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Hard time choosing a car when the Fiat 500 comes to North America!
- Thread starter waloshin
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He was pointing out your grammar fail.
I think you are going about car shopping entirely wrong, but that may just be me... How about you start with a budget? Then decide if you can buy new or used, then make a list of all the cars available in your price range that you think are reasonable and go from there. As it is now, you are all over the place with pricing.
EDIT: I forgot, in budgeting you have to consider the long term, too. One of the reasons I didn't buy a Mini is because of the premium gasoline.
I do realize that he was making fun of the either, as either would be two, but anyways I would buy a car that is a buyback likely only a year old.
Although premium gas costs more, you can offset it by making your trips fewer/more efficient. I used to drive a diesel back when diesel cost more per gallon than gas and I would spend less per mile than my roommate even though my car got considerably worse MPG because I optimized my driving to waste less.
Things I'd consider in a car budget would be insurance cost, and cost of ownership (stuff like basic maintenance). Those would likely affect you a lot more that a few cents on premium gas.
Things I'd consider in a car budget would be insurance cost, and cost of ownership (stuff like basic maintenance). Those would likely affect you a lot more that a few cents on premium gas.
1) It was just an example
2) Its more like between 5-10 cents
Year old cars are still going to vary widely in price. For example, a year old Mini is going to sell for more than many cars would new...
Well a mini isn't cheap, so thats off the list.
VW's (at least the ones I and family have owned) are generally expensive to fix and aren't super reliable. And diesel models in that year range I find to be too clacky. So that's off.
Fiat 500, while sweet, is new/not even out in NA yet is it?
Leaves me with a Yaris. They are cheap to buy and run (a year or two old model even more so). Toyota's have a good rep for reliability which helps balance out the more expensive parts vs. domestics.
Maybe look at a Honda Fit as well. I know several people with them and they swear by them. TONS of room for a small car too.
Mind you, that's based on personal experience/hearsay and money says many others will have the opposite thoughts
VW's (at least the ones I and family have owned) are generally expensive to fix and aren't super reliable. And diesel models in that year range I find to be too clacky. So that's off.
Fiat 500, while sweet, is new/not even out in NA yet is it?
Leaves me with a Yaris. They are cheap to buy and run (a year or two old model even more so). Toyota's have a good rep for reliability which helps balance out the more expensive parts vs. domestics.
Maybe look at a Honda Fit as well. I know several people with them and they swear by them. TONS of room for a small car too.
Mind you, that's based on personal experience/hearsay and money says many others will have the opposite thoughts
500s are great.
New minis feel heavy and sluggish after driving a proper mini.
Golfs are solid cars, 1.9 diesel will be sloowwwww though.
Yaris is a bit weird, I don't like them.
New minis feel heavy and sluggish after driving a proper mini.
Golfs are solid cars, 1.9 diesel will be sloowwwww though.
Yaris is a bit weird, I don't like them.
It's more like 25 cents difference where I live1) It was just an example
2) Its more like between 5-10 cents
Year old cars are still going to vary widely in price. For example, a year old Mini is going to sell for more than many cars would new...
But if you're going to spend on a car that needs premium, you should be ready to support your purchase.
I definitely agree with buying used - you get the best value for money.
I have to agree, 500 looks the best.smwatson said:
If that's a picture of your car, I'm guessing you're in America. So you've probably not driven a Fiat 500 of any sort, let alone the Abarth, which definitely gives the standard Cooper a run for its money in the fun department.
The Yaris is the sensible choice, the Golf is the wrong choice, the Mini is a fun choice and the 500 would be my choice. I know a few people who have recently been looking for a new car and chosen the 500 over a Mini after taking them both for a test.
I would be interested in testing an Abarth. I know of the car, but have yet to see one, since they aren't here yet.
Yes, that's my JCW. It is surprisingly quick and powerful, but it's also the top of the MINI line ($35K).
I still plan to go back to an M3. Would like one of the newer E92 Coupes with the double-clutch gearbox.
I think the Fiat Nuova 500 Abarth will be a blast to drive, though I think for the US market there's a chance we may see a dual-clutch transmission akin to Volkwagen's DSG. There's good reason for this: it allows for full-automatic operation (VERY important for the North American market), and with a flick of a switch on the dashboard or the center console can operate in full manual shift mode.
Yes the yaris is cheap and easy to fix and they last a life time. But also take "the cars reliability" into consideration. If you get a new/used car, are you going to want to trade it in again in a couple years for something else? Even the trade in value when you go to trade it in. The yaris will definately be alot less than a mini cooper (Which are a blast to drive). Mini's hold their value.
Also, dont forget about the engine size. The Yaris has a small engine, so it takes a while to get it up to sixty or seventy mph for highway, that is unless i give it a little more gas, which in turn lowers mpg. So something with a little bigger engine won't need as much throttle to get it up to highway speeds.
Just my few cents and good luck picking 1!
Also, dont forget about the engine size. The Yaris has a small engine, so it takes a while to get it up to sixty or seventy mph for highway, that is unless i give it a little more gas, which in turn lowers mpg. So something with a little bigger engine won't need as much throttle to get it up to highway speeds.
Just my few cents and good luck picking 1!
I have a 06 Cooper S and have driven a Fiat 500 (lived in Europe for 4 years and was there when they released them). I will say that there was no comparison to the MINI in handling or fun in my book. Even the standard Cooper was more fun in my opinion then again, maybe it is just me.
Here's the solution to your problem:
The Ferrari edition Fiat 500:
Only 40,000 EUR. I'm pretty sure I could have some fun in that.
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I'm gonna bet I'd pick the John Cooper Works I have over this any time, and it costs a lot less.
What's the curb weight of this Fiat? Because my JCW is 2600 lbs. and I get 208 HP stock and closer to 230 HP with a couple of mods I've done. This Fiat is 180+ HP.
The Yaris is cheap all right, but that is about it. It also looks cheap and feels cheaper. My wife just bought a Scion xD after driving a Nissan Versa (she didn't even consider it after driving it), Honda Fit (it has loads of room and was fun to drive), and the Yaris (she didn't even drive it after having a first look). Of these cars and the ones you have listed I would probably choose the Fit (but '09 and up only).
