arorat said:

I like Minis and was about to buy the Cooper d, specing it came to £19.5k , it wasn't a logical buy and not value for money... 500 was accidental and you know what I had to ask the sales guy in Fiat Direct showroom if the price was right - seriously I kid you not !!

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Give me a good reason what I shouldn't buy this
http://www.carzone.ie/search/MINI/Cooper-S/**Lady-o/201132203791150/advert?channel=CARS

Has a Wexford (the wrong registration) and is open to taking €12k but it's the right one - Verson II with the turbocharger. Standard fabric. Road tax will be higher at €445 as opposed to the '08 emission friendly €302 road tax figure. Insurance should be ok for me. Has an effeminate look so it will eventually go to a gal racer. Mini's off the 'cool' list now but still ok with the girls.

Had a quick look at the RenaultSport 197 - revs are too high at 4K at 70mph. New VTI has a crap back suspension compared to 'old' VTI - good JC TP youtube demo - rear multi suspension beats torsion bar. This leaves the Cooper S.

There's 'no price movement' on the A500s that I posted.

Half interested. Not too sure I can wait. Test drive arranged early next week.

Theres something about the plastic wheel arches that make it look cheap. My mum has a mini cooper and it is really nice to drive, but its not as comfortable as the 500. And no steering wheel controls or hands free!

Is a lady owner actually a good thing?

I remember seeing a girl start her supercharged Mini up and more or less floor it from cold. Can't have been good for the supercharger or the engine.....

306maxi said:

Is a lady owner actually a good thing?

I remember seeing a girl start her supercharged Mini up and more or less floor it from cold. Can't have been good for the supercharger or the engine.....

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It's like the little old lady who only used it for church on Sundays.
Never knew it had a fifth gear, and went through 6 clutches in 2 years.

Venters said:

It's like the little old lady who only used it for church on Sundays.
Never knew it had a fifth gear, and went through 6 clutches in 2 years.

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My mother in law only drives her car on journeys which are probably only a couple of miles long.......

Here are 75 reasons that the US have 'thought up' to buy a 500 over a MINI - a bit of 'poetic licence' used here in that it's using the Multi-air and the warranty and weights differ a bit...

http://www.fiat500usa.com/2011/04/75-reasons-to-buy-fiat-500-over-mini.html

I've swapped my '08 plate 500 for Punto Abarth but I'm still attached to the shape and character of the 500 than Punto. But that's all

Melanabb said:

I've swapped my '08 plate 500 for Punto Abarth but I'm still attached to the shape and character of the 500 than Punto. But that's all

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I test drove a '08 Blue Cooper S in a SIMI garage yesterday. A woman accompanied me on the test drive (got the impression that she was the wife of the garage owner) and she gave me some 'licence' to open the car up a bit.
Noticed I was quite low down compared the nicely higher position of the 500.
No boost gauge like you get in the A500 and the layout of the dashboard is all over the place. It did have bluetooth but no USB.
Speedometer is in a brutal position when your passenger knows exactly how fast you're going.
Emissions are 149grs/km compared with the same figure on a 1.4 and it churns out 172bhp. Has a multi-link rear suspension, S/S and costs €16K.
Turns like a go kart but I could miss the back wheel skip on the 500.
When I put the power on I got very noticeable torque steer - get the impression you have to pay extra for some additional TTC type goodies.
At the end of the test drive the window on the passenger side wouldn't stay up - so there was an electrical gremlin in there.
The woman checked out my Funk white baby and said that she was very impressed and would definitely be interested in it as a trade in.
Walked away from the garage not feeling 'any pull'.
Drove over to the Fiat garage in Clonskeagh and looked at the over priced and OTT A500 and it still grabbed me in the you know whats despite having near bald rear tyres and what looked like a little rock had hit the bonnet.

loveshandbags said:

Turns like a go kart but I could miss the back wheel skip on the 500.

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Do you miss the poorer handling of the 500?

306maxi said:

Do you miss the poorer handling of the 500?

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I did wonder if a multi link setup like the one mentioned on the 500 4x4 Abarth engined 'will never happen' model would actually be better. Germanic excellence doesn't equate to fun.
One 'thing' that I forgot to mention was the MINI didn't have a windscreen. With the massive rear view mirror I found it hard to see out. Plus I missed the glass roof.
It often takes a ride in a different car to appreciate what you have.
And after seeing a review of the A500 on the MINI2 forum I have no qualms about saying it as it is.

loveshandbags said:

I did wonder if a multi link setup like the one mentioned on the 500 4x4 Abarth engined 'will never happen' model would actually be better. Germanic excellence doesn't equate to fun.
One 'thing' that I forgot to mention was the MINI didn't have a windscreen. With the massive rear view mirror I found it hard to see out. Plus I missed the glass roof.
It often takes a ride in a different car to appreciate what you have.
And after seeing a review of the A500 on the MINI2 forum I have no qualms about saying it as it is.

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it's not inherenty in a beam axle. Rennosport Clio's have beam axles and are fine.

loveshandbags said:

Give me a good reason what I shouldn't buy this
http://www.carzone.ie/search/MINI/Cooper-S/**Lady-o/201132203791150/advert?channel=CARS

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Its the old model... Edit just realised you know this info inside out

loveshandbags said:

I did wonder if a multi link setup like the one mentioned on the 500 4x4 Abarth engined 'will never happen' model would actually be better. Germanic excellence doesn't equate to fun.
One 'thing' that I forgot to mention was the MINI didn't have a windscreen. With the massive rear view mirror I found it hard to see out. Plus I missed the glass roof.
It often takes a ride in a different car to appreciate what you have.
And after seeing a review of the A500 on the MINI2 forum I have no qualms about saying it as it is.

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Just catching up, only today I was thinking how a 4x4 500 would feel like, imagine that with SS !! are there rumours about a 4x4 500 ?

Great feedback on your Cooper S test drive, nothing wrong with Minis but it comes down to favourite branding in the end, but logically the 75 reasons you posted are pretty darn persuasive.

Hang in there and go for a 500SS

arorat said:

Just catching up, only today I was thinking how a 4x4 500 would feel like, imagine that with SS !! are there rumours about a 4x4 500 ?

Great feedback on your Cooper S test drive, nothing wrong with Minis but it comes down to favourite branding in the end, but logically the 75 reasons you posted are pretty darn persuasive.

Hang in there and go for a 500SS

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The 4x4 discussion with the Abarth engine was here. In my opinion IF it ever came out I reckon it would be no fun. In the RS Cosworth and the 911 the 2 wheel rear drive was the preference for 'seat of the pants' experience.

Re the Cooper S test drive - the white one is being tested tomorrow at 3pm.

On the 'torque steer' problem that I had on the Cooper S it was an issue on this test review. This one is a little different (not based on statistics) - the last 3 paragraphs are interesting and should give some 500s owners a little laugh. For me personally being a bit of a hoody - the image of the A500 suits me and it wouldn't bother the OH.

This youtube illustrates how 'an old car' can be better. It also demonstrates how the multi-link is the much better than the torsion bar. Thinking of the 'back wheel skip' on the 500 it's probably a good thing in that it probably helps to minimise the understeer you could get. Sometimes good things happen for the wrong reason.

loveshandbags said:

The 4x4 discussion with the Abarth engine was here. In my opinion IF it ever came out I reckon it would be no fun. In the RS Cosworth and the 911 and 2 wheel rear drive was the preference for 'seat of the pants' experience.

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Go drive an Impreza and tell me that 4wd and a turbo isn't fun.

Another Cooper S test drive, are you serious ? you know its the old model !!

re 4x4 I think you are wrong, the 4x4 would stick to the road like train on tracks, imgaine the fun in the winter and Stelvio Pass (once every 5 years). Having said that I can not comment without having driven an abarth.

I don't understand "back wheel skip" are you saying the back wheel lifts ? I did see a conversation Maxi was having about this a few weeks back but I didn't take it all in.

306maxi said:

Go drive an Impreza and tell me that 4wd and a turbo isn't fun.

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There you go, our Rav4 is not a sports machine but being in a 4x4 is something else... Snow & Ice we welcome you

306maxi said:

Go drive an Impreza and tell me that 4wd and a turbo isn't fun.

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I've never driven an Impreza but will all the power that it has you would have to be suicidal not to have 4-wheel drive. The Cossie experience was from a 'mate' of mine with the 'gun out the window' and the 911 was a Car review of I forget his name journalist on the Carerra 2 'cheapie' verus the dearer 4 wheel in the middle of nowhere in the North of England.
Although a cheap 4 x 4 Panda with good tyres would be handy in a bit of snow.

arorat said:

Another Cooper S test drive, are you serious ? you know its the old model !!

re 4x4 I think you are wrong, the 4x4 would stick to the road like train on tracks, imgaine the fun in the winter and Stelvio Pass (once every 5 years). Having said that I can not comment without having driven an abarth.

I don't understand "back wheel skip" are you saying the back wheel lifts ? I did see a conversation Maxi was having about this a few weeks back but I didn't take it all in.

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Basically when going around a corner the back end can skip out.

A powerful 4wd car is fantastic, even though the suspension on our car is tired I love the fact that you can get on the throttle so much earlier than the 500. With the 500 is you try to accelerate too early and have to lift then you'll drift out wide and when you lift you get a little lift off oversteer wobble if you lift off to quickly.

arorat said:

Another Cooper S test drive, are you serious ? you know its the old model !!

re 4x4 I think you are wrong, the 4x4 would stick to the road like train on tracks, imgaine the fun in the winter and Stelvio Pass (once every 5 years). Having said that I can not comment without having driven an abarth.

I don't understand "back wheel skip" are you saying the back wheel lifts ? I did see a conversation Maxi was having about this a few weeks back but I didn't take it all in.

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the white one tomorrow is a '07 with the Turbo charger. Wrong reg. Possibly an import. Meeting him at 3pm a few miles outside the city for a 'bit of a run'. He knows that I'm only half interested. I did notice that its all girls driving them now (500 was a good training ground). At least it's not the convertible so Lorry drivers can't give me a wolf whistle.

loveshandbags said:

I've never driven an Impreza but will all the power that it has you would have to be suicidal not to have 4-wheel drive. The Cossie experience was from a 'mate' of mine with the 'gun out the window' and the 911 was a Car review of I forget his name journalist on the Carerra 2 'cheapie' verus the dearer 4 wheel in the middle of nowhere in the North of England.
Although a cheap 4 x 4 Panda with good tyres would be handy in a bit of snow.

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In terms of a pure drivers car, no one would take 4wd, but they're so forgiving, safe and useful. Our Scooby has a limited slip diff in the back and other than when I did donuts in the snow once, it's never really let go in terms of traction.

Don't need a Panda 4x4 to be good in the snow, the 500 will do just fine