Fiat 500 Abarth.
Pics taken within 100 feet of my London hotel last week.

 

Looks more like a VW Bug than a MINI. I squash BUGS!!!!

 

competition is good - will only improve MINI

 

Looking at the weight, horsepower and 0-60 times for the 500 Abarth, I think it's better competition for the MC rather than the MCS, but I agree that any competition is good.

 

i've said this from the beginning about the Fiat's coming to the US, I really like the idea of them, they're neat looking little cars, there's already a dealership in my county with a lot full of 'em, but they're just not fit for me like the MINI is. One of the things I've been told about my Cooper is how it's the perfect car for me, hard to describe, but I don't think I'd get the same reaction in a 500. The Abarth in those picts is absolutely gorgeous, but it's just not for me. I really don't like the "lumpy" styling of it.

 

I saw just the 500 this past weekend. After seeing the car online, I have to say that the car height was a lot taller than what I expected and a lot narrower. I don't like it.

 

Do we just get the plain jane 135 hp Abarth (0-62 in 7.9) here? Maybe the Abarth esseesse (160 hp; 0-62 in 7.4), or the Abarth Assetto Corse (190 hp; 0-62 in a flash)?

Probably just the plain jane Abarth, to finally give the MC some competition in H Stock.

 

People hate on the MINIs because they don't like the look. The new MINIs harken somewhat to the old Minis.

I like the look of the 500. Fiat is going for a retro look and I find they have achieved it.

It'll be interesting how they match up once the MINI goes to 1.3 L.

 

I think they've succeeded in making it retro as well, however as previously mentioned, the "tall and narrow" look isn't doing it for me. Again, the idea of the car is cool, but better for someone other than me. I like the Mini's almost perfect center of gravity, height relative to wheelbase, and how it seems like a perfect square. If I had to assign a shape to the 500, I'd say it's more along the lines of an oval. IMO

 

And you didn't take a picture of the MINI right behind it?

 

Maybe it's competition for Toyota Yaris, Scion XD or Honda Civic. While it is small, somewhat quirky retro styling with a dash of some new, I wouldn't classify it being even in the same league as the MINI.....

Besides that, it lacks history, power and has never been in any movies either !

 

i though USA will get Abarth with about 170 hp? If so.. I am in. I was going to buy Fiat 500 but I couldnt go with 101hp.. so I went with MCS.. but now driving monthly to dealer.. I have more and more bad feeling about my decision.. will see what happen / breaks next

 

Had a 500 to the left of me for a good 2 miles tonight on the way home...meh...it won't beat MINI in styling that's for sure.

It appears to be a bit taller, but certainly smaller over all, I know my Husband was eyeing them when we first heard of them coming to the US.

Thankfully they were still a year out when we were looking, he needed a car big enough to haul the FurKids, so he got a 2010 Kia Soul Shadow Dragon SE#3 "SMAUG" and he loves it!!

 

I just can't get beyond wondering how its owner is going to get out of that parking place without some serious curb rash.

 

....... also, is it just my OCD, or is their something else that's not quite right about
the cars in the background ?

 

There's TONS of room to get out of there. It's a little close to the curb, bo no biggie.

 

What threw me off is the bimmer parked going the "other way". Weird parking setup too. Looks like there is parkin along each side of the street and parking down the middle. Must be a fun time driving down that street and keeping a lookout for idiots flinging their car doors open

 

I'm sorry. This was London where MINIs and 3 series BMWs are more common than Fords and Chevrolets here. There are so many P cars that after a day you hardly notice them. Only the Ferraris and Lambos stand out.

 

Did you forget that mthe English drive on the other side of the road? I did notice that those cars parked that had folding mirrors, had them folded.

 

No problem....British drivers know how to parallel park

 

I saw a 500 on 95S near Baltimore the other day, heh, naaaah, not even close to competition, lumpy and very I dont know, ice cream-ish somehow, yea, strange analogy but thats what pops to mind. Maybe it was the vanilla ice-creamish paint color. Not what I would call a car to lust after or ohhh-ahhh over, regardless of horsepower, it just looked funny.
Dont see me ever doin one of those. Eddy, I'm with you, most Mini owners are a little "quirky", me surely included, and now I have found the quirky ride that matches. Just hopeing the long-term durability isnt as iffy as some people are saying. Guess I'll find out.

 

Nope. I noticed that.

What was meant is that the Bimmer is pointing in the opposite direction than the cars in front of and behind it. Or hadn't you noticed that?

 

In case you all are wondering. I don't like the Fiat, even in the Abarth version. I love the size of my R56. Its a very useful vehicle.

 

I could so see the Mob/Mafia driving this car. I have yet to see a new eye appealing Fiat. But this is one I like.

 

http://www.fiat500usa.com/2011/04/75...over-mini.html
75 reasons to drive that over ours. I could think of a 1,000 reasons not to buy it. Let alone over a MINI =p