Abarth - Yeah or Neigh
- Thread starter neo_24860
- Start date
I test drove a 695 Rivale earlier this year. I found it more fun and engaging than an F56 Mini JCW that I also test drove a few months prior. I'd have probably bought it if the price had been right. I've ended up with an MX-5 (weird cross shop, I know) which, in my opinion, is even more fun and the better driver's car. Depends if you want/need a hatchback or are just after a toy for giggles. If it's the latter, try an MX-5 as early Mk 4s are a similar price secondhand, depending on how old you were thinking with the 595.
M1k3yC said:
Always fancied an Abarth and a MX-5, would be a main car and I struggle to get out of my Z4 (being 6'3"), getting in and out of a MX5 is harder as they are lower. I think I'm going to test drive the 595 and see how it is, no harm in testing :evil:
I have a 2009 Abarth 500 Esseesse. It's great fun to drive around town. Surprisingly practical with that big old hatch on the back, and as the seating position is oddly high up and not reclined, kind feels like you're driving a miniature van. The ride is somewhat harsh, but it's good fun, plus makes amusing noises 
neo_24860 said:
I also fancied a 595 Comp or a 695 and would still consider one. The 695s seem to hold their value better, going by used prices. I don't find the MX-5 noticeably lower than my Z4 Coupe, but I think at your height you might struggle to drive it comfortably and maybe even find the roof too close to your head. I'm 5'10" and have to have the seat perfectly positioned otherwise I tap my left knee on the dash in my MX-5. The seat would go back another notch, but then it rubs on the plastic behind, which is infuriating.
and you sit a lot better. 
I have had two of them, great cars.
The latest is the 595 comp, and the suspension is a gazillion times better on the Koni shocks that it comes with compared to the normal one. The monza exhaust is louder than an Aston Martin and car parks are great fun.
On the previous one, the ride was so hard I had 3 full suspension replacements under warranty as shocks and springs just broke, and the car only had done 10k when I sold it.
The new ones have the satnav standard as well, with the comp having great seats. Love the sunroof which I have in there. Would not go for the convertible again though, much more pleased with the hatch and the sunroof I have now.
The latest is the 595 comp, and the suspension is a gazillion times better on the Koni shocks that it comes with compared to the normal one. The monza exhaust is louder than an Aston Martin and car parks are great fun.
On the previous one, the ride was so hard I had 3 full suspension replacements under warranty as shocks and springs just broke, and the car only had done 10k when I sold it.
The new ones have the satnav standard as well, with the comp having great seats. Love the sunroof which I have in there. Would not go for the convertible again though, much more pleased with the hatch and the sunroof I have now.
pvr said:
I guess you get what you pay for being pretty cheap compared to the Comps. I've never driven one to be fair but always quite fancied one, I'll have to see if there are any Comps out there. Sat Nav I'm not that fussed with as I've never used it when I've had it in other cars to be fair.
Coming from a standard Abarth, my wife did not want to drive another one until she test drove the Comp. The driveability is night and day compared to eachother. You really have to drive both though as to see the difference and if that is a deal breaker for you.
There's a chap over on pistonheads that has a huge collection of super cars, mainly ferrari but a few porsches and astons amongst over things. He's also got a abarth 695 and when he's regularly asked if he could only keep one car which would it be, he always says the 695. Can't say they're my cup of tea, but there must be something about them that makes owners so enthusiastic!
I test drove it yesterday, nice car and quick! The sunroof was very nice to have, good colour and spec but there were a couple of things that put me off.
1st thing was the fact that, I'm quite tall and in some small cars (Fiestas, Aygos etc) aren't too bad, I can be comfortable. This, I couldn't get my feet to feel comfortable, the footwell is tiny, no space at all to put my left foot by the clutch. Shame as the car was nice, was super quick as well but I just couldn't get comfortable.
2nd thing was that there was a dead spider inside the dash pod right in the middle, no idea how it got there and not sure it should be able to get there without it being taken out? Put me off as once you have seen it you can't get rid of it and your eyes always go to it....was very strange!
1st thing was the fact that, I'm quite tall and in some small cars (Fiestas, Aygos etc) aren't too bad, I can be comfortable. This, I couldn't get my feet to feel comfortable, the footwell is tiny, no space at all to put my left foot by the clutch. Shame as the car was nice, was super quick as well but I just couldn't get comfortable.
2nd thing was that there was a dead spider inside the dash pod right in the middle, no idea how it got there and not sure it should be able to get there without it being taken out? Put me off as once you have seen it you can't get rid of it and your eyes always go to it....was very strange!