This morning my husband found this comparison article of the Fiat 500 Abarth vs. MINI Cooper S JCW. Couldn't help but share this with other MINI enthusiasts to see what you all think ... enjoy .

http://www.miniforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1289

 

Eh, as much fun as I'm sure the 500 is, I'd still take the MINI over it.

 

http://www.sccaforums.com/forums/for...61/scope/posts

 

Maybe its me but when looking at the two cars it makes me like my JCW with the JCW aero kit even more. I want to like that little Fiat but... I just can't.

 

neat little car, and it sure is light!

 

I'm not sure I could get interested in a 'Fix it again Tony" (FIAT). I know, I know, they are better than they have ever been, sort of like Jags.

 

The MINI looks a bit more sporty to me. I love what the Fiat 500 is representing, and I love it's overall package. But as long as the MINI is there, I'll have to pass.

 

I hear there is a Rotrex Kit currently under development in the US for the 500.

Now that could really make it fun little toy .

LB

 

Already?! We need some of that for our aging R53s

 

The JCW would smoke the Abarth. The normal S would be a better comparison.

 

Look at my sig

 

 

Haha, is the kit ready yet? What's the $$ we are looking at?

Not to thread jack but...

I think I speak for others as well; the R53 is starting to age, and most of our Superchargers are getting to that point where they are failing, needs maintenance, or needs to be rebuilt. It's time we have a good mainstream Supercharger kit for the MINI.

 

x2!

Especially this pic..

 

14.4 lb/hp for the S
13.4 lb/hp for the Abarth version
12.8 lb/hp for the Gen 2 Works car

(12.2 lb/hp for my Gen 1 Works car - which is a fair bit lighter than stock)

Looks like a fun little rocket though...I wonder how much rubber they can wear?

We'll see how they do when folks start using them in competition.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

Commenting again. I thought people would like this car more. Isn't the whole "small, light, retro, european" part of the car what got you into the mini? I cant see how an even smaller, lighter, and pretty powerful (for its size) car isn't getting the recognition I think it deserves. I love the Abarth and would honestly chose one over an R56 S (not an R53 though). If MINI gets the F56( is that the new code name?) right, I'll want that more. But for now I'll take the Abarth.

 

I've always loved Italian sports cars. And I would take an old Fiat Spyder or X19 in spite of their awful reputations. But I think the 500 is fugly. I'll stick with MINI in this case.

 

they do look like they would roll gracefully - my father once rolled his VW bug, winding up back on the wheels with little damage except for scratches on the roof and a rather bad temper

 

I like and own both cars - 2012 FIAT 500 Sport and 2004 JCW MINI Cooper (non-S) :

 

+1

 

I thought the 500 was quite a bit smaller, hardly looks smaller next to an R53

 

JCW? You mean Justa Cooper?

 

interesting thread, I really like the Abarth trim, especially the wheels and rear bumper. but i've said it before, a fiat customer (in general) isnt a MINI customer. They simply dont compare (until they put them head to head on top gear, oh yeah, that's gonna happen)<<serious, not sarcastic

gotta admit, the Abarth version is actually desirable...

uh oh, lets throw this in the mix: Ferrari Tribute Fiat 500

 

I've driven an Abarth 500, it was a lot of fun, but I was in the south of France, so lots of fun twisty mountain roads, I'm not sure how it would be doing the commute on US highways everyday... I'll probably test drive on of the US spec cars to see how it compares, but I'd stick with my Mini if I had to choose...

 

They made non S JCW's