Fiat 500 vs Mini Cooper vs Smart Car
11-21-2011, 02:30 PM
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Fiat 500 vs Mini Cooper vs Smart Car
What are HA's thoughts on these 3 vehicles? My mom is going to buy a new car and she wants something really small and fuel efficient. She doesnt care about performance and only needs front seats (doesnt care if theres no back seat). I'm trying to get her to go with the Mini but shes afraid maintenance will be higher on it because its made by BMW. She doesnt know about the Fiat since its a new car and she thinks the Smart car may be TOO small. But she is keeping an open mind on all 3.
11-21-2011, 02:33 PM
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smart car is a piece of sh*t.. in every way imagineable... in my opinion... pricey.. not the greatest gas mileage.. super small..
Fiat seems like a good choice imo since its like a 'better' smart car.
Mini seems to be a hands down best choice as long as $$$ isnt a concern.
Another great option that i would have her consider is the ford fiesta or ford focus...
Fiat seems like a good choice imo since its like a 'better' smart car.
Mini seems to be a hands down best choice as long as $$$ isnt a concern.
Another great option that i would have her consider is the ford fiesta or ford focus...
11-21-2011, 03:17 PM
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Vehicle: Two Accents, Mini, Miata, Van, Outback, and a ZX-6
Veloster>>Mini>Fiat>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Smart
That's considering price, practicality, cool factor, dynamics, and safety.
That's considering price, practicality, cool factor, dynamics, and safety.
11-21-2011, 10:14 PM
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Tell her to get a motorcyle or a trike, as long as she's looking into a tiny death trap on wheels. They can be fitted with two seats and luggage carriers enough for a daily trip to the grocery
http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/can-am.html
http://motorcycleviews.com/pictures/pic0114.jpg
http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/can-am.html
http://motorcycleviews.com/pictures/pic0114.jpg
11-22-2011, 03:01 AM
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i like the looks of the old and new Cooper. i'm tall and sat in the Cooper at an auto show and it feels really good. the problem is the price of the thing. not worth it at all.
the Fiat 500 is a neat little remake, but also not worth the price. back in my day we had the Fiat Cinquecento for $7,000 brand new:
and now we have the Fiat 500 which is smaller for 3X that? bull f___'_g s___t.
Hyundai Veloster, Accent > all.
the Fiat 500 is a neat little remake, but also not worth the price. back in my day we had the Fiat Cinquecento for $7,000 brand new:
and now we have the Fiat 500 which is smaller for 3X that? bull f___'_g s___t.
Hyundai Veloster, Accent > all.
11-22-2011, 06:10 AM
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Why is everybody wet in the pants over the mini? Yes, it has the same cool factor as its contemporaries. Other than that, its just another faceless rehash that doesn't do anything especially well. As others have said, what is the point in trying to pinch pennies at the gas station if the MSRP is tens of thousands of dollars?
None of those manufacturers have especially good reliability records either, but I'd probably go for the fiat. At least they have the twinair engines and will hold their resale.
None of those manufacturers have especially good reliability records either, but I'd probably go for the fiat. At least they have the twinair engines and will hold their resale.
11-22-2011, 06:20 AM
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Why is everybody wet in the pants over the mini? Yes, it has the same cool factor as its contemporaries. Other than that, its just another faceless rehash that doesn't do anything especially well. As others have said, what is the point in trying to pinch pennies at the gas station if the MSRP is tens of thousands of dollars?
None of those manufacturers have especially good reliability records either, but I'd probably go for the fiat. At least they have the twinair engines and will hold their resale.
None of those manufacturers have especially good reliability records either, but I'd probably go for the fiat. At least they have the twinair engines and will hold their resale.
Because a difference of 10mpg over the life of a car is about $6,000.
11-22-2011, 02:29 PM
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I don't think the Mini is a faceless rehash. It was re-designed by the original creator John Cooper before his death. "John, along with his son Mike Cooper, served in an advisory role to BMW and Rover's New MINI design team." In addition, it came turbo and supercharged under his original "John Cooper Works" (JCW) tuning shop which was based in England. I think it's very traditional, and sticks with the original motives.
The Fiat 500 is also very true to the original design. I would say more true than the Mini because it's practically the same shape. Fiats are excellent cars. Always were. Always will be. The design is really almost original. The Fiat 126p is 40 years old and you can still see them cruising around all over Europe in good condition. The rest of them were modern and hold up very well.
The New Beetle is a rehash, an abomination despite its success. Absolute abomination. Moving the engine to the front and making it a weirdo singles chick car to increase sales = not okay. It's called destroying an icon. They should have kept RWD rear-engine layout or renamed the car entirely like Renault did with the 5 and the Clio.
The only thing here is why pay $16-$25,000 USD for a clown car? Especially when there are countless better values out there.
The Fiat 500 is also very true to the original design. I would say more true than the Mini because it's practically the same shape. Fiats are excellent cars. Always were. Always will be. The design is really almost original. The Fiat 126p is 40 years old and you can still see them cruising around all over Europe in good condition. The rest of them were modern and hold up very well.
The New Beetle is a rehash, an abomination despite its success. Absolute abomination. Moving the engine to the front and making it a weirdo singles chick car to increase sales = not okay. It's called destroying an icon. They should have kept RWD rear-engine layout or renamed the car entirely like Renault did with the 5 and the Clio.
The only thing here is why pay $16-$25,000 USD for a clown car? Especially when there are countless better values out there.