Right guys, looks like this could be the last year of the Polo. Thinking of moving on near the end of the year. I've looked at so many potential candidates but ruled out a lot: Golf GTI (too common, Mk6 coming out later), 197 (good but not special enough and crap on fuel), Alfa GTV (probably not practical for a daily), Clio V6 (again more of a weekend toy), Mk7 Polo GTI (soon to be replaced) etc etc. I've got two candidates and they are both very similar and both italian! (Yep, no jap cars involved!). They both cost around 14k new and have 1.4 Turbo engines. So here they are:

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/Search...rth-CAR-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/1908...oce_review.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?

mk4 r32 and the rest supercharging it...

Fiat

fiat 500 mouse!

abarth ss every day i wnt one of those they look quality and theyve got a engine to match do it :) then go euro styley on its ass :p

500 out of them two, allthough if your interested in the 1.4TSI what about the new Ibiza Cupra?

New Ibiza is absolute hideous. Terrible styling on the outside and a plasticy interior with the dullest dashboard I've seen since a Mk4 Polo

What BBS's would look good on the Fiat? :p

The Alfa is the prettiest new hatch about today, But it's interior has nothing on the 500's interior... Tough choice... Buy the 500, Get a HID kit and when you look out of our bedroom window at it, squint a tiny bit :-)

New Ibiza is absolute hideous. Terrible styling on the outside and a plasticy interior with the dullest dashboard I've seen since a Mk4 Polo

What BBS's would look good on the Fiat? :p

Haha fair enough, definately the 500 then, would look sweet on some rm's

Interiors are really important, just as much as the driving experience, because that's the place your going to be the whole time your driving it. The 500's interior is one of the main selling points for me. An HID kit would be a must, although I'm not sure how that would affect warranty

500 defiantly, loved the look of them first time I saw one, abarth ss one is just extra nice!

500 FTW

I'ts the one and only fiat id go into a showroom and hand money over for.

500 ss deffo! i fell in love with it when it was on topgear! 160bhp in a car tht small cant be bad lol. fun fun fun!

Fiat every time. And I never thought I would say that.

Alfa is hideous! How can people say it looks good?

And since when did HID's become so important? I find that poorer headlights slow you down a little = a bonus in my book. Also make driving a little more exiting!

Get a westfield!

And since when did HID's become so important?

How can you not love the way they come on? :-D

Edited 1 February, 200917 yr by Jackdub

500 as it will be worth something in 5yrs.

Really hard to get more info on buying an Abarth. The official website is crap and not even one person seems to have one on the Fiat forum!

I feel guilty wanting to sell the Polo lol. I'm not finished with it yet though, need to get my exhaust and manifold done soon

I love the alfa! Both of them will fall to bits after 10miles ^_^

Alfa Romeo Mito 1.4T for me mate

Edited 2 February, 200917 yr by Po*Low*

Fiat 500 FTMFW They're awesome cars and not that common, I'd have one if I had the money

You'd have more fun in the Abarth than the Alfa

The Alfa looks like an old man business car, boringgg, zzzzz [looks nice though haha]

alfa = layby , and its not the best looking car alfa has made

fiat = screaming revs fun all day long , propper cool looking car

people say your not a real petrol head till you have had an alfa , but i say dont bother just look at everyone elses as thats the only good bit

500 abarth.

i was looking at one on H/P at work till i got the cheap volvo.

whats the diffrence on insurance groups Mouse???

I think both cars look minging tbh.

And you missed out a very big con with the fiat- its a fiat! lovely reliable cars- not!

But if i HAD to choose out of the 2, it would be the fiat, but thank god i will never have to make that decision!