500 Abarth vs Mini Cooper S

[flipstah]

- Which is the best around town?
- Which is the better looking?
- Better performer?
- Is it possible to get the 500 Abarth Esseesse version in Canada?
- Which one would you buy out of the two cars?

And no, the Cooper is not the JCW version. That's just in a league of its' own.

:)


The 500 Abarth Essesse (pronounced "SS") is a conversion kit for the Abarth 500 within 12 months or 20,000 km (12,000 mi) of the car's first registration. Engine is upgraded to 160 PS (120 kW; 160 hp) at 5750 rpm and 206 N·m (152 lb·ft) (230 N·m (170 lb·ft) in sport mode) at 3000 rpm. It also includes drilled and ventilated 284 mm (11.2 in) x 22 mm (0.87 in) front brake discs with new pads, 240 mm (9.4 in) x 11 mm (0.43 in) drilled rear brake discs, Abarth front and rear springs, 17-inch white or titanium colour alloy rims with 205/40 R17 tyres, tyre pressure monitoring system, and a unique key cover

http://www.carsbase.com/photo/Abarth-Fiat_500_Abarth_esse_mp181_pic_65771.jpg

vs.


The engine features a twin-scroll turbocharger, which provides 177 pound-feet of torque maintained consistently throughout from 1600 rpm all the way up to 5000. When accelerating, torque is briefly increased even further to 192 pound-feet by the "overboost" function. All this translates into zero-to-60 mph acceleration in 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 139 mph.

http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/201006/mini-cooper-s-21_460x0w.jpg

[Redlyne_mr2]

Abarths cannot be purchased in NA

[flipstah]

Originally posted by Redlyne_mr2
Abarths cannot be purchased in NA

Correction! It's coming in March! :burnout:

... In Vancouver.

http://www.fiat-of-vancouver.com/abarth.htm?gclid=CJruw_Tgta0CFcYZQgodnTwxmw

[Disoblige]

The 500 Abarth will definitely be more of a head-turner, that's for sure.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[Aleks]

Originally posted by Sugarphreak


1) Either
2) Cooper S
3) Cooper s
4) ________
5) Cooper S

Fast Facts:

2012 Mini Cooper S
0-100km: 7.0s
Curb Weight: 2706lbs
Horsepower: 181
Torque: 177

2012 Fiat Abarth
0-100km: 7.9s
Curb weight: 2282lbs
Horsepower: 135
Torque: 152

Becides the fact that "Unique key cover" is one of the highlighted selling features for the Fiat... unless price is a factor, I'd go with the Cooper a million times over.

The Abarth that's coming to N/A has 160hp.

[Sugarphreak]

..

[freshprince1]

Based on your criteria, other than looks go with the Cooper. But please do not get it in the brown...looks like someone smeared poop all over it. And no matter what colour you buy, I'll still think you're driving a girl's car.

[xnvy]

Originally posted by freshprince1
And no matter what colour you buy, I'll still think you're driving a girl's car. :werd: haha. Personally I'd go for a 500 Abarth Essesse, stands out much more than a Cooper and seems more fun.

[flipstah]

Originally posted by Aleks


The Abarth that's coming to N/A has 160hp.



Originally posted by Sugarphreak


My understanding is the Abarth is coming as noted above; but the 160hp/170ft-lbs Esseesse package is currently unconfirmed

That would give it a better power-weight ratio than the Mini-S

Technically, there is no Esseesse version coming to N/A but according to the FIAT USA brochure (http://www.fiatusa.com/abarth/pdf/abarth_ebrochure.pdf), the Abarth comes default with 160hp and 170ft-lbs of torque.

Helps if I read more as I answered one of my questions lol.


Originally posted by freshprince1
Based on your criteria, other than looks go with the Cooper. But please do not get it in the brown...looks like someone smeared poop all over it. And no matter what colour you buy, I'll still think you're driving a girl's car.


Originally posted by xnvy
:werd: haha. Personally I'd go for a 500 Abarth Essesse, stands out much more than a Cooper and seems more fun.

Pfft, if I started listening to what majority thinks I'd start dressing up like a hipster. Pass.
:thumbsup:

[blitz]

On the Fiat Canada website it claims the Abarth has 160 hp...

[jsn]

If it does have 160 hp, I'd go with the Abarth. Coopers are a dime a dozen. At least the fiat is still fairly uncommon.

[flipstah]

Originally posted by jsn
If it does have 160 hp, I'd go with the Abarth. Coopers are a dime a dozen. At least the fiat is still fairly uncommon.

From the announcement that FIAT was coming to Canada till now, I've only seen two instances with the FIAT 500; one at the auto show and one at UofC.

Grey with the Sport wheels... :drool:

[K3RMiTdot]

ive driven a couple fiats, looks meh, feels meh, i'd go with the abarth though. you see MINIs everywhere!

[Sugarphreak]

...

[HiTempguy1]

The idea behind only offering the "essesse" is that 1) Americans are fat and 2) they are not interested in slow small cars.

Good call on Fiat's part, really when you think about it.

[J-hop]

I'd personally go with the abarth. They both have pretty lack luster performance numbers IMO so I wouldn't really focus your choice on performance. Test drive both and go for which ever one is more enjoyable to drive.

[zipdoa]

I've been driving my GF's R56 Cooper S, and I can't believe how well I fit.

At 6'7, I have never found a coupe that fits better than the Mini. Plus, they have an incredible amount of utility - PERFECT for my malamute:

http://www.outmotoring.com/images/P/MIN_protective_boot_md.jpg

It hauls ass, and with the AccessPort + Exhaust it makes 210hp/260tq.

[taemo]

don't care how fun the Mini S, if I had the money to waste.. I would go with the Fiat 500 just because it reminds me of the Age Erriso car on the PSX Rage Racer game
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090323055549/ridgeracer/images/4/4b/Erriso.JPG

[flipstah]

I like how the Abarth is a rare sight and is peppy on acceleration.

I'd lose the decals though and go stealth haha.

[HiTempguy1]

One thing I should add is that the Mini is considered one of the BEST handling cars EVER. When you rank with a Integra Type R in handling, that's high praise.

Of course, Integra's front strut towers don't randomly pop their tops. And the interior from the Fiat is not comparable from my understanding, unless the Abarth has different materials.

[zipdoa]

Originally posted by HiTempguy1
Of course, Integra's front strut towers don't randomly pop their tops.

Do tell

[HiTempguy1]

Originally posted by zipdoa


Do tell

It's a huge issue, the strut towers literally rip apart. Was REALLY bad in the first gen (R53) and is still an issue in the 2nd gen (R56) afaik.

Only way to fix it is to weld in plates on top of the towers... and I don't even know if that is a permanent fix.

[Disoblige]

M7 Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates for R53 MINI Cooper S (http://bekentech.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/m7-strut-tower-reinforcement-plates-for-r53-mini-cooper-s/)

[HiTempguy1]

Originally posted by Disoblige
M7 Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates for R53 MINI Cooper S (http://bekentech.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/m7-strut-tower-reinforcement-plates-for-r53-mini-cooper-s/)

Yes, which is a protection, not correction, of the issue. Unless I had posted, he probably would have never known, or known to look for it on models he was considering.

The best thing of all? BMW doesn't warranty it :rofl: And in nasty roads like ours, the plates are not a guarantee of protection. The best way to go about it would be to cut the strut tops off and weld in a heavy gauge metal/boxed strut top... pretty typical to be done on race cars, it would be under $1k to pay someone to do it :dunno:

[zipdoa]

Oh, that's for R53's (till 06). Doesn't seem like it's a prevalent issue on R56s

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by taemo
don't care how fun the Mini S, if I had the money to waste.. I would go with the Fiat 500 just because it reminds me of the Age Erriso car on the PSX Rage Racer game
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090323055549/ridgeracer/images/4/4b/Erriso.JPG

LMAO, WOW you have a good memory, I completely forgot about that game.

[Aleks]

Canadian price is $23,995 for the Abarth.

So about 5k less than MC-S.

[blitz]

That seems like a pretty reasonable price actually.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Mini for sure.

[flipstah]

Originally posted by Aleks
Canadian price is $23,995 for the Abarth.

So about 5k less than MC-S.

Cheap winter beater! :burnout: