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General Just had a test drive in a 500 Abarth...I want one !

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General Just had a test drive in a 500 Abarth...I want one !

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Pheonix 500

Pheonix 500

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Was fortunate enough to take a 500 Abarth for a test drive yesterday....WOW !!! :yum:

Naturally I nailed it as much as poss and bless the lady saleswomen in the back, she didn't say a word. I only remembered half way through the drive to push the sport and TTS button...what a difference that makes ! The steering firmed up and I was able to corner like I was on rails. Jumping from my 1.2 lounge to this is a massive change....and lots more fun.

The only concern I had was the turbo lag, never been a fan of lag but at the same time I'd feel a complete dick with a dump valve...I mean that sound when you change gear would annoy the hell outta me....any suggestions ?

Anyway, all in all...its an amazing bit of kit. Was offered 8k for mine with 10k on the clock. I opted for normal white, the spokey wheels, fixed glass roof and leather as optional extras...they want 15k....and supposedly I can have this by April......hmm...what to do...
 
Is it really worth spending an extra 7k on though? I would sleep on it a few days and then see how you feel. Interesting that Abarth dealers seem to be offering more for a PX than Fiat or other dealers, are they a bit more desperate I wonder?
 
Pheonix 500 said:
Was fortunate enough to take a 500 Abarth for a test drive yesterday....WOW !!! :yum:

Naturally I nailed it as much as poss and bless the lady saleswomen in the back, she didn't say a word. I only remembered half way through the drive to push the sport and TTS button...what a difference that makes ! The steering firmed up and I was able to corner like I was on rails. Jumping from my 1.2 lounge to this is a massive change....and lots more fun.

The only concern I had was the turbo lag, never been a fan of lag but at the same time I'd feel a complete dick with a dump valve...I mean that sound when you change gear would annoy the hell outta me....any suggestions ?

Anyway, all in all...its an amazing bit of kit. Was offered 8k for mine with 10k on the clock. I opted for normal white, the spokey wheels, fixed glass roof and leather as optional extras...they want 15k....and supposedly I can have this by April......hmm...what to do...
Click to expand...


I know what you mean. I test drove a funk one yesterday at Research Garage and I was won over. I could have driven like someone else but I had to sign a disclaimer stipuating I pay £750 towards any damage!

I was surprised that 135hp gave it lots of oomph - now the SS 160hp package is something else.

Sales guy showed me his order book, over 20 of them and 8 for the SS....

I was offered £7.5k on my 1.2 Sport with nearly 8k on the clock for their red car on display which cost £15,145. Apart from selling privately, there's not much I can do about it :(. It had £2000 worth of extras including electric sunroof so I felt their offer wasn't enough.

One day.....
 
It is a fantastic car (y)

I really miss my 135bhp Punto GT Turbo, it was a great car (although it did break down an awful lot!!!). When it did work though, it was so much fun. The A500 though is in another league, it feels like it can cope with the power a lot better, the GT was just a MK1 Punto with a bigger engine and Turbo!!

Si
 
Hope to pick mine up by Thursday latest (y) I also got spanked on the trade in value of my heavily optioned lounge so the extras really do add nothing to the trade in value (nor does doing very low miles:cry:). Ah well..... life's to short not to have a bit of fun. The Abarth surprisingly has a much better ride than the Lounge on 16" alloys. Due to the wider track and lowered ride height it rolls considerably less in spirited cornering.... which is nice :devil:
 
I just bought two FIats !!! A not so desirable but great value for money Croma Prestegio with all the accesories available ( had a great deal with wifes Ibiza P/x), then confirmed my order for the Fiat 500 abarth which I drove today. Very nice but not as fast as I expected ( I also ride fast bikes so I am used to fast things). The SS kit is worth having in my opinion but I wouldn't want it just now. I think it is better to run in the engine a bit more and have a it done later but for £2.5k I don't think it good value for money. I 'd just have it remapped and the air filter changed (that's what the SS kit includes ) and leave the nice wheels suspension and disks alone, but unfourtunately doining this would void the warranty maybe in 3 years then.
Can't wait to collect it on the 1st maybe meet up with some of you in Chesterfield then. (y)
 
I went for a test drive in one at Research on Saturday, I want one! They offered me £7k in p/x for my 1.2 Lounge with 4,000 miles on the clock, and with the outstanding finance it would mean I'd end up paying £16,000. Which equates to £348 per month. Waaay out of my price range. :(

I did notice the turbo lag too, but it wouldn't bother me that much really. I loved it to bits!
 
Is the 500 abarth really that good???

Seems like everyone who is trying one wants one. Think the last time i heard such rave reviews from people was when the Clio 182 was released and every person and car mag raved about it.

Lloyd71 - £348 per month.:eek: Eeeek. Blimey, to put that in perspective I got a quote for a basic Audi A5 for not much more.
 
Have deliberated and discussed with friends and decided I am going to hold fire for now and hopefully get one on a year or so when they have shed the worst of the depreciation and competitive credit is more widely available.

And someone else has run it in for me!
 
rumple said:
Is the 500 abarth really that good???

Seems like everyone who is trying one wants one. Think the last time i heard such rave reviews from people was when the Clio 182 was released and every person and car mag raved about it.

Lloyd71 - £348 per month.:eek: Eeeek. Blimey, to put that in perspective I got a quote for a basic Audi A5 for not much more.
Click to expand...

Yup, for £348 per month I could get something much better. You can get 2nd hand BMW 6 Series' for that sort of money.
 
Interesting replies....cheers.

TBH....I'm pretty much hooked, have even been contemplating the essesse kit. Thing is, I've been banging on to the misses about the Audi TTS, she liked it as much as I do, but we can't justify paying around 30k for a car that (even though I haven't driven it) I'm pretty sure wont have as much 'fun factor' as the Abarth.

For me, thats what its about..a combinatin of good looks and driving pleasure. Will be interesting to see if the dealer will offer me anything else off 15k...
 
I got offered £7800 trade-in against opening edition Abarth - shockingly bad residuals, car was £12300 new. They did offer doing a sale or return for something better. And all I got off the new car was a set of mats, buyers market my ***
 
Lloyd71 said:
Yup, for £348 per month I could get something much better. You can get 2nd hand BMW 6 Series' for that sort of money.
Click to expand...

Yes, but try running one Lloyd. Horrendous running costs.

My 335i is still under warranty and there is always something needs ££££'s thrown at it, mostly wheels and tyres, and then the fuel....
 
rumple said:
Is the 500 abarth really that good???
Click to expand...

I have driven the two at Research now, albeit a week apart, and yes, they really are that good.

My wife has a Golf GTi MK5. The press rave about how good they are as an ownership proposition and I have to say it is a great car, the Abarth just feels like a little GTi. It seemed a bit more grown up than the standard 500's, but loses a little of the simple charm.

Research offered me c£8.5k for mine. Very, very tempted.
 
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