Anyone own Abarth 500?

[MatthewJC]

Will be getting a new car in May and really fancy the Abarth 500.
It's different and looks good fun to drive.

I toyed with the idea of a 1 series but realised the badge snobbery advice from my friends to get one was a load of bull. and seeing everyone and his dog driving the same boring oil burner would make me want to cry

So what i'm asking is:

What are they like to live with:
EsseEsse kit or not? (very hard suspension apparently. Could just remap standard, however insurance will increase more with remap than just adding esseesse)
How it is to drive?
Reliability?
Depreciation?
Warranty cover?
Real world MPG?
I have heard they attract alot of attention?
People say they are girly, had any comments? (doesn't really bother me as I know my car will make me smile more than their's does)
any other general comments about it/convince me to buy even more?


ETA: wont be buying the car brand new.

Edited by MatthewJC on Friday 25th February 02:58

[Exoticaholic]

MatthewJC said:

Will be getting a new car in May and really fancy the Abarth 500.
It's different and looks good fun to drive.

I toyed with the idea of a 1 series but realised the badge snobbery advice from my friends to get one was a load of bull. and seeing everyone and his dog driving the same boring oil burner would make me want to cry

So what i'm asking is:

What are they like to live with:
EsseEsse kit or not? (very hard suspension apparently. Could just remap standard, however insurance will increase more with remap than just adding esseesse)
How it is to drive?
Reliability?
Depreciation?
Warranty cover?
Real world MPG?
I have heard they attract alot of attention?
People say they are girly, had any comments? (doesn't really bother me as I know my car will make me smile more than their's does)
any other general comments about it/convince me to buy even more?


ETA: wont be buying the car brand new.

Edited by MatthewJC on Friday 25th February 02:58

If you really want to know how much they are revered, google 'Abarthisti' and you will know everything you want to ask.

I own an A500c in dual black and white. I get enough attention and Abarth 500's are pretty rare. Yesterday, I travelled 85 miles to the Abarth dealer opening evening, and I saw no Abarth 500's on the road until I reached the showroom. It happened as well on the way home.

[YOF626]

Exoticaholic said:

If you really want to know how much they are revered, google 'Abarthisti' and you will know everything you want to ask.

This, Abarthisti is a great, friendly forum with loads of info on Abarths.

I have a Red 500 and love it to bits!

[MatthewJC]

Thank you, just saw one in a car park on way back from Uni, stopped and had a good nosey around it and I love it.
Alot bigger than i thought pretty much same size as the cooper s parked next to it.

[eightseventhree]

I have had mine for 12 months now done just over 22k miles in that time!

What are they like to live with:

Great, never failed to start, decent boot (for size of the car). Seats drop down for more load space etc.

EsseEsse kit or not? (very hard suspension apparently. Could just remap standard, however insurance will increase more with remap than just adding esseesse)

dont bother imo. Go for a TMC box (takes to 165bhp same as essesee) konis to improve the ride and maybe a new exhaust. All this will be 1300 instead of 2500

How it is to drive?

Good fun, a little hard on the suspension but if you get the konis that improves the ride alot so i understand. Dont bother with it out of sport mode unless on long MWay drive

Reliability?

See above no issues other than a sticking caliper which im gonna get sorted at dealer and a new exhaust due to other one had chrome pealing off (done under warrenty)

Depreciation?

Not sold it yet but its a new car !

Warranty cover?

No issues everything i needed has been done

Real world MPG?

i get 45mpg on a long run, 40mpg day to day, 35 when going hard.

I have heard they attract alot of attention?

Its the most attention i have had from a car, all possitive people stopping me and talking about it

People say they are girly, had any comments? (doesn't really bother me as I know my car will make me smile more than their's does)

Mine is black not girly in any way really, only one thing i can comment on scored brownie points last date i had

This shouldnt make a difference, buy a car if you want it not what others think


any other general comments about it/convince me to buy even more?

Go test the essesse and the normal, if you like the essesse then go for the TMC box. Takes people by surprise as they think that its just a 500. You also get people behind you trying to read the badge to see what it is!

go here http://www.abarthforum.co.uk/index.php and have a look arround!



If you want to know anything else give me a shout!

Edited by eightseventhree on Friday 25th February 17:13

[MatthewJC]

eightseventhree said:

I have had mine for 12 months now done just over 22k miles in that time!

What are they like to live with:

Great, never failed to start, decent boot (for size of the car). Seats drop down for more load space etc.

EsseEsse kit or not? (very hard suspension apparently. Could just remap standard, however insurance will increase more with remap than just adding esseesse)

dont bother imo. Go for a TMC box (takes to 165bhp same as essesee) konis to improve the ride and maybe a new exhaust. All this will be 1300 instead of 2500

How it is to drive?

Good fun, a little hard on the suspension but if you get the konis that improves the ride alot so i understand. Dont bother with it out of sport mode unless on long MWay drive

Reliability?

See above no issues other than a sticking caliper which im gonna get sorted at dealer and a new exhaust due to other one had chrome pealing off (done under warrenty)

Depreciation?

Not sold it yet but its a new car !

Warranty cover?

No issues everything i needed has been done

Real world MPG?

i get 45mpg on a long run, 40mpg day to day, 35 when going hard.

I have heard they attract alot of attention?

Its the most attention i have had from a car, all possitive people stopping me and talking about it

People say they are girly, had any comments? (doesn't really bother me as I know my car will make me smile more than their's does)

Mine is black not girly in any way really, only one thing i can comment on scored brownie points last date i had

This shouldnt make a difference, buy a car if you want it not what others think


any other general comments about it/convince me to buy even more?

Go test the essesse and the normal, if you like the essesse then go for the TMC box. Takes people by surprise as they think that its just a 500. You also get people behind you trying to read the badge to see what it is!

go here http://www.abarthforum.co.uk/index.php and have a look arround!

Edited by eightseventhree on Friday 25th February 17:09

Thanks mate, very in formative. Just waiting for my registration to be approved on abarthisti.

Out of interest what is the Interscope Stereo like? (besides the obvious 'I just listen to the exhaust' answer)

[eightseventhree]

Love the stereo! nice depth there is a sub located under drivers seat . . i might go as far as saying best one i have had on a car.

Blue and Me is good once you learn how to use it!

The new A500's you can plug an iphone straight in without an adapter. Couldnt live without intergrated Bluetooth now!

Edited by eightseventhree on Friday 25th February 17:44

[Exoticaholic]

I see you live in the Midlands, I live there too. West though, so are you East or West?

Picture of my A500c.

Edited by Exoticaholic on Friday 25th February 18:02

[MatthewJC]

East Midlands.

Lutterworth. (near Leicester, junction 20 m1)

Only seen one Abarth around there but he sold it.

(one I saw today was in Sheffield where I go Uni)

[Exoticaholic]

MatthewJC said:

East Midlands.

Lutterworth. (near Leicester, junction 20 m1)

Only seen one Abarth around there but he sold it.

(one I saw today was in Sheffield where I go Uni)

Noted. Auto Italia is at Stanford Hall near Lutterworth in June. You are more than welcome to visit us.

We are going on a week's tour of Europe at end of May.