Abarth 595 - good or silly idea?
Discussion
Have a 595 comp at the moment so will give some thoughts.
Its very small so quite easy to park, lightweight too so easy enough on tyres and brakes.
Makes a decent enough noise for a 1.4 4pot and with a fruity exhaust can pop a bit too which is fun. Boost build is very aggressive which is perfect for around town but runs out of puff on a bigger road.
Driving position isn't great, very high up so much like driving a van, for me this makes heel & toe difficult! That said now heel and toe in anything else is a doddle.
Turning circle isnt great so if you have a tight driveway etc it can be a pain. If I were to buy another im not sure id get the comp. The OE spring rate & damping is way too much for uk roads. It struggles to be composed on a b road that isnt perfectly smooth.
Its very small so quite easy to park, lightweight too so easy enough on tyres and brakes.
Makes a decent enough noise for a 1.4 4pot and with a fruity exhaust can pop a bit too which is fun. Boost build is very aggressive which is perfect for around town but runs out of puff on a bigger road.
Driving position isn't great, very high up so much like driving a van, for me this makes heel & toe difficult! That said now heel and toe in anything else is a doddle.
Turning circle isnt great so if you have a tight driveway etc it can be a pain. If I were to buy another im not sure id get the comp. The OE spring rate & damping is way too much for uk roads. It struggles to be composed on a b road that isnt perfectly smooth.
My thoughts on the Abarth 500 I used to have are pretty much the same as above, I loved it and it was great fun, made awesome noises, looked great etc but the weird driving position, odd throttle pedal placement and stiff suspension made motorway driving more than unpleasant (hard to keep a constant position on the throttle, aching ankle after about 40’ish miles), the fact that UK\Euro spec ones never had cruise control as an option, but it was standard on the US ones made it much worse and the only aftermarket solution I could find was from Australia and way over a grand to buy (let alone get fitted).
Mine was however completely reliable (bought at 3 years old) in my ownership (about 2.5 years).
Mine was however completely reliable (bought at 3 years old) in my ownership (about 2.5 years).
I bought a standard 595 (145) on a whim. 3 years old, 7k miles on the clock, from a main dealer.
It was great fun on the test drive (smooth A roads), but quickly became a chore in normal use. I tried to make it nicer to drive, fitting a steering wheel spacer and indicator stalk extension to improve the driving position. Helped a bit, as at least I could now find a reasonable driving position.
The problem for me was the very harsh suspension, which made the car uncomfortable, and very skittish. I just couldn't predict how the car would behave on derestricted B roads. I might "clip the apex" on a left hand bend, or I might end up crossing the white line if there was a bump or camber change. It was pretty much impossible for me to drive it "enthusiastically", or to relax at all on longer drives at a slower pace. It seemed to demand 100% concentration just to keep it going in a straight line. Very tiring.
Easily the most uncomfortable and demanding car I've ever owned, but that could just be an age thing - I'm 65.
I'm now driving a 2019 M140i, which is almost universally slated for having a below-par chassis setup, but it's a limo in comparison. It can get unsettled over bumps, but at least it's comfy on A roads, and actually goes in a straight line.
It was great fun on the test drive (smooth A roads), but quickly became a chore in normal use. I tried to make it nicer to drive, fitting a steering wheel spacer and indicator stalk extension to improve the driving position. Helped a bit, as at least I could now find a reasonable driving position.
The problem for me was the very harsh suspension, which made the car uncomfortable, and very skittish. I just couldn't predict how the car would behave on derestricted B roads. I might "clip the apex" on a left hand bend, or I might end up crossing the white line if there was a bump or camber change. It was pretty much impossible for me to drive it "enthusiastically", or to relax at all on longer drives at a slower pace. It seemed to demand 100% concentration just to keep it going in a straight line. Very tiring.
Easily the most uncomfortable and demanding car I've ever owned, but that could just be an age thing - I'm 65.
I'm now driving a 2019 M140i, which is almost universally slated for having a below-par chassis setup, but it's a limo in comparison. It can get unsettled over bumps, but at least it's comfy on A roads, and actually goes in a straight line.
Mines a Competizione on 236 a month on a 15,000mile a year deal for a lease.
Sorry I wouldn't buy any new car over 20k unless it had bullet proof resale values.
The positives?
It is a really rewarding and it'll try killing you on fast technical B road twisties whereas the ST is more modern and forgiving. It doesn't need as much driver ability to travel at the same speed.
The 595 requires talent and it rewards input. One lapse though at speed and you'll lose it without a lightning relaxed counter/action.
It will try killing you though.
The high seat can easily be sorted with a new seat track.
I put my mountain bike in there and it carries a family of three with weekend away kit easily.
It's a great fun bit of theater. The noise, how it traverses a rise/dip in the road at speed!
People approach you and tell you how much they love it whereas others will deride it as a girls car (my brother).
If I needed more space and was buying used I'd look at the Golf GTI.
But I want fun, small, nimble and an Italian sense of theatre!
It will try to kill you.
Sorry I wouldn't buy any new car over 20k unless it had bullet proof resale values.
The positives?
It is a really rewarding and it'll try killing you on fast technical B road twisties whereas the ST is more modern and forgiving. It doesn't need as much driver ability to travel at the same speed.
The 595 requires talent and it rewards input. One lapse though at speed and you'll lose it without a lightning relaxed counter/action.
It will try killing you though.
The high seat can easily be sorted with a new seat track.
I put my mountain bike in there and it carries a family of three with weekend away kit easily.
It's a great fun bit of theater. The noise, how it traverses a rise/dip in the road at speed!
People approach you and tell you how much they love it whereas others will deride it as a girls car (my brother).
If I needed more space and was buying used I'd look at the Golf GTI.
But I want fun, small, nimble and an Italian sense of theatre!
It will try to kill you.
Edited by Hugo Stiglitz on Monday 4th July 16:49
piddy44 said:
So just to clarify Hugo - it WILL try to kill me?! 
I like the sound of that. An old school handling hot-hatch. My bicycle tried to kill me 2-3 years ago. It didn't succeed (although it did manage to split my skull in half) so the 595 will have its work cut out!
Definitely old school. I like the sound of that. An old school handling hot-hatch. My bicycle tried to kill me 2-3 years ago. It didn't succeed (although it did manage to split my skull in half) so the 595 will have its work cut out!
Someone mentioned it bouncing, throttle.
I found tyre psi is key plus on a really badly formed (under tarmac soil erosion) moor or country road staying in normal non-Scorpion mode is better otherwise the throttle is too sensitive and you end up blipping it.
Would I have had. UP GTI instead? No. The 595 is mad, daft, fun and alora! Fun.
I did an owners cars on the comp I had. Paid around £22k back in 2016/17 so a new one at £22k isn’t bad although the latest I’ve seen was closer to £33k.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
595Heaven said:
pidsy said:
Do it. It’ll make You laugh.
This. In spades. It is a Jack Russell of a car. Always eager to go.
Loved mine to bits.
My comp is ready to go - just need to publish the ad - my hesitancy now is because I hate dealing with people when selling cars!
pidsy said:
595Heaven said:
pidsy said:
Do it. It’ll make You laugh.
This. In spades. It is a Jack Russell of a car. Always eager to go.
Loved mine to bits.
My comp is ready to go - just need to publish the ad - my hesitancy now is because I hate dealing with people when selling cars!
piddy44 said:
A few dealers have Comps at £22k & Turismos at £20k, & then it's extra for colours. I'm not fussed about colours, trims etc. More interested in the driving experience. Saying that, I see the yellow ones seem to go for less on the used market and the jobby tobacco brown interior trim on some Turismos also seems to put people off.
Would anyone recommend one model over the other? There seemed to be a couple of people on forums who say go for the Turismo as the Competizione is too hardcore for the state of our roads.
I’d say get a comp or don’t bother. The suspension is the same on the front of both of them from memory and it’s just the rears that are different. The comp gets you brembos which is a big improvement and the sabelt seats. Some don’t get on with them but I find the turismo seats sWould anyone recommend one model over the other? There seemed to be a couple of people on forums who say go for the Turismo as the Competizione is too hardcore for the state of our roads.
t and you end up in the passenger seat if you go round a corner quick. Must have what ever you choose would be the xenon lights as the standard lights are crap. Comp I’d recommend the performance pack for the LSD.
pidsy said:
Sold your SLK yet buddy?
My comp is ready to go - just need to publish the ad - my hesitancy now is because I hate dealing with people when selling cars!
Not yet. Had Goodwood and now we’re in the Peak District for a week so will get on it when I’m back. Need to make room for an Up! For my boy…My comp is ready to go - just need to publish the ad - my hesitancy now is because I hate dealing with people when selling cars!
Great cars unless you're tall as the seating position becomes an issue. I'm 6 foot 5 and on my second lol...but my wife drives our current Comp.
I haven't advertised the car but am looking to sell it so feel free to get in touch if you're interested. It's yellow, just over a year old and has only done around 6k miles. It recently had its first service at Abarth and the condition is excellent.
I haven't advertised the car but am looking to sell it so feel free to get in touch if you're interested. It's yellow, just over a year old and has only done around 6k miles. It recently had its first service at Abarth and the condition is excellent.
I mind when I sold these for £199 deposit and £199 pm on a 3 year PCP.
Great fun had one as a company car and the amount of other salesmen at our site that wanted to swap cars for a weekend for a shot spoke volumes.
Do it is my advice and if the one you get don't have the alloy pedals give me a shout as I've still got some new ones in my garage you can have for nowt.
Great fun had one as a company car and the amount of other salesmen at our site that wanted to swap cars for a weekend for a shot spoke volumes.
Do it is my advice and if the one you get don't have the alloy pedals give me a shout as I've still got some new ones in my garage you can have for nowt.
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