The minute Peugeot got their hands on Fiat the Italian style and way of doing things was dead dead dead. Why is anyone surprised?
I know its inevitable that these things happen but it doesnt mean we have to like it. Peugeot are OK if you like that sort of thing, and many do, it has a place. But individuality, precision and character they dont have in the same way. I have already decided I shall be looking at Korean and Japanese products next time. If Im going to have something different it WILL be different by choice and selection and not having either VAUXHALL OR PEUGEOT SUPPLIED BY STEALTH. I like just about everything about the Fiats I have owned and I like the fact they are designed for specific types of roads and terrain. Its this that gives them the unique feel. Stellantis, NO NEVER under any circumstances whatsoever. AND Mr Peugeot I have not forgotten what you did to my Dad 42 years ago with your so called cash back offer. Trust you lot.. In this family not until I lie in the ground! Until then I will continue to pay the difference for them to drive something else.
I don't know why I'm so surprised. I had to stop myself when I first came across this as I presumed it was as much a copy of a Peugeot as the new little Fiat Citroen Ami thing... but the first two articles I read didn't cite PSA, they mentioned 'Jeep DNA" which got my hopes up that this might have been squarely on the FCA side of Stellantis... but nope. That's it. Fiat is forever as much as brand as Vauxhall has been, or Seat or Skoda have been for a long time :-/ Someone mentioned on one of my other threads how the next Panda will likely be a re-done 208... that's my interest stamped out if that's the direction they go. Of all the cars in that class... that's what they're going with?!
Now, I don't want to start any heated debates at all, but IF (and it's a big IF) the EV thing dies out in the next decade or less, and suddenly, Fiat
saved a tonne of wasted R&D and can go back to the current mild-hybrid / Firefly engines in their small cars... maybe there is hope in the long term future if they ever broke free. Surely the Italian government would support that.. they probably only gave way to this merger as, as things stand with the EV push, Fiat wasn't as prepared as it in theory, should be without PSA's EV tech. I can only hope that my wild theory of EVs being a fad proves true... Won't hold my breath though.
I'd recommend you steer clear of anything Korean. I'm not saying they haven't come a long way in quality and looks... BUT, that's only relative to where they were 10..20 years ago. I find their designs a bit of a parody of a little bit of everything all the other manufacturers were doing (one of the old i20s is a knock off of the Corsa D from a mile away!). My friend with the i30N who puts exclusively premium petrol in it, has had the fuel system fail (common problem on the GDI engines, his usually found in some of their Genesis big / fast models in other countries but tuned to the balls in the EU market hot hatch i30N). Common fault although given that the engine in this form is so seldomly bought in the UK, not popular for breaking parts. He's covered by the great 7 year warranty right? Wrong. The stingy ****s charged him diagnostic fee (although we already scanned it) of £125, although they already told him 'he used bad fuel', only to, surprise surprise, blame the fuel... gave him a bill of best case £1,800 and worst case near £8,000... Hyundai UK said they can't argue with the dealer.... utter, utter joke. He's now stuck with a £23k garden ornament. The dealer threatened him with charges to move it. Got it moved to a local mechanic he's used, for all of 3 weeks now 'hasn't had the time to look at it' .. utter BS also, he just doesn't want to touch it with a ten foot barge pole as he knows it'll be part roulette, only parts available from the dealer, expensive parts with no returns once tried... and he won't risk it. That's the service, support and backing you have with Hyundai / Kia and its '7 year warranty'. And I can assure you, this guy legitimately drives it within the speed limit, I'll never forget him showing me the speed of it and feeling the limited HIT 60!!! Pathetic car company. Pathetic quality. It was a cool car, but I can't see any Focus RS / ST or Golf R / GTI user feeling like they'll ever give up the quality they have for that junk. I'd genuinely take a PSA product over it, and that's saying something!
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