Hello All, I love my 06 R53. It currently has 84k miles on it. Car is maintained. However, I am thinking about getting another car before 100k miles. I am not a fan of the new minis and the newish abarths are kinda cheap. So, what cars other than the R53 you have considered. Has anyone switched over to a abarths?

 

I plan on buying a Subaru sti hatchback with a roof rack as my next car. I dig the awd, speed, space, and looks of sti's

 

abarth is an interesting idea, never driven one, and I don't think they will be as good in the snow as my mini, but boy, they depreciated real quick

 

I recently was issued a 2016 Cooper (F55, 3-cyl turbo) as a loaner when my car was at the dealership for the power steering pump recall... To say the least, I was not at all impressed - as the car lacked the road feel, nimbleness and sports car feel of my '04 R53 Cooper S.

As to my 'life after R53,' a low-mileage Porsche Boxster or Honda S2000 would be high on my list...

 

I have a few years of experience with the Fiat 500's - leased a 2012 (first year for them back in the US) Sport and drove it for 42k miles - currently have a 2016 Sport in the family. I have test drove the Abarths as well - several times - and I had originally planned on getting one.

According to book reviews (Consumer Reports, etc), the Fiat's have a very poor rating - yet on both of ours (knock wood), we have had minimal issues. As most of you have seen, I recently got a 2006 R53. Compared to the 500 Sport, The R53 wins - and the back seat is more comfortable in the R53 than the Fiat. The Abarth is the Sport - with a 6 speed trans, 60% more horsepower via turbocharger and a dual exit exhaust. Other than that, the 500 (all models) and the Abarth are the very same car. The Fiat sits significantly taller - and there is more body roll. The Fiat also has more storage in the trunk area (not alot, but there is more).

As for winter weather, the Fiat has done decent in the snow.

The Fiat's are nice and they are alot of fun. I'm not sure how they will work out over the long haul.

 

I tested both before getting my R56 and man if you are a big person (Tall or extra padding on he sides) the 500 is really small inside, also if you are going to get an MT it very hard to Heel-Toe. The started to do AT after 2014 or 2015 if I'm not mistaken. Also the MT has a problem where it gets stuck in gear.

Sound wise it really sound nice. since it has no mufflers.

 

I'd switch to a Fiesta ST before an Abarth.

 

I'm 6'0" and a little fluffy and I had no issues (and continue to have no issues) in a 500. Also had no problems with the manual trans (the pedals are a little closer together - I think it's an italian thing). I will say that the drivers right knee kinda rests up against the center dash console in the manual - but you do get used to it. The shifter is on the lower center dash - and not on the floor.

Pre 2014, the glass top editions had a problem with the paint on the sunroof support piece just forward of the glass - between the sunroof and the windshield. The problem being how they prepped that piece for paint after it came out of the mold.

In the glass top / sunroof models, the interior is a little 'lower' than it is in a hard top. The 2012 we had was a glass top. The 16 is a hard top - lots of head room. The Abarth adopted the AT as an option for 14.

Here's a previous write up I did about it - though it turned into more about calling out Ally Financial (the old GMAC).

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ompetitor.html

 

NEVER driven one...pass quite a few on the highway...the fiats don't seem to "wear" their smallness well if that makes any sense....know that dealers were selling the arabath cheap...huge discounts...but can't get by the fact they look like a tin can...reviews are all over quality wise...moving from a 10+ year old car would likly be an upgrade...
Had a neighbor that swore he was going to sell his mini and order one a few years ago when announced.... He never did...the idea proved to be weaker than the MINI... Sure he had stories of using one in Italy... But the translation to US roads proved it might be a great city car, but not so great on the "big American interstates" as he mentioned. Go drive one...if it makes you smile, get it. The truth is in the drive.

 

Maybe if they actually produce this car.

 

2013 Cooper S (glass top) vs 2013 Abarth (convertible).


Also, while the Fiat does look small - I have often carried 4 adults (people taller than 6'0" may have an issue in the back seat) in the 500 Sport. Again, this is coming from one that lived and drove one for 42,000 miles (2012 Sport) - and there is a newer one in the family now (2016 Sport).

When people see the Mini's, they say the same thing - not alot of room in there - but there is.

 

They are producing it. There's a configurator up for the 124 Spider (regular and Abarth) up on Fiat USA's consumer site.

 

I appreciate the feedback. I am looking for a cheap fun daily driver that can accommodate small kids and stuff. I am partial to the roadsters, especially the boxster and z4, but they are impractical for me. Abarth's looses value. I can find several 2013's for about 13000 hopefully less. Thanks!

 

Yup...It's called a Miata Did see somewhere the Fiat version is be-badged and some cosmetic/body changes.

 

The wife has one of these...Fiat 500 GQ Edition. Basically an Abarth with a little quieter exhaust and special rims.



I like my '05 R53 Much more. Fiat sits too high, and narrow. There is a curve I like to take on one of the new freeway interchanges here in PHX. In the Cooper its no problem. Just enough effort to give me feedback and I feel confident and it just whips through it.
In the Fiat, it's a battle! At a much less speed than in the Cooper. Absolutely No room to put anything w/ the Convertible.

Have any other questions feel free to ask.

 

Focus ST... I dumped my '7 for one of these

better handling

more HP and higher boost

lower cost .......

I bought an ST-3 for under $30k and that includes

all leather Recaro seats

nav and sat' sound

hid headlights and turn lights

and 'over boost' that will tip the turbo to 25 psi

and don't even begin to compare to the RS . . . .

the Fiesta is nice .... the Focus is stronger

 

Much more than a rebadge (although the interiors ARE virtually identical). The 124 ditches the Mazda's NA engine for the 500 Abarth's 1.4L turbo across all trims. Lots more torque than the MX-5, which should make for a different driving experience.

 

Driven an Abarth, wasn't hugely impressed though it was nice. Engine not as pokey as the R53 and you miss out on the noise. Ride is very stiff, as stiff as R53 on 17s and SS+.

Look at the Fiesta ST, the only hatch in my opinion that can hold a candle to the R53. Loved the one I test drove 3 years back, though again watch for the firm ride.

 

Clutches are alot lighter in the Fiat's too.

 

Bought a used 2012 FIAT 500 Sport for spouse. She had a 2006 R53 for about 3 years. The FIAT is also fun, in a quirky way, but not a handling car like the MINI.

 

I agree - I drove a 500 Sport for 3 years (and there's still one in the family). They are fun. It does handle well - but I think because of the increased height / body roll, you just can't hit it as hard.

 

To me, those things just look to strange. They don't look sporty like a Mini does, they look like a Prius mated with a football or something....

 

In all honesty, the Fiat is a modern bug. Same size, same feel. With that in mind, the 2012-2014 was a little bit thinner and had an analog speedo. I think the Gen 1 Mini is a little wider than the 12-14 500. The new 500's are a little wider and have a digital speedo.

The 500 does have the styling of the original Cinquecento - just like the R50 has styling of the original Mini. The 500L is hideous imo. The 500X retains the look of the 500 - just bigger. I think the 500 and 500x look nice - and again, based on living with it, it is a fun car that also puts a smile on your face.

Allegedly, the same guy designed the new Mini and the new 500, Frank Stephenson.