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Fiat; Will they be coming back to the US?
Topic Started: Nov 18 2010, 04:50 PM (1,078 Views)
bentjazz
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Hi everyone,

I heard Fiat might try to market their cars again in the US. Anyone else hear that? I hear they have some cars that get great gas mileage, but their reliability sucks from what I understand....
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Rooy


Yep, been in the works for a while now. The launch date is supposed to be in March. The Fiat 500 will be the first car offered. They will be sold by a limited number of Chrysler dealers.

Quote:
 
reliability sucks from what I understand....


sigh... it's going to be hard to erase the average person's image of the Fiat name from 25+ years ago.
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bentjazz
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I hear Fiat offers a 1.2L 3 cylinder diesel in Europe. My question is why not offer it here? There's a market for cars that can get 60mpg in the US. Ford also offers a Fiesta diesel that gets 60+ mpg, which they sell in Europe and other parts of the world. A friend of mine who is a Ford retiree said they don't sell them here because it wouldn't be profitable. He said Ford is used to making thousands of dollars off the sale of one truck, and compact cars as such don't return the same yield, hence the reluctance to offer such a car to the American consumer who has become spoiled on luxury gas hog queens.
Since we consume 25% of the world's oil (20+ million barrels/day, of which 60% is imported), seems like the smart thing to do is to start to produce cars that would dramatically reduce on dependence on foreign sources of energy, which would do wonders for our national security. Just my opinion.....
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Woodie
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Yes, that's the main reason they bought Chrysler.

Reliability used to be something they had only vaguely heard of, but they've been gone from the States for 26 years, a lot has changed since then.
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Woodie
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bentjazz
Nov 19 2010, 04:33 AM
I hear Fiat offers a 1.2L 3 cylinder diesel in Europe. My question is why not offer it here? There's a market for cars that can get 60mpg in the US.
A very tiny market, most of the people who would buy one are on this forum. B-) The reason everyone sells 60 mpg cars in Europe and doesn't bring them here is: They pay close to $10 a gallon, we pay $2.75.
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G.O. Joe
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I have a friend that is a bona fide Fiat fanatic. He's rebuilding a 1978 Spyder 2000(?) right now. He's all gung ho about them coming back to the states, but I agree with Rooy. There's such a stigma attached to Fiat about the poor reliability from the 70's, I think they'll have a tough go of it.

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undgsx-R
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Self Certified Garage Mechanic

I saw something about fiat on the early news this morning. The car that they are bringing here, the 500?, reminds me of the Minis. I think it is a cool car, but at about 18k, I will stick with my Metro, Jeep, and Altima. All of which together cost me less than 6k.
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bogs
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Duct tape heals all wounds

Quote:
 
I think it is a cool car, but at about 18k, I will stick with my Metro, Jeep, and Altima. All of which together cost me less than 6k.
And there in lies the 2nd part of the problem, people who buy cheap little cars (generally) don't want to pay a new car price for them, when there are other cheap little cars available. Aspires and Metros hit the sales floors at less than 10k, do the math.
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Stately
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Geo cheerleader

From Geo Replacement thread http://geometroforum.com/topic/3884330/2/

(Also, not coming the US):

One of the engines in the new Fiat 500 is an I2 turbo:

0.9 TwinAir 875 cc (0.875 L; 53.4 cu in) 85 PS (63 kW; 84 hp) @5500

51 mpg-US city 65 mpg-US highway 107 mph top speed
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Stately
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Woodie
Nov 19 2010, 06:55 AM
bentjazz
Nov 19 2010, 04:33 AM
I hear Fiat offers a 1.2L 3 cylinder diesel in Europe. My question is why not offer it here? There's a market for cars that can get 60mpg in the US.
A very tiny market, most of the people who would buy one are on this forum. B-)
And, we GMFers, wait until they're used for a few years to avoid "new" markup! :deal :thumb
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Stately
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bogs
Nov 19 2010, 12:23 PM
Quote:
 
I think it is a cool car, but at about 18k, I will stick with my Metro, Jeep, and Altima. All of which together cost me less than 6k.
And there in lies the 2nd part of the problem, people who buy cheap little cars (generally) don't want to pay a new car price for them, when there are other cheap little cars available. Aspires and Metros hit the sales floors at less than 10k, do the math.
:+1

Rock bottom initial cost + ultra-cheap repair/maintenance + great MPG's
is almost impossible to beat!
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Coche Blanco
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Troll Certified

Good posting all above me.

The people who want 60 mpg are cheap asses. They don't want to pay 20 grand for a car. The people who want to pay 20 grand for a car aren't cheap asses. So they don't desire 60 mpg. Also, car companies don't make money on 10k cars. It's a weird problem the automakers have, and America doesn't understand it.



*figures/facts are pulled straight from my ass*
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dayle1960
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Fastest Hampster EVER

In the local paper today there was a good writeup on the Fiat 500. They will be sold at our Autoplex next year for $15000. The paper did not specify what the gas mileage was going to be, though. I have been excited about this car since I saw it on Top Gear. Should get over 50 mpg. Wish it would come in a diesel, I would convert it to veggie oil. But the price sucks. It should be $5000 at the max.
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Coche Blanco
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dayle1960
Nov 19 2010, 07:55 PM
It should be $5000 at the max.
5000? Let's just make it free.
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Woodie
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They're hoping it will get 40 mpg, hope that's not like the MINI where it only gets it's advertised mileage on high test gas. Here's from an article I found:

"What also remains to be seen is how the changes to the weight of the vehicle will affect the 500's fuel economy rating. EPA estimates are still pending, but the general consensus places the 500 easily in striking distance of a 40 mpg rating. "

Price ranges from $15,500 to $19,500, you probably won't be able to touch one at that price for a year.
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