I use to hate my Mini because I thought it looked too "cute" but now that I've seen the Fiat 500s, those are CUTE, too cute for me...

 

Wow, lots of FIAT hate around here! Aesthetically it wouldn't be my first choice, but I get the impression it's a fun little car and I don't think it looks as bad as many here are suggesting. I'm all for more people getting in smaller vehicles for a variety of reasons. I hope the OP is happy with the purchase, that's really all that matters.

 

At the time I was about to be old enough to start driving, my dad had two cars I was hoping he would keep until I was 16. One was a very nice '69 Firebird. At the time, it was only about 9 years old and in very nice condition. He sold it because he figured it was too much car for me. The other was a Fiat 128 Rally. I did get to drive this one to school for several months. It would die right as I got to school, making me have to get out and push it into a parking spot. Then I would have to keep my fingers crossed that it would start later. I loved that little car, great gas mileage, very fun to drive (and easy to push ) and reminded me of a BMW 2002. But that one was sold too.

 

I think it's a little ironic that many are criticizing or concerned about Fiat's quality reputation. I could understand if this was a Toyota forum. Think about it. We're driving gen 2 MINIs... one of the "quirkiest" cars around. I wonder what they will call "quirks" in the Fiat forums.

 

And I drove a Fiat 850 Spider to high school for a while (Actually 817CC, Fiat reduced displacement to under 50 Cubic inches to avoid EPA regs) A fun little car . Later I bought a new FIAT X1/9. Got rid of it after two months because of all the quality quirks. Turns out the 1/9 actually meant 1/9th of a real car I like the new one though. But having only one dealer in the state of NC would keep me from buying one.

 

I am truly amazed at the people that love to bash the Fiat. I have had this little Fiat 500 for almost seven weeks 1200 miles and its reliability been just perfect not one problem nothing. I have owned six mini coopers and still have one clubman and cannot say this for the mini. The 2009 cooper S convertible was the worst of them all. Trim panel on convertible top switch broke 300 miles. Hood scoop melting 400 miles “replaced” Cold start rattle started 600 miles. Plastic tabs on convertible top broke 700 miles. Complete top replacement 800 miles. High-pressure fuel pump fail at 1000 miles. Tensioner replaced to fix cold start rattle 1100 miles. Hood scoop melting again 1200 miles. Convertible top replacement again 1600 miles as top is rubbing a hole in the fabric on drivers side. Hood on turbo mini gets so hot it started melting the 3M clear bra off the hood. Replaced that once then it happened again than I gave up and just left it off the mini.

 

Anyone else think that the front a back bumper resemble the JCW areo kit?

 

I am not bashing Fiats Just stating that it's reputation precedes it. They have to prove themselves to me before I would even consider it. Talk to me in about a year and then maybe.

 

I don't care about tumbler speed.

What I care about is in 1980 "we" had one as well as our neighbors too. It would break with 5k on the odometer, and the dealer would claim so sorry. My step dad would drink and beat us.

**** Fiat.

They were sold through the leith crysler dealership at that time.

I see absolutely no difference between now and 30 years ago.
I mean BMW has had some quirks with the radiators and window motors, but they are a long term player. Fiat pulled out, leaving many people stranded.

And frankly a base mini like I have is a much better car than that.
I realize it is cheaper supposedly but cmon, 17k vs 20k......
when one can go 100k miles at least (for me) no problems and another can go maybe 10k miles with major problems? No brainer.

Old saying: If you want an Italian car you better be an italian car mechanic or be married to one.

WTF with you people making any kinda comparison.
(not a slam more of an exasperation)

 

Fix It Again Tony

What an ugly little car!!!!!!

 

Well, You must be stuck in the 1980's head over to Europe the Fiat brand makes some best cars on the road and its thirty, yes I said thirty years later.

 

the body kit does look like an r56 jcw aero.. put on a mesh-smooth in 3dsmax on level 10 with no edge bound. haha. Its just so flat with NO aggressive edging...

 

Wow, odd to see so many MINI owners talking about reliability when MINI has been rated one of the least reliable cars on the road by Consumer Reports, among others. My 2004 MCS was bought back under the Lemon Law and my 2006 was in the shop 6 times before hitting 20K miles. We all still love them though and just deal with the quirks.

I've driven the 500 (an Abarth, in Europe) and found it to be a very fun car. Not as fast as my MCS's, both were modded, but still a great, tossable, quick car. The Abarth model is more aggressive looking, I like it a lot. Why all the hate though? So there is another small, zippy car on the market in the US. I think that's a good thing. If people want a MINI, they buy a MINI, if they like the Fiat, they buy the Fiat. Call me crazy, but I think it's fabulous to now have multiple options for small fun cars. We went so many years in the US where compact mean small and boring while Europe had all of the hot hatches with small displacement turbo engines and good handling. Now we get some of them and I'm loving it.


Also, as for basing quality on something you saw on an auto show car, that's ridiculous. Those cars are treated like crap by 1,000 people a day. The staff purposely removes things like shift ***** because people steal them and detailers circle them constantly because they get so filthy.

Cars have come a long way since 1980. If everyone held on to their old ideas of car companies, Hyundai would never be one of the hottest selling brands in America and I would refuse to so much as sit in a Ford after that 1982 Escort we owned while I was growing up that was a piece of poo on wheels.

Enjoy the new car! Keep us updated on how it holds up over the coming year and also, how is the gas mileage in real life driving.

 

Glad we are not stuck in the '80's - Although gas was a terrible 50 cents a gallon.

"Made in Japan" meant junk then.... Honda cars, Subaru all junk... Sony, MicroSoft all start-ups we should have invested in - Look at them today!

Heck I wouldn't even look at Mazda's because of the '80's junk rotary engine stuck in my head. Opened my eyes when I helped my kid look at a new 2005 Mazda 3 - he puts 30,000 miles a year on that car - still on the same battery - never a problem - 4 wheel disc brakes - 30+MPG - great handling.

China is going to be next to eat our lunch.

 

Jenn,

You are so right in your assessment. I believe in giving auto makers and other manufacturers a chance. But, Fiat hasn't been in the states since 1980 and it's reputation precedes it. I am not one willing to take a risk again, I did it twice before. with cars in their first year in the US and will not do it again. It takes a certain type of person to drive a MINI and it looks like we overlook the mechanical problems to a point. My wife wants a MINI in the worst way (even though she can't drive) and I have two other cars that I am considering. I look at it this way, she puts up with me and my extremely dysfunctional family so I will let her have her way and besides I loved the MINI when I test drove it.

 

I went and looked at them because I miss my Fiat 124 Spider so bad. They are Ok, just too high seating position for me... I rented one when I went to Germany a few weeks ago as well, again OK just not quite the feel I was hoping for.

Design wise, yes they are just a funky as the Minis though.

 

About a decade off ... the 70's would've been 50 cent gas and junky Japanese cars (except Subaru and Mazda which continued to have problems much longer than Toyota or Honda). During the '80s, gas was typically around $1 gal and small cars became common. The first tank of gas I ever bought in 1979 was $1.17 gal. That was a spike, though it settled to about $1 for several years after. Detroit basically laid down and died if it were not for SUVs and trucks. The Japanese cars ruled the small car & small truck segments and were much more dependable than American small cars. By the late '80s, the Japanese were setting the bar on quality, moving to larger cars. It was a bleak time in automotive land.

Other than the decade, I agree with you. I had a '05 Mazda 3 hatch, a '07 Miata, and still own a '06 Mazda 5... all excellent cars. It will be interesting when the Chinese are demanding more cars than the US and Europe. The designs will become more oriented to their markets and we may be feeling left out.

 

Yep - It was the late '70's when I started driving at 50 cent a gallon. Did buy some 28 cent a gallon stuff for lawn mowers before the "oil shortage"......

 

I am going to buy a MINI again for the first time!!!! Only this time it is going to be an R60.

 

I'm not surprised to see a few negative Fiat 500 comments on a MINI forum.

I'm happy to give the new kid a chance. Frankly, the MINI is looking a bit dated these days.

 

And I had 3 Fiat's...a 126 I bought in 1978 which I traded up for a 127 and then later in 1984 for a 128......my brother had several 124's and 125's...never a lick of trouble and absolutely a blast to drive. Great cars....can't wait to see the possible arrival of an Alfa......
Philip

 

Definitely, a good Alfa would be cool. If Fiat would come out with a new version of the 124 I would drop my Mini like a rock...

 

The comments are pretty much what people were saying when the MINI came out in 2002. I went to the dealer and saw the FIAT. Yes, it has the retro factor however, I dont think it has the same fun factor as the MINI.

 

Love it!

I kinda like the Fiat. Good on the OP for going with a car they're comfortable with. I will probably take a good, hard look at the Abarth, but I don't think I'm over my MINI just yet.

 

Color makes all the difference in the appearance of this car. My 18 year old says it is "chick car" all the way. Saw a yellow 500 and didn't like it....now they have an olive green one in front of the dealership and it looked better. Not great, but, better. Similar to the Smart Car....why buy one? We all know about the Smart Car..........