Thinking about swapping my 2006 MCS for 2015 Fiat Abarth 500 with 25,000 miles.

Mini has 137 000 miles on it, SC and WP just replaced. But I need to replace the shocks, PS hoses, oil pan gasket, airbag module A.C. compressor is getting weak and the Tach/Speedo randomly stop working until I smack them.

Am I crazy to consider the change?

 

Why on earth, a Fiat!?!

Just get a Prius why dont you

 

https://www.google.com/search?client...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

I'm thinking....no

 

Not crazy to consider a change, sounds like it's needed. Just have to ponder the sanity of your choice. Why would anyone want a car that's less reliable than a mid 60s British sports car?

 

HEY! I had two early '60's British sports cars and loved them both. Serving the Prince of Darkness was a badge of...something. And keeping SU balancing needles close at hand, well.

And to the OP. You've got the iconic MINI next to a Classic. Prioritize those little issues and take care of them over time and keep Motoring. And +1 what Mini_Vinnie said.

 

wow, it is on the top ten list along with the Caddilac Escalade, Ford Focus, Ford Fiesta and the Camaro.
After a spirited run this morning I decided to keep the Mini for a while longer.

The Miata is another car in my radar but I need rear seats.

Thanks for the replies everyone !

 

Never driven an Abarth but have sat in one at the showroom and knew a guy that had one. Sitting in one, it was pretty nice, liked how the shifter was up higher but getting my 6-3 frame to work the clutch peddle was another story. The guy I knew had nothing but problems with the car. For him the fun was still outweighing the issues but then it was under warranty.

 

I would not consider getting the Abarth in any condition. They are plagued with quality control issues and you will have problems in the future. Not to mention, the shifter isn't as precise as the Mini or the Miata.

If you want a fun car to drive with 4 seats, get a BRZ or the Toyota equivalent.

 

I drove a one-year old Abarth a while back. I was shocked at the savings off the nearly identical cost of the new Abarth sitting in the dealership. My opinion is that they tried too hard to make it look sporty, make it sound sporty, make it as similar to the MINI as they could. If they spent half the effort to make it reliable they could have come up with something worth owning. I suspect both the depreciation and maintenance on a Fiat would far exceed the depreciation and maintenance on a MINI.

What about trading yours in on a lower mileage newer MINI?

By the way, the Miata could be a good alternative, if it had a back seat and room for full size adults in the front.

 

Fix
It
Again
Tony

 

I was considering a new Mini, the last year or two of the 2nd generation. I do not like the looks of the third generation. Sorry.

Scion FRS is also on my listed well as the MK7 GTI .

 

Only one two covered by AAA left until July 2018...

 

I've driven an Abarth & liked it, but I'd be concerned with its long term reliability. It wasn't as much fun as my 2006 MCS was. The F56 wasn't for me either, I ended up with a GTI.

 

I had a lot of fun in a 500 S I rented, but it's no mini. what happened to your airbag module?

 

500S is a slug compared to the Abarth. On the Abarth the rear suspension,struts/springs and ride height and brakes are all modified.


I brought the Mini to the dealer for the passenger seat airbag sensor recall last year. After replacing the sensor the tech said they could not turn off the airbag light due to the module under the e-brake malfunctioning.


$600 for the part plus install, just worried if the airbags will work if needed since I have had quite a few close calls this month with idiots blowing through red lights.

 

did they give you the actual error code? it can be many things that prevents the light from going out, ever had water in the battery box?

if they ddi not give you the error code, get a copy of ista/d and read the error with that

 

I had fun in the 500s it had less tire when I returned it, but they are top heavy cars and you can feel it

the seat belt warning chime was enough to ensure I would never buy one

 

Not sure if they gave me the code, I need to look at the paperwork to see if there is a code. It did specify that the module needs to be replaced.


Also the battery box has always been bone dry since I have owned it.


Thanks !

 

if you do not have ista-d you can bring it over and we can pull the codes, I live down a gravel road though

 

My friend has an Abarth. It's sounds cool and is kinda cool but not that cool. I don't like it's Smartcar-esque stance. I just traded in my 08 S with 88k miles last month. I really miss the car but it finally needed a timing chain and I had already spent about 7k in repairs this year. I ended up getting a 2018 X1. It's no Mini but it does share the UKL2 platform with a Countryman so it's kinda Mini! I do really miss me some 6-MT, exhaust backfire and induction noises though =[.

What about a Fiesta ST or GTI?

 

mega72, thanks for the offer, I will let you know if I need the codes read.


I checked out the Focus ST but could not get past the looks of the interior. MK7 GTI is on my list but tight now trying to find one under $15K that does not have 100,000 miles on it is not an easy task right now.


My goal is to find a decent replacement vehicle for under $14K, If not I will just keep driving the Mini.

 

I hear ya. The Fiesta ST does kind of have a face that only a mother could love and by that, I mean that it looks like a door-stop . The Focus is much better but kind of a different animal all together. The new generation GTI is really nice all around but at 100k miles on the VW you'll be worse off. Have you tried for a newer R56?

 

I am looking into the R56 too.


Or a 95 M3, what could go wrong ???


https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...&modelCode1=M3

 

The E36 is pretty cool. But the E30 M3 is cooler. I assume they cost an arm and a leg though.

 

Wish I had a time machine to pick up an E30 M3 for under $15K


Nice 2012 S I spotted - BRG


https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/invent...ting=184375286