wednesday 3rd February 07:55
Also, you can download info about cars waiting for auction in Excel sheet and there's information about service history. How many services car had and date of the last one. It will also give you condition of the car.
If you download it before they are sold at auction and come to the market, you will have background info already. Then you can just wait for them to show up on Autotrader.
If you download it before they are sold at auction and come to the market, you will have background info already. Then you can just wait for them to show up on Autotrader.
PenelopaPitstop said:
Also, you can download info about cars waiting for auction in Excel sheet and there's information about service history. How many services car had and date of the last one. It will also give you condition of the car.
If you download it before they are sold at auction and come to the market, you will have background info already. Then you can just wait for them to show up on Autotrader.
Yes good tip, I will jump on that in the morning. Many thanks.If you download it before they are sold at auction and come to the market, you will have background info already. Then you can just wait for them to show up on Autotrader.
I read through a couple of condition reports on Manheim site and they are very detailed. You will never get that much info from standard ad on Autotrader or won't see the damage that's pointed out in the reports. On the other hand, not sure, I would want my car inspected by them, they are finding the smallest dents, chips, etc. Very good website to do your research and then wait for cars to show up on the market.
Currently having a dilemma over one of these.
Number one son has the abarth, red with heritage pack on a stupidly cheap lease which ends in May I think. Beautiful car, about 12k on it now and it’s the 18 plate.
Husband is toying with the idea of buying it as the lease company have offered a settlement to buy of about £15300.
My car is a Freelander2 so that will be the one used for shopping trips and the like with the 124 used for work and pleasure.
Husband quite undecided whether to buy it. On one hand he loves the car on the other he fears becoming a middle aged cliche
. Added to this he already has a TR6 so two sports cars....
My thoughts are buy it and if you hate it sell it next summer.
I can’t help but think it’s one of those cars we’ll look at in ten years time and say ‘I wish I’d bought that’.
Number one son has the abarth, red with heritage pack on a stupidly cheap lease which ends in May I think. Beautiful car, about 12k on it now and it’s the 18 plate.
Husband is toying with the idea of buying it as the lease company have offered a settlement to buy of about £15300.
My car is a Freelander2 so that will be the one used for shopping trips and the like with the 124 used for work and pleasure.
Husband quite undecided whether to buy it. On one hand he loves the car on the other he fears becoming a middle aged cliche
. Added to this he already has a TR6 so two sports cars....My thoughts are buy it and if you hate it sell it next summer.
I can’t help but think it’s one of those cars we’ll look at in ten years time and say ‘I wish I’d bought that’.
If it's a manual version you run, I understand there were only ever about 1,000 manual 124 Abarth's brought into the UK, max', so you're almost certain to end up kicking yourselves if you did let it slip through your fingers.
Because finding another good one later will, by definition, be a more difficult task - especially compared with one whose condition you therefore already know well - and because these are always going to be rare cars. Even moreso with time.
And most especially in red - always the best colour.... IMHO, as they say, and however nice the other colours are, of course....
Because finding another good one later will, by definition, be a more difficult task - especially compared with one whose condition you therefore already know well - and because these are always going to be rare cars. Even moreso with time.
And most especially in red - always the best colour.... IMHO, as they say, and however nice the other colours are, of course....
CostaBrava1972 said:
If it's a manual version you run, I understand there were only ever about 1,000 manual 124 Abarth's brought into the UK, max', so you're almost certain to end up kicking yourselves if you did let it slip through your fingers.
Because finding another good one later will, by definition, be a more difficult task - especially compared with one whose condition you therefore already know well - and because these are always going to be rare cars. Even moreso with time.
And most especially in red - always the best colour.... IMHO, as they say, and however nice the other colours are, of course....
I think it is a manual. Must admit I’m thinking of the fun I could have in it as well as it occurs to me when him indoors is off on business he’ll need to take my car and I’ll be left with it. Because finding another good one later will, by definition, be a more difficult task - especially compared with one whose condition you therefore already know well - and because these are always going to be rare cars. Even moreso with time.
And most especially in red - always the best colour.... IMHO, as they say, and however nice the other colours are, of course....
I can see more pros to this than cons at present and as I’ve said if it doesn’t work out and it’s sold next summer I can’t see him losing too much on it.
SistersofPercy said:
I think it is a manual. Must admit I’m thinking of the fun I could have in it as well as it occurs to me when him indoors is off on business he’ll need to take my car and I’ll be left with it.
I can see more pros to this than cons at present and as I’ve said if it doesn’t work out and it’s sold next summer I can’t see him losing too much on it.
Presumably the factory warranty runs out at the end of the lease in May ? The most commonly reported warranty claims seem to be the hood rubbing on the roll hoops and rust around the boot opening - not that I've had either issue with my Fiat, but best to check.I can see more pros to this than cons at present and as I’ve said if it doesn’t work out and it’s sold next summer I can’t see him losing too much on it.
Lily the Pink said:
Presumably the factory warranty runs out at the end of the lease in May ? The most commonly reported warranty claims seem to be the hood rubbing on the roll hoops and rust around the boot opening - not that I've had either issue with my Fiat, but best to check.
Excellent point that, yes, assume it does. Will check those on it. Thank you. 
Only drove about 20 miles in it up to now. Will try and get some better pictures over the weekend.
Couple of issues I need to get sorted. Exhaust valve is rusted solid on the open position and looks like the roof as been scratching the back of the seat hoops. Hopefully both of these things can get sorted at its second year service in April. I did buy the car unseen so I can’t really complain as they weren’t an Abarth main dealer.
I assume both these issues would be covered under the Abarth warranty. Car has been well under sealed everywhere I assume by a main dealer, as the car has 2016 year dated tyres on but was not registered until April 2019. Car as now done 8400 miles has two Abarth stamps in the book PDI in March 2019 and 1st service at 6900 miles in April 2020 both completed at Bishops Abarth in Guildford.
Also noticed oil in the air filter when I installed a K&N filter I have done some research and appears this also is a common issue. I will fit a catch can as it’s a relatively simply thing to do (so I have been told on the forums).
Hope to do the NC 500 in this car as soon as we are allowed out cant wait.
Couple of issues I need to get sorted. Exhaust valve is rusted solid on the open position and looks like the roof as been scratching the back of the seat hoops. Hopefully both of these things can get sorted at its second year service in April. I did buy the car unseen so I can’t really complain as they weren’t an Abarth main dealer.
I assume both these issues would be covered under the Abarth warranty. Car has been well under sealed everywhere I assume by a main dealer, as the car has 2016 year dated tyres on but was not registered until April 2019. Car as now done 8400 miles has two Abarth stamps in the book PDI in March 2019 and 1st service at 6900 miles in April 2020 both completed at Bishops Abarth in Guildford.
Also noticed oil in the air filter when I installed a K&N filter I have done some research and appears this also is a common issue. I will fit a catch can as it’s a relatively simply thing to do (so I have been told on the forums).
Hope to do the NC 500 in this car as soon as we are allowed out cant wait.
JohnG123 said:
Only drove about 20 miles in it up to now. Will try and get some better pictures over the weekend.
Couple of issues I need to get sorted. Exhaust valve is rusted solid on the open position and looks like the roof as been scratching the back of the seat hoops. Hopefully both of these things can get sorted at its second year service in April. I did buy the car unseen so I can’t really complain as they weren’t an Abarth main dealer.
I assume both these issues would be covered under the Abarth warranty. Car has been well under sealed everywhere I assume by a main dealer, as the car has 2016 year dated tyres on but was not registered until April 2019. Car as now done 8400 miles has two Abarth stamps in the book PDI in March 2019 and 1st service at 6900 miles in April 2020 both completed at Bishops Abarth in Guildford.
Also noticed oil in the air filter when I installed a K&N filter I have done some research and appears this also is a common issue. I will fit a catch can as it’s a relatively simply thing to do (so I have been told on the forums).
Hope to do the NC 500 in this car as soon as we are allowed out cant wait.
The exhaust and the roof will be covered under warranty.Couple of issues I need to get sorted. Exhaust valve is rusted solid on the open position and looks like the roof as been scratching the back of the seat hoops. Hopefully both of these things can get sorted at its second year service in April. I did buy the car unseen so I can’t really complain as they weren’t an Abarth main dealer.
I assume both these issues would be covered under the Abarth warranty. Car has been well under sealed everywhere I assume by a main dealer, as the car has 2016 year dated tyres on but was not registered until April 2019. Car as now done 8400 miles has two Abarth stamps in the book PDI in March 2019 and 1st service at 6900 miles in April 2020 both completed at Bishops Abarth in Guildford.
Also noticed oil in the air filter when I installed a K&N filter I have done some research and appears this also is a common issue. I will fit a catch can as it’s a relatively simply thing to do (so I have been told on the forums).
Hope to do the NC 500 in this car as soon as we are allowed out cant wait.
I experienced a very unhelpful dealer to begin with who wouldn't acknowledge my seized exhaust, so I had to go to another Abarth dealer who processed it for me.
I've just had the rear silencer assembly - upon which I used to oil & copperslip the valve regularly - replaced completely and for free by my servicing dealer WITHOUT EVEN BEING ASKED.
It's commonplace on these wonderful cars - praise be for the warranty, which in my case was honourably honoured without any pressure whatsoever.
Now all I need do while lying under the back end of the car, looking up at the rear suspension, is to admire the 'Abarth' scorpion and lettering, stamped into the back box.
Lovely.
The sound it makes is nice, too.
(When I'm actually allowed to drive it).
It's commonplace on these wonderful cars - praise be for the warranty, which in my case was honourably honoured without any pressure whatsoever.
Now all I need do while lying under the back end of the car, looking up at the rear suspension, is to admire the 'Abarth' scorpion and lettering, stamped into the back box.
Lovely.
The sound it makes is nice, too.
(When I'm actually allowed to drive it).
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