With fiat owning Chrysler , is it gonna show up in USA?
I grew up around fiats and love the old models
Fiat 600, 131 and 132 70's models. I saw few years back a fiat 600 in Cleveland. The dude drove away n I just stood in the middle of the rain in disbelief.
the 500 looks really nice.
http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=25129.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=25129.0) ;D
Oops forgot about the other thread.
Quote from: ab on March 26, 2011, 08:13:20 PM
Oops forgot about the other thread.
Well, it was 2 yrs ago. ;)
Self-derby [laugh]
They do have a US web sit and are taking deposits for the cars that aren't available yet.
http://www.fiatusa.com/en/ (http://www.fiatusa.com/en/)
Fix
It
Again
Tony
I drove around in an Fiat Cinqucento during my honeymoon in Croatia.
It was tinny, unsafe feeling and a complete blast to drive [laugh]
There's a ful on dealership with inventory in downtown Los Angeles. Been seeing quite a few of them around town.
http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2010/11/18/news/doc4cddcb3e23aa2210867592.txt (http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2010/11/18/news/doc4cddcb3e23aa2210867592.txt)
Good article in today's New York Times on it.
The Chrysler dealer down the block from me has Fiat coming soon. I think just the 500 is going to be for sale here for now. They have one out front.
Quote from: mookieo2 on March 27, 2011, 08:40:16 AM
The Chrysler dealer down the block from me has Fiat coming soon. I think just the 500 is going to be for sale here for now. They have one out front.
Most of the dealers are slated to begin sales on the 31st of March. 500 are already here, they are the prima ediziones.
If nothing else, the styling is leaps and bounds better than other cars at that price point.
Quote from: Drunken Monkey on March 26, 2011, 09:44:24 PM
I drove around in an Fiat Cinqucento during my honeymoon in Croatia.
It was tinny, unsafe feeling and a complete blast to drive [laugh]
that is a perfect description ! [laugh] [laugh]
The nuts and bolts of the Chrysler deal is that Chrysler will get the small fiat cars and engines, while Fiat gets their new pentastar v6 and larger cars for their market, so it is pretty much a done deal for dealerships starting up in big markets. Fiat does not "own" Chrysler yet - something more like 30% own them. They cannot buy the rest until they demonstrate like 2 years of profitability to our Gov.
mitt
Can't wait to get my hands on a Fiat Panda! [drool]
So... Is an Abarth 500 a special 500 or does it count as a different model? My parents were saying something about a Fiat 500 coming out in the states and I wasn't sure if they were talking about the same car I was thinking of.
Quote from: pennyrobber on March 27, 2011, 12:32:07 PM
Can't wait to get my hands on a Fiat Panda! [drool]
We rented one of those in Croatia this summer it was fun trying to whip that thing around the twisties on Hvar.
Quote from: erkishhorde on March 27, 2011, 01:39:43 PM
So... Is an Abarth 500 a special 500 or does it count as a different model? My parents were saying something about a Fiat 500 coming out in the states and I wasn't sure if they were talking about the same car I was thinking of.
I think the Abarth is a special performance oriented model. Kind of like John Copper's Works Mini Coopers.
Oh, and I was only kidding about the Panda.
Quote from: pennyrobber on March 27, 2011, 02:27:32 PM
I think the Abarth is a special performance oriented model. Kind of like John Copper's Works Mini Coopers.
Oh, and I was only kidding about the Panda.
I know you were. Four people with luggage doesn't make it any more fun except the e brake around hairpins and hitting the rev limiter for a few seconds before shifting adds a little excitement.
Abarth and a convertible 500 are both rumored for 2012. I'm going to test drive a 500 this week. If all goes well, I think I'll buy one.
Back in I think 1978 I had a 125 Convertible.
I didn't have it for long.
As I remember there was a crack in the piece that the engine was mounted to the frame ?
Anyway , it was a nice looking sports car at the time and I could afford it.
Dolph. :)
Quote from: redxblack on March 29, 2011, 08:47:56 PM
Abarth and a convertible 500 are both rumored for 2012. I'm going to test drive a 500 this week. If all goes well, I think I'll buy one.
when I was at a Chyrsler Jeep dealer 2 weeks back, one of the guys talked to me ( in dealer to dealer kind of speak) and confirmed the Abarth for 2012 figuring that 20% of the 500's sold would be traded back in for Abarth in a similar fashion to the Cooper "S"'s when BMW rolled the Mini out here in the US....the "Cabrio" version is still questionable due to whether it will pass the US Safety standard battery of tests with a rating that they would like it to pass at.....
personally....I think this car is a part of a fad...though smaller displacement is definitely a step in the right direction, a luxury econobox is still going to catch a lot of scrutiny from the American public if it ain't right in the slightest...and Fiat ain't exactly famous for their quality control....
Quote from: zooom on March 30, 2011, 04:46:42 AM
when I was at a Chyrsler Jeep dealer 2 weeks back, one of the guys talked to me ( in dealer to dealer kind of speak) and confirmed the Abarth for 2012 figuring that 20% of the 500's sold would be traded back in for Abarth in a similar fashion to the Cooper "S"'s when BMW rolled the Mini out here in the US....the "Cabrio" version is still questionable due to whether it will pass the US Safety standard battery of tests with a rating that they would like it to pass at.....
personally....I think this car is a part of a fad...though smaller displacement is definitely a step in the right direction, a luxury econobox is still going to catch a lot of scrutiny from the American public if it ain't right in the slightest...and Fiat ain't exactly famous for their quality control....
Fiat and Alfa had a bad reputation when they first ventured out of the medittaranean, because they used improperly spec'd lines. When you are in Italy, seeing temps that don't dip below 50 (for much of the country, for much of the year), you engineer to your market. The oil lines were higher pressure, but thin, so occasionally oil would get too clumpy and not flow. This caused many problems.
My understanding is that both Fiat and Alfa have come long ways since then. There is a reason why so many are sold in Europe. Cars are expensive, you buy something economical to avoid undo expense. Many people buy Fiat 500s, so it would be reasonable to assume low operating costs.
Quote from: mattc7 on March 30, 2011, 05:04:01 AM
you engineer to your market.
which they didn't before and only now has the idea started to take with 'Mericans whom have held dear to the bigger is better ideal when opening their wallets...small cars have never been a large market, except as econo boxes here, and only do the Mini's do so well with the addition ( in price as well as option) of all the various luxury options and the Smart isn't a great example as they are not that widely distributed....and I am not fully convinced that the 500 meets peoples long term buying wishes....if Gas dropped back down to $2.25 a gallon instead of heading upward of $4 a gallon...I'd think they'de stay in their 8cyl. SUV instead of buying a 500 as a "commuter car" (as they justify it).
Quote from: mattc7 on March 30, 2011, 05:04:01 AM
My understanding is that both Fiat and Alfa have come long ways since then. There is a reason why so many are sold in Europe. Cars are expensive, you buy something economical to avoid undo expense. Many people buy Fiat 500s, so it would be reasonable to assume low operating costs.
many people buy 500's in Europe...here is not a fully tested market with a full parts and service distribution as American's use and berate vehicles...warranties are different as well in Europe in comparo to here....you can sell a pretty turd with a great warranty and people will buy it but you sell a pretty lil car with a crap ass warranty and people here will be gunshy and walk and go by the P.O.S. that gives them that warm and IZ_ piece of mind...look at how Hyundai has flourished over the years....yes, they make much better cars NOW, but they used to sell the hell out of P.O.S.'s with a "100,000 mile cover alot that most others won't cover" warranty and people bought em just because of that....
Well, they do sell a decent amount of Mini Coopers here in the US, both in Base and in S trim.
The real question, is the 500 aimed at the Mini market, or is it going to be aimed at the Elantra/Corolla/Civic market?
If its aimed at the Mini market, it needs to be stylish (check), fun (check), and reasonably reliable (who knows).
If its aimed at the E/C/C market, it needs to be reliable (who knows), drab looking (nope), not fun unless you're already had a lobotomy performed on yourself (nope), and somewhere between $14k and $20k (check).
I'm looking forward to when Alfa Romeo is back in the US, and they start rolling the 4C into showrooms.
I'm selling all of your souls to get one, just so that you know ahead of time. [evil]
BC.
BC - you make a valid point, BUT...a Mini customer is not going to be an Elantra,Corolla,Civic customer...BMW has done well in marketing that machine and it's optionability in ala carte format VERY well to your more upwardly mobile consumer...
the Fiat to me doesn't strike me as exactly in the same class from what I have seen thus far. Sure the Abarth will be right on par with the "S" Cooper without a doubt, but the rest of the model line leave a little to be desired IMHO. Who knows.
Now I'm wondering if I should hold off until the Abarth comes around and then get one of the trade in models.
Quote from: redxblack on March 30, 2011, 08:01:18 AM
Now I'm wondering if I should hold off until the Abarth comes around and then get one of the trade in models.
I would if I were you...
the standard 500 puts out 101 hp. The abarth will generate 170 hp. I don't think I need that much power for the estimated price increase. The standard with a manual transmission should be okay.
I drove a sport a few miles today. The brakes are AWESOME and it was a pretty solid little car. My hesitation is I have no idea if this will be a car I can run for 200k miles or if it will run like a Chrysler. The body is assembled in a PT cruiser factory in Mexico and the engines are built in Michigan.
redxblack - [thumbsup] you got to test drive it. whats the price for the standard and the abrarth ? wonder what is the closest dealer that has it. Would love to take a look at it. look only and no touch.
The abarth is not definite yet, but it'll be over 25 k, probably pushing 27.
The standard start just under 15 max out just under 20
Quote from: mattc7 on April 07, 2011, 02:58:18 AM
The abarth is not definite yet, but it'll be over 25 k, probably pushing 27.
The standard start just under 15 max out just under 20
wow, didn't realize it was that expensive
I wish Fiat and Chrysler luck.........
Quote from: The Architect on April 07, 2011, 05:10:27 AM
I wish Fiat and Chrysler luck.........
+1
The 500 is neat and all, but realistically once all the "gotta have it" folks have theirs, I foresee it quickly becoming an also-ran.
Quote from: ab on March 26, 2011, 08:13:20 PM
Oops forgot about the other thread.
funny thing is, you started the other thread !!!
A lot of blogs are guessing the Abarth will run around $27-30, competing with but likely pricing slightly less than the mini's top ender. I liked the car a lot, and it made me sad to get back in my old 99 subaru forester for the drive home, but the sight lines are annoying. For such a small car, it has some pretty poor visibility. There are a lot of airbags, and thus some wide partitions between the glass. The only trouble is the driver is really near those partitions. The driver's sideview mirror includes a factory installed blind spot mirror. It'd take some getting used to. Because I have empathy, I sat in the back seat as well. I'm only 5' 10" and my head touched the roof. It's pretty small in the back, but the front seats are tall giving some legroom. For a commuter it should be fine. My wife drives a Matrix, so if we need to haul people I suppose we'd be okay still. It feels strange to buy such a limited car, but I rarely drive with other people anyway. Besides, for 6(ish) months, I'm on the Monster, so this would be for those other times.
Spec'd out with the options I'd want (sport trim plus auto moonroof), it comes in at $18,850. I'm thinking for the same $, I could get a 2 year old Honda Civic Hybrid with less than 20k mi and know it will last 10 years. I need longevity as I am limited in how much I can budget. Chryslers aren't renown for being on the road for 15-20 years in good shape (like Toyota or Honda).
This past weekend, my gf, her 19 yo daughter, and I all went to the Denver Auto Show, where we got to test drive the Fiat 500. Well, first we had to suffer through a Chrysler 200 test drive, but then after that, we were allowed to test drive all their "premium" test drive vehicles. We only wanted to test drive the Fiat, honestly.
The Chrysler 200 was having issues:
Every time I was coming to a stop, the transmission was stumbling, hunting for the right gear.
The car only had 656 miles on it when I test drove it, too.
Turns out after the Fiat test drive, they had to pull it out of the group of cars because it's CEL went on right after my test drive. Not very reassuring, in my opinion.
Anyway, on to the 500 test drive.
Visually different from all other cars on the road. In a good way, not like a Smart Car, Yaris, or that stupid look new Scion thing (ICK).
Interior all the materials looked very high quality, when you compare it to the Elantra, Accent, Corolla, Cobalt competition. Looks a lot less cluttered and thrown about like the Mini's interior, too. The gauges were visually interesting, and really cool.
Unfortunately, the test drive vehicle was an automatic, and I only prefer manuals, so there was a big pile of nothing going on until the engine got up into the 3k rpm range. After that, the angry squirrels kicked the hamsters in the ass, and the car would then scoot right along. I also forgot to hit the "Sport" mode button while I was test driving. bummer.
My gf, who is 5'2" and her daughter (5'6") sat in the back seats, and were comfortable behind me (6'1") and the test drive guide (5'8"). When we tried to get into a Mini Cooper later, my gf could not get into the seat behind the driver's when I set it to a comfortable position.
The handling was pretty sporty, better than the Elantra, Accent, Corolla, Cobalt competition, and probably right in line with the base Mini offering. The brakes were put to good use when I was on a long straight section of the test drive, had opened it up a bit, the light changed on me, and there was a Denver Cop sitting at the light, waiting for it to change so he could cross the road. He gave me the glare of authority, but didn't do much more than squint his eyebrows at all of us, who were then laughing our buts off, having a great time during the test drive.
Overall, I came away really really impressed with the 500, and think it would be a great car for someone who wants something small and easy to keep, but wants something more unique than the typical Elantra, Accent, Corolla, Cobalt competition. I see it taking away some of the Mini customers, because Italian design and comfort trumps German design and comfort in 8 out of 10 cases.
I would buy one, had I not just buy a 2011 Mazda RX-8 the week before! ;)
BC.
Good to hear the drive reviews from real folks. The missus and I saw one up close the other day in Montreal. There's a good chance this will be her next car.
Quote from: Darkmonster620 on April 07, 2011, 08:26:40 AM
funny thing is, you started the other thread !!!
Can't you tell that I really like that car? It's like an old girl friend i think about now and then.
I grew up around fiat 600. I am talking 4 kids being lugged around in that car until I was 6th grade. Then we moved up to a fiat 127. I just love the car. My sister husband parents had fiat 125, 131 and 132 (at once and many other cars.) I used to dream of that 132. Good memories there. i got find a picture somewhere. :)
I will keep on dreaming about the new fiat :'( :'( way out of my league. I will look but I won't touch :'(
Quote from: redxblack on April 07, 2011, 09:29:16 AM
I could get a 2 year old Honda Civic Hybrid with less than 20k mi and know it will last 10 years. I need longevity as I am limited in how much I can budget. Chryslers aren't renown for being on the road for 15-20 years in good shape (like Toyota or Honda).
you think you will get honda hybrid batteries last till 12 years old ?
That's the conundrum. I'm back to the Fiat and hoping I can get massive mileage out of it.
Quote from: redxblack on April 08, 2011, 06:58:36 AM
That's the conundrum. I'm back to the Fiat and hoping I can get massive mileage out of it.
that was something i was reading in the newspaper
option
1 buy new hyrbid car small and expensive
2 buy older large V8 car 5-10 years old and have a bucket of money left over for fuel , convert to LPG for cheaper running costs
I spend about $1800/yr on average for cars. I have never owned a new car. With the $ I'd save on gas, the Fiat puts me right in that $1800 budget range.
not that anyone cares, but I've decided to go ahead and get the 500. I'm going to order a sport w/ sunroof and no addl options. road reports to follow.
[thumbsup]
cool, toss up pics when you get it
how long of a wait?
I'll find out about financing tomorrow. There's something goofy going on w/ my credit report. Somehow I dropped 100 points since November with nothing negative on my report. Weird. The rate at which I am approved is far too high, so I have to get that ironed out before I can place the order. They say 6 weeks is the rough turnaround with some coming slightly faster. I don't care at all about the color, but I don't want a lot of options that I don't actually want in the car. So that might require a few. I'm guessing 6-8 weeks conservatively.
We're waiting 9+ weeks for an Audi Q5 we ordered for my wife last week so we're in the same boat [cheeky]
Quote from: redxblack on April 11, 2011, 03:00:53 PM
I'll find out about financing tomorrow. There's something goofy going on w/ my credit report. Somehow I dropped 100 points since November with nothing negative on my report. Weird. The rate at which I am approved is far too high, so I have to get that ironed out before I can place the order. They say 6 weeks is the rough turnaround with some coming slightly faster. I don't care at all about the color, but I don't want a lot of options that I don't actually want in the car. So that might require a few. I'm guessing 6-8 weeks conservatively.
Congrats on deciding to pull the trigger on the Fiat.
I'm sure you'll love it.
As for the credit change, check to see what your balances are.
If you increased the balance on one of your cards recently, that can cause the change in score.
This is really important if one of your cards decreased your credit limit without properly informing you.
That will increase your credit usage percentage, and royally goof you up if you don't catch it quick.
BC.
Quote from: Bladecutter on April 12, 2011, 07:27:34 AM
Congrats on deciding to pull the trigger on the Fiat.
I'm sure you'll love it.
As for the credit change, check to see what your balances are.
If you increased the balance on one of your cards recently, that can cause the change in score.
This is really important if one of your cards decreased your credit limit without properly informing you.
That will increase your credit usage percentage, and royally goof you up if you don't catch it quick.
BC.
Learned this the hard way. :(
Pics when you get the 500. [thumbsup]
Pics for sure. I know the rules - pics or it didn't happen!
I don't have any cards at all. Credit is the devil, so that makes my score relatively low to start. I took advantage of the federal direct loan student loan consolidation (all loans were in good standing), which lowered my payment by A LOT, but should not have affected my credit. That's the only change. It's really weird. Oh well. I'll be sure to bump the thread w/ pics once I get it all ironed out.
One weird thing, the dealership is quoting me $1000 over MSRP BEFORE any fees or taxes. That seems curious. I'm going to have to call around because I don't mind them making a fair profit on a deal, but I don't want to be a chump either.
You'll never get a good deal when ordering a car.
http://www.kilometermagazine.com/artman2/publish/automotive/Fiat_Gains_More_Ownership_of_Chrysler.html (http://www.kilometermagazine.com/artman2/publish/automotive/Fiat_Gains_More_Ownership_of_Chrysler.html)
Fiat making their play to own more and more of Chrysler....
Quote from: Triple J on April 12, 2011, 12:12:54 PM
You'll never get a good deal when ordering a car.
That's the rub - $1000 over MSRP even on the in-stock vehicles. I guess it's a dealer tax on the novelty of the new model? I'll call around tonight.
Quote from: redxblack on April 12, 2011, 01:52:08 PM
That's the rub - $1000 over MSRP even on the in-stock vehicles. I guess it's a dealer tax on the novelty of the new model? I'll call around tonight.
That's the problem with new models...too many people willing to get screwed. We're looking at getting a Q5, but there doesn't look to be any deals out there because it's a fairly new model.
I'd never pay over MSRP. In a year you'll be able to get them a lot cheaper most likely.
Quote from: Triple J on April 12, 2011, 02:07:59 PM
That's the problem with new models...too many people willing to get screwed. We're looking at getting a Q5, but there doesn't look to be any deals out there because it's a fairly new model.
I'd never pay over MSRP. In a year you'll be able to get them a lot cheaper most likely.
They didn't add anything to MSRP on my '11 WRX but they definitely wouldn't go down either. There were deals to be had on every other model though.