500 Esseesse is hard, is bouncy, yes?

[evenflow]

I've heard the ride in the 500SS is a little firm...

I'm currently in an E46 convertible with MSport suspension and 19" wheels, so I'm some what used to having fillings fall out.

Does anyone have experience of how these two might compare? I am hoping to get a test drive asap but they are a bit thin on the ground round here.

Also, do you think it would cope with a 50-mile per day commute, mix of B-roads, motorway?

Thanks.

[Flintstone]

evenflow said:

Also, do you think it would cope with a 50-mile per day commute, mix of B-roads, motorway?

Thanks.

I would imagine that sort of driving would bee a hoot.

[Targarama]

Not driven one, but if it's anything like my Panda 100HP then the 500 will be much harder work than the BMW (I'm comparing with my old Z4 3.0 on Runflats).

[Chrisw666]

Could you not go for a standard Abarth and up the power and brakes later if you think it may be a bit still with the SS suspension?

[mybrainhurts]

Chrisw666 said:

Could you not go for a standard Abarth and up the power and brakes later if you think it may be a bit still with the SS suspension?

Right foot is antidote for being a bit still...

HTH...

[xPOW]

I sold my 500SS a few weeks ago. A fairly stiff ride yes. I remember driving up parts of the A34 thinking I was actually on the rumble strip! Much much firmer than my X5 which is on 21" wheels which itself is pretty firm

[evenflow]

xPOW said:

I sold my 500SS a few weeks ago. A fairly stiff ride yes. I remember driving up parts of the A34 thinking I was actually on the rumble strip! Much much firmer than my X5 which is on 21" wheels which itself is pretty firm

Sold due to the ride?

[hamishg]

I use mine for commuting. Mix of twisty B Roads, motorway and heavy London traffic, about 60 miles per day. Brilliant fun, well screwed together, sounds good (with the Monza exhaust), gets 38 mpg ish and is a fairly quick little thing but yes, the suspension is hard and it is rather bouncy. So much so that its going into the barn soon for weekend use only and be replaced by a boring but comfy auto for the daily grind.
Superb little terrier of a car which I will keep but not convinced they are cut out for commuting.

[evenflow]

hamishg said:

I use mine for commuting. Mix of twisty B Roads, motorway and heavy London traffic, about 60 miles per day. Brilliant fun, well screwed together, sounds good (with the Monza exhaust), gets 38 mpg ish and is a fairly quick little thing but yes, the suspension is hard and it is rather bouncy. So much so that its going into the barn soon for weekend use only and be replaced by a boring but comfy auto for the daily grind.
Superb little terrier of a car which I will keep but not convinced they are cut out for commuting.

That's the answer I was looking for. Thanks.

[xPOW]

evenflow said:

Sold due to the ride?

no, just wanted an everyday convertible. A great, cracking little car though. I used mine for communing 6 miles each way to station on small country roads and small stretch of A road. On the times I did longer journeys, I definitely knew I'd driven it!. On the sole long journey, we did say not again as it was too hard for that long (250 miles). (Mine also had the Sabelt seats in which were very high and unforgiving too)

[Typhoon2]

My dad owns the standard Abarth 500, which he loves, I've driven it a few times and the ride is absolutely fine. He commutes about 60 miles a day, down B roads, M25, M3 etc.

He hated the Esseesse version when he test drove it. The standard version is better if you plan on commuting , do as others have said and upgrade it yourself if you want the extra performance.

[stabilio]

I just traded my (non SS) abarth 500 for an E46 M3. It was pretty bouncy and while a fun car to drive, just a little to bouncy for my liking.
I did have the 17" wheels tho - not sure if that made a difference?

Driving the E46 M3 (on 19" wheels) for the first time felt more comfortable.

500 still a great car and B roads a blast although longer motorway journeys wouldnt be as much fun. Great grip but the thing that disapointed me most was the turning circle. Something i never thought of testing on the test drive and when pulling into my office (which is a pretty tight 90 degree turn) on the day i got the car, i was stunned as i couldnt quite make it and overshot! Bit embarrasing but you get used to it.
At the time i wanted something small, nippy and nimble but that turn circle really sucked.

Save some money on the SS and buy the normal Abarth, spend your saving on a TMC tuning box (£300-ish & diy fit) and that will give almost the same power as the SS.
A set of Koni shocks for around £600 plus whatever fitting charge and you should have a much better ride than the standard or SS.

[Chris71]

I haven't driven an E46, but I had a play with an Essesse last week and the ride is firm, but not ruinously so.

Very entertaining little car I thought. Plenty of theatre to its rorty engine and slightly OTT red leather interior. A Clio 200 handles better in extremis, but the Essesse has a lot of character for a modern hatch.

[Zp]

Flintstone said:

evenflow said:

Also, do you think it would cope with a 50-mile per day commute, mix of B-roads, motorway?

Thanks.

I would imagine that sort of driving would bee a hoot.

I think it would give you a great buzz...