Thank you for the comments.Especially about the mini engine.I had seriously looked at a DS3  with the petrol engine. Even thought about a Fiat 500 with the funky twin cylinder 105 bhp putterer. My son had a mint Peugeot 206 with the dreaded engine stall problem. Nothing could be done.Lethal. Just had to walk away. One reason to stick with what you know. Trouble is most of my friends are oldish ('60's/'70's) and trying to get them into the back of an Abarth is not easy .My wife says get a 4 door which you can have with UP Gti. Even thought about an Alfa Giulietta as it is a bit different and good deals to be had Trouble is that impulsiveness can take over and you live to regret it.There are some relatively cheap 3 year old diesel Maserati Ghiblis out there and the thought of pootling around in one of those is attractive but I don't really want a diesel or very large car. And having no garage it's not much sense having a car sticking out in the pavement!! I sat in a demo 124 and it was lovely but the windscreen was very low and I could see some serious head injury awaiting as I jumped in (crawled in).If only there was an Abarth Panda as that would solve many problems.Carting stuff about,Sensible,good value ,5 doors and a bit funky.Interesting on the stability of a Twingo GT. Cannot deal with opposite locking in a sidewind.I had a Reliant Rialto 3 wheeler many years ago as a bit of fun to take things down the dump and in a sidewind it was hairraising.One moment on the outside lane next near the kerb and puddles were dodgy too.But it was fun to drive with a great gearbox,Quite fast in a straight line and cornering on two wheels concentrated the mind. I was very fond of the plastic pig but the Reliant 3 wheeler Club National rally was basic.Line dancing, bingo and burgers!!

Just returned from a drive cross country from Redditch  to Evesham,Stow,Burford,Marlborough,Salisbury to Ringwood and to my destination Bournemouth. I know the Abarth springs are hardish and I am  nearly 68 but it was a wonderful but harsh  trip.The roads were appalling in Wiltshire and I was zigzagging my way through horrendous potholes. I hit a massive pothole near Marlborough and my lower false teeth fell out.Near Salisbury a severe rut caused my spectacles to fall off and near Ringwood a large groove in the tarmac  caused such a crashing noise that my hearing aid started buzzing. I lay in my hotel bath for 45 mins to recover. The car went beautifully,fast and agile but I wonder if I can take more punishment with the roads the way they are. Some roads in Wales are so smooth. Maybe my  joints are not as flexible as they once were and both my hips have been replaced with metal parts. Still the drive reminded me of so much including a journey in the mid '60's when Dad diced with a 3 litre Vauxhall Cresta  in his Alfa Giulia 1600 Ti.  I was considering a Competizione but I fear my wife has taken enough bouncing about on her rear end!

Hi Jack. Great to talk to you and see Black Betty which was looking great with all its mods. My Abarth looked very plain in comparison. Nice sound too.! A lovely morning with lots of interesting Italian cars. When the Lottery wins comes it would be nice to turn up in a n old Abarth. Something like the 595 repro at Panorama Bay cars In Sandbanks Bournemouth.I called in to see it the other week and it was fantastic. The sales guy there was so helpful.
Unforto the money was missing in the banko!

I'm 66 and a bit worried that I'll soon have to drive an electric car soon  like my older brother. The joy is to hear that rather naughty noise of the Abarth when it fires up. My neighbour says it is a better noise than his Aston Martin so when he comes out I give the throttle a blip. The car is going brilliantly . My wife says we must get a bungalow and  something more sensible !  What? I am seriously thinking about another 595 .Depends on the bones holding out as there is one country road I like to buzz along and I need a warm radox  bath after my trip as the bouncing about is tremendous. I had an Austin A35 in 1970 and that went well but the Abarth is the same size with four times the power. In those days the fun was not when the back let go in the Austin but when the front started to get twitchy on its crossplies at the same time. I turned it over in a ditch but crawled away to live another day and learnt my lesson.I expect younger drivers have not had the joys of crossplies or remoulds in the wet!! Remoulds. Pretty dodgy at times.

Some reasons why you should buy a 595.
-You are never too old to drive a fun car.I am 66.
-If your spine ,knees and hips are in one piece it's   comfortable enough.I have had both my hips replaced so  the crashings over bad bumps are either metal on metal  from my springs or hips.
-It is fun to take the piss out of my older brother(68) who enthuses about his milk float (Nissan Leaf)
- The car can go pretty quickly along straights and round country lanes. It's much better fun than my wife's Hyundai which is an excellent car itself.
-It has been totally reliable in the 18 months since new.Better than my two Toyotas.
-It is easy to get into for an older person.You can perch on the seat like a bog .
-I smile so much it's better than a facelift.
-I love going out in the morning and there it is on the drive looking  cheeky and ready for a quick trip to my mother in her care home!
- Why not? I was trading in my excellent Skoda Superb when I retire recently and saw it in the showroom and my son said,"Dad you will have to ask Mum?" That made me sign up right away.
-The forum is fun and lively and I met Colin and others at a hillclimb meeting last year and it was  all very friendly
So if you are 17 and over have a test drive and enjoy your motoring .

You're right, Salvos. Lovely to see the Abarth clean and immaculate. I have a bogbrush which I bought from Halfords but after poking about with it on the spoked alloys I gave up.  Good old Halfords.Go there for a  sponge and  rows and rows of cleaning kit  . But they don't have the Ninette brush in its metal container.Still got that from the 1950's when Dad polished his Jowett Javelin.

I am sorry but a few years ago I had never heard of this word detailing. On a Sunday I asked one of my sons to wash my car and I gave him some pocket money. Jack  was not too good on the plastic wheeltrims and Tom didn't really bend his back to do the sills but for 50p  job was a good'un. Then along came Schmee 150,Supercars of London and their mates andhere we are wrapping  motors that already have a decent paint job and paying a bloke several hundred quid to polish the back of your number plate and removed that fly that was lodged behind the radiator.Or even detail the fly .Clean his wings .Ok the rotating flails at the car wash were a bit of a paint stripper but they were for lazy folk or reps. Save your money and spend the detailing cash and wrapping  costsand upgrade the motor. My car washer costs £10 is bloody good and I may soon have the cash to buy a Competizione rather than me dear 595.  I wonder what Guy Martin would say about detailing.***********!!!!!