Sections: MINI Competitors | Video Feb 28th, 2008 24 Comments Another great shootout by our 2nd favorite British auto show, 5th Gear. If you don’t want to know the result, don’t click the “continued” link.
Obviously the MINI Cooper would be better suited to go against the Fiat 500 Sport but price kept it out of this test. I suppose it comes down to the question (for those who can potentially buy both cars), is the extra space of the MINI worth it? We’ve heard over and over again the 500 isn’t really an enthusiast car due to the suspension and steering feel. But how much of that matters to the average buyer?
Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
Jon Feb 27th, 2008 Link
Still think the Fiat is iconic enough to gather a decent following. While I don’t think it will make a huge impact into Mini I do believe that it could lure away present and future buyers looking for something unique over something high performance.
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JayTee Feb 28th, 2008 Link
Let’s be realistic about the outcome of the result and look at some other facts tan just the lap time. The MINI is much heavier than the 500 and has less bph than the 500. Based on that, you would expect the 500 to beat the MINI with a lot more than just a second. You could say that despite it’s better bhp/Kg ratio, the 500 underperforms.
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Timmee Feb 28th, 2008 Link
Why do you say the Cooper would be better suited against the 500 sport? The One and 500 Sport are both 1400cc. The MINI is just bigger and heavier, that’s all.
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Shamus Feb 28th, 2008 Link
It’s odd that she likes the “sure footed”, “predictable” handling of the MINI, but behind the wheel of the Fiat, she states that it’s more “alive” and “fun”. Dare I even say it here, she really looked to me like she was having more fun in the 500 (goofy e-brake powerslides non-withstanding). Has the automotive press at large grown bored with our little MINI or is this car actually better than we think?
As I see it, the review of these two economy versions is a bit moot here in the USA since we’ll never see either grace our shores. The real test for us will be pitting the full Cooper version against the upcoming Abarth in a nice head to head challenge with more than a single hot-lap as comparison.
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M. Dillon Feb 28th, 2008 Link
I totally agree with Shamus’second paragraph. However,it was still nice to check out the head to head comparisons of the 2 cars…
…one can only dream,lol…
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Eelke Feb 28th, 2008 Link
Timmee: “Just” bigger and heavier? That’s actually an enormously important difference; power doesn’t really mean anything without knowing what weight is has to move. Also, in spirit I think the Cooper would be closer to the 500 Sport, they’re both meant as a sporty step up from the base model. Therefore, I don’t really “get” the price argument. Most people who are in the market for either of these cars, will go for a certain level of performance and equipment, never mind if the price is a few thousand euro’s higher.
WRT putting the Abarth against a Cooper, with 150 bhp for the Abarth, I would say it would have to be a Cooper S to be able to stand a chance.
WRT the 500 being more fun, “good” doesn’t necessarily mean fun. The R56 suspension is undoubtedly very good. Is it also fun? I’m driving an R50 Cooper myself, and I’ve had the chance to drive both a R56 Cooper and S last weekend. I too actually felt some of the fun was gone from these cars compared to the R50 and R53, respectively. On my blog, I’ve stated it like this: the Mini has grown up, and it lost some of its bad boy character in the process.
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Cap'n Bill Feb 28th, 2008 Link
Anyone who remembers how bad Fiat quality and service was before they left the US years ago probably wouldn’t give it a second look.
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rkw Feb 28th, 2008 Link
On comparable tires the Mini would have taken that second back.
It was a fair test. Both cars were stock. You can’t expect them to upgrade both cars with aftermarket tires for a comparision.
MINI has a far superior rear suspension and might have done better on a tighter, twistier course.
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dr Feb 28th, 2008 Link
Any econobox like the 500 or smart that draws people away from the cooper is a good thing! Getting rid of some suv haters and purifying the comunity for the performance enthusiasts is just fine with me.
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Crusoe Feb 28th, 2008 Link
This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone here. So much lighter with more HP, tires wouldn’t had made a difference, a great comparison. Abarth SS will beat the MC as well. The MC would probably beat the 500 however being it’s a 1.6 vs the One’s 1.4. Just wouldn’t want to be in a crash in any FIAT.
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Jon Feb 28th, 2008 Link
Hmmm so since I am a SUV hater of the first order does this mean that I want a Fiat, ugghh no thanks ;).
There are numbers of drivers out there currently in Mini’s and other small cars that are totally oblivious to performance though. I think that Smart has more to lose to Fiat than Mini does. All thee share one fairly common thing between the drivers of each brand, iconic vehicles. To be realistic if I were only looking for a performance car I would have not bought a Mini. For me personally the iconic nature of the Mini with the performance though is a nice fit.
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Dan Feb 28th, 2008 Link
The day Fiat announces an Abarth 500 for the US market is the day I do two things: 1) start prepping my ‘06 MCS for sale and 2) write a deposit check and send it to Turin.
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Pete Feb 28th, 2008 Link
Who cares about the cars! I love that woman and her accent! She could drive me anywhere!
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Stef Feb 29th, 2008 Link
Here’s the Abarth 500 at the ring. And yes, it pops! Abarth at the ring
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Lee Feb 29th, 2008 Link
I agree with Dan. I sold my 1958 Fiat Abarth 750 a few years back, I still miss that car. Of course it was not my daily driver, it was used for Autocross, Rally, and any time I needed a smile. The Mini has allot of its qualities only munch more refined, its fun yet comfortable a compromise. Italians are not so much for refinement; to them it’s all about performance. As for Fiat reliability I found that it was not the cars but at the time Americans did not know how to take care of them. I worked for an Italian auto shop in the 80’s you would not believe what some so called foreign auto shops would do to these cars. I would never take my Mini to a corner gas station and have work done, but that’s what a lot of Fiat owners did. Having owned several Fiats and Alfa Romeo’s I can say that one thing the Mini has in common with them is the fun and passion you fell when you drive them. P.S. My Mini has been in the body shop for 3 weeks (I was rear ended by a SUV) I thank I’m having Mini withdraws.
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Filip Feb 29th, 2008 Link
Wel, I have to make the choise later this year, my good old Audi A2 has 150k km and here is what makes it hard … the price difference on the basic model isn’t so much of an issue, but to have the Fiat 500 as I like it I need to add 3000€ in options bringing the total to 17k€. If I spec out a Mini Cooper to my taste I am looking at 33k€. That’s almost DOUBLE the price! So I think it’s time Mini starts thinking about adding more options to the standard car or offering better packs or just dropping the prices a little. As I spend most of my time alone in the car and live in the city it’s becoming really hard to justify spending so much more …
from the trenches in Europe ;-)
(btw Clubmans everywhere here in Belgium, they’re really great!)
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neuron Feb 29th, 2008 Link
The Fiat 500 Abarth, coming out this summer, will have 135hp, which means the Abarth SS version which will be released later, will probably get about 165.
On safty: 500 has a five star Euro crash rating, the only car of this size that gets the maximum rating.
While Fiat in general is not, the old Fiat 500 is actually known for their reliability. The current Polish producer makes better car than Turin. The old Fiat service in U.S.? About as good as the old Mini Cooper service.
What we need is a shootout between MCS and Abarth SS, – on the street of San Francisco.
Yes, this is going to hurt MINI big time. I live on a small street with eleven households. There are 6 MINI’s on the block. Four of the owners said they will switch to Fiat if it ever becomes available; one will buy the fiat while keep the MINI.
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Rawhyde Mar 2nd, 2008 Link
They picked cars that had 1.4 liter engines, but to do that…they had the top of the line Fiat and the bottom of the line MINI. It’d have been fun to compare the top Fiat 500 to the Cooper S/JCW. Top of the line vs top of the line. Wanna bet which one would have a lower lap time?
Rawhyde
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neuron Mar 4th, 2008 Link
The top of the line Fiat 500 would be the Abarth SS,, not the car tested in this video. And yes, it would be fun to compare the two. I won’t bet the farm on the outcome.
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Dr Obnxs Apr 7th, 2008 Link
Fiat catches much undeserved crap here in the US. As does Alfa. But for those that know something of automotive performance history, both marques have quite a lot ot be proud of.
What’s a bummer is I don’t see how to convince my wife that I really need an Abarth 500 when it comes here to go with my Mini, the Clubman she wants to get, my Mustang, the MDX and an aging 124 spider I’ve got…. That’s the real problem….
For those that think this car will suck, look back in history and see how the little Abarth fiats shamed many a larger car (sound familiar?)
Matt
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Dr Obnxs Apr 7th, 2008 Link
Fiat catches much undeserved crap here in the US. As does Alfa. But for those that know something of automotive performance history, both marques have quite a lot ot be proud of.
The shootout was a fair game. 5th gear took price equivalence as a way to select the cars, and that’s as good a metric as any…..
What’s a bummer is I don’t see how to convince my wife that I really need an Abarth 500 when it comes here to go with my Mini, the Clubman she wants to get, my Mustang, the MDX and an aging 124 spider I’ve got…. That’s the real problem….
For those that think this car will suck, look back in history and see how the little Abarth fiats shamed many a larger car (sound familiar?)
Matt
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Mike Jan 24th, 2009 Link
The Abarth SS version sounds like a lot of fun. I think the more sophisticated MINI JCW will prove a better overall road car, but I’m admittedly biased toward BMW engineering. I do have questions about the notorious FIAT reliability (I owned a 124 Spider so I speak from experience). The original Abarth cars, while serious competition at the racetrack, were known to have engines with both the R.P.M.s and life expectancy of hummingbirds. Still, it’s nice to see a light, cheap, and fast little car enter the market. Hope it keeps MINI on it’s toes and maybe more price conscious…
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