Hello Mini people!!

I traded in the Fiat 500 Sport, an Italian car built in Mexico at a Dodge plant, for a Mini Hardtop. Horrible experience with Chrysler (Fiat) and worse service. 11 trips to the dealer for minor issues as they kept damaging the car more and more. It ended up in their body shop for a full reconditioning right before I traded it in to correct all the issues. I was lucky as I didn't loose anything in the trade.

The car...
Pepper White hardtop
Cold Weather pkg
Bluetooth
Panoramic Sunroof

Upcoming projects...
Tinting the rear windows
Switching out the Scuttles
Clear turn signals
Possibly blacking out the grill
Mud Flaps

 

Nice. So, the Fiat has issues too. LOL

 

Welcome!!!

 

I have been moderately tempted by that Fiat 500, but it looks like it has zero room in the back, and I have kids. No local dealer also makes it more trouble than it's worth. Not to mention deep love for my Pepper.

welcome to the Mini Club - I have blacked out my grill - recommend it!

 

Nice! Congrats! By the way, J-Lo's Fiat in her commercial broke down. It shows you they can't even get it right for a simple commercial.

 

You are correct. The Mini has more passenger room however the Fiat has more boot room. Also the Fiat backseats are flat compared to the Mini which are sunken and more comfortable. We had a Cooper S at the same time we had the Fiat.

 

I almost purchased an Abarth... but then I sat in it and after several minutes of trying to find a comfortable seating position, I decided against it.

 

Welcome to the better tiny car club

I can't wait to see your clear side markers. I made the switch on my Indi Blue last week, and I smile every time I look at them They look so much better than the orange (IMO). Have fun with the MINI!

 

Oh I see you signed up This pepper white Justa parks right next to this MCS.

 

I think the 500 seats are to high like a minivans.

 

Curious how the Fiat 500 compares to the MC in terms of quality feel. Is it even close?

I like the look of the 500, but every review says it is underpowered. And dealing with Dodge dealers for service does not sound like fun to me.

I'm leaning toward a Justa with AT for a city car, hoping it still has some pep the 500 seems to lack.

 

I ready your whole thread on the Fiat forum and man that was ridiculous. The service department sounds like it blows, coupled with management issues and parts.

Welcome, our cars can have quirks too but great service. Seeing you have a non-S "Justa" it sound be even more reliable without the turbo and it's associated "common" (seems common on here but in real life it's no biggie) issues.

Where are you located? I say you had some service issues at the Fort Myers Studio. MINI of Fort Myers is just down the road from there. I practically live at the dealership, just hanging out...checking out new cars or ideas for mine; great people there.

 

We're currently in NH. Was down your way for Christmas so that is why we ended up at the Fort Myers Studio. Should have gone to the one in Sarasota. I remember seeing the Mini dealer across the street from the Fiat Studio in Fort Myers. We talked about stopping in but I didn't see a need to since my MCS was sitting at home in NH.

Is see you did the black belt line tape. How did that come out? Did it to mine a few weeks ago and not to happy about how it came out. Alot of bubbles and small areas of chrome showing. Does your rear fogs actually work? Mine don't because MINI will not gave out anymore programs to turn it on. So I need to find someone with the NCexpert to do it for me.

 

Welcome!
I had a brand new Fiat 500 Sport also which I got rid of after 2 months (1100 miles). My tie rods started to develop surface rust (which they seem to think is ok), and the customer service at any dealer absolutely sucks. Fiat USA isn't any better either when it comes to backing up their customers.
I have a Cooper S and the two cars are night and day difference.

 

Thanks all for the warm welcome!!

@Cactus Kid - To sum up the Fiat 500. Poor build quality, cheap scratch easy interior plastics and as you mentioned horrible customer service. Little underpowered however it kept up to speed for my needs... so I thought. Seats sit straight up, very mini van-esk, so if you like to lounge not gonna happen. I know all cars can have issues however it is how the dealer deals with the issues that matters. Fiat, aka Chrysler, failed to provide. Truly for ones sanity alone the Mini is the better buy.

@yetti96 - I might be stopping at the Fort Myers MINI this summer. Road trip from NH to FL in a few weeks

@mikeyb74 - Joined and getting tasteful mod ideas

 

Welcome I had a Fiat 500 as a rental, and while it kickstarted my whole car downsize madness, it just wasn't that great of a car. New, dollar for dollar, I'd much rather have a Sonic Turbo than the asthmatic 500. Or a used MINI, which is what I did

 

My goodness MiniDriver30. Wherever did you get that fine looking MINI?

WeaverNH (aka Van)

 

Welcome to the world of MINIs.

Fiats seem to bring mixed reviews...
I test drove a Fiat 500 and loved it. It was the base model. Plenty of power for it's size, the seats were fine, I like to sit fairly straight up.

In several months I'll be getting one as a new daily driver, but keeping my MINI. Maybe there will be scores of sub 2,000 mile examples for a discount. Crappy service department? I don't care, I'll do the service myself. I didn't go to school as a mechanic for nothing.

 

All the used Fiats I've seen lately are all priced at high retail in New England. You would be better off with another Mini. Another issue with the Fiat is there is no parts available at auto part stores or even thru the dealer network.

 

Well WeaverNH... I got the Mini Cooper at this great Mini dealer a town over

There wont be much of a markdown on used Fiats even with higher millage. You will be very lucky to get a thousand off if that. As it is the new ones are being marked up 2 to 4 thousand. I did a lot of research prior to trading the Fiat in.

 

Never driven a Fiat, but I have sat in one at a car show. I couldn't find a comfortable position and the whole thing just felt small. Uncomfortably so. My MINI feels huge on the inside... hell, even my Classic feels more spacious than the Fiat did!

Anyways, welcome! You made a good decision... Love the MINI!

 

I test drove the 500 sport and the Justa. Both with AT. I felt a little cramped in the Fiat compared to the MINI. Both seats were comfortable. Fiat had better turning circle (Really tight), but MINI felt better making tight circles at speed. The Fiat lacked power in mid speeds (like when passing). The Justa has good power. A little sluggish for take off's but it passes well. 50 to 90 comes pretty fast. Have only had mine up to 95 but I know it can do much more.

So I got Comet. I have no regrets. I love my car.

 

I was pretty happy with it. It has been on over a year now and I can see small slivers of chrome where the tape wasn't perfectly applied. I got no bubbles in mine, did you peal the clear off of it when on the car? I took my time and in less than 60 minutes it was done. The roughest part of the beltline is my lack of a sharp blade to cut the ends. If/when I redo it I will with a new razor blade.

As of now they are plugged into the stock harness as my '09 w/o rear fogs from the factory still had the wiring there. I can get it programmed or hook them up as more brake lights but they do not work right now, even with the switch in place.

Looks us up, SWFL MINIs or just PM me. There is a little lunch and drive on the 24th of June if you are around.