Abarth recommendations

Bluefoam

In the next few months I'm going to be looking for a good cost effective car with lots of character... It'll need to be relatively economical and not too expensive to buy or run...

So I'm considering an Abarth 500... My biggest criteria is that it's a bit of fun and suits my life... mini roadtrips, weekend markets and festivals, rocking up to the beach... the usual.

While I'm at it, I may as well go with the convertable roof and I'd need to add Android Auto (whether thats standard or aftermarket).

Anyone have experience with them? What should I be looking at & who should I talk to about possibly importing one? What kind of price range am I looking at?

I'm not looking for an extreme version/track ready or modded car... Just a nice quality fun car that won't break the bank.

bazz26

There was a thread on them here recently:

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=107798773

I had a friend with his heart set on the Abarth. Went to the UK and drove a few, and just didn't like them. Said they didn't feel fast, comfortable, fun. He came home with a Cooper S, which I've driven and is a riot, especially given that a remap and changing the supercharger pulley will take it to over 200bhp for small money.

Doug DeMurro is very fond of the Abarth though

Bluefoam

Mini doesn't appeal to me in the same way... The 500 has that Italian flair that allows full grown men to drive small cars. I drove a 500 through Spain a few years ago and loved it, even though it was under-powered... I'd even consider a 1.2, but the Abarth seems to make more sense for me.

Nuw

In the 500 I'd consider the 0.9 twinair, it's supposed to be very good (never drove it myself though). Probably easier to source and run than the Abarth.

ba_barabus

Nuw wrote: »

In the 500 I'd consider the 0.9 twinair, it's supposed to be very good (never drove it myself though). Probably easier to source and run than the Abarth.

They drink petrol for what they are.

Muckie

Love the Abarth, wife purchased a 08 Fiat 500 Sport, 6 months ago, its a 1.4 Twinair,,red leather interior.

Thing is a little rocket, handy on juice and is a "hoot" to drive.
If and when its trading up time, would drop hints to the wife for the Abarth as the next "sensible" step :P

vin_petrol

how come the 500 or abarth have a fair bit of respect when every other fiat is classed as a piece of sh1t despite being very similar ?

i actually quite like fiat and bought a 2012 chrysler delta for 5 k a few months ago , ( i drive a 2016 toyota landcruiser commercial to work but needed a car for the kids at weekend ) everyone tells me its a piece of sh1t , granted its not as cool as a fiat 500 - abarth but it has a fiat engine .

long story short , do other fiats get assessed honestly and the 500 just gets a pass for being so charming ?

Bluefoam

vin_petrol wrote: »

how come the 500 or abarth have a fair bit of respect when every other fiat is classed as a piece of sh1t despite being very similar ?

i actually quite like fiat and bought a 2012 chrysler delta for 5 k a few months ago , ( i drive a 2016 toyota landcruiser commercial to work but needed a car for the kids at weekend ) everyone tells me its a piece of sh1t , granted its not as cool as a fiat 500 - abarth but it has a fiat engine .

long story short , do other fiats get assessed honestly and the 500 just gets a pass for being so charming ?

People are just obsessed with German cars... the manufacturers have literally paid the press to slander other makes, the press are happy to do so because they get backhanders, free holidays and advertising money. In fairness Fiat ****ed up themselves by using cheaper Russian steel back in the 70's and early 80's and there have been some quality issues in the past. but the reputation isn't really warranted. I've had a number of Italian cars and loved them, I also had a limited edition Porsche Cayman R that had major quality issues, you couldn't adjust the seat and wear a watch at the same time & the €3000 Boss/Navigation system was as useful as an ashtray on a motorcycle. I loved it, but it was heavily flawed... however I never read a bad review of one.

TheBoyConor

Are these fiat's still as unreliable as previous models?

Fiat's really aren't built for northern European climates. They rot in the damp, wet and road salt. And notoriously unreliable. Their only saving grace in my eyes is that parts are dirt cheap for them.

I say this as the former owner of a punto and stilo. Both needed regular mechanical attention, often just minor faults but annoying an needing to be foxed all the same. The punto rotted to death in the end from rust holes in the cills.

A convertible will suffer dramatic depreciation so you'll have a very rough dragging over the coals when you go to trade it. The Abarth spec will also involve bigger depreciation because the irish second hand market places little value on "fancy" specs.

I'd avoid like the plague OP and get something more robust like a Corolla instead.

A suzuki swift is a nice stylish little car and they are known to be very reliable.

Bluefoam

TheBoyConor wrote: »

Are these fiat's still as unreliable as previous models?

Vague comment... please elaborate

TheBoyConor wrote: »

Fiat's really aren't built for northern European climates. They rot in the damp, wet and road salt. And notoriously unreliable. Their only saving grace in my eyes is that parts are dirt cheap for them.

What the actual **** are you talking about... Maybe you are thinking of the Alfa Sud back in the early 80's... I meant elaborate in a meaningful way...

TheBoyConor wrote: »

I say this as the former owner of a punto and stilo. Both needed regular mechanical attention, often just minor faults but annoying an needing to be foxed all the same. The punto rotted to death in the end from rust holes in the cills.

All cars require regular mechanical attention... hence servicing.

TheBoyConor wrote: »

A convertible will suffer dramatic depreciation so you'll have a very rough dragging over the coals when you go to trade it. The Abarth spec will also involve bigger depreciation because the Irish second hand market places little value on "fancy" specs.

I will be buying second hand and will benefit from the DRAMATIC DEPRECIATION you mention... I place enjoyment and personal satisfaction over the idea that some day I will sell a car for €200 more or less... I'd like to enjoy the car I buy now...

TheBoyConor wrote: »

I'd avoid like the plague OP and get something more robust like a Corolla instead.

I hope this is a joke. If I ever end up as a Corolla driver, please feel free to shoot me as all enjoyment will be gone from my life at that point... :pac::pac::pac::pac::pac: a Corolla FFS??? :rolleyes:

TheBoyConor wrote: »

A Suzuki Swift is a nice stylish little car and they are known to be very reliable.

Nothing wrong with a Suzuki Swift, but why is it being discussed in relation to an Abarth? Two completely different things, I'm sure you're trying to wind me up.

H3llR4iser

Bluefoam wrote: »

People are just obsessed with German cars... the manufacturers have literally paid the press to slander other makes, the press are happy to do so because they get backhanders, free holidays and advertising money. In fairness Fiat ****ed up themselves by using cheaper Russian steel back in the 70's and early 80's and there have been some quality issues in the past. but the reputation isn't really warranted. I've had a number of Italian cars and loved them, I also had a limited edition Porsche Cayman R that had major quality issues, you couldn't adjust the seat and wear a watch at the same time & the €3000 Boss/Navigation system was as useful as an ashtray on a motorcycle. I loved it, but it was heavily flawed... however I never read a bad review of one.

Nice to find some informed folks - that's exactly what happened, and the root of the "Italian cars will rust!" belief that, as far as I can tell, still goes on over 40 years later.

Interestingly enough, FIAT cars have been very popular in Eastern Europe across the '70s and '80s, regardless of being allegedly unsuitable for the "cold climate". Ask any Polish car person above age 35 about the "Maluch" and see them fall into memory lane :P

About the 500 Abarth - the one thing that I really dislike about them is that they seem to carry over the driving position of the standard models, quite clearly designed with a 5 feet "tall" lady in mind; It's very high up, the wheel is extremely horizontal and in general I find it more suited to a Ducato van than a sporty hatchback

kyote00

If i had 30k, this is one I'd go for.....

https://www.fiat.ie/124-spider

Mini850

H3llR4iser wrote: »

About the 500 Abarth - the one thing that I really dislike about them is that they seem to carry over the driving position of the standard models, quite clearly designed with a 5 feet "tall" lady in mind; It's very high up, the wheel is extremely horizontal and in general I find it more suited to a Ducato van than a sporty hatchback

That's what I heard too, driving position ruins the experience. I have a Cooper S R53 and was looking seriously at the Abarth as the eventual replacement, but If the driving position is crap, I'm out. Guess Ill have to test drive.

Bluefoam

kyote00 wrote: »

If i had 30k, this is one I'd go for.....

https://www.fiat.ie/124-spider

I'd love one and going to test drive, but having sat in the new Miata it's either too small, or I'm too tall...

coolbeans

I had one from new. I'm on mobile so functionally is crap so can't search but I did a few posts on here.

Arthur Daley

Panda is perfectly good little number. Cheap as they come to own and effectively it's the ordinary 500 without the designer dress on.

Bluefoam

Arthur Daley wrote: »

Panda is perfectly good little number. Cheap as they come to own and effectively it's the ordinary 500 without the designer dress on.

I'm not sure some people understand the premise of the thread... Abarth are a tuning house who produce turbo'd, tuned little monsters that are incredibly fun, and cheap (comparatively)... The whole idea is to have a fun car that I will enjoy on my terms. I am not looking to buy a car that will provide sensible driving, cheap driving, improved resale value, an investment... Why the **** would you recommend a Fiat Panda to someone who is looking for an Abarth...

I personally love Pandas... & will probably own a 4x4 someday, but that is not what I am asking here...

It's hilarious... you ask for advice on buying an exotic Italian car & all you get are accountants telling you to buy something else. If I was to ask about buying a Golf I'd be getting all sorts of discourse on which model to buy, what one looks better against your neighbors one, if I spend an extra €5000 now it'll be worth at least €600 more when I sell it... I know sarcasm is difficult to pick up online, but I honestly think people are being genuine... I'm looking for a cost effective, fun car, I don't give a flying **** about the minuté of resale value. I've been fed this ****e about resale for years but never had a car I didn't get value out of... BTW I like women in designer dresses, no harm in looking after yourself.

H3llR4iser

Bluefoam wrote: »

I'm not sure some people understand the premise of the thread... Abarth are a tuning house who produce turbo'd, tuned little monsters that are incredibly fun, and cheap (comparatively)... The whole idea is to have a fun car that I will enjoy on my terms. I am not looking to buy a car that will provide sensible driving, cheap driving, improved resale value, an investment... Why the **** would you recommend a Fiat Panda to someone who is looking for an Abarth...

I personally love Pandas... & will probably own a 4x4 someday, but that is not what I am asking here...

It's hilarious... you ask for advice on buying an exotic Italian car & all you get are accountants telling you to buy something else. If I was to ask about buying a Golf I'd be getting all sorts of discourse on which model to buy, what one looks better against your neighbors one, if I spend an extra €5000 now it'll be worth at least €600 more when I sell it... I know sarcasm is difficult to pick up online, but I honestly think people are being genuine... I'm looking for a cost effective, fun car, I don't give a flying **** about the minuté of resale value. I've been fed this ****e about resale for years but never had a car I didn't get value out of... BTW I like women in designer dresses, no harm in looking after yourself.

I am literally in stitches - this happens all the time. For a motors channel, this one is remarkably rich in "car hating" members and "A to B" folks - from the "accountants" of resale value as you perfectly put, to the EV fanboys there's the whole spectrum.

Somewhere there 's a thread about somebody wanting something fun & fast that somehow turned into "get a Skoda Kodiaq"


I will still say - try and go test a 500 Abarth, because the driving position can be offputting - especially if you're over 6' tall.

Arthur Daley

I would chill out.

I refer to the Panda as the discussion rambled on towards bias against Fiats. My point is that the panda is another Fiat that is very good, and very popular although the 500 was based on it so they are closely related. If considering a 500 in general I would also not discount the panda. They can be cool in their own understated/minimalist way.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Arthur Daley wrote: »

I would chill out.

I refer to the Panda as the discussion rambled on towards bias against Fiats. My point is that the panda is another Fiat that is very good, and very popular although the 500 was based on it so they are closely related. If considering a 500 in general I would also not discount the panda. They can be cool in their own understated/minimalist way.

Are you not reading what he is asking for?! The OP is not looking at a Fiat 500 in general. He is looking at a Fiat 500 Abarth. Completely and utterly different machines so suggesting a Panda is way off the mark. The OP has made this clear a couple of times already :rolleyes:

Blueform, fair play to you for going for something different and fun

Bluefoam

H3llR4iser wrote: »

go test a 500 Abarth, because the driving position can be offputting - especially if you're over 6' tall.

Yeh, I agree on this one. I've driven 500's without issue, but I believe the seats in the Abarth have a high jaunty position.

Eoinbmw

Not been funny but "Abarth" as we know it today is simply a badge to stick on slightly heated up fiats!
Dont get me wrong i love the 500 abarth but dont get carried away it aint Brabus!

Bluefoam

Eoinbmw wrote: »

Not (been) being funny but "Abarth" as we know it today is simply a badge to stick on slightly heated up fiats!
Dont get me wrong i love the 500 abarth but dont get carried away it aint Brabus!

Yawn
Different engine, different induction type, different suspension, tuned differently, different gear box, extended engine bay, body-kits and wheel/tyre packs, roll cages on 695, straight through exhausts... Please let me know how this is just a warmed up 500 & a Brabus is something entirely different? Of course you'll get more performance out of a Brabus, but that comes at a cost and is intended as a totally different concept.

BTW, most Brabus are body kits and badges, not even warmed up.

BdaraB

TheBoyConor wrote: »

Fiat's really aren't built for northern European climates. They rot in the damp, wet and road salt. And notoriously unreliable. Their only saving grace in my eyes is that parts are dirt cheap for them.

What the actual **** are you talking about... Maybe you are thinking of the Alfa Sud back in the early 80's... I meant elaborate in a meaningful way...

Don't think that these won't rust, I've a 08 Panda and this is the current state of the axle. The underside of these cars need treatment beyond regular maintance. Mine's the 100HP (predecessor to the Arbarth with the same basic platform) and I love it but it's going as it's small fixes are buidling up and it throws up things like this more than it should.

On the positive side it's a blast to drive and in the cabin still holding strong, it's surprisingly practical and can fit six footers behind me ok. It's nice to have something different that can surprise people at the lights and going 30 can feel like 60 but the downsides above are not making it worth it for me.

mfceiling

Go for it man/woman. Seriously cool little motor. Wife was thinking of one as a 2nd car (basically for scooting around town).
Life's too short to be counting the pennies and worrying about depreciation on a 2nd hand car!!

Samuel T. Cogley

Not the Arbarth, but the fiat, mine and a couple of other people I know - electrical/electronic issues out the wazoo. Miss it though

Edit: Also didn't find it great on petrol. ('09 1.2)

Kintarō Hattori

I had a standard Panda a while back and loved it, wanted the 100HP but never got around to it. I changed up to a 2012 500 which I only sold about 6 weeks ago, it was the 1.2 model. I absolutely loved it, it's a really fun car to drive on the backroads. Yes it's a little underpowered but it was great craic in the bends and made the drive to and from work fun. I used to take the backroads rather than the motorway. I really miss it and only changed as it wasn't practical with a 15 month old.
In the time that I owned both my Fiats they needed nothing more than standard maintenance. The Panda was a 05 which I bought in 2016 and the 500 was a 2012 which I bought in 2017. No major issues with either apart from the Blue & Me unit going in the 500 which still wasn't a big issue and didn't affect the day to day running of the car.

If a small two seater car suits you then I'd say go for it. I can only imagine the massive smiles it'll put on your face.

Bluefoam

Thanks everyone who gave useful advice. However, due to the overwhelming misery subscribed by some boards users I have elected to abstain from purchasing a motor vehicle of any sort. Instead I will not leave the house. I have painted all of the walls grey and have removed the oven, it has a spot of grease on it & the gasket could potentially wear if not serviced by a German engineer on a regular basis. i will instead only eat brown rice heated over a tepid tea candle (flame-less). I have now learned the error of my ways and will live a life of enthusiastic yet calculated melancholy.

Bluefoam

It's a shame, cos they launched three new editions today:

Kintarō Hattori

Bluefoam wrote: »

It's a shame, cos they launched three new editions today:

Photos? Your link isn't working properly.

Bluefoam

Competizione 595


Pista 595


Turismo 595


https://www.abarth.com/

Bluefoam

Competizione 595
Engine Type, Displacement, Cylinders, valves
T-JET, 1368 cm³, straight 4 cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder

Max power output
180 cv (132 kW) @ 5500 g/m

Max torque
250 Nm @ 3000 rpm

Turbo
Garrett GT 1446

---

Pista 595
Engine type, engine size, cylinders, valves
T-JET, 1368 cm³, 4 inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder

Maximum Power
160hp (118 kW) at 5500 rpm

Maximum Torque
230 Nm @ 3000 rpm (SPORT MODE)

Turbo
IHI RHF3-P

---

Turismo 595
Engine Type, Displacement, Cylinders, valves
T-JET, 1368 cm³, straight 4 cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder

Max power output
165 HP (121 kW) @ 5500 rpm

Max torque
230 Nm @ 3000 rpm

Turbo
Garret GT 1446

Bluefoam

Bluefoam wrote: »

Competizione 595

https://www.abarth.com/

:cool:

drunkmonkey

I've taken a 500 and cooper around the twisty mountains of Italy on 2 separate years. They were both fun, little 500 didn't look out of place between 2 Ferraris when parked up, it has a little charm to it will agree with you there.
When it comes to driving though the cooper was a hoot, really liked it. The fiat was a bit asmatic had to stop a few times just to let it cool down, mini took everything in its stride and I was a lot more comfortable throwing it into corners.
I'd say either or, for handling the mini, would like to have tried the arbatha against the cooper would probably be a fairer comparison.
The mini was a convirtable and the 500 I'm not so sure what it was had a big number on the side of, it looked like Herbie's love child.

cmyk

Bluefoam wrote: »

So I'm considering an Abarth 500... My biggest criteria is that it's a bit of fun and suits my life.

Any updates on this Bluefoam? I'm planning on pulling the trigger on one provided it checks out mechanically. Chosen for the same reasons, well at least the first part of your sentence, the second is what I've convinced myself (and more importantly my wife).

I've been watching them for the last six months or so, and they're a strange anomaly really.

On paper they really should be more popular here, small, fun and relatively cheap to run. Perhaps it's the fact there are no official Abarth dealerships here in the South and that leads to two issues.
1. No-one knows of them or what they are
2. Fiat dealerships apparently (from other threads) seem unwilling to do any major warranty work.

Bluefoam

cmyk wrote: »

Any updates on this Bluefoam? I'm planning on pulling the trigger on one provided it checks out mechanically. Chosen for the same reasons, well at least the first part of your sentence, the second is what I've convinced myself (and more importantly my wife).

I've been watching them for the last six months or so, and they're a strange anomaly really.

On paper they really should be more popular here, small, fun and relatively cheap to run. Perhaps it's the fact there are no official Abarth dealerships here in the South and that leads to two issues.
1. No-one knows of them or what they are
2. Fiat dealerships apparently (from other threads) seem unwilling to do any major warranty work.

Haven't done anything yet... Trying to find somewhere to live first, so the car will be dependant on that...

cmyk

Bluefoam wrote: »

What should I be looking at & who should I talk to about possibly importing one? What kind of price range am I looking at?

I'm not looking for an extreme version/track ready or modded car... Just a nice quality fun car that won't break the bank.

To be more helpful though. It really depends on your budget? You can probably import an early 2009ish car for 6k and as you've posted, are still selling them new, albeit all they've done is a facelift and some special editions between the different 'series' (1-4).

As for who to talk to about importing one. I believe it's a pretty painless process doing it yourself. I assume you know you can check the revenue's VRT calculator?

As standard they are not what you might call a comfortable car between the suspension/wheels, of course this depends on what you're coming from. The other versions seem crashier again, although outside standard versions I've only driven an essesse, which was too extreme for my liking.