Derek Kreindler writes for The Truth About Cars, I enjoy his work in general, and thought this Fiat 500 contrasted with MINI article was an interesting read:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...the-car-world/

 

Interesting. A bit different, but interesting. I have been seeing more Fiat's lately. Still like my MINI better.

 

I drove an abarth the other day. Great exhaust note. Had some pep, but didn't feel as good as my car. Smaller inside, to the point where my leg rested against the console. Very nicely equipped for the money compared to the Mini, but I would still take the Mini over a Fiat 500.

 

Mini's haven't had CVTs in 6+ years!!!

 

Indeed, there seem to be long memories with autos: Fix it again Tony remarks from decades old Fiat experiences, "Made in England, is it? I had a Triumph Stag once, it was cr@p" comments from folks when told our MINIs are made in Oxford, etc.

Hard to live down, once people get a notion.

 

I'm getting a Fiat in at most 6 months.

 

Stopped by the MINI dealer in PDX this weekend they had three Fiat 500's in the used cars...

 

Yes I have had the same comments (Not the stag part). I told the people that MINI was owned by BMW. That seemed to quiet them.

 

My dealer in Fort Myers, FL seems to now always have 2-3 Fiats that are used.

 

I'm waiting for my 2013 Roadster to arrive. I have (and will be keeping) my Fiat 500 Sport. Different cars, with different pros and cons. When my Mini arrives and I get a chance to put it through its paces I'll have more specific comments on the subject. The Fiat forum I joined when I bought my 500 is full of Mini bashers. Both are good cars. Truth be told, if Fiat made a "real" convertible I'd have bought it and stopped lusting over the Mini Roadster.

 

I drove a 500 Pop and a MINI Justa. I liked the MINI better, so I bought it.

A co-worker of mine loves his 500 to death.

Neither one of us is wrong, they're both interesting little cars. I just felt the MINI was a better car, most especially for me.

The only 500s I might consider getting are the Abarth, and the convertible.

 

Dropped by two days ago and didn't see any (unless they hid them :D). Maybe they finally sold? I really wanted to buy my MINI at the dealership in Ft. Myers, there is a rep named Dennis who has been awesome. Unfortunately they just didn't have the right used MINI for me, and I ended up finding it in a Cape Coral Chevrolet dealer of all places. I'm going to feel like a jerk when I go there for service and see him. :\

The Abarth seemed REALLY nice, but it was impossible to get a test drive. I visited them 3 times..the first time they blew me off entirely. The second time the guy was really friendly and helpful, but said it was just not possible to test drive. Oh well, sorry Fiat.

 

Not possible to test drive? Because they don't have one? Or because they don't let people test drive it??

 

They had 3 in the showroom, and he said it was not possible to test drive them. They were selling out very quickly, and since they were so collectible and sought after they wanted to put as few miles on them as possible. Maybe the dealership was afraid people would drive them hard.