Please don't stone me. I have had over 7 yrs owning MINIs and wasn't thrilled with the direction MINI was going. When I got my first MINI in 2004, I would go weeks and not see another. Now they seem to be everywhere. I bought my Abarth 6 weeks ago and haven't seen another one here in the Tallahassee area.
The car reminds so much of my 1st gen MINI, but with a way better exhaust note.
Go take a test drive, it may surprise you. Nothing ventured, something lost. Nick

 

Will look forward to you coming back here every year, or so, and giving us some updates, including info on the reliability of the Abarth.

Aesthetically, it's just not my cup of tea. But hope you are happy with your decision in the long run.

And btw, I already see nearly as many Abarths as I do MINIs around here. So in a few years, you might have the same issues you currently have with the MINI... if Fiat is lucky.

 

I agree about the looks. I bet they are fun to drive but a review comparing the JCW to the Abarth said there was no comparison in the performance. The fiat looks like a rollover risk...

 

yeah, I find it ugly, and I've seen quite a few of them in town here. Not quite as many as mini's but they are there.

 

Actually, I find the Mini to be pretty ugly too. Its how fun they are to drive that got me. Otherwise, if solely based on looks, the Mini isn't winning any beauty contests either.

 

The seats in the 500 Sport are the most comfortable I have experienced in a car. If fiat had built in navigation, push button start, auto headlights, snap in adapter for my phone, a mini connected type system and home link rear view mirror, I would have purchased a 500 turbo.
I thought the 500 turbo was very comfortable and handled well.

 

Very surprised by this. I've only met a couple people in my 7 years of owning MINIs who genuinely disliked MINIs. Some are indifferent but very few do not like it. Coming from a MINI owner, that's very odd.

I've seen some MINIs that were not tastefully done. But only a few. And I've seen plenty that are just downright hot and/or stunning.

 

I love the look of my mini. From certain angles, I have to catch myself so I don't sit there and stare at it.. I love looking at the headlights and taillight a close up. They are intricate and awesome looking. The overall lines of the car are visually pleasing as well

 

Agree. Even my 8 year old R50... when I part it, I turn around while walking away to check it out a few times.

And my new JCW that I take delivery of in about 38 hours... I bet I stare at it for 3 hours or more the first day I have it. And ten years later, I'll still be staring at it several times a day.

And as I said, I've seen many photos of gorgeous MINIs here on the board.

Oh well, to each their own.

 

ha ha i do the same! i'll be getting out of my car to walk into my house and the light will hit my car just right or my car is parked just right to give it a hot look and i'll catch myself stopping and staring at it. or wanting to take a picture haha. I think some of us mini owners are just weird.

 

We rented an Abarth in England, we didn't find anything which would persuade us away from MINIs. It might have been fun if the suspension wasn't the most uncomfortable I've ever experienced. It was difficult to drive down country roads above 45mph because of its crashing over bumps. Supposedly they've fixed the suspension on later models (we had a '10).

 

The cooper is just a bitchen looking car,plain and simple.... I love mine (Chile Red). I really do have to catch myself from staring at it.

 

Naw......

 

I spent a good few weeks with a standard Fiat 500 as a rental. Lovely little car, but the weird up-high seating position kind of ruins the feel for me. And IIRC the Mini is 10 inches longer... that extra bit of length and wheelbase makes a huge difference when you're on the highway. The Mini feels like a well-weighted small car on the highway, very confident. The Fiat 500 feels dodgy and scared. Can't speak for the Abarth though...

 

OP, I test drove an abarth before I got my r56. It was no comparison for me, the mini was hands down better In my opinion. Not to mention the looks of the abarth are just not my cup of tea.

Babe fun tho, let us know how reliable she turns out to be.

 

Never seen a mini do anything like the second half of this video...

 

That's just pathetic!!!

 

Well, I'm not that surprised by your response, as others. This is a Mini forum

But for me, the performance came first, the looks were secondary.

 

I thought the Abarth was cool at first, until I bought my sons 06 MCS last year. I know, the Abarth is newer and has twin turbo, but I told myself this; if his MINI was that awesome and fun to drive, why not stick with what works for me...

Long story short, Loving my 2013 MCS, and after seeing this VID, LOL...

No Regrets.

Note: Awesome Exhaust note can be developed from an upgraded EXH system and Tune. That would not sell me on picking a Fiat over a MINI.

 

Never drove the Abarth, considered it though. Drove a regular 500 when they came out. The Abarth is pretty cool in its own way. From the reviews, and extensive research on these cars, seems the Mini pretty much is a step ahead in every way compared to the Fiat. But what matters most, is that you Love what you drive Congrats on the new ride. I'd like to see pics!

 

agree, pushing the mini on the interstate, it feels the same at 100 as it does at 55. Just completely stable and grounded.

 

Not a huge fan of the looks, love the exhaust note. Couldn't drive it though, I don't fit in it :/

 

Great to hear you're enjoying your new ride! I had a Fiat Abarth in my sights to replace my Miata, drove a 500 Sport and loved it (just needed more oomph IMO, and the Abarth would solve that). Then they took too long, for me at least, to get a USA version to the market...I'd been hooked by a MINI Cooper S at that point :-). No regrets, but I stay interested in all "interesting" small cars, glad to hear of satisfied owners.

Guida felice!

 

True but you realize the Abarth is like 22K out the door right? A well sorted car for 10K or more less where the difference in performance can really only be extracted on a track...

Driven one and they are a hoot.

 

No instead they do this-