Show Us Your Motors!

Rybo89 · 19 Apr 2016 at 21:46

How does it compare to the ST Shaun?

shauncr91 · 19 Apr 2016 at 22:02

It's really hard to compare, my mk6 is understandably better in both handling and acceleration however it's to be expected with all the money I've spent on the Fiesta. It's how the Abarth feels as a package out of the box that makes it such a brilliant car, being so small and cutesy with it's massive boost gauge and wheels, little pops on the up shift and twin exhausts it's just funny at what it can do and it's sensation it gives you when driving that makes it such a good buy.

Once we've put a few hundred miles on it I'll try and draw up a fairer comparison as the tyres aren't even scrubbed in yet

Raymond Lin · 19 Apr 2016 at 22:04

Question or two if I may, if you are driving sensibly, how quiet is the cabin?

Also, can the rear seats be folded down?

[TW]Fox · 19 Apr 2016 at 22:09

Also what is the rear tyre pressure?

Do you know what the volume of the spare wheel well is?

shauncr91 · 19 Apr 2016 at 22:10

Back seats don't fold completely flat but do fold forward.

When driving normally it's very civilized, for a small Fiat it's definitely far ahead in terms of interior build quality than most people would probably expect but the mk7 Fiesta ST for example may just beat it in terms of road noise when driving along. I imagine a non-Abarth 500 would be even better due to not having the PS3's these come with as standard and a less intrusive exhaust.

Diagro · 19 Apr 2016 at 22:11

Traffic_Warden said:
It's not worth it, It's a £550 car. I can get a new engine for less then the cost of a genuine belt/pulley kit & labor cost. I can fit the engine myself.

The belt has no wear on it, even on the inside no cracking c (I know it doesn't stop it snapping or breaking just because of that). There's no proof of it being done, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been, there's countless clio's that have it done with no proof. If it was a very clean, low mileage, sort after model which was worth a bit, I wouldn't hesitate to get it done straight away.

Well. At least change the aux belt and tensioner?
£50 for genuine bits and you could fit them yourself?
It's the aux belt that kills the engine... peace of mind and all that jazz

Yaayuh! · 19 Apr 2016 at 22:21

Love the Abarth 595, nippy things! A friend has a convertible 500 and I think it's great as well.

rare · 19 Apr 2016 at 22:38

Nice one on the Abarth! I love the grey, looks superb. Just FYI, this is my 595 Comp on H&R springs which might be worth investigating as they do level out the somewhat comical arch gap. Sorry for the slightly dodgy phone pics.

I am enjoying mine a great deal, second one I have had so far!

shauncr91 · 19 Apr 2016 at 22:45

That looks excellent. Do the H&R's cause any issues with rubbing ever as it looks quite a substantial drop?

rare · 19 Apr 2016 at 22:54

None at all. Admittedly there is only ever two people in the car as it has a cage in the rear.

If it was loaded with 4 people it might cause a problem but I have had none what so ever. Its quite a firm ride, but substantially better than my 2010 500 which was on Bilstein coils. That was perhaps the worst ride I have ever experienced haha.

shauncr91 · 19 Apr 2016 at 22:58

Thanks mate, will put those on the maybe list

Wizardskills · 19 Apr 2016 at 23:30

I really enjoyed my 3 year ownership of my 500 EsseEsse. They really are such good fun to drive. Adding just the EsseEsse springs will make the ride very harsh so it's best to do the shocks at the same time.

Also, for maximum childishness fitting a filter to the blow off valve is a cheap, reversible mod. (it sounds much better than the vid as boost is limited when in neutral)

shauncr91 · 19 Apr 2016 at 23:35

I was under the impression that the Essesse had the same shocks? And that the Koni shocks were an option?

I've only briefly looked at lowering options so I'm most likely wrong

Wizardskills · 19 Apr 2016 at 23:45

shauncr91 said:
I was under the impression that the Essesse had the same shocks? And that the Koni shocks were an option?

I've only briefly looked at lowering options so I'm most likely wrong

It does and ride is very hard as result. I test drove one and found it wasn't very compliant at all as the car jumped about at even the smallest bump in the road. Mine had the Koni shock system and it made a world of difference.

Cleisthenes · 20 Apr 2016 at 10:13

I went for a drive in a 595 Comp and I found it quite uncomfortable and when in sport it is ridiculously loud, and doesn't make an especially nice noise imo.

Was a lot of fun to throw around though. My local Abarth dealer has a specialist who is an ex racing driver so he encourages you to rev it to 7k

rare · 20 Apr 2016 at 10:48

They are quite uncomfortable on long journeys as the Sabelts are set high with no height adjustment. I find it perfectly fine for my 50 mile commute. And yes they are loud! Especially more so without any rear seats haha. All part of the fun though in my mind!

Traffic_Warden · 20 Apr 2016 at 18:09

Diagro said:
Well. At least change the aux belt and tensioner?
£50 for genuine bits and you could fit them yourself?
It's the aux belt that kills the engine... peace of mind and all that jazz

Yep, I've fitted a handful of aux belts & pulleys for these clio's, giving it a small service so I'm going to get that done as well.

kona786 · 20 Apr 2016 at 21:21

Janesy B · 20 Apr 2016 at 22:16

Is that JDM cherry blossom?

Marvin · 20 Apr 2016 at 23:28

shauncr91 said:
How tall are you? I'm roughly 6'1 and fit just fine.

6'3" of a large build and long in the back - I struggle for headroom in an awful lot of cars. The main issue for me with the 500 was the gear stick surround being exactly where my knee wanted to be, which meant I couldn't get my left foot on the clutch pedal. The salesman and I tried all the adjustments possible but no dice. As with many cars, I'd imagine a set of Recaro Sportsters set lower than standard would sort it right out.

Probably worth bearing in mind it was a standard 500 Abarth I tried, I don't know if the seats differ.