You guys aren't alone. I haven't seen one up close or checked out the inside but I'm sure it's not as rich looking as the Mini. The Smart car is really, really, ugly but the Fiat 500 is just ugly.

 

I can't hate them. I think they are cute. Fun for an afternoon in the city. I just wouldn't want to commute in one (Mainly because I don't drive slow and I like to pass other cars ).

A part of me hopes the Fiat competes well with the MINI. Then MINI will evolve or die. I am guessing that BMW/MINI will make changes instead of drop the MINI.

Either way I will keep enjoying Comet.

 

Having driven all 3 (SMART, 500, and a "Justa" - I own a MCS, but for comparison's sake), I have to say, the fit and finish of the SMART car is lightyears ahead of the 500. The hard plastics in the Fiat were so cheapy, as was the overall feeling of the car. At least the SMART was designed by Swatch and Mercedes. My dad owned a 2008 SMART and now a 2012, and they have made improvements to the tranny, etc. He owns one because they live in NYC and the ease of parking is, well, unparalleled (pun intended). When you take a moment to look at the SMART under the dash for example, it's all supported by aluminum framework, very well engineered. I also would prefer the automated manual gearbox to an underpowered slushbox in the Fiat. As someone mentioned earlier, if you are going for speed, the SMART is not your choice. But it is honest, and it's great at what it does. I tend to admire cars for closing that gap between what is expected and what they can actually do. I was let down more by the 500 in a first impression/drive than the SMART.

 

all im saying is Fiat had to get a materialistic name brand company involved to get them off the ground and selling their cars ... its the only one i see in my area that god awful gucci edition

 

I think the "Abarth" name may help sell a few as well.