Abarth 695 Competizione
Discussion
Well F me, I've just a bought a new 695 Comp.
The last of the manuals, only automated manual can be ordered for this year, then electric only from next year.
Bonkers! A car I knew nothing about until a few weeks ago and having 5 weeks in Tenerife with a boggo Fiat Hybrid.
Loved the handling but not the lack of power, although it was still fun. The 500s had never been on my radar until then
I'm getting virtually what I paid for my Duster 3 years ago so free motoring and 'just' had to to find a bit more cash.
Picked it up last Thursday and just drove it for nearly 5 hours non stop in that awful weather. Motorways, country roads and back to town. Just such a laugh. It's like being out on my motorbike yet not being wet and cold.
It acquitted itself wonderfully in washed out road conditions. Very confidence inspiring.
Of course it's now very mucky.
The Duster was brilliant but it was just a tool. I never took it out just for a drive and I thought that I had finally lost my love of driving.
Now I'm finding myself ignoring that bottle of wine of an evening and just going out for a blast
Have to say that you do realise how bad London's roads have got and how I was insulated from the rotten surfaces due to the Bouncy Duster.
But get it on smooth tarmac and it's like a go kart and so quick.
I guess 180bhp and at less than a ton puts it on a power to weight ratio not far off my Mustang V8.
Gotta get my train to work now but will post some pics and ask a few questions.
only the 695 biposto was under a ton (and that was 190bhp). Ah, good point
Still it's more usable than the Mustang as with that I had to be aware of it's width being that those mud strewn Surrey lanes were barely wider than the car.
Some pics, done on the rush will try to be more arty.
A couple of questions.
My car didn't come with the metal pedals, which I thought was Comp spec, but my dealer says that they stopped doing that from 2022.
To be honest on our often wet days I've found metal pedals a bit of a liability with wet shoes but they look nice.
Also, despite looking at specs online which says the car comes with an alarm and immobilizer, there doesn't appear to be an alarm.
Anyway, currently I'm loving it, feels very planted and solid and the driver's seat is a nice place to be.
Even has navigation by Tom Tom as well as car play/android auto. Stereo by Beats with a big amplifier where a spare wheel would normally go.
Can't say it sounds any better than the standard stereo but I'm listening to the exhausts anyway
Still it's more usable than the Mustang as with that I had to be aware of it's width being that those mud strewn Surrey lanes were barely wider than the car.
Some pics, done on the rush will try to be more arty.
A couple of questions.
My car didn't come with the metal pedals, which I thought was Comp spec, but my dealer says that they stopped doing that from 2022.
To be honest on our often wet days I've found metal pedals a bit of a liability with wet shoes but they look nice.
Also, despite looking at specs online which says the car comes with an alarm and immobilizer, there doesn't appear to be an alarm.
Anyway, currently I'm loving it, feels very planted and solid and the driver's seat is a nice place to be.
Even has navigation by Tom Tom as well as car play/android auto. Stereo by Beats with a big amplifier where a spare wheel would normally go.
Can't say it sounds any better than the standard stereo but I'm listening to the exhausts anyway
I sort of really want one but can't justify it for myself, I look longingly and try to convince my wife this is all she really needs...
I have had a gen 1 BMW Mini cooper and a Fiat Twinair 500s and I always found the Fiat a more entertaining car for me. I know it's subjective, the two I had are low/mid level models, so it's a silly comparison. But for me I want a 500 again, a load of people rate the Mini though.
I can only imagine the Abarth takes it up to an addictive level of fun, maybe one day.
Enjoy the car.
I have had a gen 1 BMW Mini cooper and a Fiat Twinair 500s and I always found the Fiat a more entertaining car for me. I know it's subjective, the two I had are low/mid level models, so it's a silly comparison. But for me I want a 500 again, a load of people rate the Mini though.
I can only imagine the Abarth takes it up to an addictive level of fun, maybe one day.
Enjoy the car.
Looks fantastic and a great buy, I'm sorely tempted by a 595 or 695 at the moment especially as I heard the rumours this is the last year for them plus there are some great deals out there.
One quick question for you re the ride if you don't mind?
I've got a 500 Hybrid Sport at the moment which has a fairly good ride (at the expense of handling), how does the 695 compare to the hire car that got you into this car? I know I'll love everything else about the car as I really like my 500 as an everyday car.
I only ask as the write ups always comment on the harsh ride and I actually sold my Alfa 159 Ti (had standard suspension and 19"s) as I got fed up with the family moaning about how harsh it was. An Abarth wouldn't be the family car but a moaning wife would ruin it for me when she occasionally got in it or drove it, my 500 gets no complaints nor does my Alfa 916 Spider for reference.
One quick question for you re the ride if you don't mind?
I've got a 500 Hybrid Sport at the moment which has a fairly good ride (at the expense of handling), how does the 695 compare to the hire car that got you into this car? I know I'll love everything else about the car as I really like my 500 as an everyday car.
I only ask as the write ups always comment on the harsh ride and I actually sold my Alfa 159 Ti (had standard suspension and 19"s) as I got fed up with the family moaning about how harsh it was. An Abarth wouldn't be the family car but a moaning wife would ruin it for me when she occasionally got in it or drove it, my 500 gets no complaints nor does my Alfa 916 Spider for reference.
My old Alfa 156 had a crashy ride around London but handled wonderfully on smooth roads.
But as it was 20 years old when I bought it, I was concerned that I was doing it damage by driving around town.
The Abarth certainly isn't as bad as I was led to believe by reviews, but I'm guessing that the drivers are used to other cars that are sporty yet glide over rough surfaces due to fancy adaptable suspension.
To have a car that can take a corner at some speed and feel well planted is a big improvement over my Dacia, which I always attempted to drive swiftly, that would feel like it was about to topple over.
I currently don't mind the ride of the Abarth round town, you just have to keep an eye out for potholes, speed bumps, bad repairs etc which I have to do on my motorbike anyway.
Get a test drive. I took out a 595 Comp on a test where the salesman insisted I went through some big housing estates with bad roads and speed bumps just so I could experience the suspension in the worst environment.
The driving position has taken a few days to get right and the Sabelt seats don't go up and down.
My legs are comfortable, I have plenty of head room but the steering wheel could do with being a tad closer.
I'm 5ft 11ins and about 80kgs.
I had the seat low in the Hybrid 500 so my elbow was almost at 45 degrees up to poke it out of the window
In the Abarth I'm at the level that elbow airing is easy.
I think it's more how you would sit in a Hot Rod rather than a sporty car.
Very little padding in the Sabelts but my first drive was nearly 5 hours and I was fine. Seats certainly hold you in place.
But as it was 20 years old when I bought it, I was concerned that I was doing it damage by driving around town.
The Abarth certainly isn't as bad as I was led to believe by reviews, but I'm guessing that the drivers are used to other cars that are sporty yet glide over rough surfaces due to fancy adaptable suspension.
To have a car that can take a corner at some speed and feel well planted is a big improvement over my Dacia, which I always attempted to drive swiftly, that would feel like it was about to topple over.
I currently don't mind the ride of the Abarth round town, you just have to keep an eye out for potholes, speed bumps, bad repairs etc which I have to do on my motorbike anyway.
Get a test drive. I took out a 595 Comp on a test where the salesman insisted I went through some big housing estates with bad roads and speed bumps just so I could experience the suspension in the worst environment.
The driving position has taken a few days to get right and the Sabelt seats don't go up and down.
My legs are comfortable, I have plenty of head room but the steering wheel could do with being a tad closer.
I'm 5ft 11ins and about 80kgs.
I had the seat low in the Hybrid 500 so my elbow was almost at 45 degrees up to poke it out of the window
In the Abarth I'm at the level that elbow airing is easy.
I think it's more how you would sit in a Hot Rod rather than a sporty car.
Very little padding in the Sabelts but my first drive was nearly 5 hours and I was fine. Seats certainly hold you in place.
Thanks Croyde for that really informative post and much appreciated, I'm exactly the same height and weight as you so can read straight across
I've got used to the driving position in the 500 so that won't be a problem, sounds as if you had a good salesman too who knew the deal breakers with these...hmm even more tempted now.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply, looking forward to the updates.
I've got used to the driving position in the 500 so that won't be a problem, sounds as if you had a good salesman too who knew the deal breakers with these...hmm even more tempted now.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply, looking forward to the updates.
I'm on my second 595 and love it to bits. In my opinion it has no direct rivals.
My comp has had a remap and I've removed the rear seats to give me more load space and save 20 odd Kilos.
Absolute nailed on future classic!
I'm a newbie so can't post pics yet but watch this space.
Regards, Jay.
My comp has had a remap and I've removed the rear seats to give me more load space and save 20 odd Kilos.
Absolute nailed on future classic!
I'm a newbie so can't post pics yet but watch this space.
Regards, Jay.
croyde said:
Ah, good point
Still it's more usable than the Mustang as with that I had to be aware of it's width being that those mud strewn Surrey lanes were barely wider than the car.
Some pics, done on the rush will try to be more arty.
A couple of questions.
My car didn't come with the metal pedals, which I thought was Comp spec, but my dealer says that they stopped doing that from 2022.
To be honest on our often wet days I've found metal pedals a bit of a liability with wet shoes but they look nice.
Also, despite looking at specs online which says the car comes with an alarm and immobilizer, there doesn't appear to be an alarm.
Anyway, currently I'm loving it, feels very planted and solid and the driver's seat is a nice place to be.
Even has navigation by Tom Tom as well as car play/android auto. Stereo by Beats with a big amplifier where a spare wheel would normally go.
Can't say it sounds any better than the standard stereo but I'm listening to the exhausts anyway
You can get the Abarth pedals here and a good price. Still it's more usable than the Mustang as with that I had to be aware of it's width being that those mud strewn Surrey lanes were barely wider than the car.
Some pics, done on the rush will try to be more arty.
A couple of questions.
My car didn't come with the metal pedals, which I thought was Comp spec, but my dealer says that they stopped doing that from 2022.
To be honest on our often wet days I've found metal pedals a bit of a liability with wet shoes but they look nice.
Also, despite looking at specs online which says the car comes with an alarm and immobilizer, there doesn't appear to be an alarm.
Anyway, currently I'm loving it, feels very planted and solid and the driver's seat is a nice place to be.
Even has navigation by Tom Tom as well as car play/android auto. Stereo by Beats with a big amplifier where a spare wheel would normally go.
Can't say it sounds any better than the standard stereo but I'm listening to the exhausts anyway
https://www.partsworld-uk.com/products/alloy-pedal...
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