I love my Abarth and have had it 5 years - it'll be tough to move on from. Bought it as a year old demo with every option apart from the Sabelt seats.
They aren't for everyone as the short wheelbase and firm
Suspension means it's not as comfortable or refined as some cars. Most are driven by men (big kids like me) from what I can tell, but being 500 based popular with ladies too! For comparison it still felt more compliant than the wife's old Clio 182 Cup.
Most of the reviews are biased or comparing it unfairly to cars in the class above. My wife used to have a mk5 R32. On a cold night I kept neck to neck with it upto 60. She was really annoyed when I told her I'd forgotten to put it in sport haha! I reckon it's 170-180 bhp, but never measured. They are real world fast, rather than on paper fast if that makes sense?
I have a very high spec A500c SS in black/white bicolore option with black wheels, Brembos and floating discs, Koni FSDs and official remap. Will be advertising privately next week and if it doesn't sell I'm happy with the Evans Halshaw price.
Think of it as a retro hot hatch from 80/90s but with more creature comforts rather than a Mini rival. The bottom end is essentially Uno Turbo I think, which is no bad thing.
Nothing. And I mean nothing I've come up against is quicker to 20/30 mph so brilliant for commuting, although mine is semi auto and I've mastered balancing the clutch at biting point (manual launch control!). Many prefer manual. Handle well - little rough around the edges to maximise smiles per mile, but like all small Italian cars - begs to be thrashed. With the optional Monza exhaust, there is no small hot hatch that sounds better. The S1 and Clio 220 with Akrapovic were a bit of a disappointment.
Apart from early common issue with rear Koni FSDs sorted under warranty (I was being very picky) it's my 5th Italian car and all have been bullet proof. Almost 6 years and 34k miles later and it's still running the original Michelin Pilots Sports with 5mm left all round.
If you are interested my recommendations are:
Later model 595 Competizione with Garrett 1446 turbo (180 bhp) can be easily tuned to circa 220-230 with just a remap that would worry an S1 in the dry. Some nutters have achieved 300-350+ but not cheap. The 1446s were available on late series 2 models and current facelifted series 3. Some 595s (earlier ones and all 595 Turismos) have IHI turbo - nothing wrong but can only realistically be tuned to 180 ish.
695s (Ferrari / Maserati / Biposto editions) are basically expensive designer toys that have the same basic sort of spec as a better value late 595 Compitizione (you get Garrett, Brembos, floating discs, Sabelts, bi-modal Monza exhaust or similar). I think of them as a mans equivalent of an expensive designer handbag.
If you do go for one my one rule would be to stick to cars with Koni FSD or Cofap FSD (Licenced from Koni) it makes a big improvement on ride and became standard on later models. The main common problem on used cars is suspension or steering noises / defects. Almost always caused by failed rubber bits: top mounts, wishbone bushes or rear beam bushes. Not expensive just annoying.
