http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/hatchbacks/1204_2012_fiat_500_abarth_vs_2012_mini_cooper_s_co upe/result.html

And it goes to the Coupe S!

 

Very nice... the last comparison with the Mini and the Fiat 500 was with a base Cooper Hardtop... I'd always wondered why they did not at least stack it up against a Cooper S.

 

That was a fair comparo (base car vs base car) as well as this (S vs abarth). The C&D comparo of the Abarth and JCW is not.

The reviewer was incorrect is his assertation in the coupe' was "lighter" than the S hatchback. We know the opposite is true.

So far Mini retains the "performance" edge over the 500 and the Abarth by any measure in an "apples for apples" comparo. Choosing the Fiat is a matter of asthetics as it reminds me of the R53 (thanks Mr. Stephenson!) and of course price which is significant.

Now that same choices need to be made just like the "old" days (after market tuning...250 HP from TMC!! or 200 HP factory Venom package) warranty vs. power. It will be fun and new.

I hope this remains a mutually respectful relationship of small/fun Eurocars and not pi@@ing contest. Some earlier threads are bizzarely hateful of Fiat who has been producing the 500 long before the Mini. Yo respect?

All good fun folks! Someone asked me if there would be a heist movie with tuned Abarths called "The English Job". Hmmmmmmm...............

 

Close to "apples for apples". The ABARTH sits between the Cooper and Cooper S in horsepower. The MCS Coupe costs $2,600 (base) and $5,250 (as tested) more than the FIAT.

I traded in a FIAT 500 Sport for my MINI JCW Coupe. Not because I didn't like it, but I just really wanted the Coupe. Would like to have kept both. In some ways the FIAT was better, especially around town. The FIAT is minier than the MINI with as much or more room inside (Hardtop). It had a high, upright seating position which was fine for the regular 500, but wouldn't seem proper for the sporty ABARTH.

I agree that Car and Driver's comparison of the FIAT 500 ABARTH with the MINI JCW Coupe wasn't equal.

 

I always wanted to drive an Abarth, and it sounds pretty Mini-like from the review. What I get from it is that the Mini wins because of <drumroll> STEERING! No surprises there, we all know that steering/handling in corners is what Minis are all about. Now if only Mini could get some of the babes in their ads that Fiat has in theirs.

 

Sorry... I remembered it incorrectly... the last one I read was a Mini JCW Hardtop vs Abarth 500: MINI JCW vs. Abarth 500: Car & Driver June 2012

 

Wow, looking at Jamesday's sig, the Coupe's wheelbase is shorter than the hatch's isn't it? The car looks shorter axle to axle. If you take calipers and measure the center to center of each wheel it looks about 4-5" shorter the Coupe. But the stats says the wheelbase is 97.1" both Coupe and Hatch. Maybe it's just his car?

 

The 97.1" wheelbase is the one number that has been the same for all MINIs except for the Clubman and Countryman.

Here are photos of my R50 MINI Cooper and my old FIAT 500 Sport:

 

I like the 500's styling very much but the high beltline combined with the ride height make it look, at least from the rear, like it's going to tip over. Overall I still prefer the R50/53 styling to the Fiat but I prefer the Fiat to the current R56 styling.

 

The 500 design reminds me too much of many other small model cars on the market. MINI (every model) reminds me of none. I think it'd be fun to drive the Abarth but there's no way I'd trade my Coupe for one.