Is FIAT gonna come to USA?

[pennyrobber]

Can't wait to get my hands on a Fiat Panda! 

[erkishhorde]

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.

[mookieo2]

Can't wait to get my hands on a Fiat Panda! 

We rented one of those in Croatia this summer it was fun trying to whip that thing around the twisties on Hvar.

[pennyrobber]

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.

[mookieo2]

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. 

[redxblack]

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.

[DoubleEagle]

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.   

[zooom]

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....

[mattc7]

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.

[zooom]

  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).

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....

[Bladecutter]

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. 

BC.

[zooom]

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.

[redxblack]

Now I'm wondering if I should hold off until the Abarth comes around and then get one of the trade in models.

[zooom]

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...

[redxblack]

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.