Like food has to get past the nose before entering the mouth, I can't get past the really econo blob look of the car, and then there is that true retro look of a 60's interior. Just looks more like a Chinese make than anything from Italy!

 

I love the abarth interior. But the outside...not a huge fan.

 

Stopped and looked at the "Gucci" edition, last week. Had driven by a few times and was curious. Drove a Fiat years ago. Very practical-economical little car but even then, I felt it lacked the stability and charm of a mini-MINI.

 

Hahah omg, I thought I was weird...and the only one that did this lol.
So glad I'm not!

I do the very same thing with my good ole 04 R50....and forsure my 2012 R58s

 

There was no context for the crash with the MINI. Was it involved in an accident with another car, or did it roll all by itself like the fiat?


The fiat 500 was initially banned from autocross because it is taller than it is wide.

http://www.fiat500usaforum.com/showt...ss-eligibility

 

My sister is going to go pickup a brand new abarth tomorrow for 20.5k plus taxes (negotiated a great deal at 5k off msrp for her). So this is really an apples to oranges comparison.

 

It still is in stock, not Abarth, form as far as I know.

 

Love Fiat...it looks great

 

Drove two Fiats the day I bought my 2008 Mini, both were 2013 models, the 500 normal and the Arbarth. I did rather like the upright driving position, but nearly everything else about it screamed cheap and flimsy. Too light, bounced all over the road and seemed skittish on the little wheels and narrow track. They both were quick, I will give them that, and any small car has a certain amount of driving fun built in. I bought the Mini a few hours later after a 3 minute test drive, while this was only the second time I had ever been in one, it was the first time I had money in hand and was ready to buy.

Really glad of my decision, and since the mileage was so low on the Mini I bought I do not regret not buying a new one. Oh, and the Fiat is ugly too.

 

im pretty positve it's not twin turbo.

 

Mis-Quote... My bad, LOL...

 

I knew someone that owned the Fiat 500 when it came out and then the Abarth as well when it came out.

Although fun to drive he said both cars were unreliable but since he had two, one or the other was being fixed so he was OK with that.

Hopefully the newer ones are more reliable but maybe not.

A review of the Abarth-
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/201...at-500-abarth/

It's got a 1.4L turbo with 160 HP

 

The Fiat is too tall & the track is too narrow. In the video of the Fiat roll over, the driver barely bumps the curb!

 

How is that in comparison to the Fiat video? the Fiat was maybe just maybe going 60 mph while the Mini on that video was going well over 100 mph if not close. I think they are giving away the Fiats over here in New Jersey, I see at least 20 a day on a 45 mile commute to work. They are just the new flavor of the year. I wouldn't trade my Mini for 3 Fiats, thats just me. They will soon be forgotten just like the smart cars. Classic Mini's are still very desired cars even after 40 years so to me there is no comparison between Mini's and Fiat at all. Okay so they are made in Europe and are both small vehicles not enough to compare. Fiat vs Mini is like taking a nife to a gun fight when it comes to performance and handling. Lol

 

The Italians should be ashamed of the 500. It reminds me of a clown carat the circus! I haven't seen one that I liked yet!

 

Everyone is untitled to their opinion and I'm not trying to bash on the Fiats but myself being a proud Mini owner, I get offended when people try to compare Mini's to vehicles like the Fiat orJust like they did a couple of years back on a commercial comparing the Mini to a Suzuki SX4. C'mon thats like comparing a Rolex with a Casio. Italians make bad *** super cars but I'm sorry that does not make the Fiat a cool car. Mini's have history, reputation, character, attitude, uniqueness, handling, performance and most of all they are a blast to drive. Maybe someday Fiat will acomplish what Mini has but for now they got a long way before we can compare them to Mini's. Just my opinion!

 

Let's see, there are several reasons I won't consider a Fiat.
1. Built in Mexico.
2. Still not sure (Fix It Again Tony)
3. Not as comfortable as a MINI
4. Can't build them like you can a MINI
5. MINI is not just a car but a lifestyle.
6. I tried to get into the back seat but the design actually hurt me. (the stupid head rests in the back.

As far as cost 500 Abarth vs MCS you get what you pay for.

 

They are ugly

 

I would take a fleet of Fiat 500's on the road over a fleet of bloated SUVs any day of the week.

Bring on the mini-hatches of the world!

Being on fugal classic practicality that's fun.

Fiat plays on a classic design just like Mini.

I see myself more in a mindset of Fiat 500 owners rather than most of the Buick/Camry/Accord/dull as dirt sedans that rule the roads of America..

Except for that horrible-*** Fiat 500L.

Screw that turd.. Lol

 

The Fiat 500 started its life in various forms in 1957,there's quite a lot of history there.

After driving the 500 Sport, I found many positives about the car that I genuinely liked: great seats standard, manual gearbox shifted well, the stock 16" wheels are absolutely beautiful, interesting details built into the headlights and taillights. Very nice interior details such as the volume up and down buttons for the audio system are in front of the steering wheel facing the windshield, the bright red paint looks as deep as a swimming pool.

I chose the Mini for several reasons such as: built in nav, Mini Connected, phone dock in armrest (orderable 8-28) homelink, push button start, better mileage, 6 speed manual as opposed to 5 spd, when I turn a corner and the headlights turn with me? Priceless!
There are more reasons but those are the main ones

I believe the Fiat is a fine automobile with supremely comfortable seats (in the Sport), It just didnt push enough of the right buttons for me. The mini is a 9/10.... The Fiat is 7/10

 

I'm 6 feet tall, and when I sit in my friend's Abarth, my head touches the headliner next to the sun roof. I asked him how you lower the seat, and he said you cannot. With a racing helmet on forget about it. This would be a deal killer for me.

As far as the center of gravity goes, I was told that the regular 500 is too tall/narrow to race by SCCA standards, but the Abarth has been lowered enough that it meets the standards.

 

My best buddy just bought a Fiat Abarth on a whim and brought it by, here were my thoughts,
pretty neat, sounded freaking awesome IMO.
I was kinda shocked to hear what he paid, gosh maybe 10k less than I did for my MCS, that being said, when you get in the Fiat and see the build quality and what went into the design I would gladly pay the 10k additional. I agree with many of the other posters regarding the exterior styling, while the Abarth makes it more appealing, the Mini styling kills it. The seats in Abarth wernt very long in the leg, and while I think my MCS isnt either, the Fiat is even less. Im taller so this made a difference with me. The sound that thing makes is fantastic, pretty cool boost gauge and some other stuff too, but I'll take my Mini all day.

 

Having owned the R53 GP, R56 MCS, and helped myself to my sisters newly aquired Abarth, I will have to say, you guys are all missing out if you don't own the GP. HANDS down the GP will spank all MCS in every driving enthusiast category. Too bad they are rare and hard to get. Every sports car should come from the factory like a GP. I do miss it now that its gone. Slightly more fun driving experience than even my M5 in some ways.

That being said, the Aabarth at roughly 20-25k is one hell of a deal. Would I buy one, probably not. But having used my sisters a couple times, its one awesome sounding car. Straight pipes from the factory and nice little shift light. I will give Fiat credit for TRYING to make an affordable fun car. BMW, aka MINI, is trying to STEAL your money with the stuff they are selling now. The only car worth a hoot is the GP. Are you getting 10k better of a car with an MCS vs. Abarth? I don't think so. No way, not even close. You care getting maybe 5k more of a better car, at best. These are cheap little fun cars and the materials/workmanship are not that much different.

I understand this is a Mini forum and everyone here will flame me, but I own (or used to own) 2 Mini's and I drove the best they car they produced (outside of the GP2). So that my take. If you want a fun little car thats not expensive, then the Abarth is the WAY better deal. If you want to spend 10-15k for a marginally better psuedo BMW, then thats your money to spend. But a Mini isn't night and day better for sure.

 

Except that's it fugly, that's worth $ to me. Just sayin..

 

We'll all have different opinions on the cars but I think the 500L beats the Countryman for looks and the FIAT commercials certainly top anything that MINI have come up with