Why Do I Hate The Abarth 595 So Much? Because it's Rubbish. That's Why.
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- čas přidán 8. 06. 2024
- Today I continue my tirade on the Abarth 595, the jumped up Panda. Boo, hiss, etc....
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![I Got Another Abarth! [Hot Hatch Tour]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SvhgrekrZAQ/mqdefault.jpg)
As the owner of the car, I'd like to state on record that on this occasion James is just wrong 😂 it's the most characterful and amusing car you can get nearly new with warranty for
Missing the 944 from your profile pic in that list.
the abarth is a joke
It must have been painful to sit through that review 😂. As long as it puts a smile on your face, that's what matters I guess 😁
@@jim_bocho sold to fund the Cayman 😭
@@amunbinning8333 Carlo Abarth doesn't like your opinion. As an italian 🇮🇹 neither do i.
As professional automobile psychologist: Your issue is not the Abarth 595, it is rooted much deeper in the form of a Fiat trauma.
Spot on!!
It must have to do with something in his childhood. Mabye his mother drove a Fiat.
@@Gentleman...Driver my mother drove a Fiat. Ferrari yellow Coupe. But she sold it the year I got my driving license... ;(
@@nervsouly Thats sad. Its a design iconic of the 90s. But from a driving experience you didnt miss anything. FWD cars are not that exciting to drive. But if you like the design, go for it. Those cars are cheap.
@@Gentleman...Driver nah I only want to drive pocket rockets. I'm somewhat of a parking idiot. :)
Imagine giving your car to your favourite CZcamsr and being told it's shite 😂
At least he liked our Cayman 😂
Honest reviews can be painful.
Haha. Personal opinion ultimately and better than giving your partner to your favourite CZcams and being told the same.
@@simonalexandercritchley439 reviews are not in line. He tells total garbage cars are Germanys Mustangs and then one of the best mini hacthes is total shit. Or then he has totally weird taste, liking shit cars everyone else hates- There is also this british bias be seen in UK car reviews, not many shit UK car is classified as rubbish, even there is many its kinda vice versa every fucking car that comes from UK are superior to any other.
@@georgemayson4936 Hats off to let him do the review.
American owner here... imagine not even getting the 595 with 180bhp. Still, of all the cars I have ever owned (and that includes Z' turbo Z's, mustangs, corvettes, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche and a host of other brands and nameplates), this remains my favorite. Ever. I bought a brand new one in 2012, the 7th Abarth sold in Virginia to be exact. I lost it in 2015 when my spouse became ill, lost her job and we had to start all over. This year, we finally got a second car after losing both of them in 2015 and what did I buy as the second car? A nice used '13 Abarth, this time with a sunroof and auto temp control. If you don't get it, you just don't get it chief. There is more personality in this clown car than a garage full of anything else. Worth every penny.
Yeah, but in Europe Abarth 595 is not the only small car with decent power.
Never owned one, never driven one, i never even sat in one, however i always get excited when i see one.
Something about it is just so damn cool
As an italian 🇮🇹 i appreciate your feelings about our cars.
The original fiat 500 is better
@@adama-k2710 Well that's true without any doubt. Luckly here in Italy we still have plenty of those.
@@adama-k2710 why so?
I totally agree
It is a small car, like buying a 1 bedroom flat and complaining it is not a mansion.
Where did he take issue with it being small? You fanboys are so obvious lol
It's too small for the amount of fun it packs. When you look at it you think "short wheelbase, peppy motor, this thing will handle like a go kart and be unbridled fun" and it isn't. It's fun and handles well. It isn't much more fun or engaging than a 2007 GTI and is quite a bit less practical. If I want small I'll just tap into the Honda aftermarket and build a Fit Sport. The Fit is leagues ahead in terms of reliability if a bit pokey. FIAT reliability in the US ranges from appalling to slightly below average. The fun factor needs to be huge leap above the competition and it's not really.
My wife had the base 595 a few years back and I never warmed to it. She’s now got the 595 Trofeo which has more power, monza exhaust, uprated shocks, brakes etc and it’s transformed it into a brilliant little car.
Justed watch a guy!!! who should be driving a fat Merc or BMW in that shirt and facial hair!!! Talk about a fun car with history ,,, that's fun and sticks out from the crowd ,, t✓t
Seems your wife didn't care what you thought of the old or the new one. I think she likes it.
I sold a 987 Porsche Cayman S and bought a 595 Competizione running 200bhp. The Abarth is massively flawed in so many ways but I've had way more fun driving it than I ever did in the Porsche, at the price point for a fun daily you cant go wrong.
Plus, you don't live in fear of an IMS bearing grenading itself every time you start it!
I guess that you can't have the same level of fun in the Porsche because you're always aware that every piece of "fun" costs a lot of money. Because "fun" wears down components: tires, engine, transmission, suspension, pivots, you name it. At least in the Abarth you know that you can afford to replace the entire car anytime, so yeah, you can have fun without thinking about the consequences. Oh, and also, at the price point of the Abarth, you have no great expectations from it. When you pay for a Porsche, you kind of expect it to behave in a certain way. Is the fun worth more than the pay? Hard to say... After driving a couple of them, I would say it's even...
Slightly militant owners community😂 Guessing you found that out after the last review.
Maybe he didn't review a Subaru yet ;)
Dynamically flawed on so many levels yes, but on an emotional level these Abarth 500’s tick so many boxes. I respect your opinion James nonetheless; however, I think these cars are superb fun and put a smile on your face, unlike so many other homogeneous Euro boxes.
You can see the poor owner’s little face just saying “please stop. Stop abusing and insulting my prized little Abarth”🤣
No, we just dont care about opinions ;-)
@@infinitelooping they’re so fun though, I’ve had countless cars, this is one that actually makes me smile when I drive it though 😅
I fall into the category of serious petrol head who loves these things. I love them BECAUSE they haven't moved on in ten years. A decade ago I liked new cars, today I don't very much. It's not as serious a hot hatch as my 182 Trophy, but that's a positive in my view too. When we had ours I viewed it as a warm hatch, it was easy to push it beyond the limit of grip because the chasiss wasn't as competent as the 182, and you had to matt the throttle everywhere to try to stay with it. For that reason I found it a hilarious car to drive. The driving position is rubbish, the steering has no feel, everything is made of lego...loved it all.
Well, you seem to get what makes this car so great, as an italian 🇮🇹 i appreciate your love for it.
Sounds terrible to be honest. Get a nice wee fiesta st and feel the goodness
@@bassface8580 only cancerous spakkas drives fiesta STs mate
@@bassface8580 or just wait for the i20 N
That might be good
@@bassface8580 Thing is, the Fiesta ST is better in my opinion. I think it would be in most people's opinions. But the best, or better isn't always what you want, or at least not always what I want. For example, I love a good single malt, Oban is probably my favourite, I can give you loads of reasons why it's one of the best liquids you can drink. But sometimes, I don't want an Oban, sometimes I just want a glass of coke with some ice. Comparatively shit, objectively worse, but just sometimes what I fancy. It's the same with the Abarth. I'd drive it thinking, this throttle response is crap, steering wheel isn't telling me anything, then the back end would step out where my Trophy would've been planted, or the inside wheel would spin up where my Williams would have nailed the power down...and the sheer incompetence of it all would be entertaining. To get the willy or the trophy to do that I'd have to be doing insane speeds, it was that insane speed experience at a much lower threshold that made it such a fun car. The same thing that in my opinion makes a Fiesta ST more fun than a Focus RS.
I watched all of that with the auto generated captions on, since I'm sat with everyone else watching Loud House. Turns out you're actually reviewing "a bath"😆👌
Don’t think you’re safe to criticise any car when you wear a shirt like that 😂
Looks like a knob
Pat sharp funhouse special
George is packing too much lard to fit in the seat.
It's a curious one. For all intents and purposes, the 595 is pretty much as flawed as the video makes it out to be. It is cheaply made, you sit too high and there isn't enough adjustability. But between my R56 Mini Cooper S and my mate's 595 with the Monza exhaust, it's ALWAYS the latter that has me smiling the most. The flaws make the car characterful and cheeky, and that exhaust is just mental in the best way. Certainly not a car to daily drive on a 30-mile commute, but for the weekend it's hard to do worse for the price, and I say that as a very happy Cooper S owner.
its cheaply made as its cheap car, its like Mini looks cheap and feels as nasty
"Militant owners community" 😂
STG probably threw his laptop across the room in a rage. LOL
That shirt is one of your wildest yet, I like it. 👍
When he said militant following. I didnt know that they would raid the enitre comment section, jesus chtist.
Haha. With a video title like that he’s fair game. Be controversial for the sake of it and you’re gonna get a backlash.
He knows what he’s doing though. No such thing as bad publicity.
A work colleague has one, I’ve drove it on multiple occasions and can solemnly say James is bang on with the review. Horrible seating position, horrible steering wheel, vague handling, poor traction even with PS4’s, I really don’t know why people are so fanatical about them.
@@KeithJD
What do you drive day to day Keith?
I’ll agree that the seating position is high but you can either overlook that for the rest of the package or you can’t. Not sure which steering wheel your friends car has but my wife’s is the latest multifunction, flat bottomed thing and it’s great, almost Audi-esque. It sits at a quirky angle mind.
Either way that’s all subjective and we all like different things, so fair enough, but “poor traction”??
We live in a small village, 6 miles from the nearest town. It’s a cracking stretch of road that links us. Bumpy but with every type of bend, dips and crests etc. When I do the takeaway run in the Abarth I properly kick its head in on the way home. I’m talking hazard lights flashing under braking etc. The only tiny bad handling trait is the car wags its tail a bit under heavy braking over crests, but that’s to be expected given the stiff suspension and short wheelbase.
Apart from that it’s great. Even torque steer isn’t bad. Try an 80’s RS Turbo for that.
I honestly think you’d have to be doing advanced level trackday speeds on the road to have an accident.
Again what are you comparing it to that offers that sort of performance for £20k brand new?
@@marky9117 totally agree with you
I think the handling isn’t too bad. Sure it’s understeering quite often, but that’s to expect from FWD and u can play with it a lot. Besides that it grips so well, I throw through every corner in my neighborhood.
@@930bert
Exactly buddy. All FWDs try and under steer.
Abarths are little cars built to a price point but great fun. I don’t know what people expect. We all like different things though.
I’m still waiting for suggestions from folk on what’s a better alternative for performance, character, sound and styling. 😉
The handling doesn’t seem to hamper the progress of this lad below. 😄
czcams.com/video/P0ub0br3Tts/video.html
Jheeze those rims have seen a hard life😂
Typical 500 driver
Previous owners doing 🤣
I test drove one and thought it was alright with numb steering and sat a bit high but alright as a run-about. Then I owned one (still do) it's hilarious. Makes me laugh out loud everywhere I go. I also have an Evora and the little Abarth is nowhere near as 'good', obviously, but for short journeys around back roads or town it's a little bundle of unbridled innocent fun and I wouldn't change it for the world.
Well, this car was made for back roads and little towns, couse here in Italy we have planty of those. As an italian 🇮🇹 i appreciate your love for this car wich is the symbol of my country.
@Paul Grant thanks for the reply Paul, I think you missed the point of the message. The Evora is good the Abarth is more laugh out loud innocent fun. It's lack of focus on ultimate ability is what makes it a wonderful car.
Is this car and the car you own a 170 hp 1.4 l if I may ask?
I loved the original Fiat uno turbo and see 595 as its modern equivalent.
100% agree with you, i had two Uno Turbo`s in the 1980`s and these 595 Abarth`s are a modern far safer equivalent, i love mine...You don`t need 6 speed boxes and soft padded trim adding to the price, keep it simple and affordable...
Really?! No, surely not?! I always lusted after a Fiat Uno Turbo but could never afford the insurance. I haven’t driven the 595 but it looks like an overly stylized bauble by comparison to the genuine rip-snorter Uno Turbo (hallowed be its name, may it always be remembered fondly and spoken of with reverence).
Ironically, the Uno had a version with a 1.1l Fiat fire engine. The same engine that's in the Abarth, just with 1.4l and turbocharged
We all know they’re not very good cars. But that’s missing the point of the car. They’re brimming with character, look brilliant in the right spec, are surprisingly quick down a road, inexpensive to run and I’ve never driven a car that puts such a smile on my face and neither has any of the other people I know who worthier own one or have driven one. Shame you drove the most basic model though. A 595 Comp is really quite different,
Well said Greg, my wife had a Comp loved it so much bought a new Biposto, not a daily BUT on track, omg laugh out loud fun .
Agree 100% was after one drove the standard and liked it, then tried a Turismo which was loads better with the extra 20hp noticeable and the fruitier exhaust sounded great, I then tried the Comp which is just so much more than the lesser model and was so impressed I bought it.
@@jonathandavies390 I was the Opposite lol, I wanted a Comp but had the privilege of driving the Comp, Turismo, and the base model, All had decent power, But the shocks and how stiff they were put me off the Comp, I settled for the Base 595 as it was still good enough but a bit comfier to drive, I also liked the sound of the stock exhaust better, Granted not as noisy, But has a tone to it the other models don't Lol, nearly 2 months in, Its currently just shy of 160bhp, About to get the forge intake which should give it about 5+ BHP, Saved a few grand so can put it into upgrades i want :)
this hasn’t changed my opinion, I love the abarth 500
As an italian 🇮🇹 i'm glad to hear that.
I think it's important it hasn't changed your opinion. So many people see videos where Clarkson or whoever doesn't like it, and then hates that car for years to come for no good reason. Like Jay said, many people love their Abarth 500's and if you like yours, like one you've driven, or just like them anyway then great.
@@TheShinyShow except for the Ford Escort Mk5 and Vauxhall Vectra B. Everyone ignored Clarkson and bought them.
@@00kirbyd I've not seen Clarkson talk about them but I love the Escort mk5, normal and Cosworth
@@TheShinyShow excluding the Cosworth, the Mk5 Escort was really terrible back in the day. Even the Rover 200 ran rings around it.
I had the 595 competizione, wouldn't say it was cheap..but it was a pocket rocket and it handled well. 👍
Having a comp with 180bhp and all the suspension upgrades over the one in this video makes the difference 👍
@ROJ54321 you my friend are whats wrong with people
He borrowed the car to do his amateur review, from a tight-wad that didnt want to put their hand in their pocket for any more than the basic model in basic trim
Ooh boy. Starting off 2021 with a *spicy* review. Happy New Year, James!
Apparently I like everything I drive. So I wanted to disprove that
@@JayEmmOnCars Variation and diversity in content is never a bad thing.
@@JayEmmOnCars and prove what an absolute tool you are haha,good job
I remember you giving the colt raliart a fairly bad review too. I always rememver because I was thinking of getting one at the time and you put me off lol
@@JayEmmOnCars you said you're immune to the Abarth ... Because it's a scorpion lol
I have one of these and it's a fab little car. It eats the motorway miles, is a hoot on the back roads and scoots round the city with ease. It is a higher spec than the model in the video so the interior is that bit better looking. I just cannot agree with Jayemm on this. Also please will you give Timmy Mallett his shirt back!
Please do not ever sell It, don't do my mistake. I miss her so much also if now i have a more powerful BMW F20. In terms of pure fun the 595 was Miles above.
What mpg combined?
@@jamesclark9778 getting about 42 mpg at the mo, combined in winter, so it tells me anyway!
I was hooked by the title. I love a good moan!
Your Juke review is a classic of this genre!
I like it, although mum keeps calling it variations on Abarth - a bath, Ardbath, Abroath, aardvark...
Arbroath 595 is our top choice 😁
Noah's arc
@@georgemayson4936 I'm a fan of aardvark myself
@@catkin1671 Carlo Abarth probably doesn't like your comment. As an italian 🇮🇹 i don't either.
Just kidding it's pretty fun actually.
Hahaha my previous car was a 595 and I'm from arbroath (Scotland) 🤣🤣🤣🤪🤪🤪
I personally hated mine because of the steering.. until I took it on track. I was surprised!
You can have a similar experience to driving this car by sitting in front of an old tumble dryer and playing with the switches
😂😂 Better to paint the Tumble dryer bright yellow first I would suggest.
While in a different price bracket I feel like the new Toyota Yaris GR has taken the Crown for multiple car owners who can afford it and are looking for a compact, fast and nimble town car and its sooo much better from all accounts.
Not comparing apples with apples though. Top normalish Abarth, is the comp. £20k new. The Yaris is £30k+. Yaris power to weight is hardly any better and it doesn’t look as good although that’s subjective.
@@marky9117 you can spec an abarth to lofty levels nearing 30k (even a regular comp). and 170hp/tonne vs 200hp/tonne is quite a difference in favour of the yaris GR. the Yaris GR is a faster car, the Abarth is a riot in its way and i agree in high spec form looks a lot better than this yaris.
@@TroyHR123
Yep apologies, I was working the Yaris out with 240bhp. They’re in no way competitors in a lot of ways (2WD vs 4WD, etc) especially price, but since someone mentioned them I thought I’d chip in.
You can spec either car up from its base price and there’s £10k difference either way. My wife’s has just under £3k of options and all we’d want, Upgraded hifi, xenons, a few other things. List was £23k+. We paid £19800.
So my main point to anyone knocking them is what is a better alternative fun new car for £20k?
My wife isn’t a massive petrolhead but likes the quirky fun design. I’d wanted one since they came out but they are a woman’s or young lads car. We are in our 40’s.
We like a new car because it means reliability, new tyres/brakes, the exhaust isn’t going to drop off or anything daft and it’s zero hassle. (My passion and cars are in the 80’s/90’s though apart from my GT3 but we like new stuff for my wife.)
So the Yaris will no doubt be more capable but it is £10k more. That was my main point. Not knocking the Yaris although I don’t like the looks, sound and I don’t need 4WD. No doubt great cars though. 👍🏻
@@marky9117 Yaris GR is doing the 0-60 mph in about 5 seconds. While the Abarth versions are 1.5 seconds slower. Also the Yaris GR is a homologation model done right. There is no way an Abarth could match. But I highly doubt that Toyota sells this car with any profit. They had to change everything. Thats why everyone is after that car.
I am driving an Abarth 124 Spider myself. He is not wrong about the 595 in the video. In a technical aspect that car is very cheap and not good for driving fast. But it looks and sounds good, and it has a lot of character. Thats why people are buying this.
If this was a Panda, nobody would show interest.
@@Gentleman...Driver
Yes it was Stick Those Bananas who made the comparison and my point was the Abarth is £20k and the Yaris is £30k so not a fair comparison.
Yes the Yaris is a quicker more capable car (although with good drivers on a dry track I doubt there’d be as much difference as some folk think) but so it should be, as it’s one and a half times the price.
The Yaris does nothing for me as it’s more than we’d spend on a runaround for my wife and it’s not special enough for a weekend car for me. I like RWD and normally aspirated. 😉
A lot of discussion has been around prices too. I think some folk are hoping it’s going to be a great investment as it’s being touted as this thoroughbred homologation rally car (even though it won’t actually ever rally). They’re making 25,000 of them! That’s a bit more than the old go-to homologation figure from yesteryear of 500. 😄
Anyway I digress. Yaris = great little car for a lot of people. Abarth = great little car for a lot of people.
Jay emm is wrong though. They simply are not terrible by any stretch. You have to question how spoilt you are when you think a £20k hot hatch is terrible.
Austin Allegros are terrible. Lada Samaras are terrible. Not many cars made today are. 😉
Hi James, apologies for the silly question: I remember you said in previous videos that before you review a car, you only look for the technical specs (+ perhaps the development story of the car too), and you try to avoid reading/watching other people's reviews, incase it colours your opinions. After you reviewed the car, do you look up on other people's reviews on the same car and if so, does it occasionally change the way you see the car in retrospect? Many thanks in advance.
Jay, as the former owner of an Abarth for 5 years and 63K, I can tell you it's all about the back to basics. I always looked forward to getting into the car, seriously. I had many bolt ons and a beautiful set of O.Z. 45th anniversary rims and yearly stripe changes to keep it fresh. Yeah it would go into lymph mode once a summer and then go away and I got used to it.
I miss the car everyday honestly😋
Finally someone that appreciate this car for what it is, a tiny "cheap" car to have fun with especially in the tiny roads of Italy, wich is what is ment for in the first place. As an italian 🇮🇹 i appreciate your love for this car wich is the symbol of my country, and i'm sorry that you miss yours.
@@kevinmandrile5074 we have this "emission test" here in Chicagoland which doesn't measure a single unit of emission and it's the main reason I had to get rid of it. The brand sadly hasn't done well here and the dealerships are far and inbetween, so I just had to and besides, the shifter linkage was "finicky" and didn't feel comfortable with just anyone working on it. I drove this car year round, through winter with Blizzaks on it and NEVER got stuck and drove through several dumplings of snow too.
Still can't understand why even at this point there aren't more of these around🤔
@@klasseact6663 Wow, we have emission tests too here so yours must be much more severe. About the snow thing that's no surprise, here in Italy everyone knows that Fiats are great on the snow. This country is mostly snowy mountains, and in the mountains the best car you can use is an old Panda 4×4 from the 80's. You can get one in good condition for like 2000€, and it will perform better than any modern big expensive 4×4. Here in the winter is always so much fun to see the faces of people driving big expensive 4×4 cars being sourpassed by old cheap Fiats, or even need they're help after getting stucked in the snow. Once i saw a modern Range Rover Defender being sourpassed by an old man in a 500 from the 60's, the owner face was like: "Why am i still here, just to suffer?"
@@kevinmandrile5074 ours aren't severe at all, some areas of the state don't even require them, it's just a cash grab. They simply plug into the OBDII and scan for a check engine light, that's it. Even a loose gas cap and you fail and then have to pay to get it fixed, they even give you a list of local repair shops to do the job.
So you'll like this, my Abarth was metallic black and the best look I had for it were Italian flag colored stripes for it, both on the rockers and an offset stripe on the passenger side that went over the entire car, on the paint parts. The center stripe was white and the left chaser was green and right one red and combined with those O.Z. 45th anniversary wheels it looked awesome😎
@@klasseact6663 I bet it did, you have a great taste it seems. About the emission test being just a cash grab, same here, i lost count of how many car related laws we have here that are clearly just an excuse to make you pay more money for having less fun, it's sad, i tought America was different, better, but apparently i was wrong, we are all in the same boat. Anyway my friend, i hope one day you're gonna be able to buy and keep the car that you love, without the government laws ruining your dreams. Much love from Cuneo to Chicago 🥰❤, bye👋.
Sorry Jay but I think you are a bit harsh on the 500 abarth haveing driven a few my impression what a great fun little car 😊☺️☺️☺️ if you don't like them don't drive them and rip then to bits simple
What I don't understand is the Panda 100HP had a 6 speed box in 2006, but when they launched the Abarth 500, they left it out. Perhaps it was a packaging issues as the 100HP had bugger all steering lick due to the size of the gearbox, so adding a turbo into the mix in that tiny engine bay may have been a step too far.
It does make you wonder if abarth like VW with the Polo GTi which I've also owned in the past with the 1.8 20v turbo only put a 5 speed in gearbox in. Cos had it had a 6 would it be capable of doing 155 mph and in doing so making it a car that a insurance company wouldn't insure due to a 20 year old etc could possibly purchase it ?
I own a 595 Compitizione 70th and also an F-Type. Granted the F-Type looks great but I honestly choose to take the little Abarth to work almost every day.
With regards "why buy it new" I bought my 180bhp Abarth with Koni shocks, brembo brakes, monza exhaust and a 2 bar Garrett turbo, all of that for just over £17k, ganted it should have been £23k but it had sat since lockdown and only had 41miles on the clock, indeed I traded in an M440i for it and don't regret it for a second.
James, you have my email from last month and the offer still stands, you can take the F-Type and the Comp for a spin and hopefully it will change your mind!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did i read that correctly? You traded a M440i for an Abarth?
@@oscardominguez1680 what is an M440i? Isn’t that the new one with the massive grille? Thought the old one was just a 440i?
@@mitchelldonachie1798 i think so yes!
@@oscardominguez1680 probably no need for an m440 when u have a f type...
@@930bert yeah i get it
Calling the 500 a “Panda in a frock” is a great compliment. The Panda is one of the best small cars on the market. The 169 version especially so.
Interesting view. I find the my Abarth a complete hoot - though I have got a 180hp limited version which might make ALL the difference.
I don't use it for motorways, as i have other cars, but the omission of a 6th gear is noticeable.
I had a new Golf R last year before this, and a modified new RS3 before that and this car seems to be more than fun that both of those. Perhaps it is the shoddier, fragile build along with the lightness that makes it fun.
Also - you MUST have the Monza exhaust.
Agreed...at least 180hp and monza....
Imagine any car with 5 speeds nowadays for long drives, to think i used to slog motorways in na 1.6ers, years of 3k rpm misery.
I had an Abarth 500 and I really loved it. Yes it felt cheap, but it was cheap to purchase too, at only $7000 used. It had allot of style and character. Felt like an Alfa Romeo. And I got street cred for it, like it was a much much more expensive car.
Well that's basically the 500 Abarth, a tiny cheap car that you can use to have some fun especially here in the tiny roads of Italy. You don't need power when you don't have a place to use it. My country is mostly mountains so this car is just perfect for it.
Always fancied one.Looks and sounds good,which is always something in this world of lots of slightly dull euro boxes..but just far too small for me.
But I get why you either really like or really don't.
exactly why I bought one. Something different every hatch now has a 2L Turbo with a pop and bang remap from factory
I agree with most if this, I own an Abarth and it took a lot of time and effort to change the crap quality components. It’s not a driver focused car but as a daily pushed to 200+bhp (td04 kits). It’s a right laugh and once you get this platform to that stage, it’s worth it. It’s insanely customisable and that’s what I love the most about it.
We have had an Essesse in the family since launch - the whole ethos of an Abarth is clearly totally lost on spangly-shirt man - ours sits alongside our Ferrari’s and German super saloons...
As a 180hp Abarth Competizione owner I'll say - it's a fiat after all, what do you expect. Sure, they quality is shit, a lot of it could be done better, and it's really expensive. But you're missing the point there. That car is purely for fun. It's small, looks good, it's loud, it's feisty, it's nimble. It handles well and it drives good for a small fwd car. If you're looking for something else in that car, you missed the point of that car. Like I said again (I love triggering fanboys) - it's just a fiat in disguise.
I was a bit nonplussed when I test drove one. I sat far too high up and the ride was rock hard, stupidly so. Maybe as a 3yr old car at about 7-8k they make a bit more sense as long as you don't go down any bumpy roads.
As a 3 year old car they might appear to make sense but as they are made from substandard materials that’s where running costs start to take off. Take it to the dealers and they’ll charge you a premium because ‘it’s an Abarth’... no, it’s just a Fiat and often uses the same part.
It’s like there’s some fake aura around the brand, the MG Metro reinvented.
You should try a Panda 100hp heard they are a good laugh
Much more special than an abarth 500! I might be a bit biased though 😂
Panda 100hp is much more ‘it’, perhaps another example of ‘less is more’, such a shame they don’t still make them because many of the remaining examples are becoming tired or overpriced.
I’ve been lucky enough to own both an Abarth 595 Turismo and VW up! GTi, after 17 Fiat group cars the Abarth has killed my passion for them, the VW although a lesser car... is a better car.
@@The__ASH if less is more, surely my mighty 1.2 is even better?
@@benholroyd5221 The Panda by design puts function before form, the 500 is the opposite, 100hp adds something special to the whole Panda thing.
@@The__ASH so what you're saying is that good quality beer is better than cheap champagne.
I love my little 595 comp. Live in a nice part of Westminster surrounded by Ferrari’s, lambo’s etc.
Had some nice cars before but for the money this ones a keeper as it does exactly what I want around London.
Cost £25k cash new, four years old and it’s going to stay as no finance on it...
My neighbour has a 695 (posh git). (I do have a 718 4.0 GTS on order though 😉)
As an italian 🇮🇹 i approve your taste in cars. And your neighbour taste too.
This is a car that you don’t buy with reason, but with heart. 595 in right spec and 180hp is one of most enjoyable experiences that you can have in town. Most fun car in family fleet.
I think these work if you view them as a toy/accessory rather than a driver's car. It's like a 2cv or beetle - inherently crap but all the more charming for it. But if you are serious about driving/precision etc look elsewhere.
No one wearing that shirt should have an opinion.
Haha this guy’s sitting in the passenger seat like “uh ... hey”
One of the reasons I respect these reviews so much. James never holds back and you know they are his true thoughts with very little hyperbole.
A good point to make.
The model is the lowest looks like a turismo, if you get a comp you get completely different suspension, 180bhp and much nicer sounding exhaust
Seeing one with the tan coloured bucket seats, carbon dashboard, large infotainment screen, carbon exterior package and most importantly a sun roof. Then it becomes a very special little car
I have a MiTo QV and I love the little thing (despite a little chasis bounce through uneven, high speed cornering)...has anyone driven both that and the Fiat? What do you think?
Get him in a 595 comp with the LSD
The D.A.M is extremely rare because it’s only offered as an hidden away option on some of the more luxurious models. It’s not really representative to what 95 percent of the Abarth owners drive.
I have owned a lot of cars. Also an Abarth. Actually, it's the car I have the most warm thoughts about. It's great. It's fun. The only drawback is the seat position and the steering feel. But other then that, what a great car!
read what you've just said - "it's great, it's fun - the *only drawback(s) is the seat position and the steering feel*..." uh - aren't those things you want to be especially good in a car you want to love to drive?
James, which lapel mic do you use? By the way, I hate it too.
Hi Jay, what about 695 Record edition. There are only 133 produced. Is that collectible car to add the garage or not ?
I run a disco 4 and an Exige 380 with my 595 sitting in the middle. I love the little 595 as it can hoon about our Norfolk lanes with the best of them. I agree about the steering as it does take a little mastering but then that's where the quality of the driver takes over. Another great review James keep them coming. 😎
Time Fiat updated the 500,they've milked that platform dry,oh and bring back the Punto!
I've owned 27 cars since 1997 when I was 16 and got my licence. I've owned Frenchie's, several Saabs, Lexus',several Honda's, several Acura's, Mustangs, Yukons, Golf's, BMWs, Renault's, Peugeot's, and now a Abarth 595 Competizione, had it two days and I'm in love. Got for my 40th b day present. It's brash, rough, raw, quirky and exactly what any petrolhead needs to own in their lifetime. Amazing exhaust, amazing engine, amazing stick shift, amazing suspension, butter soft Italian leather on seats and doors. Lots of plastics but high quality plastics. Great, crisp, visible displays. Cute and quirky design. Comfy on highway and highway speeds. No orange peel paint, unlike so many cars costing way more. Perfect amount of power for a one ton car. The smell, the sound, the visuals.....can't be beat for so cheap. It's a car that's cheap enough that I'm not worried about it like I was about a Ferrari GTC4 Lusso, or a Bentley Conti, et cetera. You can throw it around and it reacts EXACTLY how you expect. Absolutely love my new toy. It's easy to fix, and I love working on cars, so can't wait. It's a '21 595 Competizione, dual colour, manual, creamy leather, android auto, and super cold AC and hot as heat. And snicking through the gears was like a amazingly built Italian over under 12 gauge. I've had cars half this price, up to 10 times this price. What an absolute bargain. Drive one and you'll see. And at $43k AUD, a true bargain. It was this or a bracelet or two from Cartier. The thing is, those bracelets will be their next year, this Abarth is living on borrowed time.
As a used vehicle retailer we see and buy and sell lots of Abarth 595 and the 695 models. We also own one, a 595 which we use daily. Whilst there are compromises owning one the fun outweighs them for us. Yes there are short comings however for what the car offers we think they are extremely good value and the demand is most certainly out there. So as the demand is strong people who wish to sell one usually fine a buyer fairly quickly. In fact for 2020 we purchased and retailed each car within an 8 week window including the preparation stages. Some achievement. Still each to his/her opinion they will not be for everyone BUT try one out yourself after having listened to this review.
330ci E46 review at some point?
I am the opposite. I want to like more cars, but I find it hard to like anything besides various Honda Civics. And 911s.... But I'm in the Civic tax bracket lol
Dude this is literally me... But add Lotus to that mix too. I am also in the civic tax bracket xD
It’s always been my dream to own one someday. The closest I got to driving it was a Fiat 500 pop rental which was fun but slow, cramped, cheapy and handles like a boat. Nevertheless the car is still full of charm and I still want to own one someday. It’s something you can’t describe it on paper I guess.
I would be interested to see a comparison of the abarth punto and 595. Same power but more room, better seating position, better handling and 6 gears. Punto is a great design but the 595 has nostalgia and looks...
Great review too.
I had one, it set on fire at 34,000 miles. Also when the small plastic bits break they cost a fortune to replace.
Why would you set it on fire,surely it wasn't that bad? 😉
@@andyhunt457 tbh i wish it had been my decision since the place the car decided to light up was at a petrol station just after i'd put a full tank it 🤦♂️😂 legit turned the key dash, lit up like a Christmas tree, window went down and then electric smoke started coming through 😬
@@lolmeercatz10 oh dear not the best place to light...remember no naked flames in the station please 😅
@@andyhunt457 LMAO!!!
It has tipped over once in an autocross event, there's a video of it somewhere here.
It would hardly have been the only car to have done that, now would it!
Hi jay, do you recon the alfa mito it's a better car? After all, it's the same car.... i think😅
I own a 165hp Turismo and a Mini JCW r56. Mini is a real hot hatch, 595 is just a city car with sporty attitude. It' s very comfortable, more space than the Mini in the rear seats, a reasonable commuter in a range of 50-60 km highway crusing. The driving position is too high, too weight in the front. If you brake hard the rear is too light. Fully agree with judgement about steering and plastic quality. If you see it as a brilliant city car is a very good one (value for money and appeal). If you see it as an hot hatch you just put it in the wrong segment.
Where was this filmed, the scenery is great, want to move and live to Scotland and soon!!!
A93, the old military road
@@Pr0vost Cheers Provost, thats just south of where we would like to move, we're looking around Loch Awe area. Want some piece and quite in my forthcoming retirement
@@Pr0vost The A83 is not the Old Military Road - they run next to each other (the OMR is currently in use while the A83 is being fixed due to yet another landslide).
@@paulrobinson3528 I believe this is the A93 between Glenshee and Braemar because that's where the same guy's Cayman was filmed.
@@julianevans9548 Yeah my mistake on the typo, it’s the A93! Will edit my comment. Cheers.
I don’t think you can slate a cheap car for having a cheap interior
I found the interior pretty well made but the plastics are quite hard and the door cards are just crap, like no thought went into them at all
Have you tried a Panda 100hp? I hear they’re pretty good fun for that size of car.
Super car, I had one for 3 years just added a Ragazzon exhaust . It was a hoot .
Had one for 3 years great fun cars
@@allansr100 nice. There’s a lot to be said for this type of vehicle in the age of overweight and overpowered cars which you can fully use on the road.
@@madmatt5661 everyone who has owned one seems to love them. I actually quite enjoyed the SportKa which is broadly similar in terms of size and power.
I've had mine for 4 years now, great first car. And it has a 6 speed !
History is littered with cars that objectively arent very good but win the hearts of their owners on the sheer force of their personality and character. Looks are of course highly subjective and personally I love the look of the car and so I am really glad it exists. I tried one and the deal breaker for me was the driving position . I felt perched on a way too high seat and that stopped me really getting comfortable and connecting with the car - I was gutted. I do feel Fiat have been lazy with the model too with updates that have been largely superficial and failed to fix or improve the car in in any meaningful way. Flawed ? yes, characterful ? definitely, classic ? yes I think so and probably deservedly so.
I'm on my second one now. No clue why, they drive me around the bend! 😂 But it's only my daily, Lotus Elise for the fun stuff!
The 500 has always been style over substance, a car equivalent of a Raymond Weil (a watch bought by non watch people from a mall for retail), for people that don't know anything about cars.
Ah yes, that’s why so many petrol heads are into abarths!
Seems like you are just not feeling the Abarth vibes and that’s fine
You couldnt be more wrong, about the Abarth that is.
I said the fiat 500, I haven't driven an abarth, but the 500 is the most lackluster car in its class dynamically
Ha ha i have two old raymond weils to shift. Didnt pay for them mind
One of the cars to have more fun with in twisty roads, for me. And I own a 911 carrera s, a bmw m135i, a Mini Cooper s and a Birel art kart. Great breaks and chassis. Very direct feedback. Sorry but you’re completely out of focus. Even the estrange drive position and low quality inside finishing is acceptable in front of the driving experience. Only the automatic gearbox is way out of line, so I recommend to go for manual. And when the price is considered, then all this issues are even more appreciated. In fact I always think about getting one.
Had a 180bhp 595 for about 18 months. Bought it with my heart but my head finally saw sense and I traded it in.....Will always be one of my favorite cars that ever owned but been there done it now!
I have had a couple of Abarth 595's . Not technically the best car out there but it oozes character and sounds fantastic. I really can't knock them. I running an Abarth 124 now which is great fun with mx5 build quality.
Is it because you don’t fit in it? Because I fit fine
Test drove a 595 comp yesterday what where they thinking with the seat height! Felt unsafe to me
I love going for a drive out in different vehicles with Jay. Most entertaining and a distraction from normal life for me. Very good. Pete 🇬🇧
the abarth cars are one of the few cars with caracter being sold today and on tight mountain roads they are hard to beat.
I hired an automatic 500 Abarth convertible in the South of France. Even that glorious circumstance couldn't disguise what a shit car it is.
The manual trans version is significantly better. Has satisfyingly firm shifts and gearing.
1. It's a rental hot hatch. I'd go out on a limb here and say it may have been thrashed frequently.
2. The 'autos' (they're not actual auto gearboxes) are crap. You need the manual on these.
@@thesaint8400 the auto box ruined it and as a tall guy the cabin economics are terrible so I could never feel confident placing it
4:33 you know when your in a cold area by the snow delineators/snow poles lol
Who would buy one of these over something like an EP3 or Alfa Giulietta?
I have owned one for almost 3 years now. I got it because that's what I wanted for its character, not because that was all I could afford. I still look for excuses to take it out and to take the longer route home. Does that sound like a failure? Of course they are not for everyone and they are not flawless. So what? If you don't like scratchy plastics don't scratch them, or is that some sort of fetish?
To those of you who think it is fun to post derisive comments on a car that so many obviously love: 1. Think again 2. Get a life
whats the problem with having an opinion? he clearly states he understands it has a certain charm, just not one that charms him.
Atte Pirttiaho My issue is not with the opinion, it is with the commenters so willingly hopping onto the hate train.
@@gaborozorai3714 I have had exclusively Italian cars for just over 40 years and I never understand why some ppl take time and go out of their way to spew hate on them.......stuff them, their loss
Kid Octane Well, I never understood either. I guess it helps them deal with the fact that they never had the courage to drive something with real character.
@@kidoctane i dont think anyone outright hates italian cars for being italian and having certain character. sadly a lot of that character comes up in reliability issues
I'm not the biggest fan of the Abarth 595s either but regarding a car that I actively hate with a passion, I was rewatching your review on the Nissan Juke (albeit that was the less unpleasant Nismo RS variant of your sister's) and I was surprised by your verdict of that car. I can see your reasoning that it feels lighter than you expect (with its SUV proportions) and it has a relatively low seating position, but put aside the elephant-in-the-room subjective views on its aesthetics, its a car that doesn't know what it is - a high centre-of-gravity compact-crossover thats trying to be a sporty hothatch? And having sat inside one (this was the 1st gen, not the current 2nd gen), I think the overall packaging was poorly executed as it felt so crammed inside (rear seat space) - thats borderline okay for a traditional 2+2 coupe/saloon, but I don't think thats acceptable for a compact crossover...probably the objective of the Nissan Juke was to be a 'Sports Activity Vehicle' like the ridiculous BMW X6 was/is.
The simple fact Nissan called their 2 smallest SUVs the Joke and CashCow are all you need to know about them...
Apparently they're both good for what they are, but with what they are being SUVs that'd be like me winning a beauty contest against the members of Boris Johnson's cabinet!
@@ApothecaryTerry Unfortunately we are in the minority here mate, you're right they're really popular in the UK (especially young mothers drive them). Most people think that they feel 'safer' in a higher commanding seat position, and they think it looks 'rugged' 'tough' and 'sporty'. Its a false positive. I think its a great idea to start a merchandise business of selling T-shirts and coffee mugs of the Nissan Joke and/or Nissan Puke 😂
@@joetaka7620 I'm always happy to be in this minority- it's the one called "being right" ☺
Seriously though, SUVs have a good purpose- when I'm old and my hips don't work well enough to get into anything lower I'll buy one. 7 seaters are also useful for people who have more than 3 kids. Those are the only 2 good reasons I've ever heard for having an SUV though. For the rest of us, it's nice that bad drivers use SUVs to make them easier to see though, like the car equivalent of a high-vis jacket.
I like that business idea. I want a T-Shirt saying "I'm tailgating this Audi/BMW ironically"
I always liked these until I test drove one a few years ago. It felt the same as my old 2005 Panda except with 160hp rather than 60hp. Very little engagement as a thing to drive. I just couldn't justify buying a new car on PCP that felt the same as my battered old panda. I went with the Fiesta ST instead which was only £20 more a month (£190 vs £170) and I am SO glad. What an awesome hot hatch that was.
Is the 124 Arbarth not available any more ?
Nope...
I have never actually driven a 595 but cars are subjective so one review doesn't make it a bad car. Even the top "journalist" come up with reviews that leave you scratching your head.
Aaaaaaaaargh, I hate to disagree with you but on this occasion........you are wrong.
It's a perfect little hooligan car that can take an enormous amount of abuse. Also, it can, against common belief, swallow a huge amount of gear when the seats are down. More than a Mini in fact.
It's a corker. History will prove me right
I think a competizione is needed here, not the base 595.
The trouble is, Abarth styled the car so it screams "thrash me" but it was nothing more than some bigger wheels and stickers. They didn't upgrade anything other than its looks, mine litterly fell apart from just a few thousand miles, pretty sure it's been scrapped now. On the flip side, it's the car I did the most miles in and kept the longest, so they do have a way of getting under your skin somehow...
My wife is very keen on these. There is a cvertain charm in them and easy to park.
They aren’t easy to park 😂 turning circle of a bus. Source: I own one 😂
@@carreragt8516 - thanks for that. Suspect that won't put the missus off though. She is v.keen.
@@nickbitten6037 they’re great cars though. I daily a 180bhp comp. I get people asking me about it all the time. Really fun cars, quality is ok but you aren’t paying out the nose for them even when new
Drove the Abarth 595 Competizione with the record monza exhaust, LSD etc and loved it tbh. Overpriced though. Also there's the 124 spider ;)
How small cars r these interior wise? Let's compare to an MX-5/Miata?? I guess I wouldn't even fit into this? (MR2 sw20 is the smallest car I fit into).
More space in the 595......I also have a A124 as well as an A5oo
Which Defender do you hate: the old one or the new one?
Probably the old one the community around it was incredibly militant and by the time it was finally put out to pasture it was an ancient design.
Interesting perspective. I agree it’s tragic that Fiat have virtually given up on the brand. There is no point in buying any other than that base model at the best possible price.
I have owned 2 , a base 500 and a 595 Competizione. These replaced a Cayman s, a home built Caterham 7, and and Alfa 147gta.
I recently replaced the 595 Competizione with a new Mx5 rf.
In my opinion nothing could match the sheer joy of the Abarth.
My friend has just purchased a brand new 595 base for about £14000.
I’m curious as to what new car you would recommend at this price level which offers more driving enjoyment.
Whilst I value your opinion and agree with many points you make, I wonder as the owner of a Ferrari and other (expensive to run) “exotica”, have you lost touch with real world high value cars, for those who need reliability, low maintenance costs and a 3 year warranty?
I'm not sure an S2000 counts as exotica.
Only three cars I have ever owned have been more than £20,000 - most were far cheaper
@@JayEmmOnCars I note your point, but with £14k burning a hole in your pocket, and a need for a new car with a 3 year warranty, what would you recommend. (the main requirements would be fun to drive, and will not sap the will to live from you?)
@@allansr100 I see the appeal/charm of the 595 Abarth but personally would find the new MX-5 ND to be a far more engaging and satisfying car to drive - it weighs pretty similarly and the gearbox is connected to the powerplant frame (PPF) which is then bolted onto the LSD, gives a nice response.
@@allansr100
Ford fiesta ecoboost 140bhp st line
@@allansr100 although not brand new, I bought a 3-4 year old F56 Mini with low mileage for that money. It's fantastic as a daily and the quality it brilliant for the money. I also have the big nav and full leather which makes it a far more luxurious offering than the fiat. It's also good fun when you want it be.
So once again I go to auto trader to see what damage this car will do. Less than £10k. So something good for the girlfriend who I am desperatly trying to get out of the Toyota IQ deathtrap that she currently is driving.
Abarth owner here. As soon as I saw his shirt, I said, his opinion of this car is irrelevant! lol
I have to be honest, I wanted one for a long time, the noise it makes is great and like the hot hatch styling. However after driving one (595-135bhp) I was underwhelmed, the steering wheel DID feel too chunky and everything was a shiny plastic bubbly shaped finish. But I still like it and think with a stage 2 tune it could be great
You’ve driven the wrong one, you should try driving the 180bhp 595 comp with a stage 1/2/3 remap done to it and some other extra mods that would take you to about 250bhp then you’ll understand how amazing it it 👌🏽