Was just getting out of my 500 in Morrisons car park in Scarborough when I saw a MINI driver frantically waving and pointing at me, and then another... to such an extent they nearly crashed into each other!

I suppose they might both have been trying to find a way to get a 500?!

Anyway absolutley extactic every time I get into him, those of you who read the brown trim thread - i recon it looks brilliant, even better than the black!

Ian

:slayer:

My girlfriend had someone come all the way across a supermarket car park with his wife just to say the car was the most beautiful car he had seen and to find out what it was.

Loads of people are stopping and pointing

lol... i had same at peterborough services on fri, came back to the car and there was a famiy lookin around my baby, they were saying she looked beautiful and the woman was leaning out of their car sating the colour was amazing

...005... said:

:slayer:

My girlfriend had someone come all the way across a supermarket car park with his wife just to say the car was the most beautiful car he had seen and to find out what it was.

Loads of people are stopping and pointing

Click to expand...

:wave: whereabouts in Northants are you? I am in South Northants just near the Oxfordshire border... my 500 isn't here yet but maybe I'll spot you!

...005... said:

:slayer:

My girlfriend had someone come all the way across a supermarket car park with his wife just to say the car was the most beautiful car he had seen and to find out what it was.

Loads of people are stopping and pointing

Click to expand...

Same here, going to a self wash I need to set off an extra 15 minutes for chatting

I drive a mini cooper, our 500 sport is really my partners. But I must admit I love it, and that 1.4 engine is awesome fun and really loves to be revved! I'd say it's on a par with the mini, for a heck of a lot less money!

Well worth it in my eyes! If I wasn't so attached to my mini, i'd be looking at an Abarth straight away!

sjrainsford -

I would be very interested to know, as you are ideally placed to make a direct comparison, how you would rate the Mini Cooper against the 500 1.4 Sport in terms of -

• Build quality and finish
• Engine performance on the road
• Handling and roadholding

Would be interesting.

John

John R Smith said:

sjrainsford -

I would be very interested to know, as you are ideally placed to make a direct comparison, how you would rate the Mini Cooper against the 500 1.4 Sport in terms of -

• Build quality and finish
• Engine performance on the road
• Handling and roadholding

Would be interesting.

John

Click to expand...

it's not fair to compare the two though, the 1.4 Sport is 'equivalent' to the Mini One, the Abarth will go head to head with the Cooper

Hmm, yes, however on paper the two are not so far apart. And in terms of driving experience, often bare statistics do not tell the tale. Here we have an opportunity to find out how they feel, when you jump out of one and straight into the other.

John

John R Smith said:

sjrainsford -

I would be very interested to know, as you are ideally placed to make a direct comparison, how you would rate the Mini Cooper against the 500 1.4 Sport in terms of -

• Build quality and finish
• Engine performance on the road
• Handling and roadholding

Would be interesting.

John

Click to expand...

I had 2 Coopers and now have a 1.4 Sport, here's my 2 cents worth...

The 500 is much better built than the Coopers I had (they were an 02 and an 04) I have had the 500 a month, not one rattle or squeak and nothing has failed, hopefully it will stay that way Both Coopers had been to the dealer 3 times in the first month. The paint on the MINI's was appalling as well. The MINI's were a HUGE disappointment, I could type out a few pages of problems if you want.

My Coopers were CVT's the performance on the road was about the same. The manual 500 is much more fun.

The handling on the Cooper seemed slightly better, might be because you sit much lower in the MINI.

I think the Abarth may be more aimed at the Cooper S in this part of the world anyway, we don't get a Cooper One.

RobW said:

it's not fair to compare the two though, the 1.4 Sport is 'equivalent' to the Mini One, the Abarth will go head to head with the Cooper

Click to expand...

Direct comparisons are not fair in either situation. 500 has no version of the Cooper, closet will be the Abarth to the Cooper S. Both cars are just not similar enough to each other.

Power to weight the diesels may be the closet match but then your playing with around a 4 grand price difference so again it's not a fair comparison.

I think, oh Beastly One, that you are slightly misunderstanding me. I know the two cars are different and widely separated in price. It is precisely this difference which interests me - not is one better or worse - which is neither here nor there, but how, as I said, do they feel. Back in the late 60s, I worked as a mechanic in a country garage, and spent all day jumping in and out of just about every car on the road back then. It was a great education. For example - the MGB GT and the Triumph GT6. Broadly similar power outputs, but what a different driving experience. I loved them both, in different ways. Diversity is a good thing. It is a good thing that we have both the Mini and the 500, and that they are different.

John

John I'm with you completely, it is others who are talking about comparing specific models I was meaning.

Well, seeing as it was me that was asked the question i'll answer but with my honest opinion.

I do think the 1.4 sport and R50 Mini Cooper are very comparable, and think it is very fair to compare them!
They are comparable on paper and more so on the road in the real world.

== Build quality and finish ==
The fiat is defo more than a match for the mini here, and that includes the R50 and R56 mini. The fit and finish is brilliant on the 500, even where the cheaper plastics have been used. The mini feels plasticy from the off, the dashboard is cheap and they rattle like no ones business. Plus mine along with everyone I know who has one has suffered quite a few problems.

== Engine performance and on road handling ==
This to me is the most important bit with these cars. The Mini handles better without doubt because that's exactly what it's all about, but our 500 with 16" wheels is certainly competent and kept up with the Minis on our recent run to Scotland round those crackin roads! The 500 has less body roll control, but never the less still sticks to the ground well.
On paper it says not, but the 500 sport is equally as quick as a mini cooper on the road, helped I think by the slick 6 speed box making it easy to keep the engine in it's sweet spot, plus the fact that the 500 is some 200+ kilos lighter than the mini helps it's nimble feel.
It only really starts to struggle above 100mph, the mini obviously has the legs on it then helped in turn by the larger engine. But, under harsh driving conditions on back roads in Scotland at great speeds there is VERY little between them.

== Conclusion ==
For the money, to be able to buy a car that is not only as funky (if not more) and fun to drive as a mini then to me it's a no brainer. Let's face it, we paid just as much for an ex demo 500 sport not even 6 months old than I did for my 3 year old Mini at the time.
The only issues I have with the 500 are the slightly odd driving position which I think is mostly caused by the lack of adjustability on the steering wheel and the lack of lumbar support on the seats.
:slayer:

== Cars ==
Dec 07 Fiat 500 Sport with 16" Alloys and red brakes.
Mar 03 Mini Cooper with Chilli Pack, Aircon, 17" works alloys etc etc.

SJ

Thank you very much for that, most illuminating. My own experience on the road tells me that there is not too much in it in terms of engine performance. So often, in the real world, on real roads, bare statistics mean very little. Nice little cars, both of them!

John

And did anyone see how badly the new mini has done in the usa jd power survey, one from bottom for faults in the first 90 days. http://www.jdpower.com/autos/MINI/Cooper/2008/Hatchback/ratings