Ask Honest John

Honest John Ask Honest John » Taking Abarth
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks

Taking Abarth

I want to change my 2004 Golf 2.0 FSI with 40,000 miles for a smaller car (from reading your column, an Abarth 500, FIAT 500 or MINI Cooper), but I still want enough zip to make frequent driving on motorways fun and safe. I arranged to test-drive a 500 with Hartwells of Abingdon but the man didn't turn up to the appointment and when I 'phoned the garage, although they promised to ring me back, they never did. I am widowed and would appreciate advice on the above. I don't know how best to sell the Golf (part exchange?) and could
probably but reluctantly find £7,000 towards replacement.

Asked on 29 August 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
The Abarth 500 is huge fun. The 500C (convertible) has similar suspension to the Abarth and is much better to drive than an ordinary 500 (though the rest of the 500s get this same suspension from 2010 model year and ESP as well – probably at a price increase of £500 to £750. I would go for either a 500C 1.3 Multijet or a 2010MY 500 Lounge 1.3 Multijet, both of which are low tax, handle well, go well enough and do 65mpg. Test and video test at www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=396 Your Golf is currently worth about £6,000 as a p/x. So you have about
£13,000. Enough for a 500C Pop 1.3 Multijet, or for a 2010MY 500 Lounge Multijet. Not quite enough for a 500 Abarth or for a MINI Cooper.

Our honest used car pricing is a little bit different to all the others. You can get to our values through make or model - you don’t have to follow a prescribed route. Plus, it’s live, which means we can react to changes in the market quicker than any printed price guide.

Honest Used Car Prices

From which small car to buy at which price point to the best UK-built cars, our Top 10s have the lot. Click now for your shortlist.

Unsure of what to buy? Our Top 10s are here to help you....
Dear Honest John,

Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:
    Select a few terms below
Similar questions
I'm interested in buying the Abarth 500. I really like the car but I'm having second thoughts about it because of the hard suspension. I currently own a 1.4 Fiat 500 and while I like it, I hate it's ride...
The garage has just confirmed today that my beloved FIAT Barchetta is almost certainly a write-off. I'll really miss it. But I think I'll go for something more solid next time. How do you rate the FIAT...
I'm due to retire shortly and my Audi 3.2 quattro lease goes at the same time. I'm looking for a replacement second car and I'm looking for something small, practical but fun and speedy. I thought about...