General Auto shops in Rome?

[numero_uno]

Hi guys, next week i'll be flying to rome for the 1st time. i just want to know if there would be nearby uno autoparts available in the city. if someone does, please, you know what to do.. i will be staying at the hilton near the airport. have been trying to find some over the net but nothings coming out.

looks like im on a mission..

 

[alexGS]

Good luck!

I don't want to pour cold water on your endeavour, but just two observations (I've been to Rome )

- The Uno, for Italy, is really old! Cars in Rome get battered to pieces. You see FIATs only a couple of years old with every panel bashed. I was really surprised Therefore, I think the survival of the Uno is low by now. I don't recall seeing many three years ago. So, there may not be much after-market support. But - count how many old 500s you spot!

- I could be wrong but I suspect Turin/cities in the North are more the centres for the automotive sector.

I'd like to see what others suggest though - electricmice springs to mind as someone who'll know MUCH better than I will!

Enjoy your visit - the sights are amazing.
-Alex

 

[Hellcat]

Also hard to smuggle car parts when you're flying

Not been to Rome before, only the north and just south of Pisa. Fiats everywhere, but of the old ones they're usually classic pandas or classic 500s.

 

[alexGS]

Also hard to smuggle car parts when you're flying

True! But, the local post office is often a good option I posted a set of springs back from South Africa since the excess-baggage would have been horrendous - postage was really cheap.

Not been to Rome before, only the north and just south of Pisa. Fiats everywhere, but of the old ones they're usually classic pandas or classic 500s.

Yes, that's what I saw too. I think once a car reaches a certain age (10 years?) on the continent, it becomes very much 'out of fashion'. The ones that are left are really rough.

Then eventually it becomes a cult classic again!

-Alex

 

[Ffoxy]

I found in Naples that the best bargain shops were in the backstreets.

Very few main street auto shops, the Italians love their clothes more thantheir street warrior cars.

 

[numero_uno]

Thanks for the info alex hellcat and foxy! actually im not on vacation. ill just be there for only two days work related stuff. :bang:just wondering if i could slip by near shops since i dont have the time. ill just ask the concierge hehehe!

thanks guys!

 

[Hellcat]

My advice is enjoy Italy for the food, the wine, and the relaxed culture. You can always do Fiat things another time.

 

[Ffoxy]

My advice is enjoy Italy for the food, the wine, and the relaxed culture. You can always do Fiat things another time.

Agreed... the Italians are ace... everything we loved in the past.

Scant regard for safety on the roads or authority.

No seatbelts worn, 3 or 4 on a scooter, pretty gals hair flying behind them on their mopeds. Just dont trust a zebra crossing like you do in the UK or you will die, or at the very least cause a pile up!

I would happily live there, brilliant! Life is lived there however short or long it may be.

 

[Hellcat]

I wouldn't mind spending longer working there - Only spent a week there working and 10 days on holidays. It's just long enough to start getting used to the culture and suddenly you're back here, with the miserable rules and everyone miserable.

 

[thepottleflump]

I went to Rome years ago but have been to various other places in Italy. In my recent experience car showrooms are still very old school, run by families and not obviously flash, not the corporate garages you get here in the UK with annoying sales guys in their Fosters suits. They tended to be tucked out the way. Love Italy but the relative weakness of the pound makes it more expensive than it use to be unfortunately.

 

[Jai]

same as the other guys, when i was in rome in 2004, was expecting some some of "roman holiday" grand prix of 500s round the colesseum, reality, didnt see a single uno (had to wait for crete for that, and then was blasted by a tub in the central mountains!) on an old panda, plenty of new pandas and ypsilons, and despite best efforts, didnt see a single dealership, but we were staying right in the heart of the city, and didnt really venture out to the burbs.

i think like alex says, the turin burbs may be more productive, and i'm def thinking a cheapo sleazyjet flight for a dirty weekend in the north is on the cards for 2009, looking for machine shops, auro emporia, and what ever else the grimy backstreet of turin can throw up

edit : btw, get down to the "mouth of truth" early, crowds are mental from about 11am on, and the spanish steps are way overated, but nice, personally the back roads around the piazza navone and trevi are much nicer

 

[numero_uno]

well, ill definetley make most of my 2 days over there! thanks alot guys! atleast im not alone (rome) ing around rome hehe enjoying my food & wine like all of you said..

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

When you're there, look for Innocenti's that are really Uno stationwagons (Duno), when Fiat took over Innocenti, they gave the Inno dealers the Duno as a substitute.....!

 

[numero_uno]

im here and its raining.. but look what ived found..

thanks for the tips guys! its really amazing.. shock and awe effect is still within me!

 

[Jai]

made it to the sistine yet?