http://jalopnik.com/5860031/2012-fia...t-the-good-one

What do you guys think?

I know there are price, size, weight and power differences between an S and an Abarth, but I think at least one thing will happen with MINI: they will have to up their game.





I just want to test drive one.

 

Nice to see. I still don't think the FIAT can hold a candle to the MINI overall, but at least its an attempt to move to something a bit more fun than a Kia or a Honda.

 

I just don't see the attraction to the Fiat. I don't find it an attractive car, its kinda of like a lump of modeling clay.

 

I love these like I love the Mini. Awesome little cars with some solid pep to them. Glad to see they are bringing over the higher horse power model as well. Won't be in the market for something new for a while but I won't mind looking at them.

 

 

The Mini is still so much the better looking car though. I might seem biased, but I gave the Fiat a once over before buying my Mini and I thought at the time that the Mini still blows it away in the looks department.

 

And Fiat does NOT have what MINI has: separate show rooms and the LIFESTYLE and FOLLOWING.

The dealer in my city has a Fiat in the dodge showroom. Old building, greasy sales men. And who wants to buy a Fiat in that kind of environment.

 

Fiat 500 Abarth power to weight=13.75lbs/hp
MINI Cooper S power to weight= 14.18lbs/hp
MINI JCW power to weight=12.34lbs/hp
Based of stated hp numbers and weights from both MINI and Fiat
It is there as far as the numbers. I guess it boils down to how well the 500 handles.

 

Best looking Fiat I have seen, but then again thats not saying much. Don't like the overall look of the exterior. The Mini looks much more proportionate IMO, the Fiat looks like its missing its rear end.

 

Fiat has separate show rooms out my way, heck its a solo building. Also FIAT just came back out here, when the Mini cooper was re released it didnt have the LIFESTYLE and the FOLLOWING either.

 

Same thought her..looks too much like a Beetle.

 

It looks like an escape pod for my SpaceGhost

 

If they brought the Punto Arbath over that would be even closer to the MINI if not a little bit quicker. Don't know about the handling though.

 

I also don't like the look of the Fiat 500. It is just too small and has the "too tall, not wide enough" stance to it. But I do think competition is great long-term for MINI owners. I wouldn't mind test driving it just so I know what I am missing (or not missing).

It's maybe a little like the iPhone vs. other phones. My iPhone4 is great, but with all the cool Android phones available, either Apple will do something to compete, or I will have a pretty nice Android phone next time I am in the market.

 

Thats a big draw

 

Such a bad idea to sell Fiats at Dodge dealers... if that's what really happens. I just don't really expect people who are interested in a Dodge/Chrysler to even bat an eye at a Euro subcompact. It's as if MINI tried selling Coopers at a Chevy dealership. It's just the wrong audience. If Fiat wants to be successful, they better plan on making independent dealerships in addition to trying to sell them at...DODGE dealerships, lol.

 

I want to like the Fiat, I really do. But where the MINI is (IMHO) a premium small car, the Fiat is just Italy's Toyota Yaris or Kia Rio. I've never driven one, but they just don't have the quality of design and materials that our MINIs have.

 

For myself, what makes the FIAT fun (not just the Abarth) is that it is a modern take on the original 50s-60s version—and the sun roof is a great feature too—almost a convertible, but not quite.

Still, I agree with others that it can't hold a candle to the MINI, but to each his own.

Now if Ford would only bring back a faithful reproduction of the early 60s Mustang, that would be sweet.

 

Looks like a slighly wider/slightly longer smartcar to me... Ugh!

 

Right on. As far as brand and market goes, the classic versions of both cars have cult followings.
Kind of funny reading MINI owners hating on the Fiat for being too small!
I wish MINI would make a smaller version, instead of making larger and larger models.

 

You're opinion is colored by your location
We here in the sticks , have a BIG problem with the horrible location of Mini service, and BMW dosn't help , I think Fiat/Dodge dealers is a great idea

 

You can buy a whole body brand-new now...

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/ford-rei...5-mustang.html

 

Furthermore, the TwinAir engine, which I understand won't be coming to the States, won an international design award. Cool concept, too: high efficiency two cylinder turbo.
No, I don't want a Fiat but I do like 'em old and new.

 

I've owned several FIAT's. They were fun and ...well, interesting. I hope they can succeed in this market. There is a place for them IF FIAT is serious about making it work. They have not been in the past - Shame because they are a world-class car company. I don't want another one because I'm completely tickled with my MINI. There are those, nonetheless, that might find that these are right for them.

Wish them well, enjoy your MINI! Don't need to throw off on these and rationalize why yours is BEST. Relax. Everything will be OK.

 

The Abarth 500 is the first 500 that I find interesting enough to take for a test drive. Now where is my local Dodge dealer again??? I know there must be one around here, but off the top of my head I cannot think of one. The typical Dodge sales experience would cause me pause too.

But to be honest, I am still on my MINI honeymoon, and it would be wrong to take another gal around the block.