My brother's Abarth 595C has been delivered. How does it feel to have a Porsche driving brother?

Abarth 595C
Reviews & Test Rides

Experience a variety of driving styles with the Abarth 595C

The car is put into Sport mode and driven through a tight corner. The response of the engine is sharper and the sense of power is clearly increased. It is rare to find a car that is so clearly different in Sport mode.

Given its small size and short wheelbase, one would expect the car to be agile and spin around like a cart, but surprisingly, the car has a more stability-oriented flavor.

The steering is a bit heavier, and the steering is very restorative, even while turning the wheel, trying to return to the straight-ahead direction and back. This is quite the opposite of the taste of the McLaren 650S and other cars I used to own.

Therefore.It does not feel as quick or poised as one might imagine from its appearance.

On the other hand.The tires have a strong ground contact feeling, allowing the driver to take corners with confidence.We also tried TTC (torque transfer control) off and on, but did not notice much difference when driving at a slightly faster pace on ordinary roads.

This car is quite a bit sportier than most compact cars in that area, but it should be noted that it is not as dangerous as it looks.

I try to run with the roof open on the way. The feeling of openness is very good.The engine sound can also be heard from above, and the Akrabovic muffler is more pleasing to the ear outside, so it is perfect for this open specification.

The roof appears to open in two stages.When fully opened, the wind roll is strong in its own way.Therefore, it would be more comfortable to stop at the halfway stage.

Go straight through the winding roads and try the highway. The wheelbase is only 2300mm. Honda's N-Wagon is 2520mm, so it is shorter than a mini-car.

I had heard that the Abarth was stable at high speeds, but to be honest, I was skeptical.

However, theScales when actually riding on the highwayThe first is.

It's straight line stability is unbelievable for such a short wheelbase. Even at speeds where the car is leading the overtaking lane, there is no anxiety at all. The car drives straight and true. It is a little different from the straight line stability of a long wheelbase car, and it does not drive straight because of the length of the wheelbase.It feels like it is running straight with the suspension set up.

Earlier, I mentioned that the steering has a strong restorative and straight driving force on winding roads, and this setting comes into play on highways. The steering wheel can feel the front tires trying to drive straight.

In situations with gentle curves, where the steering is slightly turned, there is a sense of trying to drive straight unless the steering angle is consciously maintained.

that extentHigh straightness.It would be better to have them think that they are.

Therefore, even if the car is driven at a slightly high pace, the Abarth is not dented at all.For such a small car, it can keep up with the car in front at high speed cruising with plenty of room to spare.It is the size of a mini-car, yet it is not as stable as a mini-car.

It is an exaggeration, but I would say that they are as different as a car and a bicycle.

The tuning of such a super short wheelbase to achieve such straight line stability is mind-boggling. This is what one would expect from a man who grew up on the Outstrada.

After about an hour and a half of driving, I noticed that the ride, which I had thought was hard at first, had changed to a comfortable ride. I was surprised to find that the ride had changed to a comfortable one.Oh, I've driven.Abarth gave me a sense of satisfaction and contentment that made me think, "I'm not going to be able to do this again. I even felt refreshed afterwards.

The Abarth 595, it seems, is definitely a car with "something" that cannot be described in terms of mere ride comfort and amenity.

Hiro

I am Mina's husband. We don't drive cars for fashion or status symbols. We like cars that are fun to drive, are good industrial products, and have a sense of the maker's intention...

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  1. isi

    Mina.

    As a Fiatt 500c rider, Abarth is a topic I want to jump on.
    Incidentally, my Fiat 500c is a 1.2L engine MT with specifications not available in Japan, and was purchased from England with the insistence that it be right-hand drive.

    At one point I considered switching from a Fiat 500c to an Abarth, but the Abarth has too much power to run the engine in everyday use, such as commuting to work or shopping nearby, so I dared to keep the inefficient Fiat 500c.

    When I test drove the car with the intention of purchasing an Abarth, I dared to ride in the passenger seat as well at that time. The sales clerk who served as the driver may have been overzealous in trying to appeal the charm of Abarth, and it was good that he drove me in a sporty way that was impossible on the roads below, but I remember that I got unusually carsick due to the severe sudden deceleration and the hard Sabelt seat. While I thought the car would be so much fun to drive that the waitress was enthralled, I thought the passenger seat would be a bit painful.

    I thought about giving up the Fiat 500c and Bokspa to consolidate to one Abarth when it becomes too hard to maintain the Boxster Spyder, but for now I am going to stay with it.

    • Mina.Mina.

      Mr. Ishi.
      My husband also said, "If I were to buy one, I would prefer a Fiat instead of an Abarth.
      It's so much better when a car enthusiast gets carsick in the passenger seat...

      Personally, the Boxster Spyder is a car I adore so much.
      I hope you will continue to own it for years to come (laughs).

  2. Nak

    Hi Mina.

    I think 595c is good.
    There was a LHD 5MT model with carbon seat backs, etc. This was a fun model that ran briskly and was fun in town.
    I think the engine probably had similar specifications and the muffler was also Acra.
    For a moment I considered buying it, but at the time it had already undergone a model change and the seats and interior were no longer carbon, which for some reason dampened my enthusiasm.
    If we were to buy a third car, it would be one of the candidates, but when we had three before, we ended up selling one because we couldn't get over it, so I think two cars would be the best for us.

    • Mina.Mina.

      NaK3
      595c sounds like a very nice car!
      And as you say, even if you have more than one car at home, you won't get through it in the end...
      Our family is probably going to reduce the number of cars by a few this year, and my husband is thinking specifically about it.
      I am hoping that this will allow me to give each car a proper ride.

      Thank you for your continued support!