Abarth 595 questions

[tomtom]

I've browsed through a few 595 threads but have a few questions that'll be easier to answer in their own thread, I think. Hopefully some owners can help me.

I hired a 595 in Italy recently and loved it, so I'm thinking of getting one here, probably a Turismo rather than the Competizione. However, it seems that very few used cars have the larger screen specified and/or the Car Play stuff, both of which I think I'd want, given the hire car lacked them. Were these both very recent additions to the options list, hence not many used cars around yet with them added?

Same goes for xenon headlights... The regular lights on the hire car were (and I hope I'm not offending anyone here) pretty rubbish on unlit lanes at night.

Alternatively, is it easy to retro-fit these things? edit: I guess retro-fitting xenons is harder with the new MOT rules...

How good is the Beats hifi upgrade? Car entertainment has never really been a concern for me but the hifi in my rental 595 was a bit tinny... Is it worth trying to find one with the upgraded system, or just fit something that's aftermarket later on if it bothers me that much?

Anything else to look out for? I'd probably look at ~6-12 month old cars, I think.

Thanks!

Edited by tomtom on Monday 3rd September 17:48

[595Heaven]

The 5" (standard) and 7" optional screen came in with the Series 4 car (easily identified at the rear - it's the one with the body coloured insert in the rear lights). CarPlay and Android Auto are an option on top of the 7" screen.

At launch, the Series 4 Comp had Xenons and auto dimming rear view mirror as standard - these were made optional at 17MY. I think they've only ever been an option for the lower output models.

Retro fitting Xenons is pretty much impossible - you need height sensors for auto levelling and a secondary washer fluid bottle for the wash system.

I've not heard the Beats Audio, but the base audio can struggle to make itself heard. I just listen to the exhaust instead! The Beats subwoofer takes up some boot space, so bear this in mind if you need to carry stuff in the back.

They are great cars - stuffed full of character!

[ecsrobin]

595Heaven said:

The 5" (standard) and 7" optional screen came in with the Series 4 car (easily identified at the rear - it's the one with the body coloured insert in the rear lights). CarPlay and Android Auto are an option on top of the 7" screen.

At launch, the Series 4 Comp had Xenons and auto dimming rear view mirror as standard - these were made optional at 17MY. I think they've only ever been an option for the lower output models.

Retro fitting Xenons is pretty much impossible - you need height sensors for auto levelling and a secondary washer fluid bottle for the wash system.

I've not heard the Beats Audio, but the base audio can struggle to make itself heard. I just listen to the exhaust instead! The Beats subwoofer takes up some boot space, so bear this in mind if you need to carry stuff in the back.

They are great cars - stuffed full of character!

The beats subwoofer is in the spare wheel well so does not take up any space.

As above most cars since the change of the listed items to being optional means that it’s harder to find a car in the spec you want. However most comp owners have generally specified everything you want.

[595Heaven]

ecsrobin said:

The beats subwoofer is in the spare wheel well so does not take up any space.

Ah, it was the earlier system that was at the side of the boot wasn’t it...

With the Beats system, is the tyre repair system still stored in the wheel well?

[ecsrobin]

595Heaven said:

ecsrobin said:

The beats subwoofer is in the spare wheel well so does not take up any space.

Ah, it was the earlier system that was at the side of the boot wasn’t it...

With the Beats system, is the tyre repair system still stored in the wheel well?

Yes I still have the tyre repair system. Personally I’m not a huge fan of bass but the quality of the beats vs the standard is certainly noticeable.

[595Heaven]

I bought a spare wheel for mine when I did by Euro trip...

[ecsrobin]

595Heaven said:

I bought a spare wheel for mine when I did by Euro trip...

I’ve done 2 euro trips now (this year was only as far as the ring) but with breakdown cover and being a fairly standard size I have no concerns with not running with a spare.

[Jester86]

Must admit when I was optioning my Comp, I sat in one with Beats then one without and for me (being no audiophile) I couldn't really tell too much difference and even now after a year and a half I still do not regret not getting it.

Must haves for me were:

Performance Pack
7" Display

Mine was pre 17MY so came with Xenons and Dimming rear view as standard. Both I would spec as essential if I was to buy another.

[tomtom]

Thanks all. The problem I have with pretty much all the used Comp. cars (at least those currently on the market) is that they're in rather garish colour / wheel combinations; I like something a bit more subtle

How about retrofitting the larger screen and Car Play? Has anyone done that?

[ecsrobin]

tomtom said:

Thanks all. The problem I have with pretty much all the used Comp. cars (at least those currently on the market) is that they're in rather garish colour / wheel combinations; I like something a bit more subtle

How about retrofitting the larger screen and Car Play? Has anyone done that?

Red with black wheels isn’t garish is it? (Although there is a big thread on here about that very subject)

Retrofitting is not an option, I looked into that as mine came with the smaller screen as the 7” screen wasn’t ready when the demonstrators came out.

[Daggerpie]

Talking of garish colours, has anyone seen the new "Adrenalina Green" avalible for the Comp?

Would love to see the colour in the flesh (or at least a decent photo).

https://www.evo.co.uk/news/21676/abarth-595-and-69...

[Jester86]

Agreed the green in those press shots looks great. The yellow also has a gold tinge to it, I am really liking that as well.

But still not enough changes to warrant swapping yet. Please please give us reach adjustment on the steering wheel!

[tomtom]

ecsrobin said:

Red with black wheels isn’t garish is it? (Although there is a big thread on here about that very subject)

Retrofitting is not an option, I looked into that as mine came with the smaller screen as the 7” screen wasn’t ready when the demonstrators came out.

It is to me I want grey or dark blue ideally. Basically the closer it can look to a regular cinquecento the better!

Thanks for the info re: screen. Maybe I'll end up buying new at this rate...

Edited by tomtom on Tuesday 4th September 12:01

[ecsrobin]

tomtom said:

It is to me I want grey or dark blue ideally. Basically the closer it can look to a regular cinquecento the better!

Thanks for the info re: screen. Maybe I'll end up buying new at this rate...

Edited by tomtom on Tuesday 4th September 12:01

I think even in a discreet colour they stand out a mile away to even the untrained eye.

[66Grey]

I went with the Circuit Grey colour with no decals down the sides to be pretty inconspicuous.

[Bungleaio]

I have a 5 inch screen at the moment but after having a car with carplay/android auto built in it's annoying. My new car is coming with the bigger screen with car play. It's expensive though at £850 before negotiation but it's worth it to me.

The bold colours are fantastic but for a daily driver it's too much for me, podium blue is quite rare but is by far the best colour imo.

[DELTAHPE]

tomtom said:

Thanks all. The problem I have with pretty much all the used Comp. cars (at least those currently on the market) is that they're in rather garish colour / wheel combinations; I like something a bit more subtle

How about retrofitting the larger screen and Car Play? Has anyone done that?

I bought mine used and it is I must admit semi-chav style abarth red and black. If buying new I think I'd go for podium blue ..... Then again maybe not why not stand out? Hmm.....
Retro fit of screen is probably best left to budding Einsteins not really practical. Mine is 5 inch, tbh it's not so bad really if you put your phone in a good holder (brodit pillar mount) and run android auto on the phone screen it is not such a great loss. Buying new though I'd spec 7inch and Android auto but wouldn't bother with nav if you can mirror the phone you don't need it. I have beats at first I wasn't impressed but it needs careful adjustment of the tone to get the sound right, I think it's worth having. Performance pack is desirable if you are going for a manual.

Edited by DELTAHPE on Wednesday 5th September 21:12