2011 Mini Cooper or Fiat 500

[Monster Dave]

Out of curiosity, why do you want such a small car?

I don't. It's just a poll and I was curious.

[JEFF_H]

but I hate my gf's Cooper S for anything other than driving through the mountains.  You can't have a conversation in it because it's too damned loud. 

Really?? my wife LOVES hers. when it wears out she will get another.
fun in the twisties, good in town
holds enough for shopping, but too small to be the designated driver
plus the best part is its too loud to talk in so you dont have to have a conversation with your spouse...turn up the stereo

[geoffduc]

We've got a guy that owns a ducati and he comes in the store occasionally in his 500 Abarth, just the sound of the four exhaust pipes is enough to make you want one...

Mini Cooper run of the mill... Fiat 500 Abarth awesome...

[Monster Dave]

What's the retail on one of those anyway?

[Turf]

Especially yes if we're talking about the Abarth

Michael Shumacher uses one for his daily driver, don't you want to drive like Schumacher?

Top Gear Fiat 500 Abarth SS

[duccarlos]

Not cheap

[duccarlos]

doesn't the Mini come with all-wheel drive?

[Monster Dave]

Performance info for the Abarth 500:

"The 1.4 litre, 16-valve turbocharged engine delivers a blistering 135bhp at 5500rpm, while peak torque is a wrenching 206Nm at 3000rpm in Sport mode."

[Turf]

doesn't the Mini come with all-wheel drive?

New mini Countryman does but the rest are FWD

[duccarlos]

New mini Countryman does but the rest are FWD

1.6 litre 181 HP at 177lb-ft torque.

[Bun-bun]

I've always been a Fiat fan, but voted for the Mini. I had a Cooper S for a while, and it was a terrific car. The 500 looks like it would be fun, but not as much of a canyon carver.

[Turf]

1.6 litre 181 HP at 177lb-ft torque.

it's also $7,650 more

AWD countryman
$27,650
3,091lbs
181hp
power to weight
1:17.1


abarth
$20,200
2282lb
135hp
power to weight
1:16.9

[rgramjet]

Now that's not bad. 

Here's this take:

Looks like the Harley Davidson Edition.

I love the old school versions of both.

[duccarlos]

it's also $7,650 more

AWD countryman
$27,650
3,091lbs
181hp
power to weight
1:17.1


abarth
$20,200
2282lb
135hp
power to weight
1:16.9

You gotta pay to play.

[Turf]

You gotta pay to play.

power to weight is like golf, you want the lower number