The battle is on it's way to North America


http://www.youtube...atch?v=ZO53uuT8uNs

the fiat is AWESOME i love it

i would love to drive the 500. (esp abarth) and would love looking like a circus bear on a tiny bike while driving that car.

The Fiat may be a better car, but the MINI will win out in the sales war after the new wears off. The MINI is retro here because of popular culture, out side of car guys the Fiat 500 isn't mainstream enough to make a dent in the MINI's sales margin.

wasn't there a sinister version of the 500, the Abarth?
I think Bandi had a mad chubby for that car.

personally, i'd go with the Mini.

I'm going with the 500...it has kick to it like the old Beetle does.

i absolutely love the fiat, thats actually why i went to the auto show this year but they didnt let anyone in them.
the GF hates it though

I've never driven the MINI before but I've driven the 500 and it was a blast. I wouldn't mind having one.

Posted by CaptOrbit I've never driven the MINI before but I've driven the 500 and it was a blast. I wouldn't mind having one.

I have driven a Mini...I loved the steering on that puppy, but there was times I felt like it was underpowered.

Normally I'm pretty partial to land barges Cadillacs Lincolns, Caprices, (and I'm including my old 735i in that list) but that Fiat was just a lot of fun to drive.

When the 500 Abarth comes out, my wife has been instructed to keep me from going to the dealership because if I drive one, I'm gonna buy it.

Posted by wannabeotaku When the 500 Abarth comes out, my wife has been instructed to keep me from going to the dealership because if I drive one, I'm gonna buy it.

your wife is wise because that's the way I was with my SS.

The SS is another car I'd leave the dealership with, but the Abarth is more practical, and I could talk her into it if I drive it. Hatches are just perfect for cars for us. I have a pickup for anything else, and we have a 5-door hatch already.

Posted by wannabeotaku When the 500 Abarth comes out, my wife has been instructed to keep me from going to the dealership because if I drive one, I'm gonna buy it.

I'll take of Nikki while you go run off to the Chrysler dealer

She doesn't seem too against me buying the Abarth.

Posted by wannabeotaku The SS is another car I'd leave the dealership with, but the Abarth is more practical, and I could talk her into it if I drive it. Hatches are just perfect for cars for us. I have a pickup for anything else, and we have a 5-door hatch already.

wasn't it you guys that just bought an Astra?

Yup. Screwed together very well, just wish it had more power. It has plenty for a commuter, but it doesn't have enough power for any amount of hoonage.

That, and we like oddball cars.

I think ultimately, the MINI will outsell the Fiat... but sorry, the Fiat is wayyyy cooler, and if I ever by a "grown up" car, that'll be it.

Posted by Samurai wasn't there a sinister version of the 500, the Abarth? I think Bandi had a mad chubby for that car.

Hahaha... yes.



Do want.

As a MINI owner, I'm biased, but... Seems like the cars are just about equally fun to drive, but to me the styling of the MINI blows the Fiat out of the water. The current generation MINI is also way uglier than the pre-2007 cars.