1) Fiat 500 Abarth SS
I've always liked this when I first saw it. It's one of the coolest cars I've seen released recently. Something alternative to the admittedly great but common as muck IT mangers car that is the Mini Cooper S. I ruled out a lot of larger engined cars because I'm seeing smaller, higher powered engines as a good means of still being able to have fun in a car, without spending too much money. This is especially a concern now with rising tax prices/emission laws, etc. The standard Abarth has 135bhp iirc and does 0-60 in about 8 seconds. Not much over the Polo, but then being a Turbo the engine is more flexible and economical at the same time, and of course there is the potential. The SS version is basically a modifcation package that stiffens up the suspension, adds a few styling tweaks, and more importantly adds an extra 30 bhp, meaning 0-60 is around 7.5 or just under. Now I know people will say it isn't quick, but then a car doesn't need to do 0-60 in 5 seconds to be fun (although the car that would replace this car would be something like that
) and there is still potential. All car mags I've read have had positive reviews and said it's a hoot to drive. It also looked really good on the TG track. The car costs around 14k and 3k for the SS package. Only limited numbers of Abarth 500's are being made each year, with the option of the SS package. The plan would be to get a nearly new example so someone takes the hit, meaning I may only have to pay 12-14k for say a 6 month old SS version with 2k on the clock. It is a very narrow margin choosing this over the Grande Punto Abarth because I also think it's a great car. The Grande Punto/500 Abarth seems to be the modern Lupo/Polo GTI combo, although whereas I chose a Polo over a Lupo, this time it's the other way round in terms of the Fiats.http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Sea ... AR-review/
Pros:
- Kills off the girly image of the normal 500 (although they still look cool imo)
- Good reviews (Clarkson said on Top Gear it's a modern day successor to the Mk1 Golf GTI)
- Looks the part
- Performance/Handling/Running Costs/Equipment combo is amazing for the price
- Possibly a future classic as it will be rare
- Interior is very unique
- Tuning potential
- Italian soul
- Lack of dealers (my nearest is 130 miles away in Glasgow!)
Cons:
- Not as practical as a Grande Punto Abarth (and arguably not as good looking on the outside imo)
- Alfa is arguably more stylish on the outside
- Maybe a little too small
- No Xenons
2) Alfa Romeo Mito 1.4T (155)
I just recently took notice of this car. It looks good, and I know some will say it looks girly, but I think a guy can just about get away with it. And it would have to be in red (although the white one does look good). Although the interior isn't as classic or special as the 500, it is still very good, and reports say it's actually well built. Being based on the Punto (which seems to be relatively trouble free), then there shouldn't be any worries of the classic Alfa breakdowns/electrical gremlins. Owning this car would also mean owning an Alfa, which is something I definately plan on doing in my life, whether it be this time next year or in 30 years. I would like to read more reviews on the driving experience, as I've not found a lot. Those I have read are promising though, some saying it's ok to some saying it's entertaining. The power figures are pretty much identical to the standard 500 Abarth (I'm talking about the top of the range 1.4 Turbo with 155 bhp). There are no tuning options like the SS, but a remap would easily sort that. Although nice, it isn't as special as the 500 and seems to be more of a top of the range version of the Mito rather than being designed to be a hot hatch. There is rumoured to be a 220 bhp GTA version too. I wouldn't want to buy this and then have the GTA released. The pros are that the GTA could be really crap and not really be worth the extra money and I would be better off with the 1.4. Ignoring all doubts, it's still a great little car. As with the 500, the plan would to be to buy a nearly new example around 6 months old.
http://www.imotormag.co.uk/testdrives/1 ... eview.html
Pros:
- Classic Alfa style and more Italian soul
- Well built interior
- Reviews ranging from ok to excellent
- Little more practical than the 500 (same size as a Punto apparently though looks smaller in the pics)
- Another good combo of Performance/Handling/Running Costs/Equipment
- Tuning Potential
Cons:
- More girly image
- 220bhp GTA version rumoured to arrive next year (though this will either be a hit or a miss to drive, and the price will be close to 20k)
- Depreciation possibility?
- Not as special as the Fiat (especially on the inside)
- Alfa dealers renowned as the worst in the UK (and that's got to be bad in comparison to VW!)
- Again, no Xenons
A possible third candidate would be the all new Polo GTI. A 180bhp TSI sounds appealing and the photoshops I've seen look encouraging in comparison to the dull base models. It may lack though in drivers appeal in comparison to the above two and then there is the Mk6 Golf GTI which looks stunning and will probably be only 3k more. Anyway, not enough info to be a main consideration at the moment. Dare I say it, an ST version of the latest Fiesta would certainly tempt me if done right.
Thoughts?
