abarth 500. help
Author
Discussion

chowiekid

Original Poster:

330 posts

181 months

Monday 18th April 2011
quotequote all
Hello.

I currently roll in a clio 197, lol. Its a Clio and its got the running costs of a 458. no joke smile i get 18-20 MPG and i run out of tread in 6000 odd miles. I Spend around £450-500 a month on petrol just to run the thing. It needs oil every month pretty much. Tax is near enough £250 and its due a cambelt change next, hence why im getting shot.

My simple question is, should i buy a 500 ss for my every day car. I commute on some pretty stonking roads. All back roads.

Will i save some pennys? whats the MPG like, I know it wont be amazing but better than the clio?

Will i like it more, i drove a standard 135bhp model and the ss version and loved it. But it was a very short drive...

or should i just go and buy a 123d coupe and grow up far to quickly. Im only 21 so want something fun, yet cheaper to run than my clio :-)

i need to advice from owners, Are they good every day cars, or more a weekend thing.

ChevronB19

8,522 posts

185 months

Monday 18th April 2011
quotequote all
chowiekid said:
Hello.

I currently roll in a clio 197, lol. Its a Clio and its got the running costs of a 458. no joke smile i get 18-20 MPG and i run out of tread in 6000 odd miles. I Spend around £450-500 a month on petrol just to run the thing. It needs oil every month pretty much. Tax is near enough £250 and its due a cambelt change next, hence why im getting shot.

My simple question is, should i buy a 500 ss for my every day car. I commute on some pretty stonking roads. All back roads.

Will i save some pennys? whats the MPG like, I know it wont be amazing but better than the clio?

Will i like it more, i drove a standard 135bhp model and the ss version and loved it. But it was a very short drive...

or should i just go and buy a 123d coupe and grow up far to quickly. Im only 21 so want something fun, yet cheaper to run than my clio :-)

i need to advice from owners, Are they good every day cars, or more a weekend thing.
Dare I suggest a Panda 100HP? Dirt cheap, fun as hell, c. 40mpg even when thrashed - lots of fun without having to go at a million miles per hour.

Sharkboy

2 posts

178 months

Wednesday 20th April 2011
quotequote all
My good wife has an Abarth 500. She gets about 38 mpg on her daily motorway commute and down to 33 on a B-Road run. That's with the 'Sport' button permanently engaged. It's just under a year old and is pretty much run-in.

There's a good forum at Abarthforum.co.uk where you'll find comments on ownership, dealer feedback etc.

The Essesse option is a bit divisive. The extra power is welcome but we've been put off as the lowered suspension makes the ride very choppy. It's already pretty firm and bouncy on poorly surfaced roads.

For the record, I absolutely love it. It's pretty well built and is definitely usable as an every day car, but is an absolute blast on twisty B Roads. It's full of character and makes me smile whenever I manage to prise the damn keys out of my wife's clenched fist.

AeroMan

601 posts

267 months

Friday 22nd April 2011
quotequote all
Sharkboy said:
There's a good forum at Abarthforum.co.uk where you'll find comments on ownership, dealer feedback etc.

For the record, I absolutely love it. It's pretty well built and is definitely usable as an every day car, but is an absolute blast on twisty B Roads. It's full of character and makes me smile whenever I manage to prise the damn keys out of my wife's clenched fist.
We have an Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari and it really is pocket rocket! Great fun, and my wife leaves in permanently in Sport, so the petrol consumption takes a dive...

As Sharkboy says, the Abarth Forumis a great source of information. wink



M5 Russ

2,245 posts

214 months

Sunday 24th April 2011
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My Abarth 500 has TMC tuning box which takes the power to same as an SS but you keep the standard suspension which is more than capable on the road. I cant get the fuel mpg below 33 either.

IanMorewood

4,309 posts

270 months

Sunday 24th April 2011
quotequote all
20MPG from a Clio would suggest its either sick, you drive it like a loon or only go a mile at a time, changing it probably wont save you much a month unless its the first.

mainaman

425 posts

207 months

Monday 25th April 2011
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Dare i suggest the Ibiza Cupra;)

Faster than the Abarth 500 SS,better ride and handling (speculation),better touring and traffic capabilities,even cheaper,more practical,outstanding fuel economy during mundane driving...

If i start the car and get to A13 after five minutes,after five more minutes and keeping within the speed limits i am already getting 40 MPGyesNot bad for 180 bhp(they actually make 190+ on the dyno)!

It also has quite generous standard equipment,only the 4 pot brakes are a tempting extra.




Edited by mainaman on Monday 25th April 04:20

chowiekid

Original Poster:

330 posts

181 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
IanMorewood said:
20MPG from a Clio would suggest its either sick, you drive it like a loon or only go a mile at a time, changing it probably wont save you much a month unless its the first.
the clio 197 is st on mpg, they changed the gearbox in later models to sort this a lil.

i cant get any more than 23mpg and thats doing 60mph in 6th on a motorway on cruise.

its a clean car, nothing wrong with it at all, its had all its services etc on time. Im a car fan so i treat it to the best, its sat on kw coilovers. (bad move on my part as they are too hard)

I can drive slow and get 22mpg or drive faster and get 20mpg so there is nothing really in it, all 197 owners moan about MPG i believe the 200 clio wont do more than 30MPG

chowiekid

Original Poster:

330 posts

181 months

Monday 25th April 2011
quotequote all
AeroMan said:
We have an Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari and it really is pocket rocket! Great fun, and my wife leaves in permanently in Sport, so the petrol consumption takes a dive...

As Sharkboy says, the Abarth Forumis a great source of information. wink
you clearly have more money than sense that car is sooooo over priced!

I Do well for myself and could happily buy the farrari spec 500 abarth but i would rather something else for that cash, but personal choice. and i see you have some other amazing cars.

I hear alot that people think the ride is way to harsh in the abarth ss. And i drive mainly B roads now.

Im thinking a 123d is my best option. Not to in your face, presentable. and DAMN FAST with a remap. smile

abarth500

2,788 posts

179 months

Tuesday 26th April 2011
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Use my A500 as an every day car for getting to work and back (40 miles per day roughly). Get to work pretty much every day with a smile on my face, says it all really smile

Had various fast'ish cars (lots of Subaru Impreza's etc.), and also currently have a new Volvo V50 T5 for transporting my baby 'n stuff, but the A500 is one of the most fun cars I've owned. Had a clean license all my life, but fear I'll lose it with the A500 hehe

Currently getting 32mpg with sport permanently on (mine is the 135bhp model though). Only issue I've had so far is corrosion on the exhaust, which was replaced under warranty.

Go back and demand a longer test drive before you decide!