I had an Abarth 500 a few years ago, I now have a Mini Cooper S, with a little tune on her and my son now has an Abarth. He’s a lot louder but I’m a lot quicker, but we both have big smiles on our faces!

I own and have owned cars with cruise control and never, ever used the feature. I’m up to my 3rd Abarth and love that they don’t have cruise control. Unnecessary piece of tech but especially in an Abarth 500/595/695. Drive, dear boy, drive! Ps: I’m in Australia. Some big distances!

I’m 69, not particularly good blood circulation, I watched this before going to Newcastle to pick up new 595 Comp, and driving 300 miles home to W London. Concerned about ankle problem, I wore a neoprene ankle support ! No problems - recommend it , and no back ache either , great car.

Great review Pete, comprehensive and as honest as always. I enjoyed the different format and pleased you managed to give it a complete test by merging the video with other commitments.

I have never had problem with my phone in the front pocket by the cup holders!

Really great review. Had our Abarth for 40k miles and you have nailed all the key points in a few days! Miss it massively. Character in spades.

My first 3 cars back in the 1980s were, 1 mini van, 2 1968 mini mk2 and 3 a 1979 mini 1000. This car is what the mini should have ended up like, as like 35 years ago there's a little hot hatch that puts a smile on your face every time you blast down the road

You had me howling with laughter at the fuel stop, Pete. I just had a rental 500 on holiday, and the fuel cap was very fiddly with two hands. Good work shutting it while filming.

They love 3 wheels around corners!😜

Thanks for the review, very comprehensive and honest. Keep it up fella! :)

In a world flooded with dull and boring plebmobiles I love that these exist to bring some joy and sunshine to life. If MINI didn't exist I would certainly get one of these simply for the smile miles.

Great review. What better way to give an honest opinion than on a long journey.

I was driving both the 500 and 595 abarth for 8,5 years overall and the ongoing quality and performance isseues were an absolute no go. My abarths spent more time in the dealers garage than with me and at the end I had to just give up on it.

I live inTexas....and I have driven mine from Dallas up to the Ozarks in Arkansas....and out to east Texas...putting over 300 miles at a time....and B roads here we sometimes refer as a Farm and Market rd.

Great review and lovely little car loved my 500.

A great point well made about 'b' roads. I enjoy a blast in my 595 along these types of roads more than I do in my 380 Exige. The Exige is amazing but just too large to place properly for most UK roads if you want to stretch its legs. A great video...thanks

Great review Pete👍 it's surprising how spoilt we are these days with driver assisted gizmos such as cruise control. I can remember the old days driving from Manchester to Devon with my old 1973 MGB roadster it had nothing not even power assisted steering or servo brakes, it felt like you had been in a tumble dryer by the time you got to the end of your journey.😄

You need to do more of these type videos brilliant

Pete, like the new format. The Scorpioneoro looks great with the gold accents. I have a 595 Comp, and is great for a B road blast but agreed not so good as long distance cruiser.

Liked the format. Makes a difference.

You can put your phone in the net pocket on the right hand side of the dash below the gear stick.

Great review and I feel exactly the same with mine, love it as my daily but I never do long distance in it.

Completely agree with your review thanks again Pete. I own a Competizione. Definitely not a GT and I didn't buy it expecting a GT, but lets be honest...whatever car you own you most likely will have to do a long trip. Numb butt (sore pelvis), no armrest, no cruise control, no 6th gear...but you kind of forgive it for all that. After mine is out of warranty I am getting cruise control and an armrest.

Loved the review, have a 180bhp 595 Comp as the family second car, do about 5k per year in it and LOVE IT. Fits the child seat in the back too. Two biggest downsides though no cruise control and no steering extension. Such an odd seating position for anyone near or above 6ft. but it can work with some fiddling/acceptance. Top work though. Keep it up. Also love the paint job on this one.

Was going to buy an Abarth 500 a few years ago, but the baby seat would fit in the back, so ended up buying something more sensible. Now the little one is not to little anymore I'm really tempted to buy one now.... but knowing my luck, as soon as I do they will release an electric Abarth. I had an Abarth Seicento back in the day and absolutely loved it, drove it everywhere, so I definitely think if will be a nostalgia trip buying one.

Scorpione for Scorpion (the Abarth badge) and Oro for gold (the model/spec of the car) "Scorpione-Oro"

Great review Sir Pete! The different format was a nice change of pace. There great looking little cars but at the end of the day just not my thing.

Driving position not too bad for me, I'm only 5'8. Totally agree regarding the throttle pedal on a motorway cruise, but it's much better with sport mode off as the pedal is less sensitive.

Having 2 595’s in the family stable as well as a 124 Abarth I can confirm pretty much all of what Pete says here!! My 595 Comp has a fairly firm ride and my son’s Yamaha Monster edition a much more comfortable ride and seats!! They all have the Record Monza exhaust which is a total hoot!! An absolute must have in my opinion. I find them a capable B road blaster and motorway cruiser. The 35 litre tank on the 595 can lead to range anxiety as I found out recently, but I wouldn’t change them for the world ☺️

Great review Ped and very fair - these cars aren't perfect but boy do they put a smile on your face so you forgive them their shortcomings. Totally love my 70th Anniversary EsseEsse

I really really liked this review format very honest appraisal.. more please,

Great vid mate. Not sure what’s happened I’m driving and reviewing mini’s at the moment and you are playing with Abarth’s 😂😂😂 it’s a cool car the scorpione oro in terms of looks but I’d always go for a competizione or Esseesse as the best overall.

Great Vid, Thanks Pete. A 595 along with a Mini Cooper S is on my shortlist early next year, I test drove a 595 Competizione a few weeks ago. Currently got a Leon Cupra 290 and for the short test drive the 595 Comp certainly put a smile on my face. Shame about the Cruise Control (to be honest only my last 2 cars have had it, lol) but I don't often need/use it. Whilst the Cupra is a great car and I love every time I drive it I don't think it is involving enough and always worried about me license. My first car was a Mini GT so that is another reason for the Mini as a choice.

Love the looks of this little beastie!!!!!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 Ah, only 2bhp less than my old 2.5 L Calibra, but probably between 1/2 and 2/3 the weight! Hmm, I've NEVER used cruise control. I've owned a couple of cars that had it, but no no no, I refuse to use it! Not even on trips to Huddersfield and back.

Brilliant video as I'm looking to by an Abarth

I own a monster Yamaha edition and love it to bits. The record Monza exhaust never fails to make you smile. Surprised you didn’t mention the lack of security. That’s my biggest gripe with the abarth range.

Great review!! I would not call your concerns invalid given the broad range of vehicles you’ve driven…one has to allow for that broad spectrum of exposure..however…given the great chase for more and more power…one can easily miss out on what made a hot hatch fun…and I think for me this car reminds me of that definition time and time again…the original Mini wasn’t that powerful to start with but it was a hoot of a gem..Here in the United States I have a 2013 Fiat 500 turbo which is kinda like the base 500 Abarth with 135hp mixed with the shocks and springs of top spec normal non turbo Sport model..so to me it got the best of both worlds…for touring…with better seats than what you in your test vehicle for sure because I have done a 24hr stint straight in it with an hours break only and the occasional fuel stop….without feeling worse for wear after doing 1,240 miles one way and additional 17hrs return of 1,180 miles..mine also came with cruise control so can relate to how you felt without it…it does sound like it needs a sixth gear…but that’s mainly because we have forgotten that we once had cars with only 4 gears😂😂…which still went past 70mph….and let you know about it!!🤣🤣…so I don’t mind the “genuine” engine sound…my exhaust note is sporty but not loud just the way I like and I have not felt a want for more power… it handles the freeways pretty well hence why I chose this model over the Abarth…it’s great fun and has plenty of charm and loads of Character and is quite a hoot in the twisties and B roads….though you wouldn’t think so given some of the reviews it gets..some would say it leans a lot in the turns…anyone remember the first gen Golf Gti of old cocking it’s inner Tyre off the ground in a turn when pushed hard? That’s it’s selling today mostly unchanged while other models have evolved 3 to 4 times over..is testament of it’s character. Thanks for sharing!!!

To be fair, I did Cornwall from the Midlands, all around Cornwall and then back again in a 695 and it was fine. No steering extension is such a pain, no cruise control is unacceptable though.

I LOVED mine, remapped is a much better experience. They’re truly pretty hopeless in most areas but that’s not what abarth are all about, they’re just FUN! I have a type r fk2 which is leagues better as a package but…. It lacks the general fun of the abarth.

My Scorpioneoro is tuned, high-flow cats and upgraded air filter producing 220hp. It flys and sounds amazing. Also lowered with full body kit. Looks apart. I just don't drive it much lol The 2021 zx6r is my daily here in Australia.

Love the review.

I’ve just replaced our 03 v6 3.2 slk with a DS ds3. 3 cylinder 1.2. And strangely enough the ds3 feels more fun around the twisty B roads than the slk. Obviously not the full out grunt , but for a small it’s fun. 👍👍👍 As always Pete a great vid well presented keep them coming 👍👍

Love your reviews pete and different way good thing i think 🤔👏

I love the driving position in my Abarth Cabrio. It's my daily driver during summer and it's a blast. I have cruise control, too. It is an amazing little car.

Great video as always Pete.. Even my Dacia duster has cruise control 🤣..

Great review Pete! 🤘🎸😎

Great revieuw, as a 500 twinair cult driver (just 105 HP after tuning by Savali Holland but still much fun on the many small roads here) I can point out that buying a cabrio version almost doubles the fun, any case I went from a closed 500 to the 500C and man oh man I even drive open in winter, the heating on full speed jacket on of course lool. No standard cc is sparse, mine came with an aftermarket cc for 750 euro's, never liked it tough always felt as if the car overruled me, but after a week I started using the bloody thing and now I'm addicted to it. My former 500 had the duallogic wich can give expensive repairs as the car gets older. But offers an automatic and shifting by hand in the same package. My 10 y old had no repairs there tough. Sorry to hear about seating pos again, I'm 130 kg 1.86 meters with somewhat shorter legs and my position is reasonably fine, why Fiat doesn't change this beats me. And yes, considering our Dutch Fiat & Abarth 500 Fans members and FB page, many owners have had it tuned, add other exhausts, suspension, rims etc etc one little 595 even gets 255 km/h on the speed gage so Fiat could do that sort of thing in a package too, as easy as that. Tough the modding rage in itself is much fun too and even addictive in our club for making it personal. Anyway many won't understand why one drives a 500 and those who do, almost can't stop driving it and treat it like a little Ferrari LOL. It still is a great revival from the old 500. Glad you didn't start whining about rear seat space and luggage etc. because these really aren't made as a family suv 2 adults will do, thanks! And a 500c with the top open on a dry day can even transport a palm tree for that sake lool.

Hi Ped Got to agree with you on so many of the points you highlighted. Mrs P has a 500C, fully loaded spec which she loves to bits. And as we know happy wife means happy home🥰 Couple of weeks ago Mrs P had a day out to go and see a girlfriend, journey of 310 miles, sunshine with top down, on some great roads, enjoyed every mile.🤗🤗

I love my Abarth 595 Competizione it's had a few tweaks and is now 225bhp so for a little car that's not too shabby 😎 My other cars a classic Mini Cooper and they're both very similar to drive...I love my pocket rockets 😆🚀

Looking nice.

Great review Pete.. I own a 595 Scorpioneoro and for me at only 5ft7 the seating position is just fine, i use it for mainly short local journeys and B road blasts so the lack of cruise control has never bothered me... It looks superb, sounds great and gives me a constant grin, I LOVE IT..

Thank you for the honest review, showing the known weak points like the seating position, 5 speed box and the lack of cruise control. You can have an after market cruise control but it should have come stock. As for the fuel warning: when you’re really on it you can get it with about half a tank left 😜

I had a terrifying experience with the Cruise Control on a Mini Cooper S in 2014, when in M1 roadworks it would not turn off under braking and wanted to continue at 70mph instead of 50! I had to turn into the roadworks to avoid crashing into slower traffic. I’d never risk not being in charge of a car again!

Weirdly i never youse cruise control ,i feel in not in charge off the car when i use it

Great view thank you

I’d use Shell Vmax in it!

Great review Pete, I enjoyed the format, very JayEm (except he hates them 😩). You’re spot on, they are most certainly compromised and not for everyone, but...they love to be modified, there’s a great scene and they make great cheap used toys. I’ bought a cheep 13 plate to use as a town car as my daily’s a bit big. But now it’s on Bilstein’s with 180bhp at the wheels. It’s probably worth £4k at best, but it makes me grin ear to ear every trip. If you do distances, either man up or buy a 10 year old Audi A8! 👍

Great review… I have recently picked up my Turismo so same power out out as this one. I agree totally with what u say.. fantastic on back roads/ round town etc but not really that refined on long journeys- also a bit noisy on motor way , tyre noise is a bit much?

Loving the different feel of review Ped. Honest as always. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Stef that you said all special edition Abarths are the same. Our secret ok?

Hello Peter! A friend of mine chose one of these as a Company Car and racked up well past 80,000 miles in just over two years…he is quite a well built sort so I was amazed that he was able to endure it but he had no troubles and enjoyed it far more than he expected. Why chose that over an Audi A4?…it was easier to park!! A nice car..attractive…different…but best within 100 miles of home maximum. Stay safe! Richard😃😃😃

Very fair review as ever. I ran a little 500 Twinair for 6 years for my daily commute, even that was great fun. I also suffered from the aching ankle, but as I am under 6 feet, managed to find a seat position that got rid of it. I think most of its shortcomings are because it is essentially an old (2008) platform and will soon be completely replaced by the leccy version, which is new from the ground up.

Enjoyed the review and for a change didn’t find myself doing a “Hendy” count….😉

I had a Fiat 500 and i used to take my full drum kit on it :D some tetris skills may be needed but it fit quite easily. Changed to a 2016 peugeot 208 (5 doors) just 2 months ago and i already miss the 500 doors... (pain to get in / exit when parking in some tight places, but so easy to get in on regular places)

As usual excellent review Pete ,although its not an Abarth my wife has the 500c with twin air engine giving 105bhp and this car has a six speed box it really is great fun to drive and goes really well ,don't know wether i would want to drive it to say Scotland though as you say miss cruise control but a great little car.

I was only looking at one of these last night AU$37000 new on the road.

Always liked the Abarth. Much more fun and cheaper than the 500 EV. Buy one while you still can.

Pete love the review, I have stupid long arms 6'2" and 6'7" reach so it fits my shape really well. Defo prefer the Mini Cooper S. But my 500 suits me and the leather interior has a central arm rest for my phone. Currently getting Essesse suspension (Today!) so we will see. And I agree with you JPS all the way.

I enjoyed watching the Video Review

I would love to drive one of these ❤️. Cracking KZfaq video Peter 👌

Ped goes past where I worked years ago in Churchstoke!

Nice car ! Brodit phone mount + holder model specific no drilling needed ! 👍 Also get a K&N Panel Filter a simple mod !

33Litres in? Plenty room for more! Had a 500 since 2010 low fuel comes on around 40 mile range on mine and I've run it for 10 miles after the last bar disappeared, along with the low fuel warning, just dots on the display. Queezed 34.5L into it's 35L tank.. (mind did have a 5L can in the boot)!! 😮👍

Some of the italian cars back in the70's & 80's had hand throttles(before cruise) you could set with a twist and release when not needed.Had this on a Lancia HPE,both 77' & 83; models.

The Paddy Hopkirk we had a few days back was decent on its fuel, as you may have seen in the pics I posted.

Morning buddy, oh the JPS colours, epic memories of being a kid and having a toy one. I’m back being 6 again now. I still prefer a Mini Cooper S as opposed to a lil Fiat, even though it looks lovely with this colour scheme.

The steering position is perfect Peter, Italians have long arms and short legs, didn't you know that 😉

Lovely little car, my better half has a 500 sport and it is a fun little car - would love a go in an abarth. The 5 speed box is an weird one - our 500 sport (2008) is the 1.4 model (rather than the more common 1.2), so pretty much an NA version of the abarth engine, and that has a 6 speed box (the 1.2s have a 5 speed). Is space really the reason? Or is it something like the 5 speed box is stronger than the 6? Is the 5 speed box in the abarth the same 5 speed box as the 1.2, or is it a 5 speed out of a different fiat? Anyway, great video!

Cracking honest video. Was interested more so as my wife has a 595 Turismo, and we have just been on a trip down to Devon from the Cotswolds. Agree with everything you said and loved this format to be honest. Keep ‘em coming Pedro 👍👍👌👌👏🏻👏🏻🚗

Cruise control is a must for lengthy journeys. I know full well what you went through. I think the range estimation is based on engine setting and the style of driving over a given period. Nothing technical, just my own take based on my own vehicle.

I agree that the 595 is absolute top for smiles. When I was looking to buy my current car I test drove various options one of which was the 595 with Monza exhaust. Just 100% smiles and super fun but I chose not to buy this mainly because of the (in my opinion) poor build quality and livability for a daily driver. In the end my choice was the Clio RS Trophy.

The standard one is just amazing as well . You can get a good used one for less then 8,000 euros.

I have a saxo VTR, thinking of getting a classic Clio 172/182 2.0 or maybe splash a bit more cash to get an abarth. What you sayin' bois?

I always think that the re-runs miss something out that the original had but that might be my love of the Classic car so I'm always biased. I had the pleasure of use ing a Fiat 500 Abarth in 1970, the one I was lent was a 1966 model with no Instructions other then to remember that if I was wanting to thrash it, always prop open the Engine cover first! No problems there, I hardly fit in🙀

I have one..2018 and it's my Lil' dragon 🐉

Great review - I have cruise control on all my cars except the 16M and the Abarth but never use it, in fact I hate it when I have tried it! 😂

Great review, I've got two of them for commuting/ shopping/ dog car.... they are great fun and quite addictive but couldn't take it on a journey more than a couple of hours due to the right ankle situation but it's not put me off as I bought my first one in 2009! That Scorpionereo I or whatever is definitely the best looking version!

Reminds me of a czt , round about same power they had a 1.5 mivec 4g15t with 150bhp and same weight juts these abarths are more modern and probably better built sadly to say , thinking of getting one

My wife's little 500 lounge has cruise control, so you can spec it, I reckon

Thrilling xcx

Last car with no cruise control? A Citroen C1 which the work hired me to drive from my home in Fife to Lincoln, 324 miles each way (not a happy camper). While it didn't have cruise control, it did come with a speed limiter (why one and not the other???) so set the max and slap the pedal to the floor!

Scor Pee On Knee Or Oh ?? Scorpion Black and Gold I think ?? Nice review Ped :)

Scor-pion-y-oro 🇮🇹 ❤

Top review as always what is the name of the song @4:20

Cool little car, but it looks like more of a city thing to have fun at weekends on short drives to the country. Any chance you could look at the Skoda Scala Monte Carlo, Pete? I rather like the look of those.

🤩

Great review, with a lot of details about this car. I know quite well Abarth, as I have own an Abarth 595 Turismo in the past, and now a 695 Biposto. It is true that the driving position is not the best, but the Sabelt seats of the 595 Competizione and of 695 models are much better. It is obviously not a comfortable car, but you don't buy it for that. It is fun to drive, the exhaust is quite fantastic (Akrapovic and Record Monza), and it's good value for money.

I drive a 595 Turismo and I understand that the seating position is indeed a bit of a challenge for most people. I am fine with the seat a little closer to the pedals (you have to reach down to the pedals anyway due to the high seat) and the seat back more upright than normal. Have done 600km trips more than once with no big issues, but no, it's not what these are made for. Hence no cruise control or sixth speed. The torque is sufficient for the spacing of the 5 speeds available.

Need to change my mrs mini cooper coup, as costing me a small fortune. Are they a decent alternative 🙂

What's the safety rating on them

Hi Peter, great review, sorry I've come into this a bit late. An Abarth wad on my short list along with a Fiesta ST and Up GTI, but I bought a Swift Sport, a non hybrid model. A friend bought the Abarth, but it's proved to be not the best in the reliability stakes. Done 10000 miles in the Swift with 100% reliability, just like my old Suzuki which did over 100000 miles of trouble free motoring. I get the impression that you prefer the Swift? Or am I wrong? Best Pip 👍