wow this is a bit sureal,i had exactly the same conversation with a Fiat salesman today after i dropped my croma off for a diagnostic check.It dawned on me today,when the croma is ready for retirement what im i going to buy to replace it.He informed me Fiat are working on something right now.
Ive just looked at the Freemont.Looks like a successer to the croma and does look a bit similar.I like it.
I also heard a rumour FPT(fiat power train)are working on a big v6 diesel to replace the 5 pot.Maybe this will get it.

Well possibly one thing that the Freemont / Dodge / Chrysler / USA can bring to us is that in the US a 'lemon' car is quickly identified and brought to justice. The Americans appear to have a far lower tolerance of crap, poor reliability, customer service etc. than us EU numptys.

Question is can the Fiat / Chrysler setup allow the US/Dodge/Chrysler better parts of the business sort out the poorer parts of the Fiat business. AND over here and not over there!

Doofer said:

My dream Croma replacement (that isn't going to actually happen) would be the Skoda Yeti. A good all-rounder, just like the Croma, plus 4WD and a more van-shaped back end, and prettier than the Croma too.

And I liked it long before Clarkson raved about it on Sunday.

Click to expand...

I've now come round to your way of thinking, especially with the 170BHP engine. It seems like a very good package but I'll have to wait a couple of years for them to be cheap enough

Having a look round one in the near future to see if I can spot any reasons to rule it out.

I have been looking at the Yeti specs, and the are no real auto options, the DSG has had a poor service record and is incredibly expensive to service. The Alfa selespeed also had a terrible reputation, but it was really because the dealers had absolutely no idea how to set up and maintain them.

DoIDon'tI said:

Freemont

or

Peugeot 3008?

Click to expand...

Beware of the electrics especially the electric hand brake. I posted about this on a previous thread but cannot be arsed to search for it . My workmate who had one has finally got rid of his and copped a real shower when he traded it in!!!
The new freemont looks great but may be a tad underpowered , depending on the weight etc. May have missed the boat by the time it is sold in Britain.

keithglos said:

I have been looking at the Yeti specs, and the are no real auto options, the DSG has had a poor service record and is incredibly expensive to service. The Alfa selespeed also had a terrible reputation, but it was really because the dealers had absolutely no idea how to set up and maintain them.

Click to expand...

Appreciate that Keith, for my towing needs it would have to be a (manual-only) 170BHP. Having recently spent three months of my life driving old landrover TD5s around I now believe that I would be able to manage a manual car again if the driving position was right.

I've got a couple of Croma years left no matter what so it's all academic at this stage. I think the only thing that would delay the decision would be if a low-mileage 2.4 came up for sale in the meantime, that might last me a bit longer. I'm setting a 'line in the sand' for my car of 120,000 miles, which roughly equates to two more years of use. Having said that, I've got a motorbike again so that may help reduce the car's mileage a little.

My thought's at the moment is a Jeep Patriot with the 2.2 Merc engine.

I looked at a Jeep Patriot a few years ago. They are very cheap-looking inside (and quite small).

The main issue I found was that its carrying capacity is severely limited. I use my car for lugging occasionally, so it's important. However, I remember looking at the specs and thinking that it wasn't actually capable of carrying 5 people, or 4 people + luggage. Obviously the VW (I thought it was VW, not Merc) diesel engine is much heavier than the petrol one it was designed for, so the difference is subtracted from its carrying capacity.

Just got back from Italy and I went to see the new Freemont I have attached some photos leave to you to comment..

Suppose weshould not have expected anything different.

At least with the Croma we got Italian styling. Even the interior was very much Fiat from the steering wheel to the dashboard.

Freemont steering wheel is ugly and the dashboard even more so.

Shame you didn't get a picture of the engine & compartment.

I suppose one good thing about it being introduced to Europe first/initially is that if it ever does get released in the UK then hopefully we will have good reliability information available to us.

Never mind the engine, if the boot is the same as the Dodge Journey then it's no good for me - the loading height is way too high and the capacity is small for the size of the car.

Thanks for the photos.

It looks like a cheap 4x4 to me. The interior quality reminds me of my old Kia.

I won't be getting one although they're sure to depreciate massively, so it could be tempting for £6k when it's two years old.

I think I'll be going a size smaller next time though, due to fuel prices. Big tank-like cars are looking a bit last decade now to me.

I know looks are down to individual taste but this car (The Freemont) is not for me. First impressions are that it is a typical boxy yank tank, it doesn't jump out as being different. I had a drive in my work colleague's Ford S-Max diesel and I was mightily impressed, it's not as 'soft' as the Croma but I couldn't fault it, this for me would be what I would look at replacing my Croma with or the Mondeo estate. I still have a soft spot for Italian cars though, who knows what might come along by the time a change is on the cards for me.

If we are going down the Yank Tank route - then what about the Chrysler Delta - second hand of course since all Chryslers still suffer warp drive depreciation.

I would have a Delta, another of Fiat's marketing ploys, like the Croma. Make a RHD just for the UK, at great expense, and find it does not sell. So it will be about half original retail price for new ones in about a year. Brava and Delta production in Italy is running about 50% of break even point. I think they decided it was far too dear for the US market. They will have to do the "offer you can't refuse" leasing deals.
I still fancy a Skoda Yeti, I was a bit concerned about the auto box, but have looked it up and it seems a pretty good box, daughter has one in an Audi. Expensive to repair, but so would my Aisin be.

I don’t – but for those that tow …

What Car? +Practical Caravan +The Camping & Caravanning Club
Towcar Awards: top used (2011)

<1425kg
Focus 2.0 TDCi Zetec 5dr (12m £12.3est, 36m £9.4est)

1425-1574kg
Vectra 1.9 CDTi 120 Exclusiv 5dr (24m £7.8est, 36m £7.0est)

1575-1724kg
MB C220 CDI Estate Sport auto (12m £24.8est, 36m £19.6est)

1725-1899kg
Kia Sportage 2.0CRDi Titan (12m £17.0est, 36m £13.3est)

1900+kg
Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDi XS (24m £14.5est, 48m £10.6est)

Source: What Car? (Aug2011)

I’ve been with FIAT so long I’ve pitiful knowledge of anything else – e.g. admire the Alfa’s, but no idea of the difference between a lusso & veloce.

2011/09/16

Turismo.. nice
Veloce.. very nice
Lusso.. wow

Rather interesting weight catagories. I wonder what cars (just) slip into or slip out of each section.

Is the Chrysler Delta a badge-engineered Lancia? It looks like one.

It does look like a Croma with a fat arse though. But I'd have one when they're giving them away for peanuts.

Give that about 9 months then