swmbo's Abarth 500! our new baby ;)

[sharkrider]

well one things for sure, they can make a 180bhp (190 in some versions) 1.4 turbo that doesn't use any oil been out in it for a few hours today, it serious fun! like an insane go-kart!I don't rate the pirelli p nero zero's though (recommended by abarth ) put my foot down in 2nd gear at 30 mph IN THE DRY and got the diff working to put the power down!

 

going for some maxxis ap2 all seasons next month I think, put the pirellis on e-bay (or here they are fabia size!) they all have about 6 mill! I think two are new....

[Lady Elanore]

have you seen the Tipo is coming back. Nearly swapped my old 130TC in for the 2.0 16v Tipo. Glad I didn't though

[sharkrider]

have you seen the Tipo is coming back. Nearly swapped my old 130TC in for the 2.0 16v Tipo. Glad I didn't though

I haven't no..... the 130TC is a lovely car though, always wanted one when I was a kid! saw one at a car show this year, in really good nick! not many left now!

[Lady Elanore]

I haven't no..... the 130TC is a lovely car though, always wanted one when I was a kid! saw one at a car show this year, in really good nick! not many left now!

 

Mine had a new tailgate at about 3 years old as it had rusted through!!!!  loved the car though. Very charismatic.

[Lady Elanore]

I found this Autocar mini review of the new Tipo Looks to be good value for money and it has the same engine as my Vitara which is a proper little eager workhorse. In my Vitara it gives me 55mpg, which for someone with a heavy-ish foot and all that un-aerodynamic body to haul around, is pretty good

 

Here are Autoexpress' notes on the Tipo. It doesn't add much but has a few pictures

Edited 13 October, 2015 by Lady Elanore

[expostmanpat]

Looks nice Dave, just been out for a test drive in a 595 Competzione, bloody hell don't think there is much that could take it 0 - 30 very nippy little beast. Not sure about the £21k price tag but a fast roller skate it certainly is. 

[sharkrider]

Looks nice Dave, just been out for a test drive in a 595 Competzione, bloody hell don't think there is much that could take it 0 - 30 very nippy little beast. Not sure about the £21k price tag but a fast roller skate it certainly is. 

yup the 595 should be 180-190bhp 2nd gear is quite short (doesn't make it to 60 mph) so putting you foot down in 2nd has mad acceleration! new basic cars can be bought for about £13k.... Ash got this second hand, as she prefered to pay less and have all the good options they can then be tuned quite easily to 595 (or 695!) standards... many with hybrids are running circa 240 bhp...

[sharkrider]

wonder if Ash would let me tune it to this power? 325 bhp!

 

[vrskeith]

This looks pretty good :http://www.evo.co.uk/abarth/500/16827/new-abarth-595-special-edition-has-motogp-kudos

[sharkrider]

This looks pretty good :http://www.evo.co.uk/abarth/500/16827/new-abarth-595-special-edition-has-motogp-kudos

they do so many versions! that looks like a nice special edition assuming its priced well!

 

some abarth owners were getting into a convo because some of them (Americans) had driven the fiesta ST on the weight of it being "the best hot hatch" and they all came to the same conclusions..... (firstly HATING the fake noise in the cabin..... seriously , I couldn't live with that ... you really should hear the REAL noise our Abarth makes!) even thoughthe fiesta was better on paper...... every one said "its all about how the car makes you feel..... and the Abarth is better........" not one was tempted away....... I saw Richard kick all our skoda arses at "how fast" in his mountune fiesta ST..... you know what? I still wouldnt have one....

[Lady Elanore]

I really like your summing up of what's important to a driver and owner of a car Fastest isn't always best, even for an enthusiast. I remember feeling a million dollars in my old X1/9, even though a 1600cc Escort of the day could probably have killed it in a straight line. Fiats do small cars brilliantly imho :)

[sharkrider]

I really like your summing up of what's important to a driver and owner of a car Fastest isn't always best, even for an enthusiast. I remember feeling a million dollars in my old X1/9, even though a 1600cc Escort of the day could probably have killed it in a straight line. Fiats do small cars brilliantly imho :)

its true! lol.... have you ever driven a panda 100hp ? they are not fast either, but they leave you with a massive smile on your face! such fun cars I think someone has one on this page as a project car

[Lady Elanore]

I was driving back home yesterday across the Country Durham and North Yorkshire moors and thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I was only travelling at 7/10s (sort of). Other cars in it's class might have been able to cover the ground more quickly, but I got to enjoy the fab noise of a great engine/exhaust (windows open of course ) and the slightly lose rear end (only when provoked of course ) and bags of grip which could be overcome at any moment you wished. Perfect.

 

I've really got the hots for an M3 having been lucky enough to drive one for a day recently, but I doubt I would have had anywhere near so much fun in one. The car is so planted and fast, I would have had to travel at warp speed to have found as much pleasure and almost certainly hit a sheep/pheasant/ravine/oncoming car/lorry/tree/stone wall etc at some point. mind you I wouldn't have minded the M3s brakes. It's possible that cars are becoming so fast and competent these days, that the best ones will be no fun to drive on the roads, even if they do make you feel a little bit special to drive in them (that does count for a lot ). I certainly don't intend to track my car, so I might just have found my personal sweet spot (well an M2 would probably be the perfect sweet spot). I would love to drive the same roads as yesterday, in my old 130TC. It would be worth doing it for the noise alone.

[sharkrider]

I was driving back home yesterday across the Country Durham and North Yorkshire moors and thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I was only travelling at 7/10s (sort of). Other cars in it's class might have been able to cover the ground more quickly, but I got to enjoy the fab noise of a great engine/exhaust (windows open of course ) and the slightly lose rear end (only when provoked of course ) and bags of grip which could be overcome at any moment you wished. Perfect.

 

I've really got the hots for an M3 having been lucky enough to drive one for a day recently, but I doubt I would have had anywhere near so much fun in one. The car is so planted and fast, I would have had to travel at warp speed to have found as much pleasure and almost certainly hit a sheep/pheasant/ravine/oncoming car/lorry/tree/stone wall etc at some point. mind you I wouldn't have minded the M3s brakes. It's possible that cars are becoming so fast and competent these days, that the best ones will be no fun to drive on the roads, even if they do make you feel a little bit special to drive in them (that does count for a lot ). I certainly don't intend to track my car, so I might just have found my personal sweet spot (well an M2 would probably be the perfect sweet spot). I would love to drive the same roads as yesterday, in my old 130TC. It would be worth doing it for the noise alone.

well this is what its all about isn't it? my vRS is too fast to drive in anger on the public road, thats why i track it a lot.... the best car I had (sadly sold, but hope to get another) was the eunos! (mx5 mk1) such perfect feel, so alive, and yet you really could go 10/10 and still be legal! lol...  and yes, the noise I really cant understand why manufacturers are doing these ridiculous fake electronic noises into the cabin... I will never buy such a car as a point of principle!

[Lady Elanore]

I keep looking at the new MX5 (in that nice dark red ) and thinking hmmmmmm But I like to lean my seat back and by the time I get my legs comfy I don't think I can get a decent driving position in it :( Great looking car and it looks superb in all the videos I have seen.

 

I know what you mean about the fake noise. my 135 has some fake induction growl, but now I have a MP Exhaust it helps to hide it and as I now drive with my window open all the time, I hardly hear the fake noise any more

[sharkrider]

been out for the weekend in the abarth... it seems to be getting faster.... embarrassed a new fiesta ST (he was quite upset with my cheery wave as we "breezed" past ) and kept up with a mates sorted 210 ish bhp mark I octy vRS, very happy with this car... seriously thinking about buying swmbo "tuning" presents!

[sharkrider]

all season tyres are on! just in time me thinks! Maxxis AP2's , came 4th in auto express all season tyre test recently, beat pirelli and bridgestone!

 

 

chunky!

 

[sharkrider]

the more I drive this car the more I like it new tyres have reduced the tramlining, feel good in the 1C temp on the way home today... got this pic of a bit of snow!  lol.. more tonight apparently.

 

[andy68]

 

 

 

Some nice kerbing marks there Dave

[sharkrider]

Some nice kerbing marks there Dave

LOL.... Ash's car :P and they were there when we got it, she says she wants a sticker saying "it wasn't me!" they are on her list to do!!

[ChrisRs]

the more I drive this car the more I like it new tyres have reduced the tramlining, feel good in the 1C temp on the way home today... got this pic of a bit of snow!  lol.. more tonight apparently.

 

Nice dusting on Blencathra there!!

[sharkrider]

got another today ... this is butter-mere... cafe by the fish hotel.

 

[Lady Elanore]

Poor thing looks lonely :(

[sharkrider]

Poor thing looks lonely :(

It was a cool pic, and without comment on the abarth chat pages on facebook , has done well Quite thought inspiring (and on the other side of that dirty carpark were all the other cars that were at the caff by the fish hotel

 

the lunch was lovely, and the drive was fantastic! this car never fails to amaze me.... its a 2009!! and yet it has spirit, personality , excitement, fun , attracts attention, and every drive is an event! it just seems to get better.... damn, I may end up buying Ash things for this instead of my vRS!

[sharkrider]

you notice its the car we go out in..... rather than the vRS .... hmmmmmm makes you think what makes a car "special" ....