General Why buy a Fiat 500 when I can get an Alfa Romeo Mito?

[01101001]

By what YOU like, don't let anyone change your mind, They are not going to be driving it.
As for loosing money on a car in depreciation...if you are worried about that don't buy a new car because it will drop in value.
My one and a half year old car cost me £30,000 new and is now worth £21,000 but I have loved owning it and it has been worth every penny.

 

[alfatastic]

My warning to you for buying the Mito, is it will probably come with a virus attached, some people are imune to this virus, but if you are not, it is a virus that will last a life time, there is no cure for the Alfa Virus, other than to own at least one example but that only soothes the pain. The only reason I could justify buying my 500 was that my GT junior still gets to sit in the garage, and is still the car that gets most attention, (though only just at the moment with the 500 still on the rare side, but that will change).

The Mito is the spiritual successor to the legendary Sud, lets hope it lives upto that in all but rust preventative measures. I think owning a Mito will be every bit as good as owning a 500 but for me the essence of the 500 is that it is more cool to drive the basic spec, as all the old 500s were very basic, whilst with an alfa you need to go for the higher perfomance options, or you'll regret it more. But as others have said its your cash your choise.

 

[306maxi]

Reasons not to buy a Mito:

1) It's hideously ugly - saw 2 on Saturday for the first time and thought it looked worse in the flesh than in the pics.
2) Dealer network - No Alfa dealer within 40 miles of here vs Fiat dealer 10 mins drive away.
3) Resale - Arguably the 500 will be a lot easier to sell on and will probably hold it's value better.
4) "You're buying a what? Is that Italian? Why didn't you buy one of those 500s?"

Up to you to choose at the end of the day but personally the 500 wins hands down for me.

Huh?

1) OK I can agree with that. In some combinations it's not nice.
2) This might be justification for YOU but what about someone who lives next door to an Alfa Dealer
3) The Mito isn't being heavily discounted either so residuals should be good as well.
4) It's called a Alfa Romeo Mito and unless you've lived under a rock for the last hundred years everyone knows what an Alfa Romeo is. Anyway, what does it matter what some ignorant 'tard thinks of your car if you like it?

I'm all for opinion but just don't make stuff up to pad out your argument

There are a few reasons for the Mito
1) Never going to be as common as the 500 and exclusivity seems to be the holy grail to some people around here.
2) More spacious than the 500
3) ESP can be toned down as well as being turned up
4) It's styling isn't based on cutesyness (like the 500) which inevitably goes out of fashion quicker than just plain style.
5) Price - compare a turbo model to the 500 Abarth and you see you can get more for your money relatively speaking.
6) The interior is nicer even than the 500

 

[Shawny69]

OK, having owned 3 Alfa 156's I can say that although I enjoyed owning all 3, the big issue has always been the cost of servicing. The normal cam belt change for these was over £700 and these now need doing at every 36k miles.

When I bought my 1.4 500 in May 08 the Mito wasnt out but I looked at a used GT and the servicing put me off.

Although I like my 1.4 500 I probably would have certainly test driven a Mito had they been available as I do a normal commute of about 34 miles each day with over half on the motorway (hence the 1.4) and the Mito may well have been quieter than the 500.

One other aspect that puts me off any Alfa is when it comes to selling or trading in the car. Most dealers still run a mile when you ask to trade in the Alfa and the Alfa dealers dont give much themselves.

Hope that helps, let us know what you decide

 

[olopboy]

My warning to you for buying the Mito, is it will probably come with a virus attached, some people are imune to this virus, but if you are not, it is a virus that will last a life time, there is no cure for the Alfa Virus, other than to own at least one example but that only soothes the pain.

:yeahthat:


I've found myself wistfully staring at Alfas for sale a bit too often recently, although the small Fiat pox appears to be just as bad

 

[Puma Boy]

Thanks for the many and varied responses guys.

I would not consider the Punto simply because it is quite a few years old now although I did have one for a weekend as a hire car about 3 years ago and liked it.

I would only be buying the basic Mito for £9000 after scrappage as that`s all I can afford as I`ll be paying cash. I was considering the 500 as the cheaper option but would consider spending a maximum of £9000 to get the 1.4.

I know the looks of the Mito divide opininion but I have to say I like them although I think it looks a bit too `tall` but I also think the 500 suffers from this as well.

Will be downgrading speedwise from my Puma with either of these cars which I am not too keen on but although it passed it`s Mot recently I was told there are several things that will need money spending on repairs in the near future so it is definitely a scrappage deal for me.

As for reliability issues with the Mito I don`t believe there are any but if the worst did happen then I am not too concerned as it`s comes with 3 years breakdown cover.

 

[lfc958]

How about simply looking at the road tax you will pay, the way you will drive it, how much fuel you expect to go through, depreciation, insurance cost.

Currently the kudos around owning the 500 is far greater than the MiTo - I will admit it is a very nice car, rear legroom is no better than a 500, but if youre looking for that 'Sporty' drive then no contest really.

It boils down to what YOU want from the car & how much you want to pay.

I have a 500 diesel, & having owned it for just over a year & other diesels in the past. I have come to the conclusion that there are better cars for economy & spirited driving but for sheer head turning ability nothing beats it.
Just my humble opinion

 

[Abarth Moose]

Huh?

1) OK I can agree with that. In some combinations it's not nice.
2) This might be justification for YOU but what about someone who lives next door to an Alfa Dealer
3) The Mito isn't being heavily discounted either so residuals should be good as well.
4) It's called a Alfa Romeo Mito and unless you've lived under a rock for the last hundred years everyone knows what an Alfa Romeo is. Anyway, what does it matter what some ignorant 'tard thinks of your car if you like it?

I'm all for opinion but just don't make stuff up to pad out your argument

There are a few reasons for the Mito
1) Never going to be as common as the 500 and exclusivity seems to be the holy grail to some people around here.
2) More spacious than the 500
3) ESP can be toned down as well as being turned up
4) It's styling isn't based on cutesyness (like the 500) which inevitably goes out of fashion quicker than just plain style.
5) Price - compare a turbo model to the 500 Abarth and you see you can get more for your money relatively speaking.
6) The interior is nicer even than the 500

Just to add to the debate ..........

1) Agree
2) Depends on what you mean by spacious. If you mean a bigger boot then yes, but the passenger space appears to be about the same. *EDIT* on reflection I have to agree the MiTo is more spacious due to the extra width.
3) Agree
4) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in my opinion the MiTo is a bit of a 'Marmite' car and so I would question that it has 'style'
5) Again, if you mean boot space then sure you get more. Other than that, I'd say the Abarth wins out
6)Possibly

 

[306maxi]

Currently the kudos around owning the 500 is far greater than the MiTo -

:whogives: Why should someone care less about what other people think about the for driving a 500 rather than a Mito? If the car is better for them that's all that matters.

 

[Lloyd71]

Why not just get a 2nd hand 147? They are absolutely stunning cars, unlike the Mito which has the front end of a melted plastic toy. It's genuinely a monstrosity. Bad Alfa.

 

[Puma Boy]

Because I don`t want a second hand car when I can get £2000 off a brand new one.

 

[nicholas]

And Alfa are more likely to break down than fiats they have consistantly been at the bottom of the What Car reliability survey..:yum:

Alfa is a FIAT company. Also the Corsa is a sister car to the Mito and GP.

 

[MissR]

I toyed with the MiTo tehn I put the deposit on the 500. Partially cost - I didn't like the Base spec MiTo, don't really need the space and I fell in love with the 500 - especially the interior which cheers me up on the crapest of days.
Test them both if you haven't already, I think cars are like houses sometimes they just 'feel' right... (and unlike most on here I really like the MiTos exterior styling)

 

[FiddyThe500]

I looked at both cars too. Took the boyfriend with me. I bought the 500. He's ordering the Mito after I got prices and a test drive!! But the wait for a new Mito is waaaay longer than the 500 - he has been told 4 months for brand new. I also hear on the grapevine that there's a new punto model out next year - work friend has ordered a new model punto sport on scrappage so maybe check that out if the only reason you're not looking at a punto is because it's an old model?

 

[Murano16v]

Currently the kudos around owning the 500 is far greater than the MiTo -

I think that should read " cuteness ".
In top spec the Mito has far more presence, and for those worried about the "girly" thing - not an issue.

 

[Puma Boy]

I looked at both cars too. Took the boyfriend with me. I bought the 500. He's ordering the Mito after I got prices and a test drive!! But the wait for a new Mito is waaaay longer than the 500 - he has been told 4 months for brand new. I also hear on the grapevine that there's a new punto model out next year - work friend has ordered a new model punto sport on scrappage so maybe check that out if the only reason you're not looking at a punto is because it's an old model?

So that`s why they`re offering big discounts on the grande punto at the mo?
Just had a look at pictures of it, looks pretty nice.
There`s a lesson there. Never buy an old model of car. If I had bought a Grande Punto now on scrappage I would have been gutted when the new model came out next year. My next door neighbour has just bought one as well haha. Oh dear.

 

[MissR]

So that`s why they`re offering big discounts on the grande punto at the mo?
Just had a look at pictures of it, looks pretty nice.
There`s a lesson there. Never buy an old model of car. If I had bought a Grande Punto now on scrappage I would have been gutted when the new model came out next year. My next door neighbour has just bought one as well haha. Oh dear.

Thats why I personally like retro themed cars as they can't/don't change the styling much so it doesn't age the same.

 

[FiddyThe500]

So that`s why they`re offering big discounts on the grande punto at the mo?
Just had a look at pictures of it, looks pretty nice.
There`s a lesson there. Never buy an old model of car. If I had bought a Grande Punto now on scrappage I would have been gutted when the new model came out next year. My next door neighbour has just bought one as well haha. Oh dear.

hmmm maybe rename this thread "mito/new punto/500"?

 

[Puma Boy]

So if there is a 4 month waiting list for the Mito as you say. If you ordered one in January and then the scrappage scheme ended in Feb 3 months before you had received the car, would that cause any problems?

 

[Alfatwo]

Alfa Mito = Fiat Grande Punto = same reliability

I wish the Fiat 500 models could have some of the Alfa Mito engine and gearbox options......
As were the cheaper end of Fiat SPA, Its never going to happen