Fiat 500 abarth or Audi A1?
Fiat 500 abarth or Audi A1?
Author
Discussion

tomw2000

Original Poster:

2,508 posts

212 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
Looking for advice for a nippy, economical (let's say real world 40mpg+). small car. Think FUN with Some comfort. Budget? Say <£15k.

It's job is to get the wife to work when she's doing the dull run to the office. @40 miles each way.
We have other options (speed or comfort) for longer trips.

Any thoughts or comments or other recommendations welcome.

And anyone who suggests the wife just wants another 11MY car to put her newly purchased 11-reg plate is talking nonsense because that would just be silly and excessive wouldn't it......?

Pulse

10,922 posts

235 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
The Fiat 500 would be faster and more 'quirky'.
The Audi A1 would be a nicer place to be and have the 'Audi' badge.

I'd probably personally go for the Abarth 500, because it would be cheaper to buy in the first place over the 1.4TFSI A1. My only gripe with the Abarth 500 is the servicing costs... MUCH more than even the Audi! Look at these first...

Targarama

14,687 posts

300 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
What about the Punto Abarth? More car than the 500.

rob.kellock

2,242 posts

209 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
Our fiat 500 1.2 "lounge" just scrapes 42 mpg in the real world over its 4800 miles since delivery. Driven on mixed roads by the mrs on her commute so suspect the abarth will be more thirsty? It's not a quality product although my wife seems to like it. I would have more confidence in the Audi although it will be duller than an abarth.

volvoforlife

724 posts

180 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
I think the Fiat 500 tries TOO hard to be cool. The Audi A1 - well I've seen some on the road now and they do nothing for me.

Obviously I am biased, but have you considered the Volvo C30?

ewenm

28,506 posts

262 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
volvoforlife said:
I think the Fiat 500 tries TOO hard to be cool. The Audi A1 - well I've seen some on the road now and they do nothing for me.

Obviously I am biased, but have you considered the Volvo C30?
We loved our C30 so another vote for that from me.

Alternatives: Mini, Punto, MiTo, Clio.

tomw2000

Original Poster:

2,508 posts

212 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for comments thus far.

The volvo C30s appear to start @16k.

Max budget is £15k.

And it has to be a MY11......so a brand spanker.

Pulse

10,922 posts

235 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
There are plenty of A1s knocking around as dealer order cars, as long as you're flexible with spec. We wanted a completely stock one, and we found one easily enough within group (Inchcape). A few are around, and a fair few are on order for delivery in March and April.

tomw2000

Original Poster:

2,508 posts

212 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
The 'badge' isn't important and the boss actually likes the way the fiat 500 looks. It's me that threw the A1 into the mix.
I do have a reasonable Audi contact so am sure can get first dibs if any cancelled orders pop up, rather than order now and wait the 600,000 years I know they take to arrive.

So far we have:

Abarth, quirkiness (looks, if one likes it, wife does), speed, 'fun'.
A1, interior, 'quality' and MPG (dependent on model) probably cheaper to service.

Cheeky Jim

1,276 posts

297 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
MITO..... at least with a new one, there is less chance of Alfa's 'reliability' issues to crop up....

Looks stylish and is brand spankers.....

adycav

7,615 posts

234 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
Citroen DS3?

tomw2000

Original Poster:

2,508 posts

212 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
adycav said:
Citroen DS3?
is that in budget? (*poddles off to check*)

Pulse

10,922 posts

235 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
I agree with Tonker, the residuals will likely be better on the A1; especially for the next year or so while it's still got a long lead time (for specifically ordered cars).

adycav

7,615 posts

234 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
tomw2000 said:
adycav said:
Citroen DS3?
is that in budget? (*poddles off to check*)
Yeah some are.

Don't know much about them but I've seen a couple on the road and they look nice.

999gsi

508 posts

244 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
id go for the fiat,wife has a 500 lounge,had it since new,next month 2 years old 25k on the clock and we havent had any probs with it,audi a1 is overpriced and over rated you pay for snob value,fiat is a rare sight on the road,seen loads of a1's and i have to say from the rear they look like a proton savvy.horrible car...

FamilyDub

3,587 posts

182 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all

500 Abarth everytime over A1.

B Huey

4,881 posts

216 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
Is the A1 a big hit?

I don't think the styling works.

va1o

16,084 posts

224 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
40 miles each way I'd be taking the A1

Its got the best interior of any small car and will be comfortable and easy to drive. Sure the 500 is more fun, but its a bit cheap and cheerful compared to the A1.

uremaw

301 posts

214 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
500 abarth definitely

ewenm

28,506 posts

262 months

Monday 28th February 2011
quotequote all
999gsi said:
id go for the fiat,wife has a 500 lounge,had it since new,next month 2 years old 25k on the clock and we havent had any probs with it,audi a1 is overpriced and over rated you pay for snob value,fiat is a rare sight on the road,seen loads of a1's and i have to say from the rear they look like a proton savvy.horrible car...
Fiat 500 rare? Not round here!