General Fiat 500 vs. Mini Cooper

[paulgraham]

With the release of mini cars rapidly increasing, it's becoming difficult to choose a favorite! What makes the Fiat really stand out for you?

Fiat Panda

vs.

Mini Cooper

​

I'm torn between these two! I can definitely say I like the somewhat larger mini-vehicles like the ones shown above as opposed to the Smart Car, or say, the Peel P50 - haha!

Peel P50
​

 

[maddogmorg]

as neither the owner of a 500 or a mini, and never driven either i feel suitably qualified to point out their faults! the mini is massive so not really a mini car, whereas the 500 is actually quite small. for example the smallest engines are 1.2 vs. 1.6?

the 500 looks better, apart from the the back where i think it looks ungainly due to it's steep high back bit, whereas the mini does look good, but from the side/front the 500 is a lot better. the mini has been out for quite a while and still looks modern which is quite an achievement tbh. inside i believe the 500 has the edge with more space, and also the mini has the speedo in the middle, while from a style point of view it might be good i've been told by many who have driven them it's stupid, but on the other hand the 500 has the gear stick on the dash which personally i don't like the idea of, but i'm sure you'd soon adapt to it.

handling and performance i believe the mini wins hands down. but then on the other hand the 500 can be very economical, which is important to many people, i can't say which one has the more "fun" driving experience due to never having driven either. i'd imagine the 500 to be easier to drive though, with the use of the city button etc.

running out of things to say but one thing is a large price difference! which is important thing in todays economical climate.

 

[Venters]

handling and performance i believe the mini wins hands down.

You believe wrong.

A bog standard 1.4 500 is more agile and far more nippy than a bog standard 1.6 Mini. Still waiting to see a track test putting Abarth V Cooper S though.

 

[maddogmorg]

You believe wrong.

A bog standard 1.4 500 is more agile and far more nippy than a bog standard 1.6 Mini. Still waiting to see a track test putting Abarth V Cooper S though.

i mean proper handling high speed cornering and stability etc, i count nippyness and agility among fun to drive, which i have no experience of, but i'd happily be proved wrong.

Edit: don't forget i've driven neither

 

[dave]

havent we already done this to death

 

[Venters]

Yeah. Why I don't want it going down to me. Always turns nasty.

 

[paulgraham]

Yeah I like them both aesthetically for different reasons, I think the back of the 500 looks good personally... and venter, you answered my question in terms of performance - thanks. I'd still like to see the two of these in a race though!

 

[Venters]

Fifth gear did it.

 

[paulgraham]

@venters

HAHA. Well, will just have to tell someone to get on it. Not that I know anyone of consequence lol. If anyone wants a free copy of Season 10 though, let me know.

 

[paulgraham]

You know, the more I see of Abarth, the more I continue to be impressed with that company. Everything they do I seem to like, from the performance to the styling tweaks.

Just need to check out the Abarth Cooper S now.