75 Reasons to Buy a Fiat 500 over a MINI?

and to TheDude, I AM gay and own a MINI, and neither one is related to the other.

I haven’t read the whole list (as soon as I wipe the glaze from my eyes I’ll try to finish it), but seeing things like the Fiat’s smaller, weaker stereo system being touted as a positive because it “requires 50% less energy” (because it’s weaker), or touting the Fiat’s “Sport” button as an advantage over the MINI (obviously simply not true), makes the entire list look essentially dishonest to me.

Here is one very good reason to buy a MINI instead.

Here is the link that didn’t show up. http://youtu.be/lgd6VaM1HVA Apparently MF doesn’t allow embeds, even though it shows it working in the comment preview.

The Fiat has 3 year 36K free maintenance, includes car rental and is transferable!

so does the MINI?

Fog lights on Fiat Sport & Lounge are standard. Fog lights for base Mini cost $250.

and not available on the 500′s base version (pop)

The Fiat electric sunroof is an $850 option but the Mini sunroof option costs $1000.

and is twice as big

Centralized pod instrument bezel on the Fiat is directly in front of the driver, not on Mini.

the same with the MINI. the big secondary speedometer is in the middle of the MINI

Tom-Tom docking feature on Fiat eliminates wires or plug-ins to cigar lighter.

isn’t the MINI’s garmin option the same?

The Fiat 500 has an HVAC system with micron air filter for the cabin, even on base models. The Fiat Pop, Sport & Lounge all have a stainless steel exhaust system standard. The Fiat has a 2 second “hill holder” that keeps manual car from rolling back.

so does the MINI.

Fiat drivers do not need to turn their head to see the heater controls, only look down.

and he used this one twice (#13 and 19)

What else is to be expected by a fan of Fiats? I’m sure any number of Motoringfile readers could come up with a list of 75 reasons to buy a MINI instead of a Fiat. Some of the items on the list are inaccurate. Some are splitting hairs or are dubious in actually being a benefit of one car over the other. What I do see when parsing the list is a price point that undercuts the MINI and can be a real way to establish the brand again in the USA.

What gets me is that as a car enthusiast is the disdain I detect from some corners of the North American MINI community. I welcome an alternative to the MINI in the marketplace. If anything it reflects the nature and history of the two brands: Fiat was first to market originally, cheaper, and smaller displacement back in 1957 (two years before the Mini). The two brands have coexisted just fine. When it came to a product refresh in 2002 MINI was first thanks to BMW’s acquisition of the brand and MINI has dominated the segment (at least in the USA) where no real competition existed. I love MINI and I love Fiat. I look forward to seeing both in the market space carving their own niches and having a FRIENDLY rivalry as it is in Europe. No need to get our panties tied up in a bunch over one list by a Fiat enthusiast.

I’m gay if I don’t drive a MINI? I’m not a real driver if I don’t turn off DSC? Only rich people are allowed to own a MINI?

And people ask me why I don’t wave to other MINIs anymore….

Kudos to Robert, wish there was a like button for your thoughts.

And don’t we all look forward to those drag races?

“The Fiat’s interior trim is flame resistant. Mini does not use flame retardants.”

I must remember this when considering my next car, it could be a deal breaker….. Or is that only because Fiat’s have a habit of catching fire a lot, and MINIs don’t? Just a thought….

I saw errors in a LOT of those statements.

I counted 42 statements that were either flat out wrong (most of the 42) or didn’t mean squat (such as entire heritage section)

And here’s another: The Fiat 500 has a whole bunch less horsepower and torque so that the car is safer? Also, the handling is much spongier on the Fiat, making it less apt to be thrown around a curve or corner. Eat those words Fiat. Also, I disaggree that the Fiat is less to insure than my Mini JCW.

Enzo Ferrari drove a Fiat to work daily. Enzo never drove a Mini. Ever.

link name

The Fiat fan who wrote this obviously didn’t do his homework. Quite a few of those statement are wrong. Also, Enzo owned and drove a Mini as did Princess Grace, Peter Sellers, Steve McQueen (need I say more)…

Jeff, nice find, I knew enzo had driven a MINI. I think the brands were more together at that time, more family like.

Fiat is working on opening many dealership where MINI has no presence. Of course using old closed up dodge and chevy dealerships.

They didn’t use Fiat 500′s in the Italian job either now did they.

RE: “The Fiat BOSE 6 speaker Audio system requires 50% less energy & 30% smaller.”

Hahahaha … hahahahahaha …. hahaha

and likely sounds 70% sukier! LoL!

Fiat’s doors automatically lock at 12 MPH+. Mini’s have no speed related device.

That’s not even true. My Mini’s doors lock at 10mph. Its a setting that you can turn on and off however.

Just makes me think the rest of the list has been poorly researched as well.

I’m looking forward to the Fiat500 coming out. More crappy little cars mean my MINI looks just that much better……

I have to say at least 10% of that list is actually very compelling. I think they could have narrowed it to 5 or 10 and really made an impact. As it is the impact of the big ones is just diluted by the overly long list.

For buyers who are less performance-oriented and financially constrained, a 23% lower price is HUGE, as is 3 years free maintenance. And the higher crash ratings and additional airbag will matter to a lot of people. I see a large number of potential base Cooper buyers choosing this car over the MINI.

I’m surprised some people take this really seriously.

light hearted rivalry, pissing matches or what have you call it, can be fun. Keep’em coming. (That’s what made Ferrari’s and Lambo’s great, I suppose?)

MINI owners should do 150 reasons compilation, of which 100 must be complete rubbish to keep it in line with the original Fiat fun boy list!

Don’t kid yourselves everyone, as many of us (while still being huge MINI fans) have been saying, the Fiat 500 is more a MINI competitor than a New Beetle competitor like some would have you believe.

The Fiat 500 has several very important things (from my driver-oriented perspective) that trump the MINI and will hopefully be taken seriously with the gen3 redesign: much lower weight, much tighter turning circle (the mini has a massive turning circle, a weak point of FWD in general but can be done better as Fiat has shown), no 4×4 ride height, innovative external size / internal room packaging design.

But the Fiat has a couple of glaring items that are anti-driver too: a seat height as high as a kitchen chair with a phone book on it, and a torsion-beam rear suspension. :)

But throw styling into the “decision matrix” (Fiat is far better resolved than the gen2 MINI, not surprising given it is also a Frank Stephenson design like the gen1 MINI), and a FAR lower price (in Canada, a well equipped Fiat 500 is nearly $5000 less than a no-options Cooper) and it is clear why lots of people – inclusive of some enthusiasts – will be picking a Fiat over a Cooper. When the essesse Abarth comes out you may also see the Cooper S and JCW models given a proper challenge.

Mini has its own unique chassis platform and factory in the UK. The Fiat 500 is built on the shared Fiat Panda/Ford KA chassis platform and running gear built in the same factory in Poland. It is not even built in Italy….

ie. Its just a Fiat Panda in a party dress!

I would drive a Twingo Sport over the 500…nuff said