Yet another car itch – tiny nippy car (Up! Gti)…

Well the Type R went to the breakers a couple of weeks ago – a lot of rot found and not economical to repair. So after a bit of research I went for an Abarth 595 165 Turismo. Pick this up on Sat – 2020 plate one owner 20k miles…

…my daughter has disowned me!! 🙂

Let us know your thoughts once you’ve driven it a bit. Always liked the idea of an Abarth to replace the wifes 500S but really don’t need another hot hatch!

Nice car. However…

the-muffin-manFull Member

MINI – can’t bring myself to buy one. They just seem the aspirational badge of new-build estates.

You post that – then buy an Abarth 595?!

I love the original mini – I just can’t be doing with the fake Britishness of the new Mini’s. Union jack rear lights, mirrors, roof, ‘details’ – please!

It’s hard to find one that hasn’t been ‘personalised’ and they are more expensive.

🙂

Nice ish cars. Dont they have a history of being stolen lots?

Dont they have a history of being stolen lots?

Probably – but so did Civic Type R’s. Any hot-hatch is a magnet.

Welcome to the club

At that age and mileage, the rear wheel bearings will be gone or about to go. Common problem on the car. I bought my Abarth when it was 4 years old and both bearings went soon after. Similar mileage to yours. I replaced mine myself with SKF bearings and 3 years later they’re still fine. Other than that it’s a bombproof car. The door handles can break but it’s another common problem that’s cheap to fix

Panda 100hp.  Way cooler than the 500 Abarth.

The door handles can break but it’s another common problem that’s cheap to fix

LOL! The drivers door handle on this was in the boot when I went to see it!

‘They all do that sir’ was the dealers reply, and researching it it appears they do! 🙂

The R55 and R56 Minis are the sweet spot in the new line IMO.  They’re more sorted mechanically, share more ports across the BMW range so are cheap to run, have a MUCH better interior and, I think, have a better balance between handling and comfort, especially on normal tyres.  Cooper S Clubman for the win.  This was mine 🙂

i’m still yet to try a 500 Abarth. Friend had one and enjoyed it.

I am currently in a Mk8 Fiesta ST. Its the first Ford i’ve owned and its enjoyable. Its still got that old school hot hatch feel… just.

I’ve had a fair few hot hatches over the years, Saxo VTS, Clio 172, 182 Cup, 200 (with megane engine conversion), Panda 100HP before i moved on to a couple of Impreza STi’s (Spec-C and JDM) then an EP3 Type-R (JDM), after that a Golf R, and then onto the already mentioned ST.

I love the original mini – I just can’t be doing with the fake Britishness of the new Mini’s. Union jack rear lights, mirrors, roof, ‘details’ – please

Don’t disagree with you there – most are just too much tat. Mine’s a rarity in having none of that – not even stripes. Pretty much as plain as possible and IMO all the better for it. In my head 500s are in a similar league.

The R55 and R56 Minis are the sweet spot in the new line IMO.  They’re more sorted mechanically, share more ports across the BMW range so are cheap to run, have a MUCH better interior and, I think, have a better balance between handling and comfort, especially on normal tyres.

I’ve owned R56 and F56. R56 is more ‘MINI’ but F56 the better car: interior miles ahead of the R56, ride comfort another league, handling brilliant. Clearly bigger but – unlike a R56 – means we can use it 4-up as a family for days out.

Loving the 100HP @Daffy.

unlike a R56 – means we can use it 4-up as a family for days out.

Hence having a Clubman 🙂  My issue with the F56 (other than size) is that they became so much more expensive and less interesting styling wise.  Though I would agree about the interior.

Driven both Minis and Abarth 595, also the very limited Abart Riva 595, which has better trim and more poke; one I had a brief spin in had a lot of carbon trim around the dash, the other was wood veneer as per the Riva sports boats used in the Mediterranean, around Venice. Seriously tasty little cars, so much fun it should be illegal! Minis are fine to drive, but I hate the faux-retro 60’s interior, with the stupid huge circular instrument binnacle in the centre of the dash. They’re also so bloody big, for such a small interior.
Oh, and 20” wheels with run-flats – truly horrid things on anything other than a billiard table smooth road surface.

‘Alan’ arrived on the drive on Saturday. Perfect for what I need! 🙂

That’s lush. Still miss mine heaps. I reckon the IHI-equipped cars are actually more fun than the more powerful garrett turbocharged ones. It was ALWAYS on the boil.

Feels like the right decision, the Lupo/Up GTi’s always catch my eye, but after the EP3 I went to the Golf GTi and I’ve not regretted it. Added an Octy VRs (d) once I got a dog too, a STW classic for a reason.

I really WANT a 595, but have no good purpose for one so justification would be strictly based on the wanting it part. The one looks in great condition, or just a good garage detailer given your comments about the door handles!

Haha, the door handles on fiat 500’s.  I had it down to a fine art and it can be done in about 15mins.  You can get genuine part on ebay (Its a little metal hinge, not the handle).  It used to give me a little chuckle when the wife called to say ‘the door has broken again’.  I just used to reply i had a spare and would sort when i got home.

Nice car but a personal pet hate of mine is ‘naming’ cars! Sorry…

All our cars have had names and our bikes.
You are just strange.

Our cars…

‘John’ is the Kuga

‘Flo’ is daughters Fabia

‘Alan’ is the new arrival ^^

‘Mike’ is my MG TF

My old forester was called ‘gump’

King of the tiny nippy car class has got to be the Yaris GR

6R4 surely? Equally as tiny, a lot more nippy.