The few Americans I talk to reguarly all seem to think the 500 would sell for novelty value to a few people but are MUCH more interested in the Grande Punto and larger cars in the FIAT range (and all seem stunned by the fuel economy and keep checking that they aren't ALL diesels, especially when I point out thats MPG using the UK gallon, which is 1.2x bigger than a US gallon)
Chrysler
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The few Americans I talk to reguarly all seem to think the 500 would sell for novelty value to a few people but are MUCH more interested in the Grande Punto and larger cars in the FIAT range (and all seem stunned by the fuel economy and keep checking that they aren't ALL diesels, especially when I point out thats MPG using the UK gallon, which is 1.2x bigger than a US gallon)
Being the only person who has taken a 500 to the USA... blah blah blah
Anyway, for those who where on the moon when I'd it out there the americans loved the bloody thing and at that point gas was 4 or 5 bucks a gallon
http://dcfiats.com/events/past_events/Cinquecento-08/Cinquecento-08.html
now it's under $3 they're not interested as much in tiny cars but the 500 fits that mini / smart thing they the city folk like. San Francisco is full of the bleeding things, lol
Jim
Anyway, for those who where on the moon when I'd it out there the americans loved the bloody thing and at that point gas was 4 or 5 bucks a gallon
http://dcfiats.com/events/past_events/Cinquecento-08/Cinquecento-08.html
now it's under $3 they're not interested as much in tiny cars but the 500 fits that mini / smart thing they the city folk like. San Francisco is full of the bleeding things, lol
Jim
Believe me petrol will go back up and people are ****ing themselves. Sure the less intelligent people will think "hyuck hyuck ahm gonna by me that there truck what does 2 mpg" but a lot of people have been spooked and are preparing for the next rise in fuel prices.
Don't get me wrong the 500 will sell on novelty/trendiness but I think the GP and Bravo are far better cars for the market as Americans as a whole are not quite as fussed about looks as Europeans are.
I also think the GP and Bravo while handsome and good looking will also be able to slip under the radar and not be seen as being overstyled because in America they like their cars bland. I actually wouldn't be surprised if the GP or Bravo get taken over to the US as is and get sold with Chrysler badges on them. Far cheaper than doing their own versions and if they did that it'd be a lot of investment considering the Bravo and GP are already a little way through their lives and it'll be at least another year or two before Chrysler could think of pumping Fiat based cars so they'd be tooling up for a very short run if they wanted to be in sync with Fiat's timetable for new models.
Just my 2p...
When i first heard about this i though 'omg, wtf have they done?!" but in reality, it certainly appears to be a great move for Fiat. Its a minimal risk agreement for Fiat, and even if Chysler go down the pan (which as mentioned, is unlikely with the backing they'll be receiving) what have Fiat lost? not a lot to be fair. Yeh, they'll be short-term costs which Fiat will never see a return on if Chrysler go down, but it won't (or atleast shouldn't)pull Fiat down as well. All they've given in return for the 35% equity is information and use of their manufacturing and distribution facilities (thats where the short-term costs will come in.) If Chysler pull though this (which they no doubt will with the backing) Fiat will have access to a whole new (huge) market. That will be a big stepping stone for Fiat, and will almost certainly see massive returns in the future.
As for the 500, what about the Prius? The Prius has almost become a fashion item in the states due to its great ecomony in comparison to nearly all american cars. Its become a statement, almost like "i'm looking after the environment, respect me!" sort of thing. and given the choice of a Prius or a 500? I know which I'd rather have. Infact the majority of the Fiat range could be seen in the same light... who knows, it might even become fashionable in the states to own any Fiat car! The only problem I can see is that Americans tend to be far more patriotic than us, so it could take a while to break in to that market with the "i'm American, therefore its my duty to only drive a big ass american auto" type. I'm sure the a large sector of them will come round to the idea when they realise how much they will save a year... that will all be down to marketing the brand in the states. Money talks, and saving money will be very appealing, especially with the economy the way it is.
When i first heard about this i though 'omg, wtf have they done?!" but in reality, it certainly appears to be a great move for Fiat. Its a minimal risk agreement for Fiat, and even if Chysler go down the pan (which as mentioned, is unlikely with the backing they'll be receiving) what have Fiat lost? not a lot to be fair. Yeh, they'll be short-term costs which Fiat will never see a return on if Chrysler go down, but it won't (or atleast shouldn't)pull Fiat down as well. All they've given in return for the 35% equity is information and use of their manufacturing and distribution facilities (thats where the short-term costs will come in.) If Chysler pull though this (which they no doubt will with the backing) Fiat will have access to a whole new (huge) market. That will be a big stepping stone for Fiat, and will almost certainly see massive returns in the future.
As for the 500, what about the Prius? The Prius has almost become a fashion item in the states due to its great ecomony in comparison to nearly all american cars. Its become a statement, almost like "i'm looking after the environment, respect me!" sort of thing. and given the choice of a Prius or a 500? I know which I'd rather have. Infact the majority of the Fiat range could be seen in the same light... who knows, it might even become fashionable in the states to own any Fiat car! The only problem I can see is that Americans tend to be far more patriotic than us, so it could take a while to break in to that market with the "i'm American, therefore its my duty to only drive a big ass american auto" type. I'm sure the a large sector of them will come round to the idea when they realise how much they will save a year... that will all be down to marketing the brand in the states. Money talks, and saving money will be very appealing, especially with the economy the way it is.
Could Fiat be cunning and sell the Fiats under the Chrysler brand name ?
Then you have the market, you also tap into the brand loyalty, if made in the US grab the American Patriotic wallets too.
This could be a good winner for Fiat.
Hmmmmmmmmm
Now we could be cruel and challenge a certain Irish globetrotter to come back here with a Chrysler 500 as a mirror image run
Trev
Wouldn't suprise me if they tried it tbh, and it would indeed be a very clever move and could pay off for both Fiat and Chrysler!
EDIT: although it would be a little odd... a couple of tiny fuel efficient cars in Chryslers line up of big-assed gas guzzlers. Though if its got an american badge, and the added bonus of money-saving motoring, it could work.
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I very much doubt the 500 would be sold as a Chrysler. It's too quirky to be considered an American car.
Yeah, an american company would never sell anything like the Ford Ka....
And I'd only bring back a Chrysler 500 if it was a Hemi :devil:
Jim
Yeah, an american company would never sell anything like the Ford Ka....
And I'd only bring back a Chrysler 500 if it was a Hemi :devil:
Jim
Never once saw a KA in the US when I was there. Granted that may be because I was in Florida
Did you see many?
you'd only see a few that come over the border from mexico in the california area but ford made big talk last summer in the gas crisis about bringing it and the fiesta in and there were lots of nodding heads... So american car companies ain't afraid to bring in tiddlers, it's more people need a reason to buy them but Then gas went back to two bucks something a gallon
Jim
Jim
Yeah, an american company would never sell anything like the Ford Ka....
And I'd only bring back a Chrysler 500 if it was a Hemi :devil:
Jim
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemi#Supersession_in_modern_engines
There's no substitute for cubic inches apparently....
chiefpontiac
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We didn't care for the Ka's abuse of cats and squirrels(re fake commercials you've probably seen)Never once saw a KA in the US when I was there. Granted that may be because I was in Florida
As a first post here is my view from the States.
Last time Fiat was here they garnered a very bad rap, not simply because of products that were eventually linked to Yugo (a Fiat design and license without oversight) but because of a lack of proper parts, service, and warranty. Being sold at used car lots and motorcycle dealers didn't help. Plus they hadn't been thoroughly engineered for harsh winters with over 100" of snow and tons of road salt.
I almost purchased a Lancia after driving a 131 Mirafiori, and still think the X/19 paved the way for our Pontiac Fiero.
But what I can picture, beyond the need Chrysler has for a remake of the Omni and Horizon which borrowed much from the 131, and for a 500 whose rubber band transmision won't burn up with 4 teenagers aboard, is that Fiat and Alpha Romeo (who already has scheduled a return to our shores) will be able to hit the ground running (in American foootball jargon) with a dealer network and quickly trainable technicians already firmly entrenched. Plus the necessity of overnight parts supply.
I see a good alliance (hate that word as iut conjures up pieces of crap from Renault marketed as AMC) wher both companies can benefit. The other alternative is selling Fiats at CNH agricultural tractor dealers.
Who or what is an Alpha Romeo? And do 500 tranny's actually have a rubber band inside?
danielsydney
Member
Re: Fiat buys 35% of Chrysler.
I think we have to look at this in the same way that Fiat and Renault returned to the Australian marketplace I guess. When the products were up to scratch they will sell and in reasonable numbers.
I think we have to look at this in the same way that Fiat and Renault returned to the Australian marketplace I guess. When the products were up to scratch they will sell and in reasonable numbers.
Yeah, an american company would never sell anything like the Ford Ka....
And I'd only bring back a Chrysler 500 if it was a Hemi :devil:
Jim
Well they got the Flawed Focurse - see the attachments.
Attachments
Re: Fiat buys 35% of Chrysler.
Small,green & cheap to run cars in the US...sounds like good business / marketing in this current climate.
Small,green & cheap to run cars in the US...sounds like good business / marketing in this current climate.
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Re: Fiat buys 35% of Chrysler.
USA would probably take to modern fiats. Nothing on the roads that looks like em.
USA would probably take to modern fiats. Nothing on the roads that looks like em.
