This is just general comment about tech info availability.
In the 80s and 90s+ you could purchase Fiat workshop manuals. For Uno, Strada, Tempra, Tipo models these were not very expensive.
All the above being printed "Blue" physical bound editions
When the Coupe was introduced the cost of these manuals rocketed. The Coupe manual became (I think the first) ring bound and far more expensive.
Later on the early eLearn CDs/DVS (Stilo, Croma, ..) could be bought from Fiat for £10 to £20 and far less expensive that the Fiat Coupe manuals.
Then came KeyLearn. Way more expensive at some £150 to £200 for all models. Possible good value for a garage but way OTT for a DIY Fiat owner of any given model.
Then KeyLearn was ditched and all info is now online only and very expensive.
Clearly to me (IMHO) Fiat/FCA are trying to leverage every income possibility from both dealers, independents and owners.
So what is the bottom line of my post.
Simple.
I think it is ever increasingly evident that private DIY maintenance etc. is being squeezed out, as is small independent operators in favour of large franchised and very expensive concerns.
How this pans out for us DIY bods will be interesting. I'm over 65 in age and my ability to work on cars is not technical ability restrained but physical ability restrained (be that agility / endurance / ...) So there will come a time when I'll 100% bow out and just purchase and pay for maintenance or lease/equivalent buy or rent and let "them" get on with it.
With this "lease/equivalent buy or rent and let "them" get on with it." mode of operation then I can see them offering great value, cutting back on quality maintenance with the view that the vehicle will run for 3 years+ with little care and come 3 years a seriously degraded vehicle will be passed on to public sale where a 4 years the poor new owner is left with a very expensive problem. Meanwhile the original leaser has been offered a good (but expensive) deal on a new option/offering.
All fun and games!
In the 80s and 90s+ you could purchase Fiat workshop manuals. For Uno, Strada, Tempra, Tipo models these were not very expensive.
All the above being printed "Blue" physical bound editions
When the Coupe was introduced the cost of these manuals rocketed. The Coupe manual became (I think the first) ring bound and far more expensive.
Later on the early eLearn CDs/DVS (Stilo, Croma, ..) could be bought from Fiat for £10 to £20 and far less expensive that the Fiat Coupe manuals.
Then came KeyLearn. Way more expensive at some £150 to £200 for all models. Possible good value for a garage but way OTT for a DIY Fiat owner of any given model.
Then KeyLearn was ditched and all info is now online only and very expensive.
Clearly to me (IMHO) Fiat/FCA are trying to leverage every income possibility from both dealers, independents and owners.
So what is the bottom line of my post.
Simple.
I think it is ever increasingly evident that private DIY maintenance etc. is being squeezed out, as is small independent operators in favour of large franchised and very expensive concerns.
How this pans out for us DIY bods will be interesting. I'm over 65 in age and my ability to work on cars is not technical ability restrained but physical ability restrained (be that agility / endurance / ...) So there will come a time when I'll 100% bow out and just purchase and pay for maintenance or lease/equivalent buy or rent and let "them" get on with it.
With this "lease/equivalent buy or rent and let "them" get on with it." mode of operation then I can see them offering great value, cutting back on quality maintenance with the view that the vehicle will run for 3 years+ with little care and come 3 years a seriously degraded vehicle will be passed on to public sale where a 4 years the poor new owner is left with a very expensive problem. Meanwhile the original leaser has been offered a good (but expensive) deal on a new option/offering.
All fun and games!
