Not the fastest car I've ever owned, 'by far'. BUT......... I have NEVER had so much fun in a car since I was a teenager!! Absolutely fukin HILARIOUS. AWESOME CAR!!!!!! 2013 Esseesse, with Monza exhaust!!!
How does it handle on a motorway at 100 mph? And generally, if you encounter a heavy truck coming at you on a single lane road, does the car shake when it passes by you?
Quite stable for such a small car. They have a wider track and wider tyres than the normal 500. Not all that much wind noise either, which is common on small hatchbacks.
@@naturalbornalex No, the car doesn't shake when a heavy truck passes you. It is very stable. I'm not sure why a heavy truck would even get the chance to pass you because it's impossible to act normal in this car. I try to go the limit sometimes, and not even 1 minute later I forget about all of that and just start flooring it on back roads. It is just too fun.
@@naturalbornalexas im in the UK we have a 70mph limit. Why would you want to go 100mph ? You would be drinking petrol like there is no tommorow. Pointless. Oh, it also doesn’t knock anything noticeable off your journey time either, work the maths out on your trips.
Greatest Abarth advertisement. I remember watching it thinking "man, if those were in the US I would get one." Purchased a 2012 and still love the car as much the day I saw this. Literally sold in 2 minutes.
Fell in love with the base model even, while having one as a hire car in the UK. People who laugh at the 500 do not understand cars. They are fooled by smooth looks or large numbers in the brochure, and seldom actually "drive".
Bought mine yesterday and can’t stop coming up with excuses to drive the little unit. Everything about it makes me smile and it’s a head turner too! I wasn’t prepared for the attention it’s gotten from other people! I am genuinely through the roof excited that I get to rip around in it every day for the years to come
hehe..I've had mine for 3 months now. Bought it second hand on a lark. I think I love it more than I have any woman I've been with. Everytime I approach it in the morning before going to work it just makes me smile just anticipating the drive. Jeez, I love the little thing. P.S. It knocks 10 years off me when I drive the thing. Reminds me of when I was a kid driving my Golf GTI. :))
@@rehanali-hy9tk just general checks. I supply my own oil to my mechanic and a major service is about $150-$200 Australian. I service it every 5000km/annually as it doesn't drive as much I'd like due to lockdowns.
@@BlatentlyFakeName I keep pointing out how big the mini is and the owners around here are really really annoyed. They are the typical in denile extreme leftists that couldn¨'t admit they were wrong if it killed them. The cooper which is the common one here is as big as any estate, sure a foot or so shorter than most, but makes up for it by being wider.
I use one as a daily, averages about 38mpg with normal driving but will drop suddenly if you race it. Corners like it's on rails and embarrasses many BMW drivers!
No Abarth is getting 38mpg, quit your BS. 30mpg is realistic with mixed driving. The Fiat 500 has been a complete and total flop in the US, but undeservedly so. The rear seats are useless, but they are easy to remove, and they make a rear seat delete kit that transforms the back into a gigantic trunk. So big, that thanks to some twine to hold the hatch down I was able to transport a 7 cubic foot ice chest freezer from Costco in the trunk, which made the Costco guy helping me load it laugh. Its far too front heavy and a bit top heavy, and with such a short wheelbase the ride is crap. However, it sounds great, it is very responsive to steering input, and especially if you get a Euro+Drive OBD2 tune you bump hp to around 200 which for a 2500lb car is plenty, and it is very fast and practical for two people. I've had zero problems with mine over 65K miles, except for little things like I had to replace some burned out incandescent bulbs and replace the rotors and pads and so forth. You can get low mileage used ones cheap.
As an Old man!!! ( 69) I love my Arbarth 500 so quick!!! I drive it as if I was 20 again!!!! My SL500 or the Abarth!!!! No contest!!!! The Abatrh is the one for fun!!! careful 50 mpg!!! Mad well about 30 ish!!!! I should grow up!!!!!!
Christian Troisi stavo leggendo tutti i commenti entusiasti esteri qui...su pagine fb italiane vedi sempre foto della 500 capottata e giù cone pecoroni a criticare
Christian Troisi bravo! Solo un pugno di cojoni. Anche in Germania ...una nota rivista automobilistica ha premiato la 500 e la 124 Abarth come auto dal migliore designer anno 2018
Christian Troisi perchè gli italiani hanno la famosa sindrome di "inferiorità" verso gli stranieri, specialmente verso i tedeschi di cui c'è una sorta di venerazione ridicola e del tutto ingiustificata. Spesso i "criticoni" sono ragazzini poco più che adolescenti, che non conoscendo bene la nostra storia automobilistica, danno troppo credito alle "dicerie da web", complice anche una incredibile campagna pubblicitaria a favore dei tedeschi che come sappiamo è giustificata in base a introiti pubblicitari misto a moda. Molti ragazzi comprano baracche come le anonime Polo Gti (che hanno una marea di problemi), o vanno su qualcosa di esotico come la Swift Sport che è fatta di un male da mettersi le mani nei capelli. Non sanno il valore che perodno col cinquino, non capiscono l'importanza e il prestigio di un marchio famoso in tutto il mondo, non comprendono la piacevolezza di guida di questa piccola vettura, spesso perchè si lasciano influenzare da pareri non oggettivi e fatti solo di pregiudizi. Questi stessi ragazzi però non si chiedono perché nel panorama delle citycar l'unica auto rimasta è proprio la 500, le concorrenti sono scomparse. Ma arrivarci è dura ai più...
@@nikjac79 Il problema è che ancora più spesso gli italiani hanno un odio incondizionato e basato puramente su pregiudizi verso le tedesche e in particolare golf o polo gti come hai appena dimostrato. Sono un Abarthista anche io ma non sopporto gli italiani accaniti, spesso abarthisti o alfisti, a cui piace usare il termine "Vaggari" ogni due secondi e santificano auto italiane anche di bassa fascia per puro patriottismo.
As a massive fan of Top Gear and the 3 boys, having watched many times over all of the seasons, i am feeling genuine proud and happy as a 595 Owner for this review. Also one of the few cars that was reviewd twice (On Track & At Italy with Hammond).
I agree with both of your points. BBC management has twice inserted its collective head into an extraordinarily malodorous locale after developing delusions of taste and good judgement. In the recent past, this has been shown most luridly in the executive antics surrounding Top Gear, and Dr.Who. In both cases, it looks to me as though management liked the flavor of the dish only after they peed in it. I haven't watched BBC much recently; can't think why.
Fortunately actually cause you can get one dirt cheap. Only reason I didnt get one Is that I wanted a new 4 door car. Win my situation changes this is gonna be a nice purchase.
No. Not really. Lots of people love them. And with gas prices rising. And other manufacturers not even making cars like this anymore, they are in the perfect position to be on the right side of history this time. Plus in its class, it really is the line small Ferrari. It smiles any other car its size.
They are unreliable, comparatively slow to literally every other "sports" car on the road, and overpriced when bought new. I still love them though. I actually own a 500e now, which is also stupid fun in its own right.
@@josephk6136 I don’t know with what engine comes in the states but here in Italy we use the T-Jet. I thinks it’s one the BEST 1.4T ever produced. It’s impossible to break it, I have mine tuned over 240hp, 60.000km and still kick my ass every time I floor it! 😛 I own 5 cars but the only car that NEVER breaks down is my 595! If in the US is commercialised with the multiair… I’m sorry and you are right, that engine is not so good 😐
@@PassioneMotori Obviously, the Mulitair (or specifically - TwinAir) was a leading motor line mounted in Fiat 500s. But Abarth had one and only 1.4 T-Jet. Nothing else. The funny thing is, Abarth Grande Punto sported the same engine yet was never offered in those limited "top spec" versions like the 595. Still, I'd love to swap a turbo for a larger one and make a little 200+ HP beast of my Abarth 500 if I ever managed to buy one :))
I picked up mine 6 months back. Best 10k i have ever spent. Gears are smooth, acceleration is great, and the handling is out of this world! If you can deal with the size of a 500 you will love this car. Not the fastest car out there but definitely one of the most fun you can drive today!
Love my ABARTH! Best used car buy in the states due to the shitty resale value. I bought mine new over a year ago for about seven grand off sticker. It's now lost another seven grand in value! Ha ha anyway long story short just buy a clean used example then they are a bargain!
Haha, same, I got mine for about $6500 off sticker, and have probably lost the same, but I didn't buy it with resale in mind, just driving and enjoying, I don't know that I would want a used one
Top Gear homepage says it doesn't handle well, wonder if the review was before or after the real top gear trio left...gonna trust Clarkson on that one.
A friend of mine tried it today . It handles well for what it is, but still worse than his Renault Clio RS Trophy. Gotta go with manual though as the automatic sucks ass. They dropped the ball by not putting an optional DCT in that thing, for all the city drivers that would've bought that thing but now went for something else instead.
Sorry Jeremy!!! I have to agree!!! I have one too!!!! Also had a Golf GTI mk1 1800 and an ex Works Golf GTI 16 valve group A rally rally car!!!! and a Mazda 323 Group N rally car and also an original Audi Quattro coupe tuned to 300 bhp!!! Still have a 1964 Saab 2 stroke appendix K rally car!!! The 500 abrarth is still a magic road car and also track!!!! we will not go into the Mercedes SL500!!!!! To complecated will cost money!!! Was a Part Time motoring Journalist as you came on the scene!!! Not big but knew me stuff!! Still do
Finally got to drive one today, properly Italian this car is. The fuel tank is a Pipette, 3000rpm just to do motorway speeds is deafening, the seats are a bit too high and the steering is dead, but wow it just makes you smile. The pedal placement is perfect for me to heel toe, the engine feels enthusiastic and the car’s responsiveness is hilariously good.
I did not require Jeremy to tell me how good the Fiat was as I would have bought it for styling alone. He just cements the deal for me and I want one badly and forget the depreciation just keep it until it turns into a rusted out neglected Herbie.
I own a 2013 500 Abarth. It's not gonna win any drag races but it is a goddamn hoot to drive. I came from a gen 1 Miata into it and it is a similar driving experience. The only downsides are the crappy plastic Chrysler interior panels and the fact that it is a 5 speed. On the highway I always want to shift into a 6th gear that doesnt exist.
whilst I save up for a Tesla this car has caught my eye many a time and i am really looking forward to owning one I have heard though that their a bitch to work on
I loved my abarth a lot. Lots of fun cornering and accelerations. But I have a 3 year old and it's just to small for a car seat and personally it's not all the comfy. The seats don't hold you they are flat. But it's zippy fun to drive gets good mpg and makes an absolutely awesome noise.
Here is where the beauty and performance of Fiat's little wonder shines. On a closed course by a skilled driver, not on a public highway (Autobahn or not) by some idiot trying to impress his girlfriend at the expense of the motoring public. Nice review.
As a former Motoring Journalist Still one of the best cars have ever had. Loved my Mini Cooper S 15 miles through the lanes in 14 mins!!! But every weekend had to repair it!!! Have medal and cup for it But The Arbath hugely better 500 arbath wonderful A modern CooperS
@@corneliusscipio777 British cars are hilariously unreliable, kind of like GM or Tesla, but worse. They'll be in the shop 75% of the time. Also, have you seen the abysmal build quality on McLarens? You're paying more than 200k for panel gaps.
I have this car it's fantastic. It's fun and good on gas which is great because gas is $6 a gallon. If you have the skills to pay the bills you can run with anyone on canyon runs
I own this and at 98K miles, it's still the fastest go cart I've ever driven. No problems, no fading of performance and except for the wiring harness mess going through the hatch, never a single problem
I reside in the US, brought mine in for oil change and mechanic was shocked at the "straight pipes", said he had not seen those since the early 70's. It must have a converter someplace, tough emission standards here, especially California..... and i use only Shell V-High Octane fuel.....what a ride!
I want a new one, I miss my old one. Had to sell it a couple of years ago, but I really want the new model, I miss it too much. I dont need a big car and I never got bored in it, every journey was something to look forward to. Superb value car. A lot of fun for not much money, and they do seem genuinely tough and very reliable from what ive read.
I now own one of these, from this year. Still an absolute joy to drive. Take out the back seats, they are completely useless for anyone that has legs. Now you have a boot (trunk) that can hold many things! Plus, you can drive it on Forza 4 (but not 5... yet... bastards...). Only down side the Orangutan left out, it torque steers like it thinks straight lines are for other cars, not it.
@@Matteo_Graziosi9523 Very poor and declining sales brought on by reliability problems and an increasing preference for pickup trucks and SUVs by the general public. The North American Fiats were made in Mexico which explains the reliability problems. if they were made in Canada, they'd be much better built. As for people preferring larger vehicles, that will only be resolved by increasing fuel prices. I'm in Canada and it's never cost me more than $50 CDN to fill up my little Abarth with premium even when the prices are high!
@@jordankelly4684 Now that would have been a fun car to have! BTW, it now costs me $80 CAD to fill up my Abarth. Still better than over $200 for a pickup truck! 😁
Its now 2024, my last comment was five years ago. I would really like a new one again, such great fun. Never had a car since my last Abarth that I actually really liked.
The 2015 Abarth 500 has 140 bhp, plus they have upgraded everything to make the car a much more practical everyday car, plus it is great on the motorway - sits at 2700 revs at 70mph in fifth. Great all round car. I know cos ive got one, and I had the same model on a 12 plate and there is a huge difference in quality and overall ride and power delivery
Simon George there is a few engine outputs, euro 6 emissions 140bhp, 160bhp Essesse and the comp 180bhp (also tributo Ferrari and Maserati editions and the Biposto)
Rb5vega you're a fucking moron. It's straight after the Cat. The Cat is the only thing that affects emissions. Mufflers and Resonators only affect sound. Please look shit up before spewing bullshit out of your mouth. Sums up your stupidity, really.
Rb5vega not in the least... America's auto pollution controls are the most stringent in the world. The straight pipe (no muffler to speak of) has no bearing on these regs. It's just a noise thing.. Hey don't take my word for it... it's all published public knowledge... sorry you're not up to date...58 year olds+ usually aren't...AH should've read above...I see you've been "righted"... Don't feel bad 'cause you're not in the know. Just keep quite when you don't know shit
Absolutely worth buying-well in my experience as I’ve had two. Beautiful cars I can’t fault them in terms of how they drive and feel in the road…but if you live in the uk be sure to have great alarm and/or tracker fitted as for some reason they have literally zero security and for that reason my first one was stolen. In London there is a high theft rate for sporty little cars like this with parts they will take apart and sell. Parts can be a bit on the pricey side but its a quality car so wouldn’t expect anything less. The sound when you first start up that engine is unbeatable compared to a lot of the others in their category and they are FAST.
Even after all these years, with this being superseded by later fast 500s, I still kinda want one of these just because of this review. It is a wonderful thing, and yeah rarely are TG reviews so glowing.
Owned an Eesseesse one with a few other modifications, running around 182 bhp for 18 months. Still my favorite car to date! Was heart broken when it's cam belt snapped on me, and due to the constant expense, my girlfriend at the time made me sell it. Fast forward 5 years and I am moving to Miami in 2 weeks time. Will be the car of choice. It WILL be laughed at in the land of huge trucks and V8's... and I don't care! It is genuinely the best car i have ever owned. Everything about it was hilarious!
