djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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Whilst I still wish I hadn't sold my Vectra VXR last year (it's now being stripped/broken up...  ), and await for the term with my company car to end so I can get something a little 'tasty' again to scratch my itch, things have happened with regards to the GFs car.
She had a Corsa 1.2 Limited Edition but has just traded it in against a new Abarth 595.
The Corsa had been brilliant if I am honest, a good and dependable little thing that was fine for her in most respects, however, with our recent purchase of property (hence my VXR going), her daily commute had going from ~1.5miles each way to ~20 miles each way, along some decent Rural A-roads. This has noticeabley highlighted the lack of power with the 1.2 Corsa, and we started to look at options for a change.
A 500 based Abarth was originally shortlisted when we got the Corsa, but not followed up as we had a dog at the time and it was simply too small for occasions when my larger car wasn't available for use. However, this is not an issue now, so the little Abarths came back onto our list.
Anyway, nothing too flash - a standard Abarth 595 really;
Abarth 595
1.4 T-Jet 140hp
Manual Transmission
Hatchback
Podium Blue paintwork
17" 10-spoke Option wheels
Abarth Bodystyling package
Abarth Exhaust with twin exit tailpipes
7" TFT Instrument Panel - multifunctional with varying displays etc
Sports Mode/Function
TTC - Torque Transfer Control (similar to an e-Diff)
DualDrive EPAS tied to Sports function
Boost Gauge
TPMS system
CD/MP3 Radio with 'Blue&Me' Bluetooth/USB compatibility
Abarth fabric Sport seats
Abarth styling flashes/niknaks - pedal trims/sill covers/mats etc
She is already loving it - 2 days in. I have driven it now too, and must say, it is a fun little thing. I will get it to myself soon enough to give it a bit more of a run...
No major plans for it really as it's her daily commuter but we will transfer her personal reg over to it soon, some subtle styling changes will be made, and we may consider a remap/tuning box later in our time with it if the standard power begins to feel lacking.
 IMG_3903 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_3904 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_3908 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_3909 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_3911 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_3913 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_3914 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_3915 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_3898 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_3899 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
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BeetleGav
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Registered: 27th Jun 10
Location: lancashire, nelson
User status: Offline
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I proper want one of these but I think I'm too tall, I couldn't fit properly in my sisters 500 when she got it on launch.
With that colour I'd do a subtle laminex tint on all the lights and vinyl wrap the chrome bits
Howcome the vxr is being split?
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whitter45
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Registered: 15th Nov 02
Location: Norton
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looks very nice, congrats
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by BeetleGav
I proper want one of these but I think I'm too tall, I couldn't fit properly in my sisters 500 when she got it on launch.
With that colour I'd do a subtle laminex tint on all the lights and vinyl wrap the chrome bits
Howcome the vxr is being split?
I'm 6'22 and a chubber. I fit in there fine  - I was actually in the back for the test drive we took with one for the whole 50mins - once I got myself positioned alright, it wasn't bad atall.
There is more headroom that you may think.
We are going to do some changes to the Chrome items - the expensive Abarth 695 Biposto has lots of satin grey finish items instead of Chrome, and they also seem to remove the 500 logo on the rear handle too, so we will look into some of these most likely.
The Vectra has bene through 3 owners since I sold it! First was someone here who kept it for about 2wks then got an M135i, the second had it til February and was using it as a 2nd car and did a few small bits but had to sell as he didn't have enough parking at a house they were moving to, the third got it from him and it then developed a timing chain issue and was then also hit/scraped down one of the rear quarters by a van - it needs ~£1k for chain repairs, maybe a little more, plus whatever the body repair would cost so he has decided to cut losses and break it - it has some good and less common parts (Leathers, Nav, AFLs, Auto stuff + aftermarket items like the Quaife LSD, EDS Exhaust parts etc) so has more value in pieces now, unfortunately.
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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595 and no Xenons? Thought they were standard? Also is that a cloth interior? Thought leather was also standard?
Really want one of these
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Jambo
595 and no Xenons? Thought they were standard? Also is that a cloth interior? Thought leather was also standard?
Really want one of these
On earlier cars, the 595 was a special edition over the standard Abarth 500, but not any more. You effectively can't get an Abarth 500 anymore - you now have the 595 (140hp base mode, this one), 595 Turismo (160hp and some additional bits), 595 Competizione (180hp, Sabelts, Xenons, more extras) a 595 something Yamaha edition and the 695 Biposto (semi stripped, widened track expensive special - very very nice after looking around the one in the dealership, but a silly price)
It is fitted with Cloth seats, again something due to the line-up changes since within the last couple of years.
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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Ahhh OK that makes more sense! When I was looking a year or so back (maybe longer) they all came with that stock. However you could get a boggo 140bhp 500, so all makes sense.
Lovely car, how do you find it to drive? Only thing I was never keen on in the 500 was the high driving position where you sit "on" it not "in" it if you get me?
I still want a 500c in grey with red abarth stickers on the side same wheels as yours with flappy paddles.
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Jambo
Ahhh OK that makes more sense! When I was looking a year or so back (maybe longer) they all came with that stock. However you could get a boggo 135bhp 500, so all makes sense.
Lovely car, how do you find it to drive? Only thing I was never keen on in the 500 was the high driving position where you sit "on" it not "in" it if you get me?
EFA... 
I have only done 40 miles in it myself, but its not bad atall. The ride is no worse than the Corsa LE was (they have SRi suspension I believe) and the power delivery is very good. Nice and responsive and has light steering - when the Sport mode is activated, the steering gets nice & weighty and it is more responsive too and tuns higher boost etc. I liked it.
The seating is quite high up, yes, def feels the way you describe, however I think some owners have found ways to lower the seat mounts slightly so this is something I may look into. Once you get yourself into position, it's not bad really. I do find the small footwell a little narrow and was catching the edge of the brake pedal on gearchanges, though an Auto would obviously not have this issue.
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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Interesting you mention the ride as a lot of journo's stated that it was very harsh. I prefer cars that ride firmly in general, but was curious to see if it was that bad. Never driven one sadly, just a boggo 500 1.2 which I enjoyed driving a lot, aside from the wheezy engine.
Hows the build quality compared with the Corsa?
Really is a great colour, good choice plus those are 100% the best wheels, I would chose the same. Might be a bit of a bastard to clean tho 
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Pete_vxl
Member
Registered: 24th Nov 06
Location: Lochgelly, Fife
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I think only the Sabelts can be lowered.
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Jambo
Interesting you mention the ride as a lot of journo's stated that it was very harsh. I prefer cars that ride firmly in general, but was curious to see if it was that bad. Never driven one sadly, just a boggo 500 1.2 which I enjoyed driving a lot, aside from the wheezy engine.
Hows the build quality compared with the Corsa?
Really is a great colour, good choice plus those are 100% the best wheels, I would chose the same. Might be a bit of a bastard to clean tho
The ride isn't that bad atll. It is firm, but not ridiculous, it really isn't any worse than the Corsa was atall. I can see that it would be a bit tedious on a really rutty road, but otherwise it is fine.
Build quality is similar, thought there are noticeable differences in some material quality, doorcards being the prime example and very plastic in this. Seats are better though, far more comfortable and overall it seems well screwed together.
Gf chose the colour, and the wheels too. She did well I think.
quote:
Originally posted by Pete_vxl
I think only the Sabelts can be lowered.
Bum. Will have to do some more research. It must be possible to lower them somehow, as they are only in with nuts & bolts after all...
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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I'm not sure that lowering the seats will do all that much. The whole car is that shape, setup for that driving position. I suppose it's part of the charm and how it doesn't feel like you are driving a Jiffy bag!
Will be looking at these again when the VXR goes, interested to see your avg. mpg too!
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DaveyLC
Member
Registered: 8th Oct 08
Location: Berkshire
User status: Offline
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I've got a real hankering for a Fiat 500 to replace the Smart Car for work, however potential reliability issues are putting me off, I'd probably end up with a ghey TwinAir
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Pete_vxl
Member
Registered: 24th Nov 06
Location: Lochgelly, Fife
User status: Offline
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Looks like you don't have Interscope so you might be able to lower the seat. Can only try!
I average 35mpg and I don't hang about.
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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Done almost 500 miles in it in the last week, using it for weekend trips etc - GF loves it she keeps offering to drive, which is a rarity, so not going to turn that down...
I bought and fitted some Diadem rear indicators during the week, as they are far nicer than the normal Orange blob, although they are only small lamps on these so not hugely noticeable I guess.
Then today gave it a deep wash & polish - lovely colour in the sunlight, really lightens up; then darkens under cloud cover etc. In dull light such as first thing in the morning, it has a bit of a purple hue to it too. Overall, a good choice I think.
Then, took it out myself for a bit of a short run. Sport engaged all the way, it does respond well. Exhaust isn't quite settled enough to make the interesting noises yet though. Hoping it gets louder over time otherwise I will look into a Sports Cat/Downpipe for it to try to liven it up a bit.
Got a bit of feedback from the TTC ("E-Diff") setup pulling off around an uphill corner near home, where it felt similar to the Vectra with the Quaife as it was going through. Needs a better run on a more familiar road to really get an idea of it though - soon...
 IMG_3921 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_3922 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_3926 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_3931 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_3932 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
Needs lowering. Looks so high. Also need to get some alternative DRL bulbs as they are pants. PIAAs seem a popular option, though pretty pricey for some wedge bulbs. Meh.
Also, got a few images of some of the various screens within the TFT Display - you scroll through the displays using the Trip button on the end of one of the stalks;
'Standard' - Revs, Temp, Speed, Fuel, 'Eco Index' (a gauge for how economically you are being basically - gay), Range/Inst Cons + Date/Time/Temp etc - you also get a small Bluetooth logo when connected, and an Aerial Mast logo to show phone network connection state;
Then you have a Trip A & Trip B record, over 2 tabs each, only bothered with A for this because boring;
They you get the TPMS display - the tyres only show if they are Ok or not, no live pressure figures - oddly, they show 'KO' when low, which is a bit weird tbh, can't see the reasoning - bloody Italians;
Then upon pressing Sport, you get a couple of minor changes... Firstly, you lose the 'Eco Index' and get a 'Gas %' meter - ie, throttle input, 0-100%. You get little red flashes behind the Speed figure, and the 'floor' under the car goes from stripes to a chequer, clearly because race car.
You also get a little G-Meter. Mega gimmick, can't see the point, can't see how accurate it really is; but will experiment with it when I am on my own, because simple things...  ;
Here is a smidge of throttle input, because it is obviously an important piece of data;
You also get little text readouts for the Audio, to tell you what is playing - it does scroll and not sit there incomplete as the pic suggests. It's a pop-up, so disappears after a few seconds back to whichever screen was already open;
Still finding things out when I take 5 mins on the bog with the owners manual. Some good things in there, like the special cheat code to reset the Auto Fuel-cut system if it ever tripped - it's done by a sequence of inputs through the indicator stalk, then the ignition. So, kinda like the start of Sonic on the Mega Drive. Cool.
[Edited on 17-04-2016 by djgritt]
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