Fiat 500 Abarth or Mini Cooper?

[Pat H]

My girlfriend is going to replace her car soon.

Needs to have four seats and be fun.

The default choice seems to be the Mini. But the new model is a bit lardy.

My preference for all things Italian soon pointed her towards an Alfa Mito, but she is unimpressed with the bland interior.

The Abarth, however, looks like a riot, and is just about big enough for her needs.

My own totally biased preference is for the Abarth....

It is to replace a seven year old VX Corsa 1.2, so either is going to seem pretty nice.

Opinions welcome.

[User33678888]

There's fk all space in the back of a 500. I hired one back in the summer for a few days. The rear seats are really small children only, or extended boot space. What about a 130i?

[poing]

I looked at the Abarth but was put off by the fact that servicing and warranty work have to be done at Abarth dealers and not just any Fiat dealer. My nearest one was too far away so check where your nearest one is, you know that if anything goes wrong it will be your fault

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Both great little cars but dynamically the mini is a better option IMHO (I bought one).

The 500, as good as it is always felt top heavy when pushing on. It's an old cliché but the Mini really does have that little go kart feel about it

[Pat H]

poing said:

I looked at the Abarth but was put off by the fact that servicing and warranty work have to be done at Abarth dealers and not just any Fiat dealer. My nearest one was too far away so check where your nearest one is, you know that if anything goes wrong it will be your fault

I was astonished when I found this out on Saturday.

Fiat really needs a slap.

She lives five minutes walk from a Fiat dealer and twenty miles away from the closest Abarth dealer.

I can just about understand why you have to buy one from an Abarth dealer, but I can't fathom why you can't get all your routine servicing done at any old Fiat dealer.