I have been looking at some smallish cars (so they fit into my garage) and have narrowed the choice down to the FIAT Punto Evo or FIAT 500 (which may be a bit small, although fun and stylish) or the MINI. I feel that one pays excessively for the MINI name, nice that it is. I like the FIAT (and clearly you seem to as well) but all my friends tell me that FIAT cars rust and are unreliable. Is this a thing of the past or are the problems not evident yet because both the 500 and Evo are so new that those issues would not arise for several years? If you have anything else to add I'd love to hear from you so that I can finalise my choice.